GODALMING BAPTIST CHURCH

Registered charity 1187105 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as GBC

In fulfilling the purpose of the Church the Church will engage in a range of activities either on its own or with others that may vary from time to time with activities being initiated, expanded, or closed as appropriate.the activities may include but are not restricted to - regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching, and teaching- baptism, as defined by the Baptist Union of GB

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.

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

Causes: Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£385k

Latest spending

£190k

Registered

2019

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity recorded a surplus of £194,941 for the year, driven largely by a £241,209 legacy, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £2,043,310. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted cash balances of £410,598 comfortably exceed the stated reserves policy target of £50,000. The trustees acknowledge that operating at a deficit is not sustainable in the long term but confirm that resources are adequate to continue activities.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Donations and legacies (89% of income)

“Income this year is higher than usual as it includes a legacy of £241,209 from a church member.”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: £50,000 (held: £2.0m)

“The trustees consider that the ideal level of reserves is £50,000, approximately three months of regular expenditure.”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Going concern: noted by the trustees or auditor

“The trustees are aware that operating at a deficit is not sustainable in the long-term.They will continue to monitor the financial situation carefully.” — page 4

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Payments to trustees: One trustee, Jack Curtis, received remuneration of £3,292 and pension contributions of £336 in respect of his employment as Associate Pastor. Under the terms of his contract of employment, he was also provided with a laptop and was reimbursed his removal costs, at a total cost to the charity of £611.

“During the year one trustee, Jack Curtis, received remuneration of £3,292 and pension contributions of £336 in respect of his employment as Associate Pastor. Under the terms of his contract of employment, he was also provided with a laptop and was reimbursed his removal costs, at a total cost to the charity of £611.” — page 11

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Tony Bennewith is a director of Bennewith 2018 Ltd, which invoiced the church £6,360 during the year for bookkeeping and accountancy services. The balance outstanding at 5.4.25 was £nil.

“Tony Bennewith is a director of Bennewith 2018 Ltd, which invoiced the church £6,360 during the year for bookkeeping and accountancy services. The balance outstanding at 5.4.25 was £nil.” — page 17

“Donations totalling £23,510 were received from the trustees during the year and a further £5,300 was received from a charitable trust connected with a church trustee.” — page 17

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Donations totalling £23,510 were received from the trustees during the year and a further £5,300 was received from a charitable trust connected with a church trustee.

“Tony Bennewith is a director of Bennewith 2018 Ltd, which invoiced the church £6,360 during the year for bookkeeping and accountancy services. The balance outstanding at 5.4.25 was £nil.” — page 17

“Donations totalling £23,510 were received from the trustees during the year and a further £5,300 was received from a charitable trust connected with a church trustee.” — page 17

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). 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 handling
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
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Register events

Received assets from another charity (26/08/2020) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

ANTHONY JOHN BENNEWITH · trustee of 2 other charities
Andrew James Lucas
Jack Samuel Cooke Curtis
Malcolm Bowgett
Peter Alexander Barringer
Rev Peter Jackson
Stephanie Lucas
maureen Jones

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

Operates in: Surrey

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
05/04/2025	£385k	£190k
05/04/2024	£289k	£145k
05/04/2023	£289k	£145k
05/04/2022	£113k	£133k
05/04/2021	£120k	£118k

Common questions

Is GODALMING BAPTIST CHURCH financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity recorded a surplus of £194,941 for the year, driven largely by a £241,209 legacy, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £2,043,310. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted cash balances of £410,598 comfortably exceed the stated reserves policy target of £50,000. The trustees acknowledge that operating at a deficit is not sustainable in the long term but confirm that resources are adequate to continue activities. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Charities like this

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

GUISELEY BAPTIST CHURCH income £210k
CUSTOM HOUSE BAPTIST CHURCH income £159k
SOUTHBOROUGH LANE BAPTIST CHURCH income £0
CARSHALTON BEECHES BAPTIST FREE CHURCH income £320k
LLISWERRY BAPTIST CHURCH income £132k
BLOXHAM BAPTIST CHURCH income £124k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
GODALMING BAPTIST CHURCH	£385k	—	0	above	—	noted
GUISELEY BAPTIST CHURCH FY2025	£210k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
CUSTOM HOUSE BAPTIST CHURCH FY2025	£159k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
SOUTHBOROUGH LANE BAPTIST CHURCH FY2025	£0	—	0	above	—	no doubt
CARSHALTON BEECHES BAPTIST FREE CHURCH FY2025	£320k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
LLISWERRY BAPTIST CHURCH FY2024	£132k	—	0	below	—	no doubt

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