The fund is a registered charity with the registered number 264606
The contact address is:
4 Ferrybridge Green
Hedge End
Southampton
SO30 0JX
The fund is governed by rules approved by the Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers (the Guild) in General Meeting.
The trustees of the fund are the Guild Master, The Honorary Guild Treasurer, the Honorary Guild Secretary (post currently vacant) and two additional trustees one from each diocese, elected triennially by the Guild in General Meeting.
The trustees during 2025 were:
Mrs Rachael Barber (Guild Master, until June 2025 AGM)
Mr Peter Niblett (Guild Master, from June 2025 AGM)
Mr Alex Blissett (Honorary Guild Secretary, from June 2025 AGM)
Mr Robin Milford (Honorary Guild Treasurer)
Rev Canon Barry J Fry (Winchester Diocese area)
Mr David Mattingley (Portsmouth Diocese area)
The independent examiner of the fund is Mr Chris Ford.
The principal bankers are TSB Bank plc.
The activities of the Bell Restoration Fund are restricted to the area covered by the Anglican Dioceses of Winchester and Portsmouth. None of the Fund’s assets is a permanent endowment. There are no borrowing limits imposed in the governing rules. The trustees have no specific investment powers.
The main aims of the Funds are to provide financial assistance by way of grants to Churches, within the area mentioned above, incurring expenditure on the provision, maintenance or improvement of their bells and bell installations or acoustics, or for the maintenance of the fabric of their towers and belfries, to enable their bells to be properly rung in full circle.
The Fund’s income for 2025 increased very slightly compared with 2024, and the resources expended halved compared with 2025, because of several large grants last year. However, the resources expended still exceeded income so the funds carried forward decreased by 32%. A small correction of £4 has been made to the overstated peal fee income of £176.50 in the 2024 accounts. As the peal recorder’s bank account has been closed and peal fees are now paid directly to the Guild account, peal fees are now credited in the year in which the fee is paid rather than that in which the peal is rung.
The Trustees consider that current funds are sufficient to meet immediate needs, but costs are rising, applicants may have to pay VAT, and there are several potential schemes in the offing. It is likely that further fund raising will be needed in the near future if the current level of grants is to be maintained.
Members fortunate enough to have some spare money may wish to consider donating some of it to the BRF. Payments can be Gift-Aided if you let the Treasurer know about it. Members could make payments in their lifetime (when they can see the benefit), or in their wills, quoting the Fund name and Charity Number as given at the top of this report. Payments to charity may reduce the inheritance tax you have to pay, and if you leave 10% or more of the ‘net value’ of your estate to charity then the tax rate on some assets is reduced from 40% to 36%.
The Trustees would like to thank all those who have donated time, energy and money towards the aims of the Bell Restoration Fund.
The Trustees acknowledge, with thanks, donations from individuals including those in memory of Derek Jackson, David Atkins and Chas Seamons.
The Trustees also acknowledge, with thanks, donations from the following towers:
Catherington £200, Christchurch Priory £100, Hambledon £50, North Stoneham £250, Ringwood £60, Wickham £20
Three new grants totalling £15,000 were approved during the year:
| St Peter, Ropley (supplementary) | £2,000 |
| St Mary, Overton | £5,000 |
| All Saints, Dogmersfield | £8,000 |
Three grants totalling £11,300 were released during the year:
| St Mary & All Saints, Droxford | £1,000 |
| St Peter, Ropley | £10,000 |
| St Mary, Southampton | £300 |
Existing grants totalling £40,750 still outstanding from before 2025 are:
| St Mary the Virgin, Brading | £20,000 |
| SS Peter & Paul, Ringwood | £15,000 |
| St James, Bramley | £5,750 |
Unrestricted funds stand at £11,529.68, down from last year’s figure of £17,018.79.
The Trustees regularly review the level of reserves and wish to encourage use of the available funds. They aim to maintain reserves to cover expected future grants for at least a further twelve months. The reserves held satisfy that requirement.
A reminder to those applying for grants that the initial application needs to be with the Guild Treasurer at least 1 month before the Trustees meet. Trustees meet three times a year, before each of the Executive meetings and before the Guild AGM. Grants can only be approved at either the Executive meeting or AGM. Any approved at the Executive meetings are required to be ratified at the next Guild AGM. The forms required are to be found on the Guild’s website or can be obtained in paper form from the Guild Secretary. It is very important that all the documentation requested in the form is made available to the Trustees. If an application is sent by email then it should also be sent through the postal system. All applications are acknowledged so if no acknowledgement is received within two weeks then a chaser should be sent.
For and on behalf of the Trustees:
Trustee
Trustee
20th March 2026