Bridport Christian Fellowship
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
BRIDPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 4-5 Kings Square East Street Bridport Dorset DT6 3QE GOVERNING DOCUMENT Declaration of Trust dated April 1991 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1002844 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Elaine Butcher MANAGING THE CHARITY Grant Butcher Jacqueline Edwards Robin Harrison (appointed April 2024) Carolyn Swadling Kelvin Weaver BANKERS Lloyds Bank plc Kingdom Bank Limited INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal and Administrative Details Pages 2-4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 8-9 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
BRIDPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year 2024-2025 as follows.
Objects of the charity
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a trust deed and is constituted as a trust. The charitable objectives of the Fellowship are the proclamation of the Christian Gospel as contained in the Holy Bible recognising Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, and bringing people to know Jesus by both public and personal witness.
These charitable objectives are realised through activities designed to build up the church. These include: Regular worship services; Prayer meetings; Clubs for all age groups, which are open to church and non-church attendees; House Groups and Bible Study groups, as a basis for mutual care and support; Outreach activities in Bridport town square and West Bay throughout the year, and especially at Christian festivals as a public witness.
Outward giving
We recognise a responsibility to support other Christian and charitable works world-wide, and therefore it is a policy of the Trust to provide financial support to causes that are judged as deserving by an appointed Giving Committee, the work of which is overseen by the Trustees. We aim to give away twenty five percent of our total income received from offerings and tax reclaimed on those offerings plus rental income from the flat and hall lettings. Approximately fifty per cent of our outward giving is applied to UK-based charities working overseas, the balance is applied within the UK particularly focussing on local needs. We also operate a food bank supplying local families in need, as well as offering a hot meal weekly to the homeless and people in need.
Governance
Responsibility for policy setting and the financial and legal decisions of the Charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to direct and monitor the activities of the Trust.
Responsibility for the spiritual direction of the church rests with the Eldership Team. New Trustees are appointed by the Elders and approved by the existing Trustees.
At the commencement of the year the Trustees were Mr Grant Butcher (Chairman), Mrs Carrie Swaddling, Mrs Jackie Edwards, Mrs Elaine Butcher, Mr Kelvin Weaver & Mr Robin Harrison At the commencement of the year the Eldership Team comprised of: Leading Elders David & Janice Collins, Ray & Carole Dobson as “Founding Elders”, assisted by Elders Theresa Gordon and Kevin and Sue Hillier.
Mr Dave Collins has continued in his paid part-time position as ‘Leading Elder’.
Church life
House-groups continue to be a key part of church life. Leaders of these groups have first responsibility for the pastoral care of those in their groups. It is however recognised that needs can arise for the provision of deeper care in ways that are beyond the scope of house-groups and their leaders. This kind of pastoral care is currently the responsibility of the Elders.
Bible Study, worship and prayer evenings are an essential part of our church life and are usually held on Sunday afternoons and evenings.
Worship meetings are held on Sunday mornings.
Social activities and fellowship meals are seen as an important means of building relationships and are usually held on the first Sunday of the month.
Page 2
Review of the year
The core activities of the Trust – meeting for worship, prayer, and Bible Study, plus outreach activities and acts of public witness appropriate to the season.
Worship services in church on Sunday mornings.
Occasional prayer meetings at various times of the week. Outreach (Pray & Chat) in Bucky Doo Square in Bridport Town happens regularly. House-groups meeting mid-week.
A feeding programme for the homeless started in February 2020 and serves a hot meal at the church on Mondays.
The Lord’s Larder food bank has been operating to meet local families in need.
A free Saturday morning Coffee Bar for visitors to the market is available weekly. Mother and Toddler group meet midweek. Christian films, open to the general public are shown occasionally. The Shed (men’s group) meets fortnightly and have breakfasts regularly. The Friday morning Art Group is very popular and is very well attended.
There are regular Ladies Group meetings some of which are used for outreach by providing craft workshops.
We continue to provide accommodation for a Ukrainian Family who have settled well into the community and the fellowship and are looking for a more permanent home.
We continued to receive income from hiring our premises to local groups and get a regular income from the residential letting of the flat in the “Headmaster’s House”. Last year we converted the lower floor of the ‘Headmaster’s House’ into accommodation for a Ukrainian refugee family for which we continued to receive a grant from the council.
We continue in membership of Churches Together in Bridport through which we work with other Bridport churches. The annual Christmas Lunch for needy or lonely people was held at the United Church. We were able to celebrate the usual Easter activity of the walk of witness with a service in Bucky Doo square and the Christmas nativity in St Mary’s Church. Services are held in the summer in West Bay on the Green outside St John’s Church. We are also members of the Evangelical Alliance.
We still maintain our association with the Ichthus Fellowship in London the leaders of which attend our church several times during the year, as well as our Elders attending their conferences. The Trustees have complied with their duty in the Charities Act 2006, Section 4, to have due regard to the public benefit and have closely followed guidance published by the Charity Commission in December 2008.
Thanksgiving
The work of the Trustees would not be possible without the enthusiastic support, generous financial giving and prayer of church members, and the blessings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the glory of Whom all our efforts are dedicated. We have also been overwhelmed by the love and provision of God our Father who has kept us safe and provided abundantly for our needs above and beyond our expectations.
Page 3
Financial review
2024-2025 financial year was challenging with income reduced and below budgeted expectations. Costs were also below budget but higher than income due to major remedial work which had to be carried out on the building. Outward giving was 29% of income.
Income decreased by £5,998 to £65,389. Expenditure increased by £18,013, to £83,763. Overall, the cash held by the charity decreased by £18,374, to £67,261, of which £64,762 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Reserves policy
Our agreed reserves policy states the amount of £40,000 should be held on deposit with Kingdom Bank in a Church and Charity Reserve Account, to cover any more unexpected costs relating to the maintenance of our aged building. At the year end the unrestricted cash on hand was £64,762.
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:
Grant Butcher
____ Grant Butcher (Dec 1, 2025 11:18:53 GMT) Grant Butcher Dec 1, 2025 Date:_____
Page 4
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
BRIDPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Bridport Christian Fellowship ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2025 on pages 6 to 9 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.
Archie McDowall
Archie McDowall (Dec 12, 2025 15:46:27 GMT)
Archie McDowall BA CA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Dec 12, 2025
Page 5
BRIDPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| Notes Income receipts Donations Gift aid receipts Other grants Rental income Charitable activities Other Capital and similar receipts Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Transfers between funds 5 Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Loans made Loan repayments |
General Designated Funds Funds £ £ 36,561 - 8,037 - 7,950 - 9,923 - 700 - 662 - 63,832 - - - - - 63,832 - 63,826 - 17,836 - 81,662 - - - - - 81,662 - 17,829 - 485 0 18,314 0 57,527 25,549 39,213 25,549 Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds £ 952 - - - 605 - 1,556 - - 1,556 942 1,159 2,101 - - 2,101 545 - 485 (60) 2,559 2,499 |
Total 2025 £ 37,513 8,037 7,950 9,923 1,304 662 65,389 - - 65,389 64,768 18,995 83,763 - - 83,763 18,374 - - 18,374 - 85,636 67,261 |
Total 2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Funds £ 36,561 8,037 7,950 9,923 700 662 63,832 - - 63,832 63,826 17,836 81,662 - - 81,662 17,829 485 18,314 57,527 39,213 |
|||||
| 41,527 7,455 8,200 10,708 1,827 670 |
|||||
| 70,386 | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| 70,386 |
|||||
| 47,565 18,185 |
|||||
| 65,750 | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| 65,750 |
|||||
| - - |
4,636 - |
||||
| - | 4,636 80,999 |
||||
| 85,636 |
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
BRIDPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| General Designated funds funds £ £ A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access 17,951 5,549 Notice deposits 21,261 20,000 39,213 25,549 B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity 2,712 - Other debtors 457 - 3,169 - C Liabilities Falling due within one year: Trade Creditors - - Fee for Independent Examination 1,050 - 1,050 - D Assets retained for charity's own use Freehold buildings: church and residential property Contents Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ 2,499 - 2,499 - - - - - - |
Total 2025 £ 26,000 41,261 67,261 2,712 457 3,169 - 1,050 1,050 Value 2025 £ - 143,021 143,021 |
Total 2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65,030 20,605 |
|||
| 85,636 | |||
| 3,212 457 |
|||
| 3,669 | |||
| - 1,002 |
|||
| 1,002 | |||
| Value 2024 £ |
|||
| - 127,697 |
|||
| 127,697 |
Current values have not been quoted for properties because reliable valuations are not available (disclosure is not mandatory).
The trustees have used insurance values for contents and equipment as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf
by Grant Butcher date _____Grant Butcher Grant Butcher (Dec 1, 2025 11:18:53 GMT) _____ Dec 1, 2025
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
BRIDPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 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 Employment costs Utilities and telephone Property maintenance Insurance Speakers Events and outreach Equipment Administration and support Governance costs Other costs |
Unrestrict | Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - ed Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - 942 - - - - 942 |
Total 2025 £ 11,688 12,082 24,523 1,867 1,172 942 3,420 5,360 1,002 2,712 64,768 |
Total 2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 11,688 12,082 24,523 1,867 1,172 - 3,420 5,360 1,002 2,712 63,826 |
||||||
| 9,250 8,653 12,779 1,589 1,503 565 2,353 6,034 1,260 3,580 |
||||||
| 47,565 |
| 3 Grants and gifts paid to others Organisations: Disasters Emergency Committee Organisations < £1,000 Individuals |
- 14,096 3,740 17,836 |
- - - - |
- 170 990 1,159 |
- 14,266 4,730 18,995 |
- 11,887 6,298 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18,185 |
Transactions with related parties
No payments were made to trustees or persons related to them, except for reimbursement of expenses paid out on behalf of the charity.
Page 8
BRIDPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 5 Movement of funds General funds Designated funds Legacy Restricted funds Friday Art Group Bible Society Feeding programme Mission giving Ladies Group Other Total funds |
Opening balance £ 57,527 25,549 83,076 1,891 - 482 - 186 - 2,559 85,636 |
Receipts £ 63,832 - 63,832 605 29 417 - 366 141 1,556 65,389 |
Payments £ (81,662) - (81,662) (942) (29) (502) - (327) (301) 2,101 - (83,763) |
Transfers £ 485 - - 485 - - - 325 - - 160 485 - |
Closing balance £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39,213 25,549 |
|||||
| 64,762 | |||||
| 1,554 - 722 - 224 0 - |
|||||
| 2,499 | |||||
| 67,261 |
The legacy was received in 2023 for the general work of the church. The Feeding programme funds relates to the provision of hot meals to the homeless and those in need.
Page 9