2022-08-31-accounts - Guildford Methodist Church

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GUILDFORD METHODIST CHURCH

Charity no. 1127643

TRUSTEES' REPORT

To 31 August 2022

Annual Report 2021-2

Reference & Administrative Details

Registered Name:

Guildford Methodist Church

Registered Number: Guildford Methodist Church is registered as a charity under number 1127643

Principal Office Address: Guildford Methodist Church c/o Holy Trinity and St Mary's Parish Office 5 Trinity Churchyard Guildford GU1 3RR Tel: 01483 567716 Email: office@holytrinityguildford.org.uk Correspondence should be directed to the above address.

Charity Trustees

Charity Trustees
TRUSTEE NAME	OFFICE HELD	DATES (if not full year)	APPOINTED BY
Rev Keith Beckingham	Minister & Chair	To July 2022
Rev Dr Paul Glass	Minster & Chair	From 7 August 2022
Mrs Andrea Campion- Smith	Church Steward		General Church Meeting
Mrs Rosemary Lee	Church Steward		General Church Meeting
Mr Peter Youngs	Secretary & Church Steward		General Church Meeting
Mr Michael Lee	Treasurer		Church Council
Mr David Lander	Circuit Steward	Retired August 2022
Mr Nigel Campion-Smith	Project Coordinator & Circuit Steward	Circuit Steward representative from August 2022
Mr. David Birch	congregation
Mrs Margaret Birch	congregation
Mr Michael Bishop	congregation
Dr Bruce Farmer CBE	congregation
Mrs Beryl Farmer	congregation
Mrs Jean Gent	congregation	d. September 2021
Mrs Janet Hancock	congregation
Mr Philip Hancock	congregation	From 4.10.22
Dr Alwyn Marriage	congregation
Ms Annika Mathews	congregation	From 7 June 2022
Mrs Pamela Palmer	congregation

Mrs Janus Smith	congregation
Mr Rodney Smith	congregation	d. October 2021
Mrs Promila Skelton	Pastoral Secretary
Dr Susan Snashall	congregation
Mrs Rosamund Trembath	congregation

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document :

Guildford Methodist Church is registered under the Deed of Union of 1932 and the Methodist Church Act 1976 incorporating the Model Trusts. The governing document is The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church (known as CPD).

Recruitment and Appointment of new Trustees:

The Trustees are drawn from the membership of Guildford Methodist Church. Under CPD, the church has adopted a procedure permitted for smaller churches under which all members may serve on the Church Council, if they so wish, without the need for elections and without limit on time.

Induction and Training of Trustees:

Trustees have often already served or are serving on one or more of the committees or groups within the church. Induction and training is principally through discussion with established members of the Church Council and attendance at the Church Council meetings held around 3 times a year; and, for the Church Stewards, attendance at leadership meetings held every 1 to 2 months, depending upon need.

Organisational Structure:

Within the structure of The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church, Guildford Methodist Church is governed by its Church Meeting and Church Council and with the assistance of the Stewards and the Pastoral Committee. The Church Council and Annual Church Meeting have oversight of committees and groups, and the Church Council is the managing trustee body.

Representatives of the church serve on the Joint Council with representatives of the Parish of Holy Trinity St. Mary's pursuant to the sharing agreement referred to below. Several Methodist members have been elected and serve as members of the PCC.

Risks to the Charity:

The principal risk to the charity has for some time been lack of human resources. This led to the Church closing its former building and moving to worship at the Anglican church of St Mary’s in Guildford town centre from 1 September 2013; on 6 July 2014 it entered into a sharing agreement with the Parish of Holy Trinity and St Mary’s.

Methodist Circuit

Guildford Methodist Church is part of the Wey Valley Methodist Circuit.

Objectives and Activities

The Aims of Guildford Methodist Church:

As part of the wider community, and as part of the congregation of St Mary’s Guildford, it is the vision of Guildford Methodist Church locally to be a worshipping and welcoming community, working together with

other Christians to share God’s love, through word and action, with the people of Guildford and further afield.

The achievement of this vision will be seen by:

Activities in conjunction with the Parish and other churches in the Methodist Circuit, ecumenically and within the community
Development of the worship and prayer life of the church
Growth in the life and activities of the church fellowship
Outreach in the community, in conjunction with Common Ground, building on relationships formed through individual members as well as new initiatives.
Training and Study opportunities

Objectives for the year:

Taking an active role in the community through ecumenical and community projects.
Playing our part in the wider Methodist Connexion through Circuit and District
Reviewing and continually updating our policies for health and safety and safeguarding, and implementing practices to improve standards of care for those using our premises.
Looking for ways in which we can further develop worship services.
Developing the relationship with the Anglican worshippers and leadership at St. Mary's Guildford as a united congregation.
growing the Common Ground ecumenical community, based at St Mary’s, and its activities

Strategies for Objectives:

Playing an active role in Circuit services, meetings and activities.
Continuing our giving to charity and our normal teaching and outreach activities.
Providing a welcome and support for foreign residents through our Chit Chat drop-in.
Supporting the Street Angels community project and the wider activities of Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy.
Being represented as a church in Community and Ecumenical events whenever possible and taking active roles individually in community projects.
Continuing to support individual, Friends International, and Circuit Chaplaincy links with the University to develop a relationship between the church community and University students.
Working towards a consistently good level of pastoral care, and continuing to organise opportunities for social interaction.
working with other Christian and lay organisations to develop shared activities.

Significant Activities:

Weekly Sunday Morning worship services.
weekly Friday evening Vigil for Peace in Ukraine from February 2022ChitChat, a weekly drop-in for foreign residents
Ecumenical lunchtime series of Advent and Lent reflections
Periodic Pop-Up cafes for all ages, with crafts and other activities for children
occasional Sunday afternoon Taizé-style services
opening of St Mary’s on a regular basis to welcome visitors to view the building and, where they wish, reflect or chat.
Art and photographic exhibitions with a Christian theme or supporting the work of charities
Monthly Coffee and Cake, focussing on the work of a particular charity or voluntary organisation
Baptisms and Funerals, both of congregational members and community.
Fundraising for Charities e.g. Christian Aid, Local Projects, African Charities and Methodist Charities.
Pastoral work is undertaken in cooperation with the Parish’s Pastoral Committee. Members and adherents attached to the Church are cared for pastorally by one of our Pastoral visitors. Pastoral Visitor training has taken place. Communion is taken to housebound members of the church by a Minister or persons appointed by the Church Council, and visitation to the sick and needy is carried out by a Minister and by church members.
Members participate in the Common Ground ecumenical community.
Several of the members of Guildford Methodist Church exercise a Christian ministry in the course of their daily work and activities and by involvement in a particular cause or local need, such as prison visiting and chaplaincy work and drop-ins for the needy. Church members are involved with work for schools and orphanages in both Kibera (Nairobi) and Mityana (Uganda), both of which have been supported by the Church
Social Activities including Harvest Supper and occasional Church Lunches.
Safeguarding and other training courses are provided by the Circuit.
The Church has strong links with Friends International which cares for, and gives hospitality to, students from abroad; the Samaritans and the Guildford Salvation Army Drop-in and Foodbank
The Church supports ecumenical events and services in local churches, especially in Lent and at Easter, and regularly hosts ecumenical services on occasions such as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Ascensiontide.
Guildford Methodist Church supports the Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy, a charity established by the Churches of Guildford to care for people in the town centre. Their aim is to build bridges of understanding, trust and cooperation between communities of work, faith, leisure and society and to serve people by providing pastoral care for anyone who lives in, works in or visits Guildford.
A member represents the Church as a trustee of Hillier House

Achievements and Performance

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Those activities which had been curtailed as a result of Government restrictions and guidance during the Pandemic largely resumed. The use of Zoom for relaying Sunday worship ultimately stopped.

At 31 August 2022 the total membership stood at 37 members.

Safeguarding and other training:

All members requiring safeguarding training have attended such training.

Our policy is jointly agreed with the Parish and will continue to be reviewed annually.

ChitChat volunteers participate in regular training sessions.

Public Benefit Statement

The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty to have regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.

Reports

Review of Progress and Achievements

Building improvements:

After the completion of the major reordering of the building, it was quiet year on the building front but activities were enhanced by the acquisition of new stacking chairs which greatly enhance the flexibility. Highlight of the year was the installation of a new Tree of Life stained-glass window, St Mary’s second window created by the artist Mollie Meager. Its installation has been warmly welcomed by worshippers and visitors alike and the generosity of the Spacies as donors is much appreciated.

Worship:

Our main weekly act of worship is a service at 10.30 each Sunday, with a variety of styles drawing on our Methodist and Anglican traditions. There is in addition an Anglican-led service of Holy Communion at 08.00 each Sunday morning (following the Book of Common Prayer). On a monthly basis the St Mary’s Choir participates in the service.

There are periodic Wey Valley Methodist Circuit evening services held at different churches across the Circuit.

Worship services are led by Methodist and Anglican clergy, accredited lay preachers (including one of our members, Rosemary Lee) and other invited preachers. Worship is varied and endeavours to be inclusive.

Communication:

There is a weekly email which details worship for the week and other items for the attention of the congregation such as meetings and events in the church, circuit and local community and printed copies are provided to those members without email facilities. This is supplemented by a weekly Parish newsletter.

The Church also has a website: www.guildfordmethodist.org which contains information about services and events.

Mission and Outreach

During the year we continued to offer Lent and Advent series of weekly lunchtime Reflections but via Zoom where necessary. These Reflections are, typically attended by between 25 and 40 people from across Guildford and beyond.

The Common Ground ecumenical community, established to pursue mission and outreach and based at St Mary’s, continues to be central in undertaking our Outreach activities, in keeping with our objectives when Guildford Methodist Church moved to St Mary’s. In particular, Common Ground’s monthly Friday evening drop-in, Night Vision, was converted into a weekly Vigil for Peace, starting the day after Russia’s invasion in February 2022. This invites those out and about in Guildford to express their compassion by coming in to light a candle and, if they wish, to pray or reflect in the spiritual atmosphere of St Mary’s, with the Church open from 9-11 pm each Friday. At the date of this report’s publication over 4,800 people have attended these Vigils. https://www. commongroundguildford .org

Church Opening

Weekday opening continued on Thursdays and Farmers’ Market Tuesdays, with additional days in August and the Heritage Weekend in September and many Friday mornings. We also open on special occasions at times of community concern or need.

ChitChat

ChitChat, our drop-in for international residents, continues to perform a valuable role with up to 35 international guests present each week and is much appreciated by those attending. By its nature, most of those attending are in Guildford for a limited period so there is a constant renewal as some guests move back to their home countries and others join. Refugees from a variety of countries represent an increasing proportion of guests. As well as helping guests to understand and practise English, ChitChat explains British traditions and helps answer questions on aspects of British life. Ecumenical participation is crucial to staffing ChitChat and we are very grateful to the volunteers from other churches who act as hosts.

ChitChat transferred to Zoom from the first lockdown and continues to be available online, primarily for a small number of established guests joining from overseas having headed home from Guildford.

Church Steward’s Report

What a joy to resume and grow our activities after the constraints of the pandemic. Indeed, the year under review started with an exhibition Festival of Hope – Lockdown Art showcasing how creative Christians had used the time during lockdown to create works of art in many media. The year ended on an artistic high note with the installation of the wonderful new Tree of Life stained-glass window.

In between there was much going on, as we continued with a range of activities and introduced new ones. Our popup café initiative was launched and very well received. Starting experimentally, it soon became a regular feature, generally focusing on a particular landmark in the Christian year and offering children craft activities appropriate for those times. Although we started with these cafes on Saturdays, feedback from parents attending suggested that a midweek slot during school holidays would be much appreciated so we responded to that suggestion which has boosted attendance.

Another highlight was the Festival Afternoon in June 2022 when we were able to showcase the activities undertaken at St Mary's, express our thanks to the Wey Valley Methodist Circuit for their support in our move to St Mary's and the major building project, hear wonderful music, enjoy afternoon tea and celebrate in a special Circuit service.

Sadly, the tragedy in Ukraine continues. We were privileged to be able swiftly to offer a Friday evening Vigil for Peace from the day after Putin’s invasion began. We had not envisaged these becoming a weekly or long-term activity but it soon became clear that they were greatly appreciated by offering those out and about in Guildford on a Friday evening the opportunity to express their compassion. We have had so many moving encounters with visitors during these Vigils. We are grateful to a very loyal team who regularly give up their Friday evenings to staff the Vigils.

More widely, it continues to be a privilege to welcome so many to St Mary's which remains a magnet for visitors so many of whom are pleased to soak up the spirituality of this building.

It was a delight during the year to welcome new worshippers and also those who have taken the step of becoming Extended Members of the Methodist Church.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Keith Beckingham, Robert Cotton, the other Anglican and Methodist clergy and others who supported us during the year under review. Once again I thank my fellow Stewards and all the

members of the Church for their hard work and support and for the continued encouragement we receive from so many.

Although Paul Glass’ appointment as our minister only officially commenced in September 2022, he and Janet rapidly participated in the life of St Mary’s from the week of their arrival. We are thrilled by their many contributions to our ministry and community.

ANDREA CAMPION-SMITH Church Steward

Financial Review & Examined Accounts to 31 August 2022

We are very fortunate that, through the loyalty of our members, our accounts again showed a surplus of income over expenditure. This was despite a decline in cash collections and some further expenditure on our programme to equip the improved building for its role for the church and the wider community, for which we had built up reserves. We were in a position to respond to the Methodist Connexion’s appeal for funding towards the Ministers’ Pension Reserve Fund with a donation of £10,000. In addition to our regular income we also received an unexpected and very generous legacy from the estate of a former member. We also recognise the financial uncertainty brought about by the Pandemic and the pressure this is placing on many churches and charities. Our giving covered the Circuit assessment, normal operating expenses and external donations.

Although the Parish bears almost all the running costs of the St. Mary's building and retains responsibility for the structure, we have contributed to the building works from our reserves (in addition to substantial sums provided by the Wey Valley Circuit and the Methodist Connexion). We recognise the increasing cost burden on the Parish and during the year made a £3,000 donation to the running costs. We also continue to contribute to expenditure on cleaning, the sound system and resources for activities at St Mary’s and modest donations have been made to the Parish by Church groups which use the building.

Our thanks go to the Treasurer for his work in relation to our finances.

CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Gulldford IAethodist Stma Chur¢h FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2022 Clrcult Circult no. RwJl$lorgd Charity - Charlty Regl$tratlon number If not a registered charity Her Majostys Renue and Customs Glft Ald number (The HMRC number is equivaient to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders shing to see evidence of th8 organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in EnglarKI and Wa18S that are not registered tharities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) Minister. 1127643 Reverend Paul Glas8 Church Stffiyards: Androa Camplon-smlth Peter Yollnp Tr&gsurer. Mlehael l*e Churth R and P 2015J lof5

A¢COUPS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022 Guildford Methodist Stma Church SECTION A Totals lat Fund¥ 81 RECEIPTS OffeTI s and Tax recovered Bank and CF8 interest and Investment income Lettin Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 39.671 39,671 36,473 a3 103 103 a5 36.197 75.971 36.197 75.971 a6 (a7) 37.378 SECTION b1 PAYMENT8 Circuit Assessment or Share Donatlons b2 15.570 11,678 4,650 605 b3 Re irs and Maintenance Utilities IlnsurAnces. water cha es heatsn 722 722 3.235 233 b6 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 27.591 51.618 27.591 01.618 b8 8.166 26,332 (b9) SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS c1 24,353 12,048 Total fund8 brought for•rard from last year c2 76,007 76,007 64,093 c3 Sub total ¢1+c2 100.360 100,360 76.139 Transfers and ad'ustrnents 13.607 c7 132 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR c3+c4) 113.967 113,967 {c8) 76,007 Ic6) SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: AIONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO ExfERNAL ORGANISATIONS th080 amounts are not lo bo Included In total re¢01 tsfi d1 Balance brou ht forward from last d2 Offerin Grfts. recei4d for externa o 485 d3 Offertng8lGifts . pd to extemal cKganitiS 485 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) L9% P2015 2(rf5

Gull df(Yd MethCl5t Stma S Church SECTKJN E INTERNAL ORQAMISATION8 05 ¢7 aniiaUon8 fur Churcha¢¢0#{thkn brought from p•9• 2.tDtsl• cojumthl 13.607 1¢71 113,967 c8 BY CHURCH 78. 01,618 7Q007 113.967 on o 98PWè Irr•ryIThl TQThLRECiPTS TOTAL SECTION F CTrWRCH. CA8H FUNDS HELD•¢ JI CLOSING Cath In hand 260 CeDlr41 FIMrK8¢wd 0th8rlundB 8Ub TOTAL-Churrh •C£ w•0knlffn 1•12) 1612 TOTAL CASFI FUt•)8 LD BY ¢NL14CH 76.7 113 967 SECTION G Al 31 AwuBt2U22 InvoBblrS land & BtAkJ Othw 14 Includemty FurKJshdd atthe CÈnw 3ds

Name of Church . Gulldford Method18t Chur¢h {St Marfs) 1127643 Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that these ReIpt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2022 have been prepared frorn the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church tTUSt88S. Signature of treasurer.................. Name and address of tr8a8urer ...... Mlchael Leo 30 Oak Hill,Wood Street Village,Guildford Surrey GU3 3ER Presentatlon to the Church truste88 I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 werelwill be" presented to the meeting of the Church trustee8 hetd on ................. Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chalr of the meeting . . Reverend Paul Gla Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustses of the Guildford Methodlst Church (St Mary's) Charlty Number . 1127643 Responsibilrtles and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Guildford Methodist {St Mary's) Church for the year ended 31 August 2022 set out on pages 1 to 3. As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). 2015 R aryl Pth

Name of Church . Gulldford Methodist chUh (St Marfs) 1127643 Independent Examinerfs Statement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my atter connection with the examination (other than that disclosed belo) which give me cause to t that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with sectron 130 of the Act,. or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. Ithe [the I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examinat which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of tl accounts to be reached. I havelhave not" obtained independent verification of all investsnents with the Trustees for M Church Purposes or held in other trusts. bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Bo the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at t balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner J.uAL&....o.rf.¢u.£<....................................... Name of firm (where appropriate) Address Post Code Date delete or circle as appropriate Sep-22 2015 thurch R an& P.xls 5(*5

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