# **Bethesda Evangelical Church Hay on Wye** ## **Charity Number 1182987** **Annual Return and Accounts for the Year Ended 31st May 2023** ## **Bethesda Evangelical Church, Hay on Wye** ## **Trustees Annual Report 2022/2023** ## **Bethesda Evangelical Church, Hay on Wye** ## **Trustees Annual Report 2022/2023** ## Charity Number 1182987 ## Charity Details Trustees: , Rev Gordon J Bingham, Paul R Sweeting, Jonathan P Lewis, Idris S Illingsworth, Jane Dodds Pastor: Rev Gordon J Bingham Treasurer: Jonathan P Lewis Secretary: Jane Dodds Charitable Position: CIO - ASSOCIATION Registered 15 Apr 2019 Charity Registration number: 1182987 Bethesda Evangelical Church Oxford Road Hay on Wye HR3 5AJ Powys Wales. ## Independent Examiner: Malcolm MacDonald 17 Park View Drive, Kidwelly, SA17 4UP ## Bank accounts: 27 High Street, Brecon LD3 7LF Current account: 52571939 sort code 53-50-31 Business Reserve: 52572501 sort code 53-50-31 Business Reserve: 52571947 sort code 53-50-31(Missionary Fund) 1 ## Name: Bethesda Evangelical Church, Hay on Wye. Registered: 15 April 2019. Organisation Type: Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Current membership: 17 ## Registered Purposes: The purposes of the Church are: 1. the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarily but not exclusively within Hay on Wye and the surrounding neighbourhood; and 2. such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the charity trustees, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness; the advancement of education; and the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life provided that the advancement of such purposes must be undertaken in a manner that is consistent with the Doctrinal Distinctives and Ethical Statements as may be adopted and amended by the Church from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Church Handbook. - Regular Activities in pursuant of purposes. 1. Public Sunday worship services: Each Sunday both our morning and evening services are open to the public for Christian worship, which includes, praise, bible reading, children’s address, bible teaching and fellowship. They happen each Sunday at 10.30pm and 6pm. Our evening service is at 6pm, and on the first and third Sunday evenings, Holy Communion is administered, 2. Weekly children’s bible club (ages 4 – 11): Monday at 5.45 we hold a children’s bible club which is open to any child of primary school age (called Energise) . We do games, crafts, quizzes, bible – stories and refreshments. At 7pm, we continue with the 11 to 16 year olds with a youth group – again there is a Bible talk, games and crafts this is called Ignite. 3. Midweek prayer meeting (alternate Wednesdays) : We meet as a local church for prayer and bible study, and then on the other Wednesday we meet in Home Groups. 4. Weekly toddler group: Each Thursday at 9.30am we hold a toddler group that is open to parents/ guardians who are responsible / caring for toddlers up to primary school age. We usually do refreshments and snacks along with storytelling, singing and crafts. 2 5. Hay Warm Welcome - every Thursday is a weekly meal served at the Church to anyone who needs a warm and nutritious meal. We offer takeaways and deliveries as well as an opportunity to sit in and eat a meal together. The food is provided by members of the community, and donations cover the fuel costs and any equipment. 6. Pastoral visiting (home and hospital visits): Providing care and pastoral support for church members and both regular and non-regular church goers. It is part of the weekly ministry of our church that people’s spiritual needs and well -being is cared for through pastoral visits. The pastor usual conducts all pastoral visits with support from the elders. 7. Primary school assemblies in 2 local primary schools: The pastor conducts assemblies in 2 local primary schools (Hay on Wye C.P. School and Clyro Church of Wales School. 8. Hay and Brecon Foodbank: Our pastor is also a local representative for the Hay and Brecon Food bank which provides vital food essentials to those who are struggling to purchase food. 9. Sunday School: We have a Sunday School which takes place during the latter part of our morning worship. 10. Tea and Chat – fortnightly activity in the Church for people in Hay who come for activities and crafts. Hay Festival outreach: In May, 2023, we had a refreshment tent and book display during the festival. We did this in partnership with other organisations, and held it over 4 days. We talked with people as they walked past to/from the festival, and offered tea and coffee. On the Sunday of the Festival, we held church services outside, which were open to anyone who wanted to join us. This year, we held an arts exhibition, and displayed poetry and crafts. Our outreach was supported financially by FIEC and Deo Gloria. Holiday Bible Club: Over 2 days before Easter, we held our Holiday Bible Club with over 40 children attending on both days. We played games, read the Bible, told stories, did crafts and played outside in a local play space. Cartref: holds Our pastor monthly service for elderly folk in the Cartref residential home. Building: We own our own church building which was modernised about six years ago and it now contains all our needed facilities, including ramp access and a lift to the main assembly room upstairs. We use TVs to display words for songs, hymns, and videos. We are thankful for many blessings in the past year with opportunities to share our faith. Attendances at worship services is around 30 to 35 in the morning services, and we have welcomed recently families and children to our services. We have held Christmas, Easter and Harvest services, as well as prize giving for the children. Additionally, we have taken children to Christian camps over the Summer months, and had our own Church camp in July at a local location. 3 Safeguarding: As specified in our Church Handbook, we operate a church safeguarding policy, which has just been revised and updated as of Spring 2022. All of the Trustees and Children’s volunteers have been trained in the policy. All those involved in activities with children have to undergo a DBS check which we carry out every 3 years ## Additional activities - Two social events were held in January and February focused on food and fellowship with an attendance of around 30 at each - A pizza evening was held where the young people made pizzas and raised money for their Summer camps 4 ## **Financial Report** For the whole financial year we have operated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). ## **Staff and Trustees** : The charity has one employed member of staff, this being our Pastor, Gordon Bingham. Many activities are carried out by volunteers. Gordon Bingham, who is also a trustee of this charity, received a salary and pension benefits of £X in his capacity as pastor of the church. This is permitted by section 6.1 of the Church Constitution approved by the Charity Commissioners. No remuneration was paid to any other trustee during the year, nor to any person connected to them. ## **Financial Review** : Financially we have faced another very challenging year. Whilst our general income remained static although other income of £5,455 towards the evangelistic outreach at the Hay festival. Our expenditure increased during the year following the re-commencing of activities following the removal of Covid-19 restrictions. Our deficit for the year increased to £6,749 as against £6,138.in 2021/22. Again, this has impacted our reserves, which at the end of the financial year stood at £7,585. We no longer take up a collection at each service, but we do have a donation box in the vestibule. However, we would encourage those committed to our cause to set up a standing order and, if appropriate, to give using Gift Aid. Gift Aid continued to bring in over £5,000 for our funds again in 2022/23. We have resumed our Missionary support, transferring 5% of our offerings to our Missionary Funds which we use to support Christian Charities. We trust that in the Lord’s providence we may see conversions in the coming year and an increase in giving to the Lord’s work. 5 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independ•nt èxaffllnerf¥ rgport on tho a¢¢wnts Independent Examiner's Report Rwort to thfrtrust momb•r4 of ethesda EvangelKal Chur¢h Hay on Wy On ace¢wnts tsrthe y•ar end Chaty no Irf ￿y> 31 May 2023 1182987 $•to￿l)N p•go9 7l8 I tBport 10 the trustees on my ei8mifdKJn otthaarc¢uni$ ofthe *Dvecharty I'lho Trusri￿the yearended 31￿12023 Rospon8Ibll￿PB and AS Ihe¢hanty trustees of the Ttysl, yw are res￿￿*b￿fQrIhe preparation of the of roport accoun15 in ￿8￿¢¢WIth ihe rewirement8 oflhe Charl￿A¢1 2011 1'theAcYI. I repDrt in re¥pe¢i ol my examination of Ih8Tru$l's aCC￿￿nts Gatried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying oui my eX￿lA$hon. I have to1￿￿ed the 8pplubKg DiiectlOn5 given bythè Charity comm￿5￿)￿ under8e¢tion 14515llbl of Ik*A¢t. I have completed my examin•t￿n I corfimthal no m8krwg1 mBtters have Gometo my attention in connectioD wth th6 examination which giv05 me ¢auseto that In, any material re$pecl' accounting ￿￿OrdS were not kept In arcordanct with Se¢lic￿ 130 ofthe Act Independent •x4mln•f• statement t￿accOUnt5 do not accord with the a￿Jn11ng rwds I have no concern5 and havecomB acro$$ noother matters In connectIL￿ Wth th amir￿1￿￿ to ¥wh￿h attention Shou￿ be drawn in ordtrtO8n8bk 8 proper uni*rst8ndlng oftho ￿0￿nt410 be reached. SlgnBd.' 20110rd023 M81(J)Im M8cDona R&lovant profe￿I￿nal q¥•1M¢•￿0tt[8l or body Ilf •nyl'. Chart8red Member￿ In*ituteof Publ￿ Finance and Account8￿Y Fell￿* of the ass0¢iation of c0rtrf1edA￿fitants PraGtilionerofthe Instrtuie of Iniemal AudilDr5 Addmo: 17 P8y* Vi*w Orl¥o K￿WeIty SA17 4UP ||**Bethesda Evangelical Church Hay-on-Wye**|| |---|---|---| ||**Charity Number 1182987**|| ||**Year to**|**Year to**| ||**31-May-23**|**31-May-22**| ||**£**|**£**| |**Income**||| |Offerings|20,437|20,738| |Donations|1,427|488| |Gifts|135|0| |Gifts for SGA -Ukraine|0|391| |Gift aid|5,300|5,541| |Business Reserve Interest Gross|63|4| |Missionary account interest|3|0| |Other|5,455|0| |Refund Welsh Water|0|140| |**Total Income**|**32,820**|**27,302**| |**Expenditure**||| |Pastor salary + related costs|26,329|25,937| |Expenses|445|0| |Employer's pension costs|603|584| |Employment costs|**27,377**|**26,521**| |Visiting preachers|745|605| |electricity|691|346| |Gas|104|247| |Water|168|58| |Phone/Broadband|463|337| |Insurance|1,028|454| |Church expenses|1,242|2,562| |Office adm. /Intuit Quick books|557|511| |Hay festival outreach|3,143|0| |Children work|356|93| |CCIW camps|585|0| |Conferences|677|585| |Events|1,230|0| |ThirtyOne8 formerly CCPAS|145|230| |Christian Copyright licence (CCLI)|233|222| |SGA|300|469| |Tear Funds|250|0| |Mission other|155|0| |FIEC|120|200| |**Expenditure**|**39,569**|**33,440**| |**Deficit for year**|**6,749**|**6,138**| 7 |**Financial position at**
Opening balances
Deficit for year
**Represented by**
Current account
Business Reserve account
Business Reserve Missionary account|
**31-May-23**
**£**
14,334
6,749
**7,585**
177
5,912
1,496
**7,585**|**31-May-22**
**£**
20,472
6,138| |---|---|---| |||**14,334**| |||533
13,341
460| |||**14,334**| 8