2025-05-31-accounts - Bethesda Evangelical Church, Hay On Wye

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Bethesda Evangelical Church

Hay on Wye

Charity Number 1182987

Annual Return and Accounts for the Year Ended 31st May 2025

Bethesda Evangelical Church, Hay on Wye Trustees Annual Report 2024/2025

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: Jane Dodds

Secretary: Naomi Dixon

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)

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:

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
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.

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,

Weekly children’s bible club (ages 4 – 11): Monday at 5.45pm 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.
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.
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.

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.
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.
Primary school assemblies in 2 local primary schools: The pastor conducts assemblies in two local primary schools (Hay on Wye C.P. School and Clyro Church of Wales School.
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.
Sunday School: We have a Sunday School which takes place during the latter part of our morning worship.
Tea and Chat – fortnightly activity in the Church for people in Hay who come for activities and crafts.

Hay Festival outreach: In May, 2025, 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.

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 Service of Worship: Our pastor holds monthly service for elderly residents in the Cartref residential home.

Building: We own our own church building which was modernised about 10 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.

Safeguarding: As specified in our Church Handbook, we operate a church safeguarding policy, which was revised and updated as of Spring 2022. All the Trustees and Children’s volunteers have been trained in the policy. All those involved in activities with children and vulnerable adults must undergo a DBS check which we carry out every 3 years

Additional activities

A pizza evening was held where the young people made pizzas and raised money for their summer camps

Financial Report

For the whole financial year, we have operated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

Staff and Volunteers :

The charity had 2 employed members of staff, this being our Pastor, Gordon Bingham and a support worker, Miss Naomi Dixon (resigned April 2025)

The charity is also supported by a team of volunteers who support/assist our pastor. A number of our volunteers run a number of the charity’s activities.

Gordon Bingham, who is also a trustee of this charity, received a salary, expenses and pension benefits of £28,101 in his capacity as Minister 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 :

This year the Church has greatly benefitted from donations. £15,000 was received from an anonymous donation via Stewardship a registered charity who for over a hundred years have connected and served Christian giving to support appropriate causes.

We no longer take up a collection at each service, but we do have a offering 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 2023/24.

We have resumed our Missionary support, transferring 5% of our offerings to our Missionary Funds which we use to support Christian Charities.

Overall, there was a surplus for the year of £16,993 compared with a surplus of £20,369 for the previous financial year. At the year end the reserves stood at £44,947 compared with £27,954 at the end of the previous year.

We trust that in the Lord’s providence we may see conversions in the coming year and the giving to the Church enables all costs to be me ~~t.~~

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts SoGtion A Ind¢pgndont Examin8r'¥ RoPQrt Roport to th• trust••sl mèmbèrs of Bethesda Evangelical Church, Hay on Wye On a¢¢ounts for th¢ y•or •nd•d Charlty no (If any) 31 May 2025 1182987 Set out on pages 7&8 I report to the Iruslees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31 May 2025 Rèsponslbllltlos and basls As the charity Iruslees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the ¢f report ac£ounts in aCrdan with the requirements of the ChariliesAct 2011 I'lhe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of theAct. Ind•pond•nt •xamlnorfs ststom•nt I have completed my examination. I confirni that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in ac(xJrdance with section 130 of theAct or the accounts do not accord wth the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in CL)nnection with the examination to which attention should be drawn io.o[¢pr to enable a proper undgrstsnding of thg accounts to be re8¢hgd. 91312026 Sian@d: Malcolm MacDonald Relevant professional qualifi¢ation(sl or body (If any): Chartered member of bo Institute of Public Finance and Accountsncy Fellow of the Association of Cerbfied Accounlants Practitioner member of the Institute of Inlemal Auditors Addrgss: 17 Park View Drive, la¥kygJJy SA17 4UP

Bethesda Evangelical Church Hay on Wye Charity Number 1182987

Receipts Offerings Support church worker Gift Aid Interest Tea and chat Donations Hay Warm welcome Anonymous gift via Stewardship Hay Festival gifts and grants Gift from USA resident Gift from Machynlleth Church Other gifts and donations Forest Field fees Refund CCIW Total receipts Payments Costs of employees Expenses paid Employer's pension costs Employment costs Visiting preachers Electricity Gas Water Phone/broadband Insurance Church expenses Office administration /ituit Quick books Advertising Hay Festival outreach Hay Warm welcome Tea & chat Childern's work CCIW camps Conferences Events Thirty one 8 Christian Copyright Licence (CCLI) Mission other FIEC Payments Surplus for Year	Year ended 31-May-25 £ 31,209 9,240 12,208 442 171 1,800 15,000 0 0 0 129 780 0 70,979 35,788 1,214 1,129 38,131 712 1,162 296 166 445 1,188 1,517 2,107 783 967 1,311 545 568 190 1,913 0 311 268 1,406 0 53,986 16,993	Year ended 31-May-24 £ 29,129 0 5,115 185 4,278 1,695 15,000 1,250 3,187 1,000 1,087 0 150
		62,076
		27,183 289 629
		28,101 1,080 1,531 699 186 491 862 914 578 0 1,961 1,196 1,160 345 430 797 616 158 249 233 120
		41,707
		20,369

Malcolm MacDonald BA Econ CPFA FCCA PIIA Opening balances Surplus for year Closing Balance Represented by Current Account Business Reserve Business Reserve Missionary Account	As at 31-May-25 £ 27,954 16,993 44,947 2,287 38,766 3,894 44,947	31-May-24 £ 7,585 20,369
		27,954
		612 24,821 2,521
		27,954