**Abbey Chapel, Tavistock** ## **Annual Report 31st December 2022** **Introductory Note** Accounts attached are for the year 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022. They were independently examined but not audited. They were adopted at a Trustees meeting on 24th May 2023. Income was £26600 which is above the Charity Commission’s reporting threshold of £25,000. ## **Report on Progress** **1.** The Object of the Abbey Chapel charitable trust is ‘furtherance of the Christian religion’. This is achieved in several ways - through a program of meetings; by seeking to widen outreach in the local community; and by encouraging members to grow spiritually in the Christian Faith and to become engaged in the Chapel and as active Christians in both the local community and further afield. All these areas are considered in this report. **2. Meetings** are held on Sundays and midweek. They continue to be the main way of seeking to achieve the Charity’s Object:- (a) **Sunday Services** We meet for worship, prayer, and communion at a morning meeting which is open to the general public and held every Sunday. Attendance is gradually increasing to pre-Covid numbers. The Gospel is preached and taught based on studies in the Bible, as directed by the Holy Spirit. Most newcomers say they were drawn to us because they see a loving, caring Christian community where the Lord Jesus and the Bible are absolutely central. We have been studying our Statement of Faith as a series , as well as topics related to Christian living. Principally we draw upon our team of in-house preachers/teachers, but we also welcome several visiting preachers. Children, mainly babies and toddlers are catered for in a crèche on Sunday mornings during the service. (b) **Sunday lunches** are arranged fairly regularly, helping to draw in several unbelievers who are prompted to ask questions about Christianity, and have gone on to attend our church meetings and become seekers after the Lord. Older folk and young families in particular find these meetings congenial and welcoming. (c) **Midweek House Group Meetings** Three house groups meet for Bible study and prayer. They are currently studying Daniel, Zechariah, Proverbs, Jude, and Revelation. All groups meet together at intervals for combined prayer and to share progress and ideas on studies. (d) **Small group meetings** include a **Ladies meeting** and **Housegroups** are held during the week and are well attended. We have been considering the challenges of everyday life experienced by Christians, and there are opportunities to discuss and ask questions. A young peoples housegroup looking at creation is also held weekly. (e) **The Deacon’s Group** meets monthly to consider and to coordinate more effectively Chapel activities ranging from pastoral care to practical day to day maintenance issues. **Elders** also meet monthly to seek spiritual guidance in the teaching and nurture of members. ## **3. Other Matters** (a) **Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults** CRB checks are being kept updated for all those in church leadership roles, and for all those those involved in any contact with children or vulnerable adults We subscribe to Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) and we carry out DBS checks on personnel through them. The Chapel’s Protection Policy, and procedures for safeguarding adopted by the Trustees are in place. (b) **New Members** In response to increased numbers applying we have improved and formalised our procedures for considering applications for membership of Abbey Chapel, and for interviewing applicants. We have recently revised our pastoral arrangements to improve care. ## **4. Devon Connections** ## **(a) Street Pastors, School Pastors, Mentors, Police Chaplaincy** The Abbey Chapel continues as the base for **Street Pastors** who patrol Tavistock on Friday and Saturday nights as a most effective Christian outreach to the town’s ‘night economy’ and to visitors to the centre who make up a wide cross section of the community. Tavistock Police has been especially supportive. Numerous useful opportunities for sharing about the Christian faith have arisen. There is also an active **Daytime Street Pastor** patrol in the town on Friday and Saturday mornings and lunchtimes and this is a great way to interact with the public and has led to numerous conversations and help for those in need. Several members of Abbey Chapel are connected with this work. **College Pastors** who patrol Tavistock College in a similar way to Street pastors as a caring Christian presence, have been warmly welcomed into the College. They have established good contacts with students, teachers, and ancillary staff, and have been encouraging a peaceful environment. The **Mentors group** has also been welcomed by the College and is now in operation under the supervision of Catalyst (see below). Several of Abbey Chapel’s members are involved in all of these initiatives. **Police Chaplaincy** One of our members serves as Police Chaplain in the local area. (b) **Catalyst** , is a local charity which Abbey Chapel, along with other churches, helps to finance and direct. It supports Christian workers in both Tavistock and Mount Kelly colleges, and continues to provide very effective annual placements for three Christian University students to assist the main worker, Trudy Massey. The Mentors’ operation is also conducted under Catalyst’s supervision. The overall aim is to help guide children in need while assisting Christian outreach in both Colleges. 2 of 3 (c) **Foodbank and Debt Counselling Services** launched in Tavistock with the participation of the Abbey Chapel (which also acts as the training base for Debt Counsellors) continue to be even more in demand. Christian leaflets are passed on to clients when appropriate. (d) **TACT (Tavistock Area Christians Together)** is a group which enables Christians to share common experiences and support each other in the faith. They have been material in helping to launch the activities noted above, and serve as a link between the local churches to coordinate activities. (e) **Shekinah Mission** is a charity working with homeless people and those with addictions. Abbey Chapel continues to donate to the work. There are growing concerns about people falling through the ‘safety net’ as government cuts progressively impact upon the weakest and neediest in our society. (f) A weekly **Mother and Toddler** group is held each Thursday morning in Abbey Chapel, in conjunction with Redeemer Church and welcomes many non church families to a warm, friendly and secure place to relax and chat. ## **5. Wider connections** (a) **In Britain** Various groups to which we subscribe provide valuable links with other Christians and Christian churches in Britain. They include: Street pastors and School Pastors (via Ascension Trust); Counties UK, and Prayer for Israel. (b) **Overseas** We support with financial contributions, and share contacts and information with several Christian Charities and individuals who help to keep us in touch with developments and needs. They include: **MAF** , who fly practical Christian assistance to the needy in remote parts of the world; **Compassion** - Chapel members support needy children from various parts of the world. 6. **Historic Buildings** We continue to welcome visitors to look around the historic Chapel Buildings (at no charge). Many coach parties of foreign visitors show particular interest. In addition, Tavistock Historical Society, who run free guided tours of the town, are delighted to stop and introduce people to the last intact portion of Tavistock Abbey, which is under our care. 7. **Public Interest Benefit** has been considered by the Trustees. It is met by the regular meetings held in the Chapel which are open to the general public; by our involvement with Street Pastors, School Pastors, and the activities noted above; and the historic buildings of the Abbey Chapel which are maintained by the Trust, and are freely available for public access. 3 of 3 ABBEY CHAPEL Re istered Number 1102448 ABBEY CHAPEL ACCOUNTS Accounts for the year ended Drtember 31st 2022 ABBEY CHAPEL Re stered Number 1102448 We appmve these accounts forthe year ended 3tst December 2022, set out on pa8es 4 to 6. and conffirn thot we retsined all relevant Records and intonnatKbn used In their preparatMM. MfRDBi Mr D LandrIL￿rni)e Mr D Sutcliffe .51 Date ABBEY CHAPEL Re istered Number 1102448 Balan￿ Sheet as at 31st December 2022 2012 2021 Flxed Assets Land & Property Musical & Other Equlpment FiKture5 & Fittings 250.CrfJO 4,277.39 3,672.32 250.000.00 4.639.72 4,896.43 257.949.71 259.53&15 rrent Assets Bank CurrentAccount Bank Deposit Account Prepayments 20.893.16 17,190.65 2000.00 10.782.10 17,02436 40m&81 27￿6.66 Creditor5 Suspense Account Live 58 Fund6 -351.53 -351.53 Balance Carried Forward 298W33.52 286991.28 Bakince Brou8ht Forward Surplus (Deficit) for year 286,991.28 11,042.24 287,878.34 1887.061 Balance Carrled Forward 298A13&52 286￿.28 ABBEY CHAPEL Registered Number 1102448 K¢wn¢ & Expet)dlture Actount 2021 INCOME Regular CollectlonslGlvln8 Spedal G)Ilectlons Uve 58 Donatlons 23.098.00 2,125.rxi 22JA9.40 W2> 22.089.40 Bookstall Sales Glft Ald Tax ReCo￿red Donatlon5 for use ol premlses Oth•r Donatlons Bank Interest 552.Q) L377.74 554.02 TOTAL INCOME 26.6CKI.74 22,643.42 EXPENDMJRE Bookstall Purchases Ath4ertI￿n& Includift8 website Electrlclty lrtsuraft Ratss & Water Repalrs & Renewals aeanln8 Prlnttni & Stsknery Telephone Refreshmeftts & Meals Commun1￿ consumables T•athln8 Atd$ & Musk and Ubrary Subxrfptlons Uc•nces Legal & Profe$51onal Fees Outreath, Ml551on & TRAC15 Transfer from Lfve $8 Fund Llvè 58 Fund Dlsbursed Sundry Expendlture. Bank CharBe5 Depredatlon 352.50 98.10 {2.(W.001 .si 590.76 1293.46 213.66 54.76 307.(M) 2.064.84 L303.51 573.83 4.089.82 232.68 11.20 46S,77 508.23 $49.62 320.77 162.46 16.98 515.90 818.S8 210.16 131.27 )7.97 714.17 496.20 818.29 1351.531 351.53 282.85 81.50 IWA)4 96.LKI L103.72 Donatlonsto othercharltles & VAnlstries Caialyst 2,4(Ki.¢N) M1551onary Avlatlon Fellowship 12(rf).OD Compa$4on Chlld Sp¢)nsorshlps Benefldarfes of Spedal Collertk>fts' 8ene¥dence Vl>iin8Spe8kefslFu114imè workers Other Charttsble tlonavons TOTAL EXPENDITURE 2.400.00 1.200.1)0 672.00 i%o.r 98A7 i￿.00 7.OOQOO 58SO 23,530.48 rplus Ioeftclt) foryear 11.042.24 1887.061 ABBEY CHAPEL Re istered Number 1102448 Notes to the Attounts l Flxed Assets Mu4¢al & Other Flxtures & Ftttin 6 934.05 Land & Pro £ 250.000.IXI Total £ 271,461.32 797.60 As at 1st Janua 2022 Addltlons osals As at 31st December 2022 14 527.27 797.60 £ 250 I￿70.￿) 15 324A7 £6 934.05 £ 272,258.92 reclatlon s at 1st Janua 2022 Addltlons 05als ear 037.62 £ 11925.17 forthe As at 31st December 2022 1159.93 11.047.48 L224.11 3 261.73 £ 14,309.21 Net Bookvalue As at 31st December 2022 As at alst December 2021 £ 250,000.1)J 4 277.39 3,672.32 4 896.43 £ 257,949.71 £ 259 536.15 Spec1￿ G)Ilectl*JnS Collettlon for: Compasslon Sundry Donated Premlses Hlre 200,OLY* •nd 88se Recelved I(XJ.(5D 192.85 £282.85 Ebenezer MAF ortel Mlnlstrles Ukrblne Water Ald 260.00 500.09 75.00 300.00 150.OD Loo0.00 210.00 £2J60AIO 210.cil £2,125.(Kl Other Don•tlons Ilncomln81 None recelved durfn8 2022 Other Charftable Donatlon Orfel Mlnlstrles £500.00 Uve 58 Fund bro￿ht Forward Hardshlp Gtfts £ Carrled Forward 3SI.53 351.53 Ex lanato Note: L Th15 Is a fund that has be•n set up to recelve donatk>ns from members of the fellowshlp, not as regular 8lvln8, but as perlodlc sacrificial givln& re5pondlng to the call to live out15aiah 58. The fund is used to donate to emergency hardship needs. whether wlthln the fellowshlp. or natlonallyllnternationalty. lanato Note: Elettr5cl . The account wlth E-on Is currently In credlt, due to an overtharge by the supplier for usage and an incorrert VAT rate applied from 2020 to 2022. Hen¢e the negatbve cost and prepayment Of£2.0￿￿0 for 2022. ABBEY CIAAPEL R slered Number 1102448 CLmi&Jls Ba&ince Sheet Income & F.K￿mIl￿rQ Accourt I ha*t r¢vie*¢d Il* Jjwk R¢L'w(b. *xl ALx4jwli￿1 Iiwv4J4 ￿ swjplid fw Ahly (".hyl ti*r ihc ycar ￿Ing I I" [knm￿r, 202? liave tcoifvj ihem io be a txir LurnL¢ u(Ik Abbr* C.h¥KK4's Ily￿n¢ 5md th& Thi nliblts havc pr¢rthrcd Irnm thcfft rce