FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, BEDFORD CHARITY NO: 1064225
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
1 JANUARY 2021 – 31 DECEMBER 2021
To the Charity Commission.
Aim and Purpose
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Bedford, is a branch of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. As noted in our branch church Constitution and By-Laws our purpose is to promote the understanding and demonstration of truth as set forth in The Bible and interpreted in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.
Activities
The activities listed below are free of charge and open to the general public:
Church services
Testimony meetings
Sunday School
Reading Room
Saturday Morning Reading Group
Public lectures on Christian Science.
All our services are focused on healing and include Scriptural readings, prayer and hymns. We plan our activities bearing in mind the guidance on Public Benefit given by the Charity Commission under the heading “Advancement of Religion”. These activities are also in line with guidance given in the Manual of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Fundraising
Our activities are funded through church collections and individual donations. We do not employ professional fundraising organisations to raise funds for us . Since March 2020 collections have not taken place because the Church
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, BEDFORD CHARITY NO: 1064225
premises have been closed but individual donations have continued to be made.
How our activities achieve our purpose
Our Sunday morning services and Weekly Testimony meetings are designed to provide a reflective experience for the congregation which is conducive to healing. Readings from The Bible and Science and Health are chosen with the aim of deepening the appreciation of man’s relationship to God through greater understanding of The Bible. There is time allotted at the Testimony meetings for those attending to speak of the benefits of this greater understanding of God gained through their own experience. Every week several people will share how they have been helped through their study of The Bible and Science and Health.
Continuing to respect Government guidelines, our church remained closed to the public however both services and testimony meetings have continued using Zoom enabling our congregation and members of other churches to worship together, if remotely. Gratitude has been regularly expressed for the opportunity to meet online at these Services / Meetings which have continued uninterrupted throughout the year.
Our Sunday School, which is usually open to youngsters up to the age of 20 for Bible study and discussion has also been closed.
Our Reading Room on the Church premises is normally open to the general public for an average of 4 hours per week. This space offers visitors a quiet space in which to read, pray, study The Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. The Reading Room also operates a book shop and lending library and has a computer and lap top for online research. Healings and experiences are shared in the weekly publication The Christian Science Sentinel, the monthly Christian Science Journal and in various languages in The Herald of Christian Science. These magazines are published in the United States and are normally offered for sale in our Reading Room. Any profit generated by sales is returned to the Church and goes towards the upkeep of the building and to support the range of services to the public.
Mindful of continuing Government guidelines, our members decided to reopen the Reading Room to the public in October 2021. It was a joyful moment when the recently replaced doors opened for the first time and we were at
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, BEDFORD CHARITY NO: 1064225
home in our community once again. Our showcase had continued to be updated and refreshed throughout the year. Scriptural texts, passages from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and from Christian Science literature are displayed. Themed items are chosen with the intent to uplift, heal and comfort those in need. Particular attention is given to local, national and world events which need prayerful support. With our team onsite, this community service was made easier, and the ability to welcome visitors, answer questions and provide a quiet space for study, prayer and reflection has been welcomed by all.
The Saturday Morning Reading Group is an educational activity organised by the Reading Room. It has met regularly for many years and this year has comfortably lent itself to remote attendance, attracting participants from further afield. Attendees are currently reading Science and Health aloud – sharing ideas, inspiration and seeking healing insights from this textbook of Christian Science.
Lecture
We have not been able to offer an in-person lecture for the general public this year. This annual gift to the community providing a platform to explain how Christian Science can help in all aspects of daily life, will be offered as soon as circumstances permit. In the meantime invitations to online Christian Science lectures which have been held all around the world, have been shared with members and friends. A link to this information is included in our website to alert the general public to these opportunities to learn more about how Christian Science can help in all aspects of daily life, maintaining wellbeing by healing physical and mental problems.
The Church has a Care Committee which is tasked with maintaining contact with those individuals who are temporarily unable to attend Church services.
Our website has been enormously helpful in providing information about our activities and also a link to sites operated by the international Christian Science movement. The aim is to highlight the potential for healing as a result of deepening one’s understanding of God. www.christian-science-bedford.org.uk.
The activities of the Bedford Council of Faiths continue to be supported by Church and individual memberships. During this year links continued to be forged with other faith groups through attendance at meetings and in
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, BEDFORD CHARITY NO: 1064225
November First Church of Christ Scientist, Bedford, was represented at the Annual Festival of Remembrance. Faith groups were invited to share readings with those assembled, and we felt privileged to read the words of a hymn from the Christian Science hymnal focusing on brotherhood and peace.
R efurbishment project : Great strides were made throughout the year. Our auditorium has a polished floor, new chairs and an up to date audio visual system which has been carefully researched and will improve our offering to those attending services and meetings remotely. It is hoped our new-look Sunday School will soon be ready to welcome all-comers up to the age of 20.
The project continues to be funded through donations from members and from grants received from The Christian Science Trust in Great Britain, an organisation which exists to assist Christian Science churches to flourish by supporting projects of the above mentioned type.
Conclusion
We are a lay church with officers elected annually and serving on a strict rotational basis. The Trustees appreciate the work of all our Church family who contribute so much to the smooth running of the Church and its activities.
Christian Science is a non-medical religious healing system whose adherents rely on prayer for healing all conditions, but all those who practise it remain free at any time to choose medical treatment should they so wish.
The Trustees are deeply grateful for progress made in all our activities this year despite the prevailing conditions.
20.10.22
| lncome | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| 45,198 | 29,698 |
| 3,336 | |
| 2,149 | 2.899 |
| 47,347 | 35,933 |
| lncome | Expenditu re | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| General | Fund | 38,191 | 49,972 |
| Reserve | Fund | ||
| Reading | Room | )-710 | 2,197 |
| 52,169 |
| lncome | Expenditu re | lncomeExpenditure | lncomeExpenditure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4L,862 | 28,975 | GeneralFund | 38,191 | 49,972 |
| ReserveFund | ||||
| t,426 | 2,899 | Reading Room | 2,729 | 2,L91 |
| 43,788 | 31,874 | 40,920 | 52,1,69 | |
| 11,414 | Excess/(Deficit)oflncome over Expenditure | 11,,249 |
| YEARENDED31DECEMBER2O2L | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2,020 | 2,021, | |
| ?q(4? | TotalFundsB/f1January | 50,956 |
| t1.,414 | Excess/(Deficit)oflncome over Expenditure | 1,1,,249 |
| 50,956 | 39,707 |
| 2020 | 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collections | ||||
| Church andSundayschool collections | ||||
| 2,664.00 | Small DonationScheme(GASDS) | 1,265 | ||
| 8,845.00 | GiftAid(G)donations (collectionenvelopes | 9,510 | ||
| or directtobank | ||||
| 10,707.19 | lncomeTaxGiftAid Refund(Note1) | 2,911 | ||
| 22,210 | Total Gift Aid fromSDScollections,GAdonations | 13,685 | ||
| 20.00 | TheAidFund(Note2) | 110 | ||
| 55.00 | Hawthorne Trust(Charton Manor) | 145 | ||
| 25.00 | MountlansTrust(LimeTreeHouse) | 200 | ||
| CSPrinsChaplains'Committeee(2) | 225 | |||
| 76.00 | CSMotherChurch BostonUSA | 259 | ||
| 776 | Donations &CollectionsatBusinessMeetingsforabovespecified | 939 | ||
| Charities | ||||
| Other lncome | ||||
| 254.00 | Non-GiftAid donations | |||
| 2,300.00 | RefundfromE-Onovercharge onElectricitybill | 10 | ||
| 5,000.00 | WestminsterFundGift | |||
| 11,,766.00 | CSGrants | 23,556 | ||
| 79,470 | Total other income | 23,566 | ||
| Transfer(s)fromReserve Funds | ||||
| 3,336.00 | LeedsBuildingSociety(2) | |||
| Cambridge&CountiesBank | ||||
| 3,336 | Total TransfersfromReserve Fund | |||
| 45,198 | Total lncome | 38,191 |
| FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST BEDFORD EXPENDITURE FOR YEAR ENDED31DECEMBER2021 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | GENERALFUND (page2of2) | 2021 | ||
| 962 | Advertising(Web site) | 72 | ||
| 283 | Audit,Legal&Professional | 108 | ||
| 27 | CareDisbursements | |||
| 1,234 | Cleaner (net) | 1,361 | ||
| 860 | Committeeon Publicationprorate (Note3) | 510 | ||
| 176 | Donationsfromcollections (Note4) | 539 | ||
| 1,000 | Donationsfromchurch | 400 | ||
| DonationtoJointCSReading Room | 600 | |||
| 849 | Electricity | 420 | ||
| 530 | Gardener | 66s | ||
| 240 | PAYETax(Note5) | 127 | ||
| 1,098 | Insurance | L,238 | ||
| s60 | JCSRRlnternetNew Website | 180 | ||
| 159 | lnternetZoom annual charge | 1,44 | ||
| 261. | lnternetService Provider-Zen | 272 | ||
| 400 | DonationforLecture elsewhere | |||
| Maintenance &Repairs | ||||
| 1-89 | Safety & Security (Chubb Security) | |||
| 15 | HalogenTubesandGlobes | 16 | ||
| 864 | Drainage clearance | |||
| 1,068 | Total Maintenance&Repairs | 1b | ||
| 168 | 168 | Organists and Soloists (net) | ||
| PettyCash(6) | ||||
| 1.L1. | 1.11. | PostagePrinting&Stationery | t4 | 1.4 |
| Reading RoomCosts(Church) | ||||
| Quarterlies etc, new Hymnals | 414 | |||
| lournalCard | 43t | |||
| Gift Subscriptionsforperiodicals | 163 | |||
| 1,347 | Total GeneralFundTransferstoReading Room | 1,068 | ||
| Refurbishment | ||||
| 2,984 | AsperAttachedschedule | 41.,41.5 | ||
| 3,257 | Contractor- Westone | |||
| t2,820 | Contractor-Equibuild | |||
| 19,061 | Total Refurbishment costs in year | 41,415 | ||
| 1r7 | Sundries-CCLCLicence,Flowers and Subscription | 3s3 | ||
| 340 | Telephone | 343 | ||
| 182 | Water | 1.21 | 823 | |
| 29,O48 | 49,972 | |||
| 3,551 | Excess(Deficit)ofincome overexpenditure | - | 1,1,,18t | |
| 30,874 | OpeningBalanceBrought Forward | 34,437 | ||
| 34,43L | Closing Balancecarriedforward | 22,6s0 |
| READING ROOMACCOT]NT | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 sf, INCONIE |
2021 a |
||
| Incomefromsales: | |||
| 4i.00 | Audiomaterials | 0.00 | |
| 40.30 | Books | 77.30 | |
| 133I.60 | Periodicals including Quarterlies | t4t2.00 | |
| 0.00 | Goods&miscellaneous | 0.00 | |
| 1414.90Totalsales | 149,t.30 | ||
| II.00 | Donations |
0.00 | |
| Postagefrornsalesreimbursed | 0.00 | ||
| I1.00Totalnon-sale receipts | 0.00 | ||
| Items paidfor fromChurch funds: | |||
| 0.00 | CDsofsolosforReaders | 0.00 | |
| 276.42 | Giftsubscriptionsto periodicals | 233.51 | |
| 446.23 | Journalcard | 430.69 | |
| 0.00 | JSHOnlineforReadingRoom(4 months2020;3,20211 | 165.29 | |
| 0.00 | Quarterlies | 389.68 | |
| Textbook donation toHMP WoodhillChapel | 1t .70 | ||
| postageoftextbook | 3.8.5 | ||
| 722.65Totalpaidfrom Churchfunds | 1234.72 | ||
| ?14.55Totalincome | 2729.02 | ||
| EXPENDTTURE | |||
| CSPublishingSociety | |||
| 0.00 | Audiomaterials | 0.00 | |
| 0.00 | Books | 0.00 | |
| 446.23 | Journal card | 430.69 | |
| 73.02 | JSHOnlineforReadingRoorr(3months 2021,laln2.2) | vl.b) | |
| 2022.79 | Periodicals including Quarlerlies | t5tt.74 | |
| 347.25. | CiftsubstoHMP WoodhillandUnivBeds | 162.68 | |
| 2889.29TotalCSPublishingSociety | 2196.76 | ||
| Non-CSPSexpenditure | |||
| 9.50 | Purchases, other Reading Rooms | 0.00 | |
| 0.00 | Displayrnaterials | 0.00 | |
| 0.00 | Sundries | 0.00 | |
| 9.50Totalnon-CSPS | 0.00 | ||
| 2898.79Totalexpenditure Excess ofincorneoverexpenditure |
]]2516 532.26 |
||
| 1776.A9Openingbalancebrought forward | r025.85 | ||
| 19?i.8iClosingbalancecarriedforward | !$q.It |
| 2020 | 2021. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24,322 | PermanentLand&Buildingsat cost | 24,322 | ||
| 21,,1,45 | Fixtures&Fittingsat Cost | 21,,1,45 | ||
| 3,588 | Organat Cost | 3,588 | ||
| 49,055 Totalof FixedAssets |
49,055 | |||
| Replace Insurancecoverat3IDec2021 | ||||
| Building Contents |
546.589 35.490 |
|||
| 582,079 | ||||
| 49,930 | GeneralFund | 38"r49 | ||
| 0 | Reserve Fund | 0 | ||
| 49,930 | ChurchFunds | 38,149 | ||
| 1,026 | Reading Room | Funds | 1,55 8 | |
| 50,955 | TotalFunds | 39,747 | ||
| 100,012 | Fr-urdsandFixedAssets | 88,761 | ||
| 2,531 | ClosingStock: | ReadingRoom | 2,479 | |
| 102,543 | TotalAssets | 91,242 | ||
| CASHAND BANKBALANCES | ||||
| Church | ||||
| 49gio | Barclays CurrentAccount | 38,149 | ||
| 0 | LeedsBuilding | Society CharityLine | 0 | |
| 0 | CashinHand | 0 | ||
| 49,930 | 38,149 | |||
| Readinq Room | ||||
| 1,018 | Barlcays Currentaccourlt | l.-s20 | ||
| B | CashinHand | 38 | ||
| \426 | 1,558 | |||
| 50,956 | TotalFunds | 39,7O7 | ||
| Signed | :/:/tne | |||
| Signed | PI=*\ Zoz-Z |
| 2020 | 2021. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24,322 | PermanentLand&Buildingsat cost | 24,322 | ||
| 21,,1,45 | Fixtures&Fittingsat Cost | 21,,1,45 | ||
| 3,588 | Organat Cost | 3,588 | ||
| 49,055 Totalof FixedAssets |
49,055 | |||
| Replace Insurancecoverat3IDec2021 | ||||
| Building Contents |
546.589 35.490 |
|||
| 582,079 | ||||
| 49,930 | GeneralFund | 38"r49 | ||
| 0 | Reserve Fund | 0 | ||
| 49,930 | ChurchFunds | 38,149 | ||
| 1,026 | Reading Room | Funds | 1,55 8 | |
| 50,955 | TotalFunds | 39,747 | ||
| 100,012 | Fr-urdsandFixedAssets | 88,761 | ||
| 2,531 | ClosingStock: | ReadingRoom | 2,479 | |
| 102,543 | TotalAssets | 91,242 | ||
| CASHAND BANKBALANCES | ||||
| Church | ||||
| 49gio | Barclays CurrentAccount | 38,149 | ||
| 0 | LeedsBuilding | Society CharityLine | 0 | |
| 0 | CashinHand | 0 | ||
| 49,930 | 38,149 | |||
| Readinq Room | ||||
| 1,018 | Barlcays Currentaccourlt | l.-s20 | ||
| B | CashinHand | 38 | ||
| \426 | 1,558 | |||
| 50,956 | TotalFunds | 39,7O7 | ||
| Signed | :/:/tne | |||
| Signed | PI=*\ Zoz-Z |