The Bridge Christian Fellowship Temple Fortune
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2023
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
THE BRIDGE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP TEMPLE FORTUNE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 54 Bridge Lane London NW11 0EH GOVERNING DOCUMENT Declaration of Trust dated 20 April 2009 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1130219 TRUSTEES Betty Hicks David Hicks Kyuwon Park Antony Pearce Daniel Bishop Clayton Wells Esther Ameyaw Dennis Wardle Christopher Beckingham BANKERS CAF Bank 25 Kings Avenue West Malling Kent ME19 4TA INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Ajay Rajani FCIE Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB INDEX Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-3 Trustees' Report Page 4 Independent Examiner's Report Page 5 Receipts and Payments Account Page 6 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Page 7-8 Notes to the Accounts
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THE BRIDGE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP TEMPLE FORTUNE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year.
Objects of the charity
In brief summary the Trust's objects, as set out in its governing document, are to:
-
a) advance the Christian faith and to undertake any other connected charitable work
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b) relieve sickness and financial hardship
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c) advance education
The charity seeks to achieve these objects through holding regular services for Christian worship open to the general public in Temple Fortune area of London NW11. The fellowship provides facilities for families, including Sunday school and crèche for babies.
In carrying out its activities in the year under review, the trustees have had regard to the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission, and are satisfied that the charity's activities are all for the public benefit.
Government
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Trust.
Trustees are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Trust Deed. Regular reviews are held to identify any expertise gaps within the Board of Trustees and appointments are made where required to strengthen the Board of Trustees, subject to all trustees’ approval.
Review of Activities
The church has continued to meet regularly during 2023, with a morning service at 11am and an evening service at 6.30pm. These services have been well attended and appreciated by those who come. The morning service has a Sunday school for children and a youth meeting for teenagers. Some new members have been added to the church. We have also continued to broadcast the services via livestreaming with good numbers visiting. Recordings of our talks are available on our website www.bridgelane.org.uk and are regularly visited by people around this country and abroad. We have held regular midweek meetings for Bible Study and prayer.
We have continued our evangelism when possible, with distribution of leaflets locally in Golders Green and in a wider region of north London and Boreham Wood.
We give regular support to a number of overseas ministries, involved in evangelism and Bible teaching, including in Bolivia, Papua New Guinea, Israel, Greece, Serbia and the USA.
The work has been overseen by our elders and deacons, who hold regular meetings to discuss the work and deal with any problems and arrange help for members with social or spiritual needs. We have kept the building in a good standard of maintenance. The finances of the church have been kept in order and we maintain a healthy reserve fund for the future.
Our work is open to the general public.
Financial Review
The Church continues to raise the funds that it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation. No wider public appeal was made for funds during the year. This year the charity received a legacy of £31,216, which helped increase income to £166,657 (2022: £121,437). This year’s expenditure was £111,872 (2022: £118,909) and the surplus for the year was therefore £54,785 (2022: £2,528).
The charity's cash balances at the year end amounted to £226,875, of which £5,650 was restricted.
The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted, are set out in the accompanying financial statements.
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THE BRIDGE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP TEMPLE FORTUNE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES continued
Reserves Policy
The Bridge Christian Fellowship’s policy is to ensure that it holds sufficient reserves (being unrestricted cash) to run the basic operations of the charity for a minimum of three months. At the balance sheet date, the Trustees estimate this would require reserves of £20,000. The Charity’s reserves at the end of the reporting period were above this level, at just over £221,000. This is significantly in excess of the minimum requirement and the excess is being held because the charity might need to fund accommodation for a potential church pastor in the future.
Trustees' Responsibilities
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:
Antony M Pearce
Antony M Pearce (Oct 21, 2024 11:11 GMT+1)
……………………………….
Oct 21, 2024 Date: ………………………………………
Antony Pearce - trustee
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
THE BRIDGE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP TEMPLE FORTUNE
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Bridge Christian Fellowship Temple Fortune ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2023 on pages 5 to 8 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees 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: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Ajay Rajani
Ajay Rajani (Oct 21, 2024 11:13 GMT+1)
Ajay Rajani FCIE Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
Date: Oct 21, 2024
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THE BRIDGE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP TEMPLE FORTUNE
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| Notes Receipts Gifts received Legacies received Interest received CD & DVD Sales Total Receipts Payments 2 3 Total Payments Transfers between funds Net Movement in Funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net receipts/ (payments) before transfers Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others |
Unrestricted Funds 120,858 31,216 1,477 99 153,650 88,345 15,888 104,233 49,417 - 49,417 171,808 221,225 |
Restricted Funds 13,007 - - - 13,007 50 7,589 7,639 5,368 - 5,368 282 5,650 |
2023 £ 133,865 31,216 1,477 99 166,657 88,395 23,477 111,872 54,785 - 54,785 172,090 226,875 |
2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 121,012 - 348 78 |
||||
| 121,437 | ||||
| 89,348 29,561 |
||||
| 118,909 |
||||
| 2,528 - |
||||
| 2,528 169,562 |
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| 172,090 |
The notes on pages 7 and 8 form part of these accounts.
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THE BRIDGE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP TEMPLE FORTUNE
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| A Cash funds Cash at bank Unbanked cheques and cash B Other monetary assets C Liabilities Fee for preparing and independently examining the accounts Amounts owed in respect of payroll Debts owed to the charity |
Unrestricted funds £ 189,989 31,236 221,225 - 1,140 2,172 3,312 |
Restricted funds £ 650 5,000 5,650 - - - - |
2023 £ 190,639 36,236 226,875 - 1,140 2,172 3,312 |
2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 168,475 3,615 |
||||
| 172,090 | ||||
| - | ||||
| 1,020 1,979 |
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| 2,999 |
D Assets retained for charity's own use
The charity does not own any property; the property used by the charity is leased from the Church Growth Trust for a peppercorn rent.
The charity owns some equipment and fittings; the current value of these assets is minimal.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf
| by | date ------------------------------------------ Antony Pearce - trustee ------------------------------ Antony M Pearce (Oct 21, 2024 11:11 GMT+1) Antony M Pearce Oct 21, 2024 |
|---|---|
The notes on pages 7 and 8 form part of these accounts.
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THE BRIDGE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP TEMPLE FORTUNE
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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.
Unrestricted funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. 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.
| Unrestricted Funds £ 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment & consultancy costs (see note 4) 57,746 Property costs (see note 2a) 9,054 Ministry (including guest speakers) 10,631 Maintenance of buildings & equipment 2,937 Administration 1,837 Accounts administration 5,121 Fee for independent examination 1,020 88,345 2a Property costs Rent Insurance Cleaning Water, electricity & gas |
Restricted Funds £ 50 - - - - - - 50 |
Total 2023 £ 57,796 9,054 10,631 2,937 1,837 5,121 1,020 88,395 400 899 2,238 5,517 9,054 |
Total 2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56,084 6,156 11,437 8,758 1,748 4,307 858 |
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| 89,348 | |||
| 350 838 1,673 3,294 |
|||
| 6,156 |
| 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Grants to support UK and overseas mission Amutat Mayim Chaim Chinam 1,500 Beit Halochem - Friends of Israel - Kehilat Haderech 1,200 Reasons for Hope 1,200 Stand With Us 300 New Tribes Mission 2,400 Nations Trust - Other smaller grants to institutions 509 Grants to individuals 7,300 14,409 Grants to help relieve hardship Barnabas Aid 571 To individuals 908 15,888 |
2,701 1,201 1,201 - - 1,100 - - - 900 7,102 455 32 7,589 |
4,201 1,201 1,201 1,200 1,200 1,400 2,400 - 509 8,200 21,511 1,026 940 23,477 |
4,800 - 600 1,700 1,700 - 2,900 1,000 2,640 10,556 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25,896 800 2,865 |
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| 29,561 |
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THE BRIDGE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP TEMPLE FORTUNE
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
4 Employees and consultants
Most of the charity's activities are carried out by volunteers. The charity employs Christopher Beckingham as a ministry trainee and Kyuwon Park as associate pastor; in addition the charity makes payments to another charity "Light for the Last Days" ('LLD') for Antony Pearce who serves as senior pastor. The following amounts were payable for their services:
| Antony Pearce: payments to LDD Kyuwon Park: employment benefits Christopher Beckingham: employment benefits Adjustments for amounts owing and for payments to other individuals |
2023 £ 12,877 29,053 15,552 (314) 57,796 |
2022 £ 12,877 28,656 15,552 (1,001) |
|---|---|---|
| 56,084 |
All three individuals also serve as trustees. The above payments were made for their roles as church workers (not for serving as trustees) and these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
5 Restricted funds
| Restricted funds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Support fund Hardship fund |
Brought forward 31 Dec 2022 250 32 282 |
Receipts 12,552 455 13,007 |
Carried forward Payments 31 Dec 2023 (7,152) 5,650 (487) - (7,639) 5,650 |
|
| 5,650 |
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