The Eden Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2025
THE EDEN CHURCH
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE The Eden Centre Four Elms Road Edenbridge TN8 6BY GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO Association registered 21May2024 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1208342 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Julie Barry MANAGING THE CHARITY David Franklin (appointed January 2026) Emma Jonas (until December 2025) Revd. Mary McLachlan (appointed July 2025) John Nichol Ron Sutton (appointed January 2026) Jon Visser (appointed January 2026) Graham Woolgar (until March 2026) Matthew Young CUSTODIAN TRUSTEES Baptist Union Corporation BANKERS Co-operative Bank Lloyds Bank Baptist Union Corporation INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal and Administrative Details Pages 2-5 Trustees' Report Page 6 Independent Examiner's Report Page 7 Receipts and Payments Account Page 8 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 9-10 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
THE EDEN CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Objects of the charity
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a constitution and is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The principal purpose of the Church as stated in the constitution is “the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination. The church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.”
Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements
To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
We welcomed a new (part time) minister, Mary McLachlan, who started on 1st July. Her availability, experience and the circumstances leading up to her appointment seemed providential to say the least, and the whole year has been highly shaped by her involvement in the church.
The Church meets every Sunday morning for a service of worship. We have continued to host monthly board games days, film nights, repair cafés and a seniors club, all mostly attended by people from outside the Church. The Church also supports a midweek women's bible study, and ECT (Edenbridge Christian Trust) youth mentoring. Two new groups have started this year: Friday Welcome and Sparkling Fishes (see below).
The Church holds the lease for the café space in the Eden Centre. The café has been operated by Lodge Coffee Shops since November 2024, and their first full year has been reasonably successful. There are hopes that the church can find increasing opportunities to partner with the café.
Teaching and Discipleship
A variety of people have continued to lead services, with various styles used including the 'Table Service' format which tends to be the best attended service each month. During August, a special series called ‘Jesus at the beach’ brought a high level of interactivity to the summer services, with props (including a large canoe) helping to make it a memorable month when often numbers are expected to drop.
Children & Youth
With fewer young people in the Church and fewer volunteers, the youthwork has dwindled, but children have been included in regular services via discussion and activities alongside what the adults are doing.
The Church supports town-wide youthwork every other Sunday evening run by ECT, as well as hosting and providing volunteers for a one-to-one mentoring scheme.
Caring and Pastoral support
The Minister and Elders provided pastoral support in various ways throughout the year, from praying with people to providing confidential hardship assistance and providing practical assistance.
There is still only one Life Group, but there are plans for more to start later in 2026.
Baptisms
In November, three people were baptised in the first baptismal service for a couple of years. More people attended baptism classes with them, with a view to getting baptised in 2026.
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Other church activities
Board games days
These are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month, running from 10am-4pm throughout the year. This is a free event appealing to all ages, with many people (mostly from outside the Church) looking forward to it each time. Average attendance has been the highest ever at 34 per month. We continue to build relationships with those who attend from the local community, some of whom have started coming to other activities like the Friday Welcome.
Friday Welcome
This group started in February 2024 as a free drop-in on Friday mornings for anyone to come and have a chat over a cuppa, and quickly evolved to include many jigsaws! On the last Friday of each month we meet in the café. Usually, half the group are church attendees and half are locals from outside the church. It is the highlight of the week for some people.
CAMEO (Come and meet each other)
This group meets weekly between 2.30pm and 4pm on Thursdays. This year was marked by the sudden death of one of the two leaders, which impacted the group significantly. On a happier note we were delighted to welcome new members and our weekly attendance continues to hover around the 20 mark.
This year, in addition to the usual mixture of speakers, quizzes, discussions and socials, we also included a couple of music afternoons and were wonderfully entertained by a classical harpist and the Cello Choir - both of whom will be coming again in 2026.
Ministry of Movies
This is a film night held once a month from autumn to spring. It is well attended by about 50-100 people, mostly from outside of the church, and has been running since January 2014. There is a short reflection at the end shared by one of the team to get people thinking.
Sparking Fishes
This group was re-launched at the end of February, primarily running with a small group before officially launching after Easter. It is for pre-school aged children and their parents/carers. This starts with free play and allow the children to roam and choose their own activity. A story is read together which is followed by a craft that is related to the story.
The group meets for an hour 10-11 every Monday morning during term time, although a lot of mums/carers often stay later to chat! Most weeks we have about 5 children but have a group of 7-8 children/carers who regularly attend. Being a smaller group allows for the adults to build relationships, and provides a group for quieter children to build their confidence in a social setting.
Bauble Appeal
Once again the church held the annual Bauble Appeal, with all funds and associated gift aid being treated as restricted funds. For each donation, a bauble is added to the church Christmas tree. In 2024 we had raised funds for the registered charity Tearfund and this was paid to them in 2025. In December 2025, we raised funds for the registered charity Imago Dei and this was paid to them after the year end.
Other supported community activities
ECC (Edenbridge Churches in Covenant)
We are part of the ECC, participating in events including the Week of Prayer, the Walk of Witness at Easter, and carol singing at the turning on of the Christmas lights in the town centre.
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Repair Café
This is hosted monthly at the church, involving local volunteers and church members. During 2025 there were 10 busy Repair Café events, completing in excess of 500 repairs in all: saving people money, preventing things going needlessly to recycling or landfill, and seeing many skills being freely and selflessly used to help others.
Bible Study Fellowship
This is a worldwide Bible study which runs classes in approximately 38 different countries. A group has been meeting in the church space for over 10 years, and has now split into two: one meeting in person led by a former member, with the others gathering online via Zoom. Both groups meet between 10am11.30am on Thursday mornings and total around 20 women from various churches. They discuss a passage of scripture, then have coffee and listen to a lecture given on the same scripture to provide better understanding. The class runs between September-May during term time only.
Public benefit
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Financial review
During the year income increased by £6,500, to £70,300. Although there was a decrease in donations, the manse was rented from August onwards which increased the overall income. Expenditure decreased by £21,900, to £57,000 mainly due to a decrease in the costs of employing a minister, and the associated manse costs.
As a result the cash held by the charity increased by £13,300, to £122,100, of which £117,500 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Reserves policy
The Trustees feel it is still prudent to fix the reserves at 6 months of budgeted running costs, including the equivalent of a full-time minister, which is approximately £47,000.
At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £117,500. This amount is in excess of the policy as there are legal costs expected with the sale of Riverside, as well as the uncertainty of renting the manse after the current tenant leaves in the latter part of 2026.
Governance
Responsibility for the governance of the church rests with the Trustees regarding the general control and management of the administration of the church. The Trustees meet monthly to monitor its activities. The Trustees govern the Church in accordance with the law, its governing document and decisions made at Church members’ meetings, which are held every two months, including an AGM in November.
The Trustees have reviewed their safeguarding policy during the year and all relevant persons have completed DBS checks.
The Trustees attended a SEBA ‘Partners in Mission’ day in Tonbridge, and found it encouraging and inspiring.
Riverside building
In May 2024, the Riverside building was closed due to being deemed unsafe, and the church also decided to sell it due to being surplus to requirements. The sale of the building is in progress.
Post year end
In May 2026 the members voted on the appointment of a new part-time minister to work alongside Mary. The Trustees are delighted to welcome David McLachlan who will start in July 2026.
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Responsibilities of Trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
John Nichol
John Nichol (Jul 1, 2026 19:15:57 GMT+1)
John Nichol
Date: Jul 1, 2026
Page 5
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Eden Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2025 on pages 7 to 10 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Sarah Crispin
Sarah Crispin (Jul 6, 2026 08:19:56 GMT+1)
Sarah Crispin ACA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Jul 6, 2026
Page 6
THE EDEN CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Unrestricted | Funds | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Restricted | ||||||||||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||||
| Income receipts | ||||||||||||
| Donations | 36,844 | - | 2,432 | 39,276 | 47,555 | |||||||
| Gift aid receipts | 8,129 | - | 175 | 8,304 | 8,524 | |||||||
| Income from charitable activities | 4,572 | - | - | 4,572 | 4,809 | |||||||
| Hire and lease of | church spaces | 2,923 | - | - | 2,923 | 2,325 | ||||||
| Manse rent | 12,500 | - | - | 12,500 | - | |||||||
| Interest | 1,042 | - | - | 1,042 | 552 | |||||||
| Other | 1,542 | - | - | 1,542 | - | |||||||
| 67,552 | - | 2,607 | 70,159 | 63,765 | ||||||||
| Capital and similar receipts | ||||||||||||
| Sale of fixed assets | 100 | - | - | 100 | - | |||||||
| 100 | - | - | 100 | - | ||||||||
| Total receipts | 67,652 |
- |
2,607 |
70,259 |
63,765 | |||||||
| Payments | ||||||||||||
| Payments in relation to activities undertaken directly |
charitable | 2 | 46,273 | - | 200 | 46,473 | 62,984 | |||||
| Grants paid in relation to activities undertaken by others |
charitable | 3 | 7,625 | - | 2,885 | 10,510 | 15,861 | |||||
| Total payments | 53,898 | - | 3,085 | 56,983 | 78,845 | |||||||
| Net of receipts / transfers |
(payments) | before | 13,754 | - | (478) | 13,276 | (15,080) | |||||
| Transfers between funds | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Net movement in funds | 13,754 | - | (478) | 13,276 | (15,080) | |||||||
| Cash funds as at | last year | end | 103,737 | - | 5,082 | 108,819 | 123,900 | |||||
| Cash funds at this year end | A | 117,491 | - | 4,604 | 122,095 | 108,819 |
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THE EDEN CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Notice deposit accounts Prepaid card balance Petty cash B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Other debtors C Liabilities Due in one year: Independent examination Building service charges Accrued expenditure D Assets retained for charity's own use Contents and equipment |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 62,053 - 55,052 - - - 386 - 117,491 - 1,277 - 398 - 1,674 - 900 - 18,471 - 562 - 19,933 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ 4,604 - - - 4,604 52 - 52 - - - - |
2025 £ 66,658 55,052 - 386 122,095 1,328 398 1,726 900 18,471 562 19,933 2025 value £ 10,300 10,300 |
2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54,359 54,010 351 100 |
||||
| 108,819 | ||||
| 1,970 365 |
||||
| 2,335 | ||||
| 870 - 185 |
||||
| 1,055 | ||||
| 2024 value £ |
||||
| 11,500 | ||||
| 11,500 |
The trustees have used insurance values as they are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.
The Baptist Union Corporation are the custodian trustees for the following properties (the values are not shown as disclosure is not mandatory):
Riverside church [freehold]
Manse [freehold] - purchased 2014
The Eden Centre is leased from Kent County Council for the main activities of the church. The lease is for 250 years from 2012.
E Guarantees and secured debts
The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf
John Nichol John Nichol (Jul 1, 2026 19:15:57 GMT+1) by ___ date ______ John Nichol
Jul 1, 2026
Page 8
THE EDEN CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Minister stipend and pension Note 4 Ministry, outreach and events Note 4 Youth and children's work (including salary) Equipment and consumables Governance Administration and support Software, licences and subscriptions Property costs Insurance (Eden Centre and Riverside) Manse utilities Manse other (including insurance) Riverside utilities Riverside other Eden Centre utilities Eden Centre hire and other costs 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Grants for: Baptist Missionary Society Baptist Union of GB (Home Mission) Eden Christian Trust [ECT] ICRC [Ukraine appeal] Tearfund Grants to organisations < £1k |
Unrestricted Fun General funds £ 13,955 6,196 16 737 2,514 440 1,085 3,669 555 12,948 1,107 1,920 706 426 46,273 2,250 2,250 3,125 - - - 7,625 |
ds Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Restricted Funds £ - 200 - - - - - - - - - - - - 200 644 - - - 2,242 - 2,885 |
Total 2025 £ 13,955 6,396 16 737 2,514 440 1,085 3,669 555 12,948 1,107 1,920 706 426 46,473 2,894 2,250 3,125 - 2,242 - 10,510 |
Total 2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32,298 5,966 - 2,534 2,210 242 1,409 1,826 3,725 4,487 5,184 330 825 1,949 |
|||||
| 62,984 | |||||
| 1,350 1,350 4,500 5,703 1,756 1,203 |
|||||
| 15,861 |
4 Transactions with related parties
Mary McLachlan, a trustee from July 2025, served as a church leader and was paid £12,687, plus employer pension contributions of £1,269. These payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
In addition, the charity incurred expenditure costs in respect of the contribution towards accommodation (which is customary for ministers) to Mary McLachlan, a trustee, so that they could better perform their duties. This is included in Ministry costs in note 2.
Page 9
THE EDEN CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
5 Movement of funds
| vement of funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds Designated funds Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds Bauble Appeal 2024 Bauble Appeal 2025 Hardship fund Youth worker fund Harvest Total restricted funds Total funds |
Balance b/f £ 103,737 - 103,737 1,487 - 1,362 2,233 - 5,082 108,819 |
Receipts £ 67,652 - 67,652 754 1,175 - 34 644 2,607 70,259 |
Payments £ (53,898) - (53,898) (2,242) - (200) - (644) (3,085) (56,983) |
Transfers £ - - - - - - - - - - |
Balance c/f £ 117,491 - |
| 117,491 | |||||
| - 1,175 1,162 2,266 - |
|||||
| 4,604 | |||||
| 122,095 |
The Bauble Appeal is an appeal each Christmas to raise funds for specific charities which further the charitable objectives of the church. The 2024 fund was set up to raise funds for Tearfund and the 2025 fund was set up to raise funds for Imago Dei.
The Hardship fund has been set up to assist persons in need, to be used at the discretion of the Elders. The donations to the Youth Worker fund are for the purpose of the employment of a Youth Worker.
The Harvest appeal was to raise funds for the BMS Refugee Appeal.
6 The Baptist Pension Scheme
The Church is a participating employer the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), which is a separate legal entity administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers Pension Fund, started in 1925. At the beginning of the 2024 financial year, the scheme comprised of a defined benefits scheme which was closed to future accrual on 31 December 2011 and a defined contribution plan which was opened in January 2012.The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Employer and the other participating employers.
For the current and previous financial year, the pension provision for members of the Scheme is being made through the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan. In general, members pay 8% of their Pensionable Income and employers pay 6% of members’ Pensionable Income into individual pension accounts, which are operated and managed on behalf of the Pension Trustee by Broadstone Corporate Benefits Ltd. In addition, the employer pays a further 4% of Pensionable Income to cover Death in Service Benefits, administration costs, and an associated insurance policy which provides income protection for Scheme members if they are unable to work due to long-term incapacity. This income protection policy has been insured by the Baptist Union of Great Britain with Aviva Limited. Furthermore, members of the Basic Section pay reduced contributions of 5% of Pensionable Income, and their employers also pay a total of 5%.
In October 2024, the insurance company Just Group completed a buy out of the liabilities of the closed defined benefit scheme. From that date any remaining liability of the participating scheme members to defined benefit scheme ceased and the £1 per month deficit contributions payable by the participating employers which were agreed in the recovery plan approved in August 2022 also ceased from that date. Administration of the closed defined benefit scheme transferred from the pension trustees to Just Group from that date.
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