THE BRIDGE CHURCH, CARDIFF

Registered charity 1180460 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, primarily, but not exclusively, within Cardiff and the surrounding neighbourhood; and other charitable purposes including but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness.

Objects

1. THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BASIS OF FAITH, PRIMARILY, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, WITHIN CARDIFF AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBOURHOOD; AND2. 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 CIO FROM TIME TO TIME IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHURCH HANDBOOK.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£374k

Latest spending

£193k

Registered

2018

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity held total unrestricted and restricted reserves of £673,028 at the end of the financial year, with unrestricted funds specifically at £302,404. The trustees consider there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. The charity's gross income for the year was £373,787, resulting in a net incoming resource of £180,423.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Payments to trustees: Trustee Rev Matthew Bownds received £42,869 in staff costs and £3,430 in pension contributions. Trustee Rev David Lawther received £33,587 in staff costs and £2,687 in pension contributions.

“Trustee Rev Matthew Bownds received £42,869 (2024:£39,270) in staff costs and £3,430 (2024:£3,307) in Pension Contributions in his capacity as Reverend of The Bridge Church, Cardiff in furtherance of the Charity's objects.” — page 18

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Trustee Rev Matthew Bownds received £42,869 in staff costs and £3,430 in pension contributions.

“Trustee Rev Matthew Bownds received £42,869 (2024:£39,270) in staff costs and £3,430 (2024:£3,307) in Pension Contributions in his capacity as Reverend of The Bridge Church, Cardiff in furtherance of the Charity's objects.” — page 18

“Trustee Rev David Lawther received £.33,587 (2024:£28,634) in staff costs and £2,687 (2024:£2,411) in Pension Contributions in his capacity as Reverend of The Bridge Church, Cardiff in furtherance of the Charity's objects.” — page 18

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Trustee Rev David Lawther received £33,587 in staff costs and £2,687 in pension contributions.

“Trustee Rev Matthew Bownds received £42,869 (2024:£39,270) in staff costs and £3,430 (2024:£3,307) in Pension Contributions in his capacity as Reverend of The Bridge Church, Cardiff in furtherance of the Charity's objects.” — page 18

“Trustee Rev David Lawther received £.33,587 (2024:£28,634) in staff costs and £2,687 (2024:£2,411) in Pension Contributions in his capacity as Reverend of The Bridge Church, Cardiff in furtherance of the Charity's objects.” — page 18

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Dr Thomas James Kellychair
Dr Mark John Hall
Dr Thomas Roberts
Jonathan Glyn Owens
Prof John Emyr Macdonald · trustee of 1 other charity
Rev David Robert Lawther
Rev MATTHEW BOWNDS · trustee of 1 other charity
Steffan Llyr Elis
Thomas Elliot Hocking

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Cardiff

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£374k	£193k
31/12/2024	£177k	£160k
31/12/2023	£188k	£151k
31/12/2022	£196k	£173k
31/12/2021	£168k	£130k

Common questions

Is THE BRIDGE CHURCH, CARDIFF financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity held total unrestricted and restricted reserves of £673,028 at the end of the financial year, with unrestricted funds specifically at £302,404. The trustees consider there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. The charity's gross income for the year was £373,787, resulting in a net incoming resource of £180,423. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
CATHOLIC TRUST FOR ENGLAND AND WALES	1	£50k
THE ALBERT GUBAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	1	£26k
CONGREGATIONAL AND GENERAL CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£20k
Kingdom Impact	1	£10k
THE GREEN HALL FOUNDATION	1	£4k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE CITY PARISH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, CARDIFF.

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE CITY PARISH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, CARDIFF income £112k
NEW LIFE CHURCH CARDIGAN TRUST income £291k
BETHESDA CARDIFF income £382k
FREEDOM CHURCH CARDIFF income £204k
ARCHDIOCESE OF CARDIFF-MENEVIA income £6.0m
THE CORNERSTONE CHURCH GROUP income £226k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
THE BRIDGE CHURCH, CARDIFF	£374k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE CITY PARISH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, CARDIFF FY2024	£112k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
NEW LIFE CHURCH CARDIGAN TRUST FY2024	£291k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
BETHESDA CARDIFF FY2025	£382k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
FREEDOM CHURCH CARDIFF FY2025	£204k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
ARCHDIOCESE OF CARDIFF-MENEVIA FY2025	£6.0m	£70,001 - £80,000	3	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.