2025-03-31-accounts - Bethesda Free Chapel

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Bethesda Free Chapel

Accounts and

Trustees report

for the year 31/3/25

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: Because his mercy endureth for ever

Psalm 118:1

Charity Registration Number

1148620

Bethetsda Free Church

Accounts and Trustees Report 24-25
	Page
Contents	2
Charity Information	3
Trustees Report	4
Receipts & payments accounts	7
Independent Examiner’s report	12
Appendix1: AGM minutes	13

Bethetsda Free Church

Charity Information

Trustees Dr Stephen Boreland (Chair) Mr Bruce Willis Thompson (secretary) Mr Dionysios Trigkilidas (Treasurer) Mr David Boreland Mr Daniel Sheraton Mr Alan Baitey Mr Ian Cameron Mr Ricardo Hipolito Charity Number: 1148620

Address: Bethesda Free Church Tatham Street Sunderland SR1 2QB

Independent Examiner: Eric Southwick & Co Accountants 51 The Avenue Seaham SR7 8NS

Trustees Report

Introduction

The Trustees of Bethesda Free Church present their report and accounts for the period ended 31/3/25

These are prepared in accordance with the governing document, applicable accounting standards and the recommendations of Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities.

Objectives and principal activity

Our main objectives and principal activities as an organisation is to advance the Christian faith and promote the Gospel both in the UK and the rest of the world as the Trustees see fit and appropriate from time to time.

The Objectives are fulfilled by the following main activities:

Holding public worship services and meetings for the means of grace
Live streaming our services in order to reach a wider population both in the Uk and abroad
Prayer meetings
Bible study groups
Dedicated Bible school classes to help participants to get a deeper understanding of the Bible scriptures
Evangelistic meetings
fellowship meetings
Carrying out evangelistic work in the region.
Support by financial assistance four missionaries in different part of the world
Running dedicated youth clubs.

Achievements and performance

The church services are led by the Pastor and Assistant pastor and are supported by the Elders and Deacons. The church offers the following services:

The preaching of two public worship services every Sunday, morning and evening. These including prayer, the reading of God's Word, the preaching of a sermon, and sung praise.
Weekly administration of the Lord’s supper prior to morning family service
Weekly prayer meeting and Bible study every Tuesday evening.
Baptismal services to new believers as required.
Pastoral support to the congregation
Evangelism in the streets of Sunderland and dedicated evangelistic events and meetings
Fellowship meetings such as coffee mornings and Lady’s dinner meetings
Youth clubs for two different age groups where children of the community can come together to play and hear the word of God.
Bible school classes of three terms per year of 10 session each.

We try to reach the wider population of Sunderland and beyond by

offering a free live streaming of the main worship services.
Supporting four missionaries abroad.

Public benefit

Our services provide a public benefit to both the local communion and further afield by providing a place of public worship where people can fulfil their spiritual and religious needs either by attending in person or by watching and participating on line. Our fellowship meetings such as our weekly coffee mornings are a great opportunity for people to come together and talk over a cup of tea or coffee. This service is over great value to the more elderly and vulnerable people who me be otherwise isolated. By coming together in fellowship, it helps their mental health and well being. Our two different age youth clubs allow children to meet under supervision and have fun by playing and interacting with other children of similar age groups and learn about Christianity.

Our Bible school classes are open to any individual who has the spiritual need to learn more about the Bible scriptures.

Our doors are always open to the public and we strive to advance the Christian faith through public outreach and teaching ministries to as many members of the public, both at home and abroad, as we are able to reach.

Structure, Governance and management

Bethesda Free Church was registered as a charity on 17/8/2012. It is recognised by HMRC for gift aid. The trustees assess the need to appoint other Trustees when necessary and following open discussions and prayer in dedicated church officers meetings they bring the selected members to the congregation for vote. The church is governed by its constitution document which composes its main charity governing document. The following governing policies are also in place

Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Financial review

During the fiscal year the Charity’s:

total income was £ 73,127
total expenditure was £ 174,297
the net deficit was £ 101,170

The increased expenditure was driven to a large degree by necessary roof repairs to the church building of total cost of £70,493. This large expense together with increasing costs on utility bills and other services have pushed our expenditure up despite maintaining similar income to previous years. The expenditure is however forecasted to half in the next financial year.

The regular finances of the Charity, to a very large extent, are given by the members of the Church congregation. Much work is done voluntarily without financial recognition

The church owns the following properties

Bethesda free church (main church building) Tatham Street, Sunderland, SR1 2QB
John White Memorial Hall, 1 Flodden Road, Sunderland, SR4 0BU
40% of the re-sale value of 81 Hill Crest

This report has been approved by the Trustees on 2[nd ] of July 2025 and signed on their behalf by

Mr Dionysios Trigkilidas Trustee and Treasurer

Bethesda Free Church	Bethesda Free Church
Receipts and Payments Accounts
Year Ended 31st March 2025

Chapel General Fund
			2025		2024
Receipts			£		£
	Chapel Boxes(includingGif Aid)		62,153.00		60,477.00
	Refunds and Rentals		-		3,711.00
	Bank Interest		13.00		116.00
	Miscellaneous income		1,280.00
	Other Income		970.00

Total Receipts			64,416.00		64,304.00

Payments
	Grants and designatons
	Gifs	200		1,090
			200		1,090
	Ministry
	Pulpit Ministry	250		1,273
	Pastors Travel Expenses	2,068		885
	Pastors Salaries & Pensions	64,948		45,156
	Pastors Telephone	-		311
	Manse Expenses	632		600
			67,898		48,225
	RunningCosts
	Electricity	5,541		973
	Gas	7,700		7,938
	Water	458		925
	Ford Estate Mission	753		1,078
	Consumables	879		746
	Printng/postage/statonery	80		109
	Photocopying	1,080		1,389
	Telecoms	901		895
	You tube Internet	239		-
	Insurance	2,197		2,152
	Support Services	2,662		1,396
	Reach Programme	320		-
	PetyCash Payments	-		165
	Caretaking	5,925		6,086
			28,735		23,851
	Equipment	174		1,387
			174		1,387
			97,007		74,553

Surplus /(Defcit)for theyear			(32,591)		(10,249)

Transfers from other funds			-		-

Transfers to other funds			-		-

Fund balance start ofperiod			27,286		37,535

Fund balance at end of period			(5,305)		27,286

BEF fund		2025	2024
Receipts		£	£
	Gif	-	-
		-	-

Payments
	Insurance	2,197	2,152
		2,197	2,152

Surplus /(Defcit)for theyear		(2,197)	(2,152)

Transfer from General Fund		-	-

Fund balance start ofperiod		(2,152)	-

Fund balance at end of period		(4,349)	(2,152)

BHOMS Fund		2025	2024
Receipts		£	£
	Oferings	1,671	415
	Oferings(MissionarySocietes)	-	115
		1,671	530
Payments
MissionarySocietes		3,600	6,250
		3,600	6,250

Surplus /(Defcit)for theyear		(1,929)	(5,720)

Transfer from General Fund		-	-

Transfer to General Fund		-	-

Fund balance start ofperiod		(5,720)	-

Fund balance at end of period		(7,649)	(5,720)

Building Fund	Building Fund	2025	2024
Receipts		£	£
	Donatons	-	165
Payments
	Repairs/maintenance	71,493	8,195

Surplus/Defcit for theyear		(71,493)	(8,030)

Transfer to Renovatons Fund		-	-
Transfer from Hallgarth Fund		77,978	-
Designated from Thankofering		-	-

Fund balance start ofperiod		(6,485)	1,545

Fund balance at end of period		-	(6,485)

Future Ministry Fund		2025	2024
Receipts		£	£
	Donatons	1,841	2,352

Payments		-	-
		-	-

Surplus/Defcit for theyear		1,841	2,352

Fund balance start ofperiod		2,352	-

Fund balance at end of period		4,193	2,352

Renovatons Fund		2025	2024
Receipts		£	£
	Donatons	3,333	-
Payments
	Repairs/maintenance	-	-

Surplus/Defcit for theyear		3,333	-

Transfer from BuildingFund		-	-
Designated from Thankofering		-	-

Fund balance start ofperiod		-	-

Fund balance at end of period		3,333	-

Hallgarth Fund	Hallgarth Fund	2025	2024
Receipts		£	£
	Sale of Hallgarth	-	130,954
		-	130,954

Payments		-	-
		-	-

Surplus/Defcit for theyear		-	130,954

Transfer to BuildingFund		(77,978)	-
Transfer from General Fund		-	-

Fund balance start ofperiod		130,954	-

Fund balance at end of period		52,976	130,954


Capital Reserve Fund		2025	2024
Receipts		£	£
	Bank interest	-	-
		-	-

Payments		-	-
		-	-

Surplus/Defcit for theyear		-	-

Transfer from General Fund		-	-

Fund balance start ofperiod		31,748	31,748

Fund balance at end of period		31,748	31,748

Thankofering Fund	Thankofering Fund		2025		2024
			£		£
Receipts	Thankofering		1,580		-
			1,580		-
Fund balance start ofperiod			-		-

Unallocated at the year end			1,580		-


Cash and Bank balances			2025		2024
Chapel Accounts			£		£

Cash		-		-

Virgin MoneyCurrent account		-		639

Barclays Bank Current Account		44,855		145,672

Yorkshire Bank		31,672	76,527	31,672	177,983

			76,527		177,983
Fund Balances

Chapel Funds

Chapel General Fund		(5,305)		27,286

BEF FUND		(4,349)		(2,152)

BHOMS Fund		(7,649)		(5,720)

BuildingFund		-		(6,485)

Renovatons Fund		3,333		-

Future MinistryFund		4,193		2,352

Hallgarth Fund		52,976		130,954

Capital Reserve Fund		31,748		31,748

Bethesda Bible School		-		-

ThankoferingFund		1,580	76,527	-	177,983

			76,527		177,983

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Bethesda Free Church

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 , which are set out on the pages 1 to 6.

Respective Responsibilities of the Trustees and the Independent Examiner

The charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts . The charity's Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:
1 Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; 2 to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145 (5) (b) of the 2011 Act; and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner's Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters . The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair view'' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner's Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements (a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and (b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
• to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Adam James MAAT Eric Southwick & Co Accountants Ltd 51 The Avenue Seaham, Co Durham SR78NS Date: 06th May 2025

Appendix 1: AGM 2025 minutes 13