Annual Report for 2025 The Trustees present their Annual Report for 2025. The Charity: Leominster Baptist Church. Known previously as: Particulars Baptist Chapel in Etnam Street, Leominster and Endowments Registered address: Leominster Baptist Church, Etnam Street, Leominster, HR6 8AJ. Charity Number: 237434 Main Contact: Phone: Email: Website: Christabel Rice (Church Secretary) 07850 969317 chris@leobc.co.uk leobc.co.uk Trustees and Church Officers at 31st December 2025 Name Trustee Deacon Position Jackie Kosciecha Yes No Treasurer Chris Rice Yes Yes Secretary Sheila Wilson Yes Yes David Margells Yes Yes Trevor Dickerson Yes Yes Jim Scott Yes Yes Brian Beakhouse Yes Yes Andrew Dale Yes Yes Marie Gittoes Yes Yes Pastoral Care Worker Pastor and other paid employees Dean Burgis continues as Pastor and, during his holidays and Sundays off, the services have been led by church members or invited guest speakers from other churches and mission organisations. Marie Gittoes continues as Pastoral Care Worker and Hannah Harris continued as Children and Families Worker until her resignation on August 31° 2025. Structure, Governance and Management Leominster Baptist Church (Leobc) is governed by a Charity Commission Scheme signed on 31st October 1879, which amalgamated a number of earlier deeds originating from the founding of the Church in 1656. An amended Constilution was inlroduced in January 2016 and ratified a year laler. The most recent amendment was made in 2022. The affairs of the Church are ordered under the Church's Members ' Handbook, last amended in April 2024. Four meetings of Church Members were held in 2025, including the Annual Church Meeting. Church OffirS are appointed, minutes taken and records kept of all decisions made at the meetings. Deacons, meetings were held at least once a month to implement Church Meeting decisions, to consider all malters relating to the well-being of the Church and individuals connected with it and to provide leadership and
direction for the Church. The trustees are responsible for oversight of the church's work and witness along with all financial and legal aspects of LBC. They have met twice in 2025. All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks of the church. Aims and Objectives Leominster Baptist Church was founded upon Baptist principles in 1656 to advance the Christian faith in accordan with the Basis of Faith as defined in Schedule 1 of the Church Constitution, primarily but not exclusively within the Leominster area and the surrounding neighbourhood. The Trust maintains the property of the Church and oversee5 all its activities relating to Christian worship, teaching, service to the community and support for Christian ministry throughout the world. Today the Church is affiliated to the EA. Its motto is 'Following Christ, seNing people,. 3. Fulfilment of Objectives and Activities: Property The Trust is responsible for Maintenance of a Protestanl Meeting House in Etnam Street, Leominster,. Support for the Minister and for the poor ofthe congregation,. Endowment of a Minister for the above Meeting House., Provision of a Manse for the Minister., Maintenance of a Burial Ground., Provision of alms-house accommodation for the poor of the congregation. All oflhe above have been regularly inspected., any essential maintenance work has been undertaken. The premises are loaned to other community groups and charities for which a charge is either made or waived at Ihe discretion of Ihe Deacons. The tenancy of Marlow Cottage (formerly known as the Alms-house) is continuing satisfactorily. The Trustees consider that they have fulfilled their duty in their care of the premises. 4. Fulfilment of Aims and Objectives: Church Activities The Church services and other meetings continue to be well-attended by a wide range of people of all ages and the Church functioned well in all departments throughout the year. At the end of 2025 there were 90 people in full membership, having accepted 7 people into membership during the year. The church celebrated 3 believers, baptisms during 2025. In addition to Sunday Church services, other weekly activities at the Church include house groups, prayer meetings, a parent and toddler group and several youth groups. Monthly activities at the church include a Lunch Club and Coffee Morning with outreach including Market Stall witness and services al residential homes for the elderly. Other events during the year have included an Alpha course, baptisms, fellowship meals, men's breakfasts, family events to lebrate church festivals, a church away day and youth camps. The Church continues to engage with the community in many ways, including making its premises and minibus available to other arganisations in the community. Many members of the church are actively involved in supporting several local voluntary organisations including the Leominster Food Bank. The Church is committed to supporting organisations that promote the Christian faith in this country and around the world and to humanitarian relief. 20 % of all monies given to the church are given to such organisations either through regular financial support or as one-off donations. The Church is informed of their activities by visiting speakers and a supply of information. Persons attending the Church offered themselves to a number of voluntary projects and short- temi mission trips with the active support of the Church. S. Financial Overview The Trustees and Church Officers have administered all the funds of the Church and are satisfied that they have been handled responsibly in accordance with the Charity's aims and objectives.
The church accounts show that the balances held remain reasonably steady. Regular income comes from monthly direct debits and the weekly church offering. This has been boosted during 2025 by some legacies and significant one-off donations along with fundraising events for youth camps. There were no significant unexpected expenses during the year and the authorisation of all payments were in accordan with the Church's financial policy. Except for gifts for specific purposes, which are held as restricted funds until disbursed, the Church has fulfilled its policy of donating 20 % of its income to other evangelical organisations whose aims and objectives are consistent with its own. The regular income of the Church is sufficient to cover expected expenditure and there are adequate reserves for any foreseeable contingency. Income was £139,732.95 in 2025, which is down from last year but in line with years prior to 2024. Income is expected to remain around this level in future years and reserves should cover nearly 3 years of a major fall-off in income. Rental income from Marlow Cottage will be used to maintain the building with any excess being applied charitably in accordance with the Trust Deed. Specifically, money from this restricted fund has been used during 2025 to help fund places at youlh camps for youngsters from families who could not otherwise afford to send them. 6. Conclusion The Trustees consider that they and the Church Officers have Carried out their responsibilities in a satisfactory manner and that the Church is in a position to continue to actively pursue its aims and objectives in the future. Signed on behalf of the Trustees Date 29th A ril 2026 Christabel Rice (Church Secretary)
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Leominster Baptist Church in Etnam Street Leominster Herefordshire. I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025. Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner. The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under seclion144(21 of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to= examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5llb) of the 2011 Act., and state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent Examiner's Report My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items of disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audil and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts provide a 'true and fair view, and the report is limited to those matters sel out in the statement below. Independent Examiner's Statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention.. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respects the requirements.. °lo keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of Ihe 2011 Act.. and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply Withers's accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met.. or 2. to which, in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signature.. Date.. 11 Qol Alison D Harrington (Mrs) 8 Ashgrove View Bodenham Herefordshire HR13LU
Receipts and Payments Summary: 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 Unrnstrletèd Fund8 D•slgnatèd Funds R•strletsd Funds Total 2025 Totsl 2024 ' Recei | Gifts, Offerings Ilncluding Gift Aid Special Missionary Collections £110,783.33 £110,783.33 £119,503.26 £3,551.10 £3,551. 109 £5,394.69 | Rent received £2,840.00 £2,840.00 £2,640.00 £1,500.00 £1,500.00 £1,450.00 Miscellaneous receipts or sundries £2,376.89 £2,376.89 £2,767.75 Legacies £19,000.00 £597.00 £597.00 £16,572.63 £16,572.63 £6,730.29 | Job Club Dunfield House £0.00 £0.00 £1,512.00 £1,512.00 £1,482.10 £114,660.221 £22.232.73 £2,840.00 £139.732.95 £158.968.09 'Pa ments Wages, National In8uran¢g and Pènsion £64,524.16 £64,524.16 £68,510.52 l Ministry £3,206.77 £3,206.77 £4,458.10 Glfts to Mlsslonary & Ald Organisations £25,180.09 £25,180.09 £23,439.22 Spaeial Missionary Giving £3,659.66 £3,659.66 £5,983.59 Minibus running coBts £3,627.58 £3,627.58 £2,990.62 Telephone £278.74 £278.74 £297.13 Prfntlng, postage & Statlonery £555.92 £555.92 £622.56 Equipment £2,614.41 £2,614.41 £6,034.26 I Sundries £3,012.83 £3,012.83 £2,086.40 Maintenance of Church & Manse £5,856.21 £5,856 21 £8,856.89 Maintenance - Marlow Cottage £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 Heat and Light £2,992.72 £2,992.72 £2,684.02 ouncil Tax & Water £5,108.02 £5,108.02 £3,917.57 nsuranee £3,709.72 £3,709.72 £3,348.97 Fee £1,388.44 £1,388.44 £2,350.48 | Youthwork Costs Sundry Youth Costs £3,188.21 £2,773.59 £5,961.80 £12,583.73 £15,296.87 £15,296.87 Job Club £894.72 £894.72 £294.98
Unrestricted Funds Oesignated Funds Restricted Funds Totsl 2025 Total 2024 Dunfield House £1,738 00 £1,738 00 £1,674.00 Total Payrnents £122.055.61 £24.777.46 £2,773.59 £149.606.66 £150.132.84 l Net incoming resources -£7,395.39 -£2,544.73 £66.41 -£9,873.71 £8835.25 Fund balances 1 January 2025 £53,360.28 -£4,339.92 £16,049.01 £65,069.37 £56,234.12 Balances carried forward 31 De¢ 2025 £45,964.89 6,884.65 £16,115.42 £55,195.66 £65,069.37
Statement of Assets and Liabilities Fund Balances Total 3111212025 Total Total 3111212024 3111212023 Santander UK plc Church Account £15,757.10 £27,274.48 £18,919.97 Church Reserve Account £36,798.68 £36,418.47 £36,070.72 Church Youth Account £2,611.96 £1,336.20 £1,203.79 Total £55,167.74 £65,029.15 £56,194.48 | Cash in Hand Totsl £27.92 £40.22 £39.64 £55,195.66 £65,069.37 £56,234.12 Accumulated Fund Unrestricted funds £35,991.41 £44,113.68 £41,213 62 esignated funds Youth Account £2,611.96 Missionary Monies £2,622.44 £6,157.53 £1,135.71 Total Deslgnated funds £5,234.40 £6,157.53 £1,135.71 Restricted funds Job Club £782.81 £1,677.53 £1,972.51 Deposit held re tenancy £238.33 £238.33 £238.33 Marlow Cottage | Total Restricted funds Total £12,948.71 £12,882.30 £11,673.95 £13,989.85 | £14,798.18 | £13,884.79 | £55,195.66 £65,069.37 £56,234.12 Fixed and other Assets Value Note Chapel and Associated Buildings £3,601,508.00 Insurance value Manse £798,546.00 Insurance value Cottage £368,560.00 Insurance value Associated Garden and Graveyard Graveyard in Newlands Drive Leominster £2,500.00 Antique Clock £16,611.00 Insurance valuation 2009 Organ £12,080.00 Purchase price 2006 Computer and electronic equipment £5,000.00 Insurance value Machinery plant and all other contents £61,889.00 Insurance value Ford Transit 115 Minibus- 15-sealer registered in 2010 £9,500.00 Purchase price 2017