## **BETHLEHEM EVANGELICAL CHURCH** **______________________________________** YSGUTHAN ROAD, PORT TALBOT SA12 6NE ## **Trustees Report April 2023 – March 2024** ## **[1] Purposes and Aims** The purposes of the church, as set out in the constitution are: - 1) The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarily but not exclusively within Port Talbot and the surrounding neighbourhood; and - 2) Such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the Managing Trustees, further the work of the Church. ## **Registered Charity Number:** 1171642 **Governing document: t** he Church’s constitution was adopted on 16th October 2012. The Church is an unincorporated registered charity. **Trustee appointment:** Prospective trustees are identified and recommended by the existing trustees to a Church Meeting of members for appointment as new trustees. **Custodian trustees:** no managing trustees hold title to any property or funds belonging to the charity. The Church Growth Trust (CGT) is the Church’s property holding trustee who hold the title to the Church premises and allowing the charity rent free use of the building in perpetuity. ## **[2] Activities** The Church met every Sunday throughout the period April 2023 to March 2024. Our services on Sundays were the focus of our activities. We continue to livestream our services, which are heard by up to 35 people each Sunday. Our main focus for these livestreams are those of our own church membership who are housebound, but others log into our YouTube channel regularly. The church achieved its purposes by continuing to meet regularly for prayer via Zoom video calls on Tuesdays and in-person meetings on Wednesday evenings. A fortnightly Coffee Morning continues on Wednesdays. These are open to all and provide a place to socialize and encourage one another, as well as a warm hub in the winter months. One new initiative has been a monthly meeting for men. This was started in response to a number of single men who have joined the church in the last year. It provides a place for them to meet and support one another socially and spiritually. We have continued to support one another through sickness, trials and bereavement. We supported in prayer, and through visits from representatives, several good causes such as: The Falconer Trust orphanage in Zambia, Romanian Ministries, Asia Link, the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, and Slavic Gospel Association. ## **[3] Public Benefit** Throughout this reporting period, the church has opened its doors to the local community in a number of ways: the worship services on Sundays are open to all; the Christmas Eve Community Carol Service is a highlight of the year. It was very well attended by members of the local community. The Pastor continues to serve as Chair of Governors in the local Primary School, and our links with that school continue to be strong. The school used the church for their Carol Services in December 2023. ## **[4] Membership and Volunteers** None of this would have been possible without the willing service of a number of volunteers. Many are from our membership (which numbered 30 in March 2024), but others are not members of the church, yet still give their time and energy to helping. A number of new people, both young and older, have started to regularly attend during this reporting period. ## **[5] Building Maintenance** The Building was maintained to a suitable standard. Gas Boilers were serviced, Fire and Intruder Alarms were checked under contract by ADT. The whole building was cleaned weekly under contract from a Swansea Cleaning Company. No major building work was necessary during the reporting period. ## **[6] Financial Review** During this accounting period (April 2023 – March 2024), income has been £49,227 and Expenditure has been £52,264 A Building Fund has been held in the BMM Account and this is used for Building Management and Maintenance. At March 31 2024 it stood at £429 **Payments to Trustees:** Rev Jeremy Bailey is the Pastor of the Bethlehem Evangelical Church, he is also a Trustee and the sole employee of the charity. Rev Bailey is not involved in setting his remuneration level which comprised salary and pension payments totalling £25,663 in the year (2023 - £25,160) **Reserves policy:** the trustees aim to maintain £3,000 in reserve, sufficient for one month of payroll costs. The current level of unrestricted funds of £2,292 is less than targeted so the trustees monitor cash flows monthly and aiming to build up reserves to a more sustainable level over the coming years **.** The accounts are set out at the end of this report in a balance sheet. The accounts have been duly checked by James Wynne, Independent Examiner, and the report is also attached. ## **[7] Holding Trustees and Managing Trustees** The Church’s property holding trustees are currently Church Growth Trust Manor Farm Barns 1 Baines Lane Oakham LE15 9HP The Managing Trustees are the Church Officers, currently they are: Rev Jeremy Bailey Mr Jonathan Morris (Treasurer) Mr Andrew Nicholas (Secretary) The Managing Trustees met 11 times in this financial year and at other times as necessary. They received a financial report from the treasurer, reported and decided on matters relating to building maintenance and discussed upcoming meetings and needs of the church. The Elders met monthly to pray and discuss the spiritual oversight of the church. **Approved by the Managing Trustees, Signed by Rev Jeremy Bailey on 23[rd] January 2025** B•tht•h•m Evang•lic*l Church, Sandfi•ld• Charity numbèr 1171642 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Ymr End•d 31 M#r¢h Un￿$tri￿d R95trided lunds £ Jnds £ 2024 2ts23 Donats"cns Gilt Aid Miscollan•ous incorm Bank Inl¢r¢si E 39.768.50 £ B,BS8.50 £ 6LMJ.00 £ 39.768.50 £ 8.858.SO 6CKJ.00 9400 £ 42.212.80 £ 7.491.48 800 00 13.04 94.ty) £ Total Re￿Ipts £ 49.227.00 £ 94.00 £ 49,321.00 £ 50,317.32 Paym•nts Salary Costs Pastoral vnrk utsirties and deaning Insuranc• 8uilding maintenance General exp8nthlure £ 31.O)9.37 e 31,009.37 £ 1,3(YJ.47 t 1,309.47 £ 11.613.11 £ 11,613.11 £ 1.651.21 £ 1,651.21 466.08 £ 4.500.IJO £ 4.966.0 £ 1.715.10 £ 1.715.10 £ 30.838.05 £ 1,385.14 £ 8.591.14 £ 1,698.81 £ 5.509.62 £ 2,931.51 Total p•ynxnts £ 47.764.34 E 4.500.00 £ 51264.34 £ 50,954.27 N•t of ￿•￿I9t￿¥M•nts £ 1.462.f6 -£ 4.4C6.00 4 1943.34 636 95 Cash funds lasl yèar end CAsh funds thi* yoprond 829.00 £ 5,988fM) e 6.817.C £ 2.291.66 £ 1,582.00 £ 1873.66 £ 7,453.54 £ 6,816.59 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND UA81LmES Balances at 31 Mwch 2024 24 2024 314lar 2023 31-M8r funds £ funds £ C•$h lund6 Community account Buibjing fund acco￿1 Total ¢ash lund• £ 2.291.54 £ 1.153.00 e 3.444.$4 429.fAI E 429.00 £ 2.291.54 £ 1.582LH) £ 3.873.54 £ 1.991.88 £ 4.834.71 £ 6,816.59 R•strict•d funds AccJJmuloi•d uns￿rnt don&￿.￿$ in supw ofr. Youth camp fijnd Buikling maintenance hjnd 2024 2L)23 t 1,153.00 429.00 £ 1.5B2.00 £ 1,153.00 e 4,834 71 £ 5,987.71 LlabllOll•$ •t >*ar end PAYE Itmrestnded funds) £ 1,246.CKI £ 1,346.24 Sign•d on b•haif ofth• trust••s by. 23 2tr25 ## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees and members of Bethlehem Evangelical Church** I report on the receipts and payments accounts of Bethlehem Evangelical Church (registered charity number 1171642) (“the charity”) for the year ended 31[st] March 2024, as set out on the following pages. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts and consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) but that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act - to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act - 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 Commission. 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 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 material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that in any material respect: - accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act, or - the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. James Wynne Date: 23 Jan 2025 54 West Farm Road, Ogmore by Sea, CF32 0PU