Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
Grace Bible Rugby Church
Charity Registration Number: 1164758
31 March 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statement
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Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
Legal and administrative information
Annual Report of the Trustees
Independent Examiner’s report to the Trustees
Statement of financial activities
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Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
Charity Name Grace Bible Rugby Church Charity Registration no. 1 164758 The Charity was registered with the Charity Commission on 08/12/2015 Registered Office: 61 Somers Road Rugby CV22 7DG
Aims and Purposes
The object of the CIO is, for the public benefit, the advancement of the Evangelical Christian faith in Rugby, Warwickshire and such other parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the charity trustees may from time to time decide.
Objectives
In running the charity and compiling this report, the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
The mission statement for Grace Bible Church Rugby states;
We exist to glorify God by preaching and teaching the Word of God, so that people are transformed into Christ's likeness.
Trustees The trustees who served during the period or who were serving at the date of this report were:
Name Date of appointment Timothy Simon John Atkins 08/12/2015 Thomas James McConnell 08/12/2015 Antony Michael Coote 01/05/2016 Claudio Marcelo Da Silva Farinha 05/07/2024
Key Management Personnel Those in charge of planning, directing, controlling, running and operating the Charity, including those members of staff are the Elders of Grace Bible Church Rugby.
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Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
Bankers Barclays Bank Plc 1 Churchill Place London E14 5HP Independent Examiner Christine Cheung-Poston Flat 48, Samford House Charlotte Terrace London N1 0JF
The Trustees submit their annual report and the financial statements of Grace Bible Church Rugby (GBCR) (“the Charity”) from the establishment of the Charity to 31 March 2019. The legal and administrative information set out earlier in this document forms part of this report.
1. Structure, Governance & Management
Trustees
The Trustees meet 4 times a year to discuss a full range of matters relating to strategy, project work, recruitment, finance and general administration. None of the Trustees receives remuneration for their remuneration duties. Trustees aim to maintain and, where necessary, expand this range of skills and experience through training.
The induction process for any individual newly appointed to the board of Trustees comprises an initial meeting with at least two of the Trustees (whenever possible one of these two Trustees being the Chair) and a written role description, referring to other key documents: • the Charity Commission’s guidance ‘The Essential Trustee’ • the Trust Deed of the Charity • the Charity’s financial position.
The Church is governed by the elders in accordance with its Constitution. The procedure for appointing new elders is set out in the Church Rules. Decisions are taken by the elders and communicated to the members of the church through church meetings or informal announcements at the Sunday services.
The Elders during the period of 1 April 2024-31 March 2025 were;
2 additional Elders were inducted into the eldership on the 26[th] of March 2025, namely Michael Saineti and Antony Coote (see below)
Rev Timothy Atkins (resigned as Pastor & Trustee on the 22[nd] of June 2024) Rev Thomas McConnell Jr Rev Claudio Farinha Rev Michael Saineti Rev Antony Coote
The elders met 6 times during the period 1[st] April 2024 – 31[st] March 2025
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Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
Staff
The staff who served either during the period or were in post at the date of this report are:
Name Title Timothy Simon John Atkins Pastor / Elder (resigned as mentioned above) Thomas James McConnell Pastor / Elder Claudio Farinha Missionary / Elder
1. Acknowledgements
Grace Bible Church Rugby is grateful to Christine Cheung-Poston for examining the accounts for 2024-25.
2. Aims and Purposes
The object of the CIO is, for the public benefit, the advancement of the Evangelical Christian faith in Rugby, Warwickshire and such other parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the charity trustees may from time to time decide.
3. Objectives and Activities
In running the charity and compiling this report, the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
The mission statement for Grace Bible Church Rugby (GBCR) states;
We exist to glorify God by preaching and teaching the Word of God, so that people are transformed into Christlikeness.
Accordingly, we have held weekly worship services that are open to the public which are advertised via the internet, social media, personal invitation flyers and word of mouth. These services have been streamed to enable people to participate from home. We have held weekly prayer meetings open to members and regular attenders. We are committed to encouraging as many people as possible to live out their faith within the community of Rugby and wherever else they may go.
4. Achievements and Performance
Worship Services
Public worship services have been held on Sunday mornings throughout the year. We continue to provide a livestream service for people who are unable to attend the service in person due to illness, holiday etc. Services are recorded and made available to the public via our YouTube channel.
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Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
As of 13[th] November 2023, these services have been held at Houlton School in Rugby or at the Griffin Primary School (when Houlton is not available). We also hire out Dunchurch Baptist Church for our baptism services. We began the church year with a week of prayer running from the 1[st] to the 7[th] of September 2024. Prayer meetings have been held in private homes twice monthly.
Special services have been held at Christmas for the benefit of the local community. These were advertised on our website and via flyers distributed to homes in area around the school building.
Training and Christian Growth
We have offered a 6-Part Evangelism Class which ran from the 14[th] of September to the 10[th] of Nobember. We also offered a 14-week class on the Fundamentals of the Faith which began on the17[th] of September to the 1[st] of March.
Pastor Cláudio Farinha has focused on shepherding and preaching, and Pastor Tom McConnell has been leading Grace Bible Academy, the Bible training part of GBCR, and leading GBCR free Biblical Counselling ministry, while working on a doctorate in Biblical Counselling which should finish ca. May 2024. Once Pastor Tom finishes his doctorate, we hope that this will enable the church to expand its current training capability and to broaden its scope. It will also make training available to a greater number of people than previously.
11th Anniversary
On 23[rd] February 2025, GBCR celebrated its 12[th] anniversary. We celebrated this special time with an international fellowship meal at the end of the service.
Future leadership
The Elders have identified several men who have potential for future leadership. The elders have been doing this for a few years and continue to test the Biblical qualifications of these men as well as their spiritual gifts.
Ladies’ Ministry
The Women of Grace group continues to meet to study the Bible and pray together. They have been meeting once a month on Saturday mornings. They also engage in discipleship and evangelism.
They went through a book about pride called “From Pride to Humility”
Men’s ministry
The Men’s Group continues to meet to study the Bible and pray together. They have been meeting once a month on Friday evenings.
They spent this year going through abook on resolving conflict called “Resolving Everyday Conflict”. They also engage in discipleship and evangelism.
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Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
Links to Churches and Other Groups
Tom McConnell continues to work as an elder of GBCR, and is a missionary from Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, USA. Tom is studying for a doctorate in Biblical Counselling through ‘The Master’s Seminary’ in Los Angeles, California which provides strong links with likeminded ministers in the US. He continues to be part of ‘The Master’s Seminary Fellowship’ group in the UK which meets monthly for prayer and encouragement.
Tim Atkins served as an occupational elder until the 22[nd] of June 2024.
Claudio Farinha transitioned as an occupational elder from the 1[st] of August 2024
GBCR has welcomed 8 visiting preachers and 2 other church members have assisted the elders in the preaching ministry of the church.
Pastoral Care
Cláudio Farinha focused on the pastoral care of GBCR by regularly visiting the members of the church. These visits provide an opportunity for counselling, teaching and mutual encouragement.
The elders continue to develop other members in the church to provide spiritual instruction, mutual encouragement, and growth through discipleship relationships.
The Martha Ministry has provided meals for families going through short term emergencies, e.g. bereavement, the birth of a child.
Biblical Counselling
The elders of GBCR and their wives continue to be certified through the Association of Certified Biblical Counsellors in the USA. Tom McConnell is the elder over this ministry and has been focusing on improving the Biblical counselling administrative and legal policies and structures. We have of members of GBCR that are at different levels of pursuing certification in Biblical Counselling through ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counsellors). One of those members has successfully become certified through ACBC.
Grace Bible Church Rugby continues to provide free counselling to those with spiritual problems, both locally and internationally. This has been advertised via the church’s website, the website of the Association of Certified Biblical Counsellors and by word of mouth.
Mission and Evangelism
During April 2024 – July 2024, Claudio and Nikki Farinha continue to serve on the Island of Madeira as missionaries preaching the Christian message. They continue their efforts to plant a new church and have shared the Christian message with thousands of people through 1-1 conversations, distributing Christian literature and hosting Bible studies. They have made a temporary return to Grace Bible Church Rugby, with Cláudio serving as an occupational elder from the 1[st] of August 2024.
While Cláudio is in Rugby, England, the church planting ministry continues in the island of Madeira. This ministry continues to be the auspices of GBCR. Once the new church is able to exist in its own right, the intention is that it will be made independent under Claudio’s pastoral leadership.
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Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
The Evangelism Team regularly visit Rugby town centre to bring the Christian message to members of the public through distributing Christian literature and engaging in 1-1 conversations. Other evangelistic events have also been organised, such a Family Christmas Service, and meals where the members of the church invite their neighbours, friends and family. Members of the congregation continue to tell others the message of the Christian faith as part of everyday life which continues to have a positive impact on the community.
5. Financial Review
Financial Activity and Financial Position
The statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet can be found on page 11 . The Charity have available cash of 110,562.29 at the year end.
It is the policy of the church to hold reserves as follows: Emergency Fund: £30,000.00. This has been drawn down to 0 for a temporary period as the church is in a transitional period.
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Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
6. Responsibilities of the Trustees for the Financial Statements
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Charity law in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of income and expenditure of the Charity for that period.
In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the activities of the Charity will continue.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the governing document. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Charity and financial information included in the Charity’s website.
7. Approval
The report of the Trustees was approved by the Trustees on 31/01/2026 and signed on its behalf by:
_________ Antony Coote Trustee & Elder (GBCR)
This report is made solely to the Trustees in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). My independent examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by the law, I do not accept responsibility to anyone other than the Trust and the Trustees for my independent examination, for this report, or the opinions I have formed.
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period (under section 144(2) of the Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
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Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
It is my responsibility to: • examine the accounts (under section 145 of the Act); • follow the procedures laid down in the General Direction given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act); and • state whether particular matters have come to my attention
BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
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:
- 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; or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
_________ Christine Cheung-Poston 31/01/2026
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Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
Statement of Financial Activities for the period ended 31 March 2025.
| FY 22-23 | FY 23-24 | FY 24-25 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | 90,907.02 | 104,781.66 | 114,404.05 | |||
| Voluntary | 90,610.94 296.08 |
103,436.07 1,345.59 |
111,185.88 3,218.17 |
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| Interest earned | ||||||
| Expenditure | -78,719.28 | -93,044.19 | -109,664.82 | |||
| Administration Costs | -3,209.38 -2,737.33 -31,631.69 -250.00 -17,516.04 -537.19 -1,960.73 -3,380.84 -2,917.08 -14,579.00 |
-4,098.75 -30,054.24 -29,877.47 -300.00 -1,603.37 -698.61 -2,227.04 -3,531.99 -1,486.92 -19,165.80 |
-3,436.75 -19,727.60 -49,897.95 -300.00 -494.80 -299.10 -2,430.07 -7,330.81 -1,413.90 -24,333.84 |
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| Church Life & Outreach | ||||||
| Employee Costs | ||||||
| Governance | ||||||
| Mission Events | ||||||
| Office Expenses | ||||||
| IT Expenses | ||||||
| Travel Expenses | ||||||
| Worship Expenses | ||||||
| Rent | ||||||
| Grand Total | 12,187.74 | 11,737.47 | 4,739.23 |
| Fund Movements | Fund Movements | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Balance 23-24 |
Closing Balance 24-25 |
Movement | |
| Restricted Fund | 22,642.95 | 32,321.52 | 9,678.57 |
| Building Fund | 17,278.78 | 17,575.67 | 296.89 |
| GBA Fund | 1,843.45 | 4,437.24 | 2,593.79 |
| Madeira Fund | 3,520.72 | 10,308.61 | 6,787.89 |
| Unrestricted Fund | 82,353.88 | 78,240.77 | -4,113.11 |
| Building Fund | 11,250.00 | 14,250.00 | 3,000.00 |
| Deacons Fund | 500.00 | 500.00 | 0.00 |
| Emergency Fund | 30,000.00 | 0.00 | -30,000.00 |
| General Fund | 30,603.88 | 51,240.77 | 20,636.89 |
| Maderia Fund | 10,000.00 | 12,250.00 | 2,250.00 |
| Grand Total | 104,996.83 | 110,562.29 | 5,565.46 |
At the end of the financial year, the Charity held £110,562.29 at the bank, of which £32,321.52 were for restricted purposes, see above table.
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Grace Bible Rugby Church
Annual Report and Financial Statement 2025
The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and drawn up on the cash basis accounting policy.
Trustees giving for the period amounted to £14,820.22 from one of the trustees via his company.
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