REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 266869
THE SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS FOR THE DIOCESE
OF ST. EDMUNDSBURY AND IPSWICH
31 DECEMBER 2025
SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
CHARITY INFORMATION
| Charity registration number: | 266869 |
|---|---|
| Charity address: | 17 Jermyn Avenue |
| Bury St Edmunds | |
| IP32 7LJ | |
| Bankers: | Barclays Bank Plc |
| 4 Church Street | |
| Woodbridge | |
| Suffolk | |
| IP12 1DJ | |
| Accountants: | R & H Accountants |
| 1 The Courtyard | |
| Balls Farm | |
| Tye Road | |
| Elmstead Market | |
| Colchester | |
| Essex | |
| CO7 7BB | |
| Donations should be sent to: | T Hart |
| 17 Jermyn Avenue | |
| Bury St Edmunds | |
| IP32 7LJ |
SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
|---|---|
| Independent examiner's report | 1 |
| Trustees' annual report | 2 - 3 |
| Income and expenditure account - General fund | 4 |
| Income and expenditure account - Restoration fund | 5 |
| Income and expenditure account - Library fund | 6 |
| Income and expenditure account - Jubilee fund | 7 |
| Income and expenditure account - Pipe Family Trust fund | 8 |
| Income and expenditure account - The Adrian Kinights fund | 9 |
| Income and expenditure account - Handbell fund | 10 |
| Income and expenditure account - Golden Bottle fund | 11 |
| Income and expenditure account - Centenary Dinner fund | 12 |
| Statement of assets and liabilities | 13 - 14 |
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Suffolk Guild of Ringers
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on pages 5 to 15
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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2 the accounts do not accord with those records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
A E Rutherford FCCA R & H Accountants 1 The Courtyard Balls Farm Tye Road Elmstead Market Colchester CO7 7BB
Date: 31 January 2026
1
Trustees’ Annual Report for 2025
The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Charity
The Suffolk Guild of Ringers for the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich was registered with the Charity Commission on 10 December 1975, registration number 266869. The Charity's registered address is 17 Jermyn Avenue, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7LJ. It is governed under a constitution originally registered in 1977 and most recently revised in 2022.
Principal Objectives
The main purposes of the Charity are: to promote and encourage the practice of bellringing within the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich; to recruit, train and encourage bellringers in the practice of their art; to cultivate the art of scientific change ringing; to promote and advise on the preservation, renovation and augmentation of bells in an efficient condition.
Trustees
The Trustees during the period were:
From 1[st] January to 31[st] December: P M Ogden (Chairman); T P Hart (Treasurer); Rev D J Everett (Secretary) From 1[st] January to 26[th] April: K J Salter (Ringing Master) From 26[th] April to 31[st] December: J Colman (Ringing Master)
General Policies
The Guild has formulated the following policies, which are regularly reviewed: Safeguarding; Privacy; Bullying; Complaints; Equality & Diversity; Expenses; Financial Management.
Review of Progress and Achievements
Bellringing
Throughout 2025, The Suffolk Guild continued to meet its charitable objectives:
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Promoting & encouraging the practice of bellringing through the organization of ringing events across the four districts in the Guild, including Guild striking competitions held at Aldeburgh and Yoxford.
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Supporting the recruitment and training of bellringers, welcoming 43 new members throughout the year and supporting the installation of training bells at Ipswich Minster, complementing our existing teaching hubs: the long established Bardwell Teaching Hub, bellsashen Teaching Hub and Sole Bay Ringing Hub.
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Cultivating the art of scientific ringing through regular practices across the Guild and the successful scoring of 83 peals and over 600 quarter peals during the year
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Promoting the preservation of bells, recommending repairs and supporting restoration and augmentation through the work of the Bell Advisory Committee and Restoration Fund, more details of which are given below.
Our Ringing Master, Katherine Salter, stepped down as Ringing Master and Trustee. We thank her for her major contributions to the Guild.
Guild Finances
Summary
The Guild’s finances are healthy, with the general fund and restoration funds both increasing over the year. £13150 of our restoration fund was given to projects during 2025, with a further £1650 allocated for ongoing restoration work. A new fund has been created to manage the generous donation from the late Adrian Knights.
2
General Fund
The general fund increased in 2025. Income for 2025 decreased compared to 2024, with subscription payments and donations both reducing, the former associated with a return to normal of subscription payments after abnormal payment patterns in 2023 & 24. Expenses also reduced, with lower administrative costs recorded, resulting in a net gain for the fund.
Adrian Knights Fund
In January 2025, we received a very generous donation from the estate of Adrian Knights, a late ringer who passed away in December 2023. A separate fund has been set up to manage this donation and a working group, reporting into the trustees, has been created to ensure the terms in the will are met. The terms of the will specify that the money should be spent ‘for the purpose of augmenting existing rings of bells to eight or more’ . The working group have contacted all Guild members and all PCCs in Suffolk, asking towers to register interest in funding towards a potential augmentation. An initial list of potential towers has been created and the working group are in contact with the towers and bell hanging companies to determine feasibility, prior to presenting a short-list of options to the trustees & GMC in 2026.
Restoration Fund
During the year we had two requests for grants. Back on 20 Oct 24, the Guild offered £2K towards the refurbishment of the bearings, new pulley blocks and finally the repainting of the frame at Blythburgh. During the work, two of the clapper bushes were found to be significantly worn. The parish took the opportunity to deal with the issue and received an estimate of £1350 (plus vat) from Nicholson’s, who were carrying out the refurbishment. The rebushing was not included in the original work schedule and the parish approached the Guild for additional funding. The GMC unanimously recommended a further grant of £150.
The second application concerned Aldeburgh. In 1961, Aldeburgh’s bells were rehung in a new steel, 8 bell frame, 5 bells recast, and two new trebles added to make the new octave. The bells are a good musical set but spoilt by the 1622 William and John II Brend fifth bell, which was retained by the parish at that time. The PCC, plan to have their existing fifth bell replaced with a new bell and retain the old one as a clock bell. A recent inspection also revealed the rope pulleys are all heavily worn, adversely affecting the going of the bells and recommended that new pulleys be fitted.
The parish have decided to refurbish all the pulley blocks, at a cost of £1693 plus vat. The replacement 5th bell with new headstock is estimated at £12,251 plus vat. The work totals £13,944 plus vat, and the Guild unanimously recommended a grant of £1,400, £170 for the pulley’s and £1,230 for the bell. Unusually, Aldeburgh have not obtained thee estimates for the work. Taylors completed all the previous work and are the preferred contractors for this refurbishment.
In 2025, four projects came to fruition. The first was Drinkstone, 6 new recast bells in a new steel frame with sound control. Fornham St Martin’s original 6 bells have been transformed into a new eight bell peal, with sound control, new fittings, and frame. Blythburgh’s bell refurbishment was completed in the summer, but the bells have yet to be rung because of on-going building work in the church. Finally, the refurbished pulley blocks have been refitted at Aldeburgh, although the 5th bell has yet to be replaced.
Projects gaining momentum and likely to come to fruition in the foreseeable future include Copdock, Haverhill and Wetherden. Longer term projects remain Framsden, Hoxne and Thornham Magna.
Additionally, minor works including inspections, repairs and advice were provided by the BAC to over 30 towers in the county. BAC members freely give their time for such work and many towers generously provide a donation to the restoration fund after the work is completed.
Other Funds
The Library, Handbell, Golden Bottle, Jubilee and Pipe Family Funds remain broadly static.
P M Ogden Trustee & Chairman January 2025
T P Hart Trustee & Treasurer
Rev D J Everett Trustee & Secretary
J Colman
Trustee & Ringing Master
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SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| GENERAL FUND INCOME Donations Subscriptions Peal Fees Fundraising Report Advertising Sundry Sales LESS: EXPENDITURE Annual Report Members Accident Insurance Public Liability Insurance Property Damage insurance Handbell Insurance Administration Central Council affiliation Travel & Subsistence Hall Hire (Meetings) Striking Competition expenses Lapel Badges Ringing World Adverts Grants paid SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR TRANSFERS TO RESERVES To Restoration fund (note 1) Closure of Centenary Fund BALANCE AFTER TRANSFERS GENERAL FUND at 1st January 2025 GENERAL FUND at 31st December 2025 |
£ £ £ £ 1,575 2,082 10,251 12,060 738 624 - 194 205 205 6 30 12,775 15,195 597 844 793 793 390 390 107 107 152 156 591 1,196 269 126 163 911 372 197 448 0 0 0 49 25 3,000 6,930 4,743 5,846 10,452 5,495 6,342 0 67 351 4,042 20,058 16,016 20,409 20,058 2025 2024 |
|---|---|
| 597 793 390 107 152 591 269 163 372 448 0 49 3,000 |
|
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SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
RESTORATION FUND
| £ £ Income Gift aid tax recovered 1,963 Affiliation Scheme 1,245 St. Edmund Clapper income 0 Donations 1,205 NW Open Day - Interest Received (note 2) 4,136 Guild Meetings and Events 114 Jubilee Fund interest (note 3) 1,612 Vestey Ring donations 180 10,456 Expenditure Grants Approved in Year 1,550 Drinkstone inscriptions (NW Open Day money) - (1,550) Net income/expenditure 8,906 Coombs grant expired (returned from Allocated Fund) 0 Westhorpe grant returned from Allocated Fund - Transfer from General Fund (note 1) 5,495 Unallocated Restoration Fund as at 1 January 2024 73,787 Unallocated Restoration Fund as at 31 December 2024 88,187 Restoration Allocated Grants Income Transfer From Restoration Fund (i.e. Grants approved) 1,550 Expenditure Grants Paid (13,150) Net income/ expenditure (11,600) Coombs grant expired (returned to Restoration Fund) 0 Westhorpe grant no longer required (returned to Restoration Fund) 0 Allocated Grant Fund as at 1 January 2024 13,250 Allocated Grant Fund as at 31 December 2024 1,650 Total Restoration Fund as at 1 January 2025 87,037 Total Restoration Fund as at 31 December 2025 89,837 2025 |
£ £ 2,107 1,140 0 747 2,038 5,557 0 1,886 225 13,700 12,000 839 (12,839) 861 0 5,000 6,342 61,584 73,787 12,000 (5,600) 6,400 0 (5,000) 11,850 13,250 73,434 87,037 2024 |
£ £ 2,107 1,140 0 747 2,038 5,557 0 1,886 225 13,700 12,000 839 (12,839) 861 0 5,000 6,342 61,584 73,787 12,000 (5,600) 6,400 0 (5,000) 11,850 13,250 73,434 87,037 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 13,700 (12,839) |
||
| 861 0 5,000 6,342 61,584 |
||
| 73,787 | ||
| 12,000 (5,600) |
||
| 6,400 0 (5,000) 11,850 |
||
| 13,250 | ||
| 73,434 | ||
| 87,037 |
5
SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| LIBRARY FUND INCOME EXPENDITURE Misc. SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR LIBRARY FUND at 1st January 2025 LIBRARY FUND at 31st December 2025 |
£ £ £ £ 0 0 10 30 (10) (30) 197 227 187 197 2025 2024 |
|---|---|
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SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| JUBILEE FUND | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| INCOME | ||||||
| Donations received | 0 | 0 | ||||
| SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR | 0 | 0 | ||||
| JULBILEE FUND at 1st January 2025 | 36,218 | 36,218 | ||||
| JULBILEE FUND at 31st December 2025 | 36,218 | 36,218 |
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SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| PIPE FAMILY TRUST FUND | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| INCOME | ||||||
| Interest received | 35 | 46 | ||||
| EXPENDITURE | ||||||
| Grants | 0 | 0 | ||||
| SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR | 35 | 46 | ||||
| PIPE FAMILY TRUST FUND at 1st January 2025 | 1,058 | 1,012 | ||||
| PIPE FAMILY TRUST FUND at 31st December 2025 | 1,093 | 1,058 |
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SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
| INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 | |||
| THE ADRIAN KNIGHTS FUND | |||
| 2025 | |||
| £ | £ | ||
| INCOME | |||
| Donations | 259,487 | ||
| Interest received | 7,356 | ||
| EXPENDITURE | |||
| Grants | 0 | ||
| SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR | 266,843 | ||
| THE ADRIAN KNIGHTS FUND at 1st January 2025 | 0 | ||
| THE ADRIAN KNIGHTS FUND at 31st December 2025 | 266,843 |
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SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| HANDBELL FUND | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| INCOME | ||||||
| Donations received | 0 | 75 | ||||
| EXPENDITURE | ||||||
| Repairs | 0 | 0 | ||||
| SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR | 0 | 75 | ||||
| HANDBELL FUND at 1st January 2025 | 1,068 | 993 | ||||
| HANDBELL FUND at 31st December 2025 | 1,068 | 1,068 |
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SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| THE GOLDEN BOTTLE TRUST | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| INCOME | ||||||
| Donations received | 0 | 0 | ||||
| EXPENDITURE | ||||||
| Misc. | 0 | 228 | ||||
| Grants paid | 1,850 | 0 | ||||
| SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR | (1,850) | (228) | ||||
| GOLDEN BOTTLE FUND at 1st January 2025 | 3,037 | 3,265 | ||||
| GOLDEN BOTTLE FUND at 31st December 2025 | 1,187 | 3,037 |
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SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| CENTENARY DINNER FUND | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| INCOME | |||||||||
| Ticket sales | - | - | |||||||
| EXPENDITURE | |||||||||
| Transfer to General Fund on Closure | - | 67 | |||||||
| SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR | 0 | - | 67 |
||||||
| CENTENARY DINNER FUND at 1st January 2025 | 0 | 67 | |||||||
| CENTENARY DINNER FUND at 31st December 2025 | 0 | - |
12
SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
| CURRENT ASSETS CAF 12mth bonds CCLA/CBF General a/c CCLA/CBF Jubilee Fund CCLA/CBF Adrian Knights Fund Barclays Current Account District Cash in hand TOTAL ASSETS REPRESENTED BY General fund Restoration fund Restoration grants allocated Library fund Jubilee fund Pipe Family Trust fund Handbells fund The Golden Bottle Trust The Adrian Knights Fund |
£ £ £ £ - - 96,345 92,174 36,218 36,218 266,843 - 17,102 19,889 333 391 416,841 148,671 416,841 148,671 20,409 20,058 88,187 73,787 1,650 13,250 187 197 36,218 36,218 1,093 1,058 1,068 1,068 1,187 3,037 266,843 0 416,841 148,671 2025 2024 |
£ £ £ £ - - 96,345 92,174 36,218 36,218 266,843 - 17,102 19,889 333 391 416,841 148,671 416,841 148,671 20,409 20,058 88,187 73,787 1,650 13,250 187 197 36,218 36,218 1,093 1,058 1,068 1,068 1,187 3,037 266,843 0 416,841 148,671 2025 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 148,671 | ||
| 20,058 73,787 13,250 197 36,218 1,058 1,068 3,037 0 |
||
| 148,671 |
In the opinion of the Trustees, all of the Funds except the General Fund are restricted in nature.
Notes to the accounts
Note 1. 50% of the sum of subscriptions and peal fees is transferred to the Restoration fund.
Note 2. The total interest received from: the CCLA/CBF General fund, & CAF bonds has been allocated to the Jubilee Fund, Restoration Fund & Pipe Family Trust Fund and apportioned in the ratio of their respective capital sums. The Jubilee Fund amount has been passed directly to the Restoration Fund.
Note 3: The Jubilee Fund interest is transferred directly to the Restoration Fund.
Note 4: Transfer from General Fund to Restoration Fund, in line with Reserves Policy
13
SUFFOLK GUILD OF RINGERS
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
ASSETS
The Guild owns a number of gifted assets in addition to the various bank balances.
The main items (with approximate replacement costs) are:
| Handbells Library Vestey Ring Stock of lapel badges Other assets Grants - Approved and P Ipswich, St Clement Blythburgh Drinkstone Aldeburgh |
aid Approved Approved Previous Years This year 500.00 2,000.00 150.00 11,000.00 1,400.00 |
15,000 13,000 4,900 1,305 2,700 ` 36,905 Date Date of Grants Paid Grants Paid Grants Approved Expiry Previous years This year unpaid Notes 22/10/2017 22/10/2017 250.00 250.00 29/10/2023 29/10/2026 2,150.00 23/06/2024 22/06/2029 11,000.00 19/10/2025 18/10/2028 1,400.00 250.00 13,150.00 1,650.00 |
|---|---|---|
| 13,500.00 1,550.00 |
| Non-BRF Grants - Approved | and Paid | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approved | Approved | Date | Date of | Grants Paid | Grants Paid | Grants | Comment | |
| Previous Years | This year | Approved | Expiry | Previous years | This year | unpaid | ||
| SMLT Training Bells | 3,000.00 | 23/06/2024 | 23/06/2027 | 3,000.00 | - | General Fund | ||
| SMLT Training Bells Tech | 1,850.00 | 23/06/2024 | 23/06/2027 | 1,850.00 | - | Golden Bottle Trust Fund | ||
| 4,850.00 | - | - | 4,850.00 | - |
APPROVED:
We approve the accounts on pages 2 to 15 and confirm that the records produced, together with the information and explanations supplied to R & H Accountants, constitute a true and correct record of all the transactions of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025.
…............................... M Ogden
….................................. T Hart
…................................ Date:
….................................... Date:
14