BRIDPORT UNITED CHURCH ANNUAL REPORTS 2022-23
CHURCH SECRETARY’S REPORT
This year life at Bridport United Church has been gradually returning to normal, although inevitably some things have changed after the lockdowns. Some of our longstanding groups, such as Toddlers and the Friendship circle have not restarted in part because people have aged during the pandemic and no longer feel able to run these things. People are returning to services though and to things like the coffee mornings but these didn’t really return to prepandemic levels til the end of the year. The alternate form of worship “Soul Space” which happens in the afternoon of the first Sunday of the month is now coming live from the church with a congregation but is still available on YouTube. The circuit Sunday Zoom service continued for the first half of the year but was then discontinued as people returned to their own churches. The written weekly service is still being distributed to those who want it. The regular Wednesday prayer group relocated online remained there until this April, 2023.
The Superintendent Minister, the Rev. John Yarrien looked after Bridport United Church from September last year until a new Minister – the Rev. Jane Wilson -was appointed and came to us in September this year. We welcomed her with a service and BUC hospitality of tea and cake.
John was thanked for his ministry and pastoral care which very much appreciated, as was his gentle encouragement of everything which members wanted to do.
Churches Together in Bridport began having live meetings again in February and under their auspices the Rest Tent at the Melplash Agricultural Show was again running, organised by Peter Jenner, a part-time youth-worker in the circuit, and was very successful The Christmas Day Lunch was again run by the team assembled to run last year’s lunch at the United Church; without the covid restrictions it was much easier and was a really enjoyable occasion with carols being sung and food provided for nearly 90 people, including sending food back to those unable to come.
The Church Council team at the 2022 AGM were: Melanie Buckland; Gill Bumphrey; John Darwood; Sue Herman; Ros Hilliard; Peter Kershaw; Richard Plummer; Alison and Robert White. At the AGM Melanie Buckland, Gill Bumphrey; and Alison White retired, although Alison has remained as safeguarding officer. We were delighted to welcome three new Church Councillors: Jane Clinton, Wendy Plummer and Lyn Wells.
During the year the church has been saddened by the loss of a number of members but we have also welcomed some new ones.
Our Christmas Tree Festival was again the centre of Bridport Christmas. The committee decided to keep to fewer trees to give more space for people and also to restrict the opening hours as they were conscious that covid hadn’t gone away and we have an elderly membership.
In the summer a party was organised by a group of members to celebrate the United Church’s 50[th] Anniversary. It was held in the church and open to all and was a great success.
The Big Breakfast once a month has continued to grow in popularity and is a wonderful social event with people coming from all over to attend; our brilliant hostess and cook Ros with her helpers cook up to 90 breakfasts in two and a half hours! The lunch club started after the pandemic and is a great social occasion once a month with a wonderful 2 course home cooked meal for up to 60 people. The price is £5 but if anyone comes unable to pay then they are not turned away. “Warm Space” was also started every Wednesday from 12 -4 with home-made soup and toasties – no charge but donation if people could afford it. This was started in the new year in conjunction with the Town Council who were co-ordinating Warm Space initiatives in the face of fuel and food poverty.
Once a month the “Thursday Club” takes place – an afternoon for anyone to come and have a chat, enjoy some crafts, play board games, do a puzzle, knit – and have cake and sandwiches. This also has seen an increase in numbers and there is a real buzz there.
All our hospitality events are open to everyone in the area and it is very good to note that many people who come regularly to our weekly Wednesday and Saturday coffee mornings become involved in other aspects of the church’s life, whether as volunteers or as members. There is a great deal of loneliness particularly, but not exclusively, among older people and we give special thanks to those who are willing to give up so much of their own lives and hobbies to be part of the hospitality team. A big thank you to all who make up the various teams and who are willing to be called on at short notice.
The preschool functioned fully throughout the year and under Sarah continued to give children a really good start in education.
As always thanks also must go to our treasurer, Peter Kershaw, who has had the impossible job of trying to continue to pay the bills and carry out necessary repairs at Bridport United Church in spite of the loss of income during the pandemic. The finances are now improving as Lettings return. We are so grateful to Peter for continuing with his work in spite of serious health concerns.
Finally so many thanks again to Rev. John Yarrien who inspite of his already heavy workload as Superintendent of a large circuit of 13 churches spent so much time with this church, attended all our outreach activities, offered encouragement and help and was taken to the heart of the congregation with his pastoral care and kindness. We hope that he will be able to spend some time with us in the future and we wish gim well during his sabbatical.
And we hope, that under Jane’s leadership and enthusiasm and with her new ideas, our church will go forward and flourish and continue to hold a special place in Bridport.
Thank you to everyone who helps to keep our church functioning as a church and as a place of hospitality and friendship; Bridport United Church is a very special place.
Sue Herman
Church Secretary and Administrator
BRIDPORT UNITED CHURCH INCOME & EXPENDITURE @ BUC foi 2022 2022 Bud YEAR ENDING 310¢ De¢ember 2022 IINCOME Collections- Standing Orders and En¥elopes - Loose 25.120 31.917 L070 21,570 7,751 Donations to General Fund bLettings and Car Park 2021 Coffee Mornings Iinvestment Interest .Special Events.. Gift Day& F•yres .Christmès Tree festval Individual Donations to ModeTni5ation Fund iok 2,015 IHMRC Gift Aid- Tax Rebate 'Gift from South Street Proprtbts- 8UC buildin8 fflaintenance 7.663 io,c 79,272 IEXPENDITURE IURC M&M + Methodist Assessment 32,861 45 Ivisiting Preachers Choir & Organist Church Adrninistratlon, txdudln¢ Insur•nte Insurance 6.676 4.733 7.059 3.242 9.157 Heatin8 & Lightlng jCleanin8 jGeneral Repairs & Mainten•nce Sundrles PrintlTh8 & Statlonery |Donations'. ccfiB, YP & Bridqe 'Outre•ch Events.. CTF. ett Icontrlbutlon to Esstntial Reser¥*s iO.Lr 1.813 1214 74,983 Ternpor•ry Dlfference between CHURCH income & •xp•ndttur• 4,181 'Modernisation Pro Imodernlsailon Fund Donations 'BUC Gr•nls & VAT Refund Rectl ts to 31st De mber 'Modemi5t7tion Proiert Costs to 31st Decernr 20221poidJ UC In¥estm¢nt5 •A& G Inves¢rn•nts 4.8 1.8111 INet Cash at Bank131.12.20221 IBUC chqs not yet cleared on 31.12.2022 ',Value ol other convertable assets thodist Chapel Ald ntr Flftare eoard .1.653 1&76AI ,8X) IGrants & VAT refunds payable lo BUC in 2023-. e51irnattd Net Value @ 31.IZ22
BRIDPORT UNITED CHURCH: BALANCE SHEET as at 31.12.2022 2022 HSBC olc 01473565 41 Less Undeared cheques l(K1789 l(Y)795 lIX17) 162.LKI 150.( 498.95 ICQ793 95.rAI . I792 SS8.IXJ l(M)775 189.26 .L653 IL388 17,721 29.109 H58C alc 41439782 Oeposlt •¢unt$ MCA CF8 L811 In¥estments M&G Toi41 Assets 40,870 btlng.. Gener•1 Buildlng Tolal Movernenl in Ye•r ot• MSBC M& G InstM , M•thod•s¢ Chap•l ASd C•ntrnl FlnwKt 8o•nl
BRIDPORT UNITED CHURCH BANK ACCOUNTS 31-0ec-22 ,'BALANCE at HSBC BUC First Account BUC Administration A¢¢ount Plus receipts notyet bonked ty uedlted £17.720.78 £13,041.42 £0.( £30.762.20 Less cheques not yetpresented .£1.6i3.21 £29.108.99 £29,108.991 ALLOCATION of RESOURCES Combined General & Building Funds Iinvolces due for paymert | FUre 8ulldlng Works & Equlpment PplIeS i None at present 'Estimated remolnlnq cost oAre¢ommended works." £O.I £0.00 .a) Cash Balance remaini.. £29.W8.99 Methodlst Chapel Ald ', M&G Growth fund jcentral Flnance Board IReserv for 8UC OP•f•tirK tostsl £1,811.001 £4,890.C(J £5.060.00 £11,761.00,, E069.991 TOTAL. |Aver•8e recelpis.. ¢ollectlon or do10$ dlfért to bank per rwyrth.. É4.(MX) L•ss 6 months 8UC Op•r•tlw Costs IEstlm•t•) 36,000.00 .£36.000.OOj £4,869.99,, Estlm•ted fundi ¥•Shbk •fter m•ellni •ll BUCop•r•tlw !N8.' The flBures prded abm do not Include any addhlon•l URC Grants". the estimated v•lue of these surns being •round: £4,869.99
BRIDPORT UNITED CHURCH PREUMINARY BUDGEr YIE 2023 YIE 2024 YIE X122 INCOMÉ 31,917 L070 21,570 7,751 Collections b•s¢d on 2022 Misc. Donations to Generil Fund Lettlnis and Car Park Coffee Mornin85 Investment Interest 5peclal Events: Fayres, fyft Day Chri5trnas Tree Festival Ind5¥Wual Donations to Modernlswknn Fund Tax Rebate on comblned Gfft Alded Glft frorn South Street Propert6¢s.' BUC bulkllw m•iNenCe 17,SC(J 240 Lf4J5 2.015 7.663 79.272 £95.710 YIE 2022 EXPENDITURE 32,$61 45 URC M&M + Methodlsl Ass¢5srnent V151tln¥ Pre•¢hers Church Mu51c Incl CCLI Church AdmlThlstratlon 393 LX 676 4,733 Insurance 7.059 3,142 9,157 Heatln8 & L1•h CleaThln8 General Buildlni m•lnten•nce IlrKI VATI Sundiles Printlnl & 5t•tlonery DonaUon5.' ccfiB. YP & 8rld8e Contributlon to E5sentlal Rser¥ treach Events: F. etc iom) L5CO 12LTh) 1,813 74981 ÉS,9 C•%h •t 8•nk 31st December 2022 Vilue of other con¥ert•bl• •ssets 29,109 11,761 40.870 Gr•nts & VAT relunds p•v•ble In 2023 10 8UQ •stim•t•d 43.870 N8.. a ieserYeof6 mofttr& balk opera(0$ - 6•l•nte In Re5eThs £7.870
TO THE TRUSREES OF BRIDPORT UNITED CHURCH I have examlned all the papers and documents submltted to me. relating to the account of the above, and confirm that they reflect accurately the financlal positlon as at December 312022. Denys Hood. Bsc (Econl 10 February. 2023