Bell Restoration Fund Rules

(download the rules here)

1. The Fund shall be known as the Guildford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers Bell Restoration Fund.

2. The object of the Fund shall be to advance the Christian religion by providing financial assistance to the Churches of the Diocese of Guildford for the purpose of maintaining and improving their bell installations by making grants or providing loans to them. Maintenance and improvement of a bell installation shall be deemed to include the following:

a) taking out an existing ring of bells, supplying and installing a new frame and fittings, recasting the bells and erecting the same;

b) taking out, overhauling and reclappering existing bells, supplying and installing a new frame and fittings and re-erecting bells;

c) taking out existing bells, overhauling existing frame and fittings, recasting, or overhauling and reclappering same and re-erecting;

d) augmentation and bringing existing bells, frame and fittings into an adequate state of repair;

e) other repairs to bells, frames, fittings and towers;

f) the provision of new or repair of existing sound control installations;

g) the provision of bells, frame and fittings and erection of same in Churches which previously had none;

h) the acquisition of bells from Churches within the Diocese declared redundant, for subsequent redeployment and/or recasting.

3. The membership of the Fund shall be that of the Guildford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers, hereinafter referred to as “The Guild”, as defined in the Rules thereof.

4.    a) The Fund shall be administered by the Executive Committee of the Guild, hereinafter referred to as “The Committee”.

b) The Committee shall have the power, after considering an application to it in writing, to approve a grant and/or a loan from the Fund and in the case of a loan to determine the terms on which such a loan may be provided.

c) The Committee shall have the power to appoint sub-committees which shall report back their actions fully and promptly to the Committee.

d) The Committee shall have the power to co-opt such persons as it considers necessary to assist in its deliberations. The number of co-opted persons at any one meeting of the Committee shall not exceed three.

e) The management of the Bell Restoration Fund shall be an item on the agenda of every meeting of the Committee.

5.    a) The Master, Secretary and Treasurer for the time being of the Guild shall be the Trustees of the Fund. The Treasurer and Independent Examiner of the Fund shall be the Treasurer and Independent Examiner for the time being of the Guild.

b) Such bank accounts as may be required shall be opened in the name of the Fund. Cheques drawn on these accounts must be signed by two of the Trustees.

c) Any outstanding monies in the hands of the Committee not required for the immediate purposes of the Fund shall be invested in any manner the Trustees may think fit in the best interests of the Fund.

d) The Committee and its sub-committees shall have the power to raise funds by any means they see fit as long as permanent trading is not engaged in.

e) The Fund shall be set up by the total transfer to it of the balance of those monies collected, made available or earmarked for Bell Restoration by the Guild.

6. A decision to dissolve the Fund shall be taken only by a general meeting of the Guild or by a special general meeting called for that purpose. If it is decided to dissolve the Fund, the assets shall be disposed of to either or between:

a) such charitable Bell Restoration Funds as the Guild may select;

b) the Diocese of Guildford for the religious and charitable purposes of the Diocese.

7. The Treasurer shall prepare a balance sheet as at 31 December in each year and an income and expenditure account for the year ended on that date which shall be examined by the Independent Examiner and presented to the members at the general meeting of the Guild first held after 31 December of the year in which the Fund’s accounts are prepared.

8. No alteration or deletion of these Rules shall be made so as to cause the Fund at any time to cease to be a charity in law. No alteration, addition or deletion shall be made except at a general meeting of the Guild or at a special general meeting called for that purpose when the number of eligible members voting in favour of the proposal must be double those voting against. Notice of any proposed alteration or addition to or deletion from these Rules shall be given to the Secretary at least 28 days prior to the date of any such meeting and must be signed by the proposer and seconder.