**STRICKLANDGATE METHODIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT** 

## **1 SEPTEMBER 2023 TO 31 AUGUST 2024** 

The Aims and Objectives of our mission continue to be 

- to encourage a personal faith 

- to share a life of fellowship and mutual support 

- to reach out to the community in Christian service 

- to co-operate with other Christian churches 

These are in line with the Methodist Church nationally which seeks to respond to the 

## ’ Gospel of God s love in Christ. 

During the year being reported on, members have been encouraged to follow the Methodist Way of Life which encompasses the following areas: 

## **Worship & Prayer** 

All public acts of worship at Stricklandgate Methodist Church are open to members of the Church and non-members alike. The same applies to the teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups. A variety of preaching styles are offered by our minister, supernumeraries and local preachers. We have also sought to encourage members to participate by reading, leading prayers, playing instruments. Increasing age and infirmity of members has affected attendance at Sunday worship – is now around 45 _._ 

There continues to be a prayer space at the front of the church for people to use and a prayer chain that offers prayer on behalf of people in need. The Thursday afternoon meditation service, offering a quiet space, continues to attract a regular following of 1520-25, drawn from several different denominations (and none). 

Over the year we’ve continued to develop relationships with our sister church in Sandylands, sharing a joint newsletter and regular united services, plus a number of members have helped at Messy Church. 

## **Learning & Caring** 

This year has been a difficult one, as several people have died, become more frail or full-time carers. Membership at the end of this year (Aug 2024) was 95 members, a loss of 10. There were another 29 people on our community roll, plus 4 retired (supernumerary) ministers were part of our fellowship. 

Stricklandgate Annual Report 2023-2024 



Our pastoral co-ordinator has developed home worship sheets for people who can no longer attend worship physically and a communion service has been held in Wainwright Court, a supported living complex near the church. 

In June 2024 we were delighted to re-appoint our pastoral worker. The role has been a huge success and many have expressed appreciation of her ministry, It has been a particular blessing as so many have died/been unwell. 

There are 3 housegroups available where members meet in private houses to share faith and support each other on a weekly/monthly basis. 

During the early part of the year, some members joined friends at Sandylands and Anglican friends to look together at the Romans Course. It was challenging but all agreed worth looking at a similar course for 2025. 

Other groups that meet are 

Friendship Group (fortnightly on a Thursday afternoon, with a variety of speakers and a regular attendance of over 40, both church and non-church members) 

Stitchers (a space where church and non- church members can meet to share their crafting skills). 

## **Service & Evangelism** 

Throughout the year, the church has continued to support various charities around the world e.g. Karibuni Trust (from Marmalade Sale) and Tear Fund by twinning our toilets The church premises continue to be well used by community groups. 

There are active Rainbows, Brownies and Guides troops plus several choirs, a singing group for mums and babies meet on a weekly basis. 

Child Contact use the premises on alternate Saturdays to enable parents and children to maintain their relationships. The Well Community meets 2 mornings a week, supporting people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. The Church also provides accommodation for the South Lakes Talking Newspaper Association and a studio for a local artist. 

Stricklandgate is one of six Kendal churches that help fund a CAP (Christians Against Poverty) debt centre to provide drop-in advice and support for families struggling to manage in these hard economic times. We’ve been pleased to have the debt centre manager update the congregation on progress and ongoing challenges 

Stricklandgate Annual Report 2023-2024 



## **Stewardship & Giving** 

Each year the church raises funds during Advent for good causes. During Advent 2023, £629 was sent to the Chernobyl Project. 

In December 2023, church members and others made up, and sent approximately 100 shoeboxes to be distributed by the International Aid Trust to children who would otherwise not receive any gifts. 

Along with other Churches in Kendal we continued to support the local food bank and CAP (see above). 

## **Ecumenical Relationships** 

Throughout the year we continued to work with other Churches in Kendal to look at ways we could come together within a Mission Community. Ministers in Kendal and District have met regularly to share good practice and discuss how we can work better together in the future, sharing gifts and skills. This has resulted in Good Friday Walk of Witness and Easter Sunday Morning service at Kendal Castle. This year there was also an ecumenical Pentecost Praise event. Discussions are ongoing about closer working as part of the 3 Mission Communities, covering Kendal and surrounding villages. 

## **Property & Finance** 

The property continues to be well maintained. The quinquennial review has taken place and all matters that need to be are in hand. Work is continuing to address a recent fire risk assessment and look at how to meet the challenges of the Methodist Church pledge to reduce its Carbon Footprint. 

We continue to successfully rent out our former caretakers’ cottage. 

During the year we’ve had a legacy left which helped fund our pastoral worker (see above). 

_Rev Melanie Greenall Jan 2025_ 

Stricklandgate Annual Report 2023-2024 



|**Stricklandgate Methodist Church, Kendal**|**31-Aug-24**|||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Receipts**||**23/24**|22/23|
|||£|£|
|Regular Giving :Envelope oferings||1535|2365|
|Cash oferings||6273|6594|
|Standing Orders||38181|41299|
|Tax Recovery||10020|12482|
|Donations & Legacies||30159|21477|
|Bank Interest and TMCP investment income||8445|5415|
|General fundraising||122|11|
|Property - Rent / Lettings||28383|25306|
|Contributions from internal Church organisations||1150|803|
||||0|
||||0|
||||0|
|Church Admin|||1710|
|Sundry Income||488|0|
|Grants|||0|
|Gifts|||0|
|Insurance Claims|||0|
|Benevolent Fund|||0|
|**Total Receipts (as Standard Form of Accounts)**||**124756**|**117462**|
|Special Collections (see notes)||2132|2739|
|OVERALL TOTAL RECEIPTS||126888|120201|
|**Surplus income over exp per std form acs ( ignoring**|**spec colls)**|**14258**|**16744**|



|**Stricklandgate Methodist Church, Kendal**|**Stricklandgate Methodist Church, Kendal**|**31-Aug-24**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Payments**||**23/24**|22/23|
|||£|£|
|Circuit Assessment||61357|58725|
|Music & Worship||912|830|
|Church Admin|Photocopier|158|284|
||Publicity, Newsletter, Post,etc|1185|918|
||Accountancy, Payroll Fees|413|425|
||Phone & Internet|543|385|
||Bank Charges|131|130|
||Pastoral Worker, payroll plus expenses|11528|7409|
|Caretaking|Caretaker Wages, Tax, NI|9150|8580|
||Cleaning materials, etc|0|160|
|Property RepairsMajor repairs/improvements||1680|4833|
||Servicing & Maintenance|10229|3498|
||Equipment|670|100|
|Garden|||0|
|Utilities|Gas|2699|2251|
||Electricity|2246|3409|
||Water|468|394|
||Trade Waste charge|0|0|
|Church Insurance||4383|4630|
|Connexional Subscriptions||1000|1000|
|Donations||780|750|
|Gifts||0|25|
|Benevolent Fund: restricted funds||0|0|
|TMCP charges||327|332|
|Miscellaneous &|rounding|639|1650|
|**Total Payments (as Std Form of Accounts)**||**110498**|**100718**|
|Special Donations (see notes)||2132|2739|
|OVERALL TOTAL|PAYMENTS|**112630**|**103457**|





CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH
STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
Strieklandgate Methodigt Church
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 August 2024
Circuit
Circuit no.
0913
Reglstered Charlty - Charlty Reglstratlon number
1126952
If not a registered chanty HIS Majestys Revenue and
Customs Gift Aid number
{The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in temis of evidence of charitable
status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's
charitable status. Methodist charrties in England and Wales that are not registered charities are
excepted from registration under Statutory Instwmenl 2014 No.242)
Minister.
Rev Melanle Greenall
Church Stewards..
Christine Thomas
Anna Bonnett
Janet Kttchlng
Susanna Mycock
Treasurer.
David Brian Bames
SFA church-receipts-and-payments-2024.xls
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ACCOUNTS FOR ThE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Stricklandgate
Methodlst Church
Church
Tfjtsls last
SECTION A
Fun¢ts
Funds
a1
RECEIPTS
Not•
a2
Offerings and Tax recovered
Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income
56,009
62,740
a3
5,415
25,306
24,001
117,462
a4
Lettings
Other receipts
TOTAL RECEIPTS
28,383
31,919
124.756
as
a6
la7)
SECTION
b1
PAYMENTS
b2
Circuit Assessment or Share
61,357
58,725
b3
Donations
1,780
1,750
b4
Repairs and Maintenance
Utilities IlnsuTrnces, water
charges, heatsng & lightsngl
12.579
8.431
b5
9.796
10.685
TMCP admin charge
Other p8yments
TOTAL PAYMENTS
327
332
b7
24.669
110.498
20,795
b8
{b9)
100,718
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS
FOR THE YEAR
{a6481
14,258
16,744
Total funds brought forward from
lasl year
178.456
373
178.829
Ic61
162,085
Sub total
(¢1+c2
178.456
373
193.087
178,829
TTan#fers and adjugtmenlg
¢7
TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR
I￿+¢4)
178.456
373
193.087
(t81
178.829
Ic6)
SECTION D
FOR INFORMAnoN ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
(those amounts ar• not to b• Includ•d in tolal rgceiptslpayments figures •l>ovo
d1
Balance brought forward from last year
d2
OfferingslGrfts- received for extemal organisabon$
2,132
2,739
d3
Off8r¢ng￿Grfts - passed to external Organk￿tlonS
2,132
2,739
BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID
(d1+d2-d3)
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SttiGkland ate Methc#Jist Church Chllr¢h
RCH C¢JXIL
CH
RC
8ECT1014 E
Summaryoftr* Chwch aC￿rrtS fOr￿y￿0￿j 31 W2024 •KI chu￿ CtsJNiVChurth M*brKJ. Wthatthe fwdsof
an Inlemal Ofg8nigaty"on*ruhJ n￿lnaty t¢ Restrth#frJnd#uTh*ss t¢ (leaty le￿&S1¢¢ MethtrJL8twrpcee. This must bg
ANDA DIFFERENT FORM rfVAlbe rer(rtthe*£tsJrts ple￿ gUhfj￿e rEwdKvJtrBntsyt¢taEen the Dth¢t
INTERNAL
ORGANISATKJIIS
to*n
Fri•nd•hlp Group
1.182
742
¢2
5T5
72
Und9r Grou
1.216
1.12
87
1.700
1.787
e4
è7
¢8
OrgonlsotYJns lund8
2.?86
187
2,601
012
¢hu¥eh accounts It(4
broughtfcrtv•rd ITOM wg•
2-tot•li ¢oJumnl
09
IX7
11Oh98
17&829
193.1187
BY CHURCH
127.7>
113,284
181,243
196.688
Ifn8téAWy •hd bDwlh•
19181$ foM•
TOTAL AÉCEtPTS
TOTAL
PAYMeNTS
8ECTION F
CLOSIPKI
ALAMCE8
CHURCH- CASH FUNDS I￿L0 •1 Ji
t 2024
Ca$h In hand
Bank Curr•nlAcwJnt
2S,022
8.153
2.141
cen￿ Fhanr* PAwd
52.•)2
02.159
74,416
103,765
SUB TQTAL-¢hurthxcounts
178.829
((
193.087
Tolal lur￿8 hdd ty Intemol thL*
bsl*rte tcAd from*ml le121
2,414
2,601
TOTAL CASH FUNOS HELD BY CHURC
181,243
195,688
SECTII)N G
OTHERA5SET8 LiABLFIIES
31 AwJwt2024
40,224
43,336
Land & ￿11￿￿816eoThX
4,443.448
5.276.915
L￿<81.$￿￿￿￿MWTht0Ut￿
Other UaWIUes
f4 Ind￿je0r￿ Funds heid althe Cenlrnl
ts InciL¥*orly Fundg heid atTrUSt￿ forMeh*tChJrth p￿[<
91 In(audp any Qlher In¥e6bMnb Irb*thecAsh dw1￿MPtr1L￿•x￿ir&I￿J0¥￿$yJEd
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Name of chU￿h .. Strleklandg8t8 Methodlst Church
0913
Declarations and Scrutiny
I confirn th* these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year lo 31 August 2024 have been
prepared from the records ol the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church
trustees.
Signature of treasurer
Name 8nd addre88 of Ireasur•r
Post C¢xle...Lh b.?.AL
Pm•ntatl¢n to tlia Church tru•t•••
I confi'm that the 8nnual rew)rt and accounts for the year ende
presented to the me8llng of the Church trustees held on .
31 August 2024 w8relJM
Sign8luTe of the Chair of the meeting
N8me of the Chalr of the meollng
4¢ LO.A{.{.￿...........................
f.&.. ! J....Z c> L
Date...
Independent Examlner's Report to th• Tru8te88 of tho
. 8trfcklandgat• M•thcrfll•t Church
Charlty Numb•r..!124.9£
R•8pon8lbllltlo• and ba•1• of report
I report to the Iruslees on my examination of the accoun18 of the
.stri¢klandgate meth￿l$t .......
Chufch for the year ended 31 August 2024 sel out on pages l.. lo q. As the Church's trustees, you
a￿ responsible for the preparation of th8 accounts in aGGordance with the requirements of th$ Charitie8
Act 20111'the Act'l.
I report in respect of my examination of the Church'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
Commi88ion under section 145(5llbl of the Act.
. delete or circle as appropriate
SFA ClurhrKoltrxrtpllyrnerltr2024A5
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Name of Church .. Strlcklandgate IA•thodi¥t Church
Independent Examinerfs Statwnent
I have completed my èxaminakn'on. I confinn that no material matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination
which givè m8 cause to believe
that in, any material respect:
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act: or
the accounts do not accord wth the a¢countsng records.
I have no concéms and have come across no other matters In connection with th8 examination to
which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the
accounts to be reached.
I havelha¥Met" obtsined Independent verification of all investmants with the Trustees for Methodist
Church Purpos85 or held in other trusts. bank balan￿ and funds at the Central Finance Board of
the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the
balance Sheet date.
Signature of indoFendent examiner
Name of independent examiner
￿1
Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner
Name of firm (where appropriate) ..*eC.....8oQ￿..-.￿..i￿.....
Address
. P08t Code S£pJ
Date
i.p.lJ.7-11*........................
delete or circle as appropriate
SFA ChurdFrè¢eIpts-and-￿Yrnen￿2O24.>￿s
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