HERTFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

Registered charity 1131979 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

Advancement of the Christian faith according to Baptist principles by: regular worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching; the nurture and growth of Christian disciples; pastoral care; evangelism and mission locally, in the UK and internationally; education and training for Christian and community service; supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the UK and abroad.

Objects

THE PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH 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.

Area of benefit: UNDEFINED. IN PRACTICE, LOCAL

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Religious Activities · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: East Hertfordshire, East of England, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£345k

Latest spending

£392k

Registered

2009

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £46,997 for the year, primarily due to a significant decrease in designated funds. However, unrestricted free reserves stood at £321,505, which the trustees consider adequate and equivalent to just over 11 months of budgeted expenditure. The trustees and auditors confirmed that the charity is a going concern with no material uncertainties identified.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Regular Offerings (54% of income)

“Donations during the year of £185,320 were received through regular offerings.” — page 8

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: three months’ expenditure (reserves figure: £322k)

“The policy is that reserves of unrestricted funds (free reserves) should normally be not less than the equivalent of 3 months’ expenditure and not exceed 12 months’ expenditure.” — page 8

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Payments to trustees: 1 trustee was remunerated £12,948 (2024: £25,041) during the year for work not related to his role as a trustee. In total, all trustees, including pastors, were remunerated £123,414 (2024: £131,842).

“1 trustee was remunerated £12,948 (2024: £25,041) during the year for work not related to his role as a trustee. In total, all trustees, including pastors, were remunerated £123,414 (2024: £131,842).”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Donations from trustees and connected parties

“The total amount of donations received without conditions from trustees and connected parties was £35,647 (2024 £20,470).” — page 28

“A payment of £353 was made to the Laurel Education Trust (LET) for the hire of the Simon Balle School hall for a baptismal service. One of the Trustees of Hertford Baptist Church is also a Trustee of LET.” — page 28

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Payment to Laurel Education Trust

“The total amount of donations received without conditions from trustees and connected parties was £35,647 (2024 £20,470).” — page 28

“A payment of £353 was made to the Laurel Education Trust (LET) for the hire of the Simon Balle School hall for a baptismal service. One of the Trustees of Hertford Baptist Church is also a Trustee of LET.” — page 28

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by SCB (Accountants) Limited. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025

Volunteers: 85
Trustee benefits, answered Yes to: any trustee benefit; other trustee benefit

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024

Volunteers: 85
Trustee benefits, answered Yes to: any trustee benefit; other trustee benefit

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023

Volunteers: 85

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Claire Mabbett
Clare Macpherson
Dr David Elder
Hannah Harding
Helen Ruth Ward
Ian Martin Kittredge Davis
Michael Clifford
NIGEL ROBIN HOLLINGSWORTH · trustee of 1 other charity
Olufolahan Sanu
Rev Alan Ward
Sheila Miriam Knowles
Tim Simmonds

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Hertfordshire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£345k	£392k
31/12/2024	£278k	£398k
31/12/2023	£425k	£319k
31/12/2022	£268k	£284k
31/12/2021	£271k	£318k

Common questions

Is HERTFORD BAPTIST CHURCH financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £46,997 for the year, primarily due to a significant decrease in designated funds. However, unrestricted free reserves stood at £321,505, which the trustees consider adequate and equivalent to just over 11 months of budgeted expenditure. The trustees and auditors confirmed that the charity is a going concern with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by SCB (Accountants) Limited.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST BARNABAS, WINCHESTER	1	£20k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with BOTTESFORD BAPTIST CHURCH.

BOTTESFORD BAPTIST CHURCH income £38k
HORFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH income £76k
HEREFORD BAPTIST CHURCH income £164k
WINCHESTER BAPTIST CHURCH income £203k
BETHESDA BAPTIST CHURCH, ROGERSTONE income £158k
BRETTON BAPTIST CHURCH income £270k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
HERTFORD BAPTIST CHURCH	£345k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
BOTTESFORD BAPTIST CHURCH FY2025	£38k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
HORFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH FY2025	£76k	£16,500	0	above	—	no doubt
HEREFORD BAPTIST CHURCH FY2025	£164k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
WINCHESTER BAPTIST CHURCH FY2024	£203k	Under £50,000	0	within	—	no doubt
BETHESDA BAPTIST CHURCH, ROGERSTONE FY2025	£158k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.