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Annual report and accounts for the period
1[st] March 2024 to 28[th] February 2025
Reference and administrative details
Trustees
K. J. Everard (Chair)
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S. Abraham
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D. Muspratt
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J. Trott (appointed 12.11.24) I. Vessey
Registered address: The Street, Swanton Abbott, Norfolk NR10 5DU
Registered Charity number:1195565
Independent Examiner: R C Huddlestone, R Huddlestone Accounting Services, Valley farm Bungalow, Valley Farm Lane, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1LL
Bankers: Barclays Bank Plc, Leicester LE87 2BB
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Report of the trustees for the period ended 28[th] February 2025
The trustees present their report and accounts for the period ended 28[th] February 2025.
Structure, Governance and Management
Swanton Abbott Community Chapel is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation formed on the 19[th ] August 2021. The leadership team is made up of three unpaid volunteers, one of which is paid a small ministry allowance. The chapel remains an active member of Churches Together in North Walsham, an ecumenical group of churches, meeting regularly to encourage one another, and building unity across the different denominations locally. The chapel is also a member of the Evangelical Alliance. The chapel is registered for Gift Aid with HMRC. We are always grateful to all trustees and volunteers who give of their time voluntarily. The trustees continue to meet quarterly.
Aims and Objectives
Our primary objectives are to fulfil the role of a Christian church in the rural village of Swanton Abbott, promoting and advancing the Christian faith in the local area, and serving the community where we are.
Financial Results and Reserves
For the period ended 28th February 2025 there was income of £33749. Expenditure was £38088, and this created an excess of expenditure over income of £4339, which was taken from reserves. This is explained by substantial maintenance to the building which included a new floor and carpet, and a new heating system (partly paid for by a grant).
Despite the extra expenditure, we find ourselves in a healthy financial position going forward into next year.
Mission/Outreach/Community work
The chapel website and Facebook page are organically growing and improving. Our presence on Google and other websites where the public may be searching for a local church have helped new people join our congregation. We still post a monthly biblical Pause for Thought feature on the village Facebook group which provides a few simple thoughts on a topic. The chapel also writes an article in the village newsletter The Abbott, and in the local parish Kings Beck news, giving details of the chapel activities.
Welcome packs are delivered to all new occupants moving into the village, which helps us connect with new people, and these are always well received.
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day services continue to be good opportunities to invite the local community in, with special gifts for those who come. These occasions are linked to biblical truths.
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Easter was marked with a Easter crafts, kids and coffee morning when we served hot cross buns, had children’s craft activities, gave out chocolate eggs. Easter Sunday, we had a wonderful celebration service. We gave away chocolate eggs to the village, with Easter story booklets and colouring sheets for everyone!
We continue to have a variety of speakers at the chapel. We have themed weeks and short series. We endeavour to ensure our services are accessible to those with no church background but provide bible teaching for Christians also. We had external speakers from Compassion UK, Fisherman’s Mission, and Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Some examples of our themes have been Marvellous Mums and Daring Dads found in the bible, and what we can learn from their lives. We also journey through books in the bible eg the book of Acts, a series that is continuing into the next year.
We hosted a bring and share lunch and a harvest supper evening, with a quiz – both were well attended and brought people together.
Another Alpha course ran through the summer months. Our Alpha courses are an opportunity for local people to ask basic questions about the Christian faith.
In June, we were pleased to baptise three ladies by full immersion – the first ever baptism in the history of the chapel. A pool was hired in, and they gave testimony to how God has changed their lives.
The Village Revels fun day was held in June this year. The chapel took an active part, as chapel leaders helped in the set up, and compered the event.
The chapel supported the Norfolk Churches Trust annual bike ride. We opened for free refreshments and a much-needed toilet to all taking part in the bike/ride/walk challenge - a unique way to connect with lots of new people.
For harvest in September, we supported the North Norfolk Food bank harvest appeal, by being a collecting point in the village for anyone who wanted to donate food items and monetary donations, and several bags of food were dropped off at the food bank. There is now an ongoing basket at the back of the church for anyone wishing to donate throughout the year.
The chapel decided to take on the sponsorship of a child through Compassion UK, and now support Marvin in Uganda, corresponding with him regularly.
On the fifth Sunday of the month, our more informal, relaxed event/service is primarily aimed at those who have no church background. A couple of examples would be that we held a café style event with captivating testimonies from the Christian Motorcyclists Association, who brought 5 of their members with bikes on display at the village hall. September saw the visit of a Christian children’s entertainer John Hardwick, and he delighted all the children who came with his juggling, Cheeky Charlie the monkey, and his stories and cool songs. There was a Christian theme to his programme.
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For Christmas, the chapel leader, Jane Everard, once again launched a pop up community choir and many new people joined from the village and the surrounding area - a great way to bring people together and into the chapel.
A local four piece band (formed for the occasion) led our annual candlelit carol service. The community choir brought the message of Christmas in song. The choir also sang at The Goat Public House, in the next village, and they led carol singing around the village of Swanton Abbott. After the carol singing, the chapel was open for a social evening of community carols, mulled wine and festive treats.
Our illuminated crib scene outside the chapel raised awareness to the village of the true message of Christmas.
Our Christmas community charitable project involved collecting individual chocolate bars for the Mathew Project in Norwich, who support people overcoming issues with drugs, alcohol and mental health. These were wrapped with bookmarks and a bible message of hope at Christmas, and were presented to those finishing their recent recovery support programme. The village got involved with this too, dropping off chocolate bars throughout November.
Throughout 2024, we became the village collecting point for the recycling of empty printer cartridges and mobile phones. We also had two table top sales – raising a grand sum of £100 which we presented to the village hall committee.
We continue to make the building available to others in the community as appropriate.
The chapel looks to provide pastoral and financial support to individuals and families in need within the locality, as and when they come to our attention.
Twice a month, we run Coffee on The Corner, a café style community coffee morning. With free refreshments and home-made cakes, it becomes a place for those who could do with some company or who like to socialise, to meet others and make new friends. It serves as a cosy warm place for people to come to throughout the winter months. We offer a book swap facility, with quizzes on the tables, and a folder of useful contact information, health and medical leaflets and organisations offering advice and help.
Throughout this year, our congregation has grown on a Sunday, and we are very encouraged by the work God is doing in our midst.
Approved by the trustees on 7 May 2025 and signed on their behalf by
Kevin John Everard Chair of Trustees
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