2023-12-31-accounts

Overview 2023 for The Bridge Baptist Church

The Bridge Baptist Church continues to grow, whilst we have only 13 people in formal membership, we welcome a Sunday Morning congregation of around 25 to 40 people.

In Spring 2023 we launched ‘The Welcome Course’ a six-session course aimed at welcoming people who have moved to the UK from Hong Kong. This course was advertised locally and attended by Hong Kongers and native Brits. The consensus was that we all learnt a great deal from each other and about British culture.

Last year we also gave a major focus to our Children and young people. In preparation for a new Sunday Club many from our congregation trained in Level 2 Safeguarding and several went on to have their DBS checks completed. We registered 10 children and in summer we started a regular Sunday Club called Mosaic which now meets weekly during the sermon slot. The children enjoy stories, games, activities, and songs as they get to know Jesus better.

-Regarding the ministry of the Church:

• We are now talking with several people in church about them joining us more formally and committing to membership.

• We have run a Baptist class and next year plan to baptise two of our young people which is an occasion we look forward to.

• We continue to run prayer events. (24-hour event in May, Reflective prayer evening for Maundy Thursday and a Prayer afternoon in Avent.)

-We have connected with our local community in a number of ways:

• A new group – Singing for the Brain, an Alzheimer’s Society initiative, started meeting in our Church. This group welcomes all and is particularly suitable for those living with Dementia and their carer’s.

• The group hosted a Christmas Fundraising event which we supported, and we managed to direct the Group leader to funding support.

• In Summer we ran an Afternoon Tea to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society which raised £300, and the church also donated £200.

• We also ran our usual Christmas Stall raising funds for the NSPCC which raised £770.

• We also collect food for a Local Food Bank and donate, probably two carrier bags of food as well as cash donations which we deliver to their distribution centre every two weeks,

-We continue in good relationship with other local Churches – joining together for an event to mark the week of prayer for Christian Unity, and meeting together outdoors in our town centre for a Good Friday Service.

-We are now very much a multinational congregation – welcoming people from people Hong Kong, Ghana, Scri-Lanka, The Philippines, India, and South America,

We have been keen to encourage inclusivity and access to all.

• We arranged a Cantonese speaking interpreter to enable one of our friends from Hong Kong to preach in Cantonese during a Morning service.

• We have some Bible Readings in Cantonese followed by the reading in English or displayed on our projector screen.

• We have compiled a folder with songs in large print for those who are unable to read words on the projector screen.

• We have a men’s group on Wednesday morning, mainly small repairs, cleaning, and a few games of Pool (I am not at liberty as to the actual time sharing of these three activities!)

• We hold a Bi-Weekly Tuesday group meeting in our Upper room for a time of fellowship, Prayers, discussions and are currently watching the Video “The Chosen”.

-In terms of the fabric of the building

• We have installed a new Lazer projector to provide a clearer picture for song words and videos we use, this did entail a rather copious amount of wiring etc.

• We have also installed a new wrought iron gate at the front of the building to compliment the wrought Iron railings to the frontage also replanted the garden area.

• We have lowered two large old brick pillars to the church frontage as well as repainted the access ramp into church.

-We are a giving church, as below.

• The Bridge Baptist Church continues to be a generous church ……and donated out of church funds to: Tearfund, Samaritans Purse, The Russell Trust, Community Food Bank, BMS World Mission, Shoe Box Appeal, Baptist Home Mission Fund, Alzheimer’s Society and to the NSPCC.

• It is always our intent to donate 10% of our Income to good causes or recognised Charitable Institutions.

THE BRIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023

RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

Note Receipts Weekly offerings Donations and other income 2 Income tax recovered on gifts Investment income 3 Total Receipts Payments Mission 4 Upkeep of Church Premises 5 Administration 6 Total Payments Net (Expenditure)/ Income for the Year Add Balance as at 31st December 2022 Balance as at 31st December 2023 7	2023 £ 4,318 13,052 3,266 743 21,379 2,951 25,376 8,812 37,139 (15,760) 54,450 38,690	2022 £ 3,196 77,633 3,239 179	2022
		84,247
		5,648 54,794 8,975
		69,417
		14,830 39,620
		54,450

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THE BRIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

1 Basis of accounts

These accounts have been prepared on a "receipts and payments" basis and in accordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011.

The Bridge Baptist Church registered as a charity effective as from 10th October 2019. It's activities commenced on 1st January 2020.

2 Donations and other income Gift aid donations Other donations Entitlement on closure of Stanton Hill Baptist Church Room hire 3 Investment income Baptist Trust interest Baptist Union Corporation Ltd interest COIF Charities dividends COIF Charities - increase (decrease) in value of investment 4 Mission Baptist Missionary Society Water Aid Sightsavers Shoebox Appeal Baptist Union fees Baptist Union donation Community Food Bank Russell Trust Tear Fund Samaritans Purse NSPCC Ukraine Appeal Alzheimers Society Portland Training College Rough sleepers Operation Smile UK Easter and Christmas expenses Safeguarding course 5 Upkeep of Church Premises Light and heat Water rates Cleaning New Projector Roof repairs New Front Gate and Railings Repairs and maintenance Gardening Insurance		2023 £ 12,152 75 0 825 13,052 404 5 81 253 743 500 0 0 0 67 0 200 262 250 500 205 0 200 0 0 0 637 130 2,951 1,406 184 840 7,219 5,724 5,000 2,163 708 2,132 25,376		2022 £ 11,379 415 65,499 340
				77,633
				454 0 81 (356)
				179
				600 600 600 650 78 600 800 0 900 0 0 300 0 100 20 400 0 0
				5,648
				1,444 105 0 0 47,000 0 3,514 590 2,141
				54,794

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THE BRIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS continued

6 Administration Telephone Pastoral Leader and support wages Speakers Licences Postage and stationery Accountancy Gifts and hosting Sudry expenses Website expenses 7 Balance as at 31st December 2023 Barclays Bank Current Account Baptist Union Corporation Ltd Cash-in-hand East Midlands' Baptist Trust Co. Ltd. COIF Charities Investment Fund (Market Value)		2023 £ 523 4,200 2,270 162 695 310 385 30 237 8,812 9,800 25,006 926 0 2,958 38,690		2022 £ 535 3,800 2,220 405 665 300 967 83 0
				8,975
				37,551 0 756 13,437 2,706
				54,450

8 Assets held for the Church's own use

The Church is the beneficial owner (subject to the relevant trusts) of the following assets, the legal title to which is held by the Church's custodian trustee (the East Midlands Baptist Trust Co. Ltd.).

• a) Church premises at Mansfield Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts. NG17 4FN Valued for insurance purposes at £2,202,626.

• b) The Church also owns fixtures, furniture and equipment with an insured value of £177,435.

9 Liabilities

There are no liabilities at 31st December 2023.

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THE BRIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31ST DECEMBER 2023

Note Assets Bank and other cash balances 7 Assets held for Church's own use 8 Total Assets Liabilities 9	2023 £ 38,690 2,380,061 2,418,751 NIL	2022 £ 54,450 2,271,054	2022 £ 54,450 2,271,054
		2,325,504
			3,000

The accounts and statement of assets and liabilities set out on pages 1 to 4 relating to the year ended 31st December 2023 are as approved by the trustees.

Signed …............................................................................. Mr. B. Tomlinson - Treasurer

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