## **Fareham Methodist Church** **TRUSTEES ’ ANNUAL REPORT for the year ended 31 AUGUST 2024** Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024 ## Objectives and activities In setting our objectives and planning our activities, the Church Council Meeting has given careful consideration to the Charity Commissioners ’ general guidance on public benefit and, in particular, to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing our objectives and conforms to the Charities Act 2011. Our Mission as a local church of the East Solent and Downs Circuit is to pursue the mission of God through worship, learning and caring, service and evangelism. This is done for as many people as possible within the Fareham area through the provision of Christian Worship, spiritual development and pastoral care both to church members and to the wider communities in which the church is located. Fareham Methodist Church supports the advancement of the Christian Faith through ecumenical liaison with other Christian groups in Fareham. ## Achievements and performance ## Current year Attendance at Sunday services runs at an average of approximately 65 per week. The majority of regular church attendees now donate by standing order which has meant that income from giving is now more predictable. Church services are also streamed onto Youtube enabling a number of people who were unable to get back to church to enjoy feeling part of the service through the live stream or to view the service after the event. Most services receive between 20 and 30 views once they have been recorded. Various weekday activities continue to take place in the life of the church with many offering outreach opportunities to the local community. This has become an increasingly important aspect of Church Life at Fareham. Mini Market on a Monday and Coffee Morning on a Thursday are vibrant outreach activities and the monthly Messy Church continues to be well received by those who attend. The new heating management system has provided a more effective management of heating controls within the building. As it is linked to the room booking system appropriate heating is now provided automatically which has reduced significantly the management burden on Church volunteers. In the early part of this Church year a new audio and visual system was installed. This is a significant improvement on the previous system. The new system enables streaming of high quality pictures and sound. It also provides a better quality of amplified sound within the church building. The majority of the cost of the new system was covered by bequests received over recent years together with a substantial grant received from the Circuit. The Church continues to make donations to other charities and through social events raise money for various appeals. 2 ## Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024 ## Future years - To continue to focus on mission activity as an open and inclusive church and lead new people into faith and so grow the number of Christians. - To focus on worship and spiritual development and continue the use of technology to stream services to people who cannot access the premises - To continue to work with Christians Together in Fareham to promote Christianity in the Borough. - To provide pastoral support to those in need. - To demonstrate our commitment to improving the environment by registering for Eco Church and attaining the Bronze Standard. ## Financial review ## Income and expense During the year the Church received total income of £91,416 (2022-23 £102,387) and made payments of £106,255 (2022-23: £88,267). Bequests were received in the year totalling £5,575 and these are held in the church accounts. Funds held at TMCP in Trust Number 21694 stands at £8,807. Total restricted reserves held in endowment funds at TMCP amount to £15,965. The interest from these funds is paid into the General Fund as it is received. Unrestricted reserves carried forward were £91,104 (2023-24: £105,939). £48,855 of these reserves are designated: £500 for benevolence payments; £8,829 in the Organ and Keyboard Fund; £27,000 in the Major Property Repair Fund; £2,744 bequests held within church accounts and £8,807 as bequests held at TMCP for longer term or specific use. The trustees of the Church have every reason to believe that the Charity is a going concern, principally because the majority of the donated income is not reliant on attendance within the church building but is paid directly to the church accounts by standing order. There are no subsidiary undertakings. The proportion of income that is from lettings has reduced from previous years and the Trustees are aware that this income cannot be relied on as fully secure, especially as the cost of living crisis potentially affects user groups. However the Trustees are confident that there are sufficient reserves to cover any continued reduction in lettings in the medium term. ## Remuneration policy The church currently has two employees, a cleaner working 11 hours per week and a caretaker working 4 hours per week. Both posts are paid the Real Living Wage set annually by the Living Wage Foundation. Pay reviews are normally undertaken with effect from 1[st] April each year with rates set by the Managing Trustees at the Church Council prior to this date. ## Investment Policy and Performance To comply with Methodist Standing Orders, monies for long term investment are lodged with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP). Short term deposits are lodged directly with the Central Finance Board (CFB) and attract interest. The Trustees are not minded to invest in higher risk funds. ## Reserves level and policy The General Fund contains five designated funds, the Benevolence Fund, a fund for Organ and Musical Instruments, a fund to support asylum seekers, an Eco fund, and a fund for 3 Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024 Major Property Repair. It also contains restricted bequests held in the general account and unrestricted bequests held in Trust number 21694 at TMCP and in the church accounts. - Since in accordance with its stewardship policy, the church does not take separate collections for benevolence, a benevolence reserve is maintained in the General Fund for disbursement at the discretion of the minister. - Church Council agreed that the church should start to build up a reserve to go towards replacement of the organ and other major musical instruments in the future. The designation of this fund is Organ and Keyboard with an ultimate target fund of £20,000. - The major property reserve was re-assessed in October 2021 and a target property reserve has been set at £40,000 to cover major repair, renewals and improvements not included in the operating costs of the Church. This is designated CAPEX within the budget set each year. There is budgeted expenditure in the next 12 months of £10,000. The Quinquennial did not indicate any short-term major spend requirements. An energy management system was installed during 2022-2023 and there is a plan to significantly upgrade the AV system during 2023-2024. - Bequests were received in 2023-2024 totalling £5,575 and these are currently held in the Church Accounts. Withdrawal of money from the Designated Funds, restricted and unrestricted bequests requires Manging Trustee approval. The remainder of the funds are held as Free Reserves. The target is for free reserves to cover approximately 6 months of operating costs with a target range of 40%-60% |Designated Funds:|| |---|---| |Benevolence|£ 500| |Asylum fund|£ 100| |Organ and Keyboard|£ 8,829| |Major Property Repair (target £40k)|£27,000| |Unrestricted bequests @ TMCP|£ 8,807| |Unrestricted bequests held in accounts|£ 2,744| |Restricted bequests/gifts not yet expended|£ 625| |Free Reserve:|£42,249 - 50% operating| ||costs [forecast operating| ||costs 2024/25 = £84,998]| ## Trustees’ responsibilities For each financial year ending on 31[st] August the Trustees are required to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the Church ’ s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees must: - select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently using the accruals method - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent - follow applicable accounting standards - prepare accounts to comply with the Charities SORP The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Church and enables them to 4 Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024 ensure that the financial statements comply with the law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Church and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The Church ’ s policy is to adhere to the Methodist Church ’ s policy on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults. A Safeguarding Officer is appointed. The Circuit provides regular safeguarding training that can be accessed by the church as required. The Safeguarding Officer keeps records of training and ensures that this is up to date. The Church does not hold any funds as custodian trustees on behalf of others. ## Structure, governance and management The Church is an unincorporated association and is governed by the Methodist Church Act 1976, the Deed of Union and the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church and was registered with the Charity Commissioners on 2 February 2009. Prior to this the charity had an excepted registration. ## Structure The Church is one of a number that make up the East Solent and Downs Circuit. The Circuit is the coordinating charity and pay the stipends of the ministers and employ lay staff to serve the Churches in the Circuit; most decisions are made at or ratified by the Circuit Meeting. The Circuit is part of the Southampton District which is the coordinating charity for a group of contiguous Circuits. District decisions are made at the half yearly synod to which the Circuit appoints both lay and ordained representatives. The Methodist Conference meets once each year as the supreme denominational body for all Methodist Churches. 1. Overall regulatory authority rests with the Methodist Conference. 2. The Connexional Office implements decisions made by Conference and is also responsible for the stationing of presbyters and deacons (collectively known as ministers) in individual Circuits. 3. Connexional decisions are passed via Districts to Circuits for local implementation by the Superintendent Minister, ministerial staff and Circuit Stewards, and authority is delegated to the Circuit Meeting for certain matters. 4. The Circuit Meeting passes regulatory control down to Church Councils for local implementation by the presbyter, the Church Stewards, and other officers, and this regulatory authority is then exercised by Church Councils as Managing Trustees of their charity. ## Governance The Church operates within a statutory framework of regulation and seeks to ensure that it follows Methodist Standing Orders. It relies on the Connexional Office at 25 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SF to provide guidance on changes that could affect the Church. 5 Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024 ## Reference and Administrative Details ## **Name of the charity** Fareham Methodist Church. ## **Charity registration number** 1127814, registered in England and Wales ## **Principal Office** Fareham Methodist Church Kings Road Fareham PO16 0NU ## **Minister with pastoral oversight** Revd Pauline Crispin ## **Church Treasurer** Mr Michael Petter ## **Names of trustees** The following served as trustees throughout part or all of the year 2023-24 or were trustees at the time of this report being approved: **----- Start of picture text -----**
Mrs Sally Bland
Mr Mark Brooks
Mr Nigel Cox
Revd Pauline Crispin
Mrs Patricia Croker
Ms Rachel Davies
Mrs Linda Foster
Mr Kevin Foster
Mrs Jill Groom
Mrs Shirley Henderson
Mrs Julie Kettle
Mrs Edith Livingstone
Mrs Audrey Mann
Mr Peter Moody
Mrs Heather Murphy
Mrs Jean Petter
Mr Michael Petter
Mr Robert Temple
Mrs Margaret Shepherd
Mr Michael Shepherd
Mrs Catherine Stevenson
Mrs Roberta Watson
Mrs Margaret Wheeler
Mr Christopher Woodhams
Mrs Lin Woodhams
**----- End of picture text -----**
No trustee claims exemption from disclosure of his or her name here. 6 Fareham Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024 ## **Bankers** CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church 9 Bonhill Street London EC2A 4PE ## **Investment managers and custodian trustees** Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes Central Buildings Oldham Street Manchester M1 1JQ ## **Independent Examiner** Mrs Joanne Gregory 19/21 High Street Emsworth Hants PO10 7AQ ## **Approvals** The Trustees ’ Report and the Financial Statements were approved by the Church Council Meeting on 23[rd] January 2025. 7 CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Fareham Methodist Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 East Solent & Downs CiKuit Circult no. 26107 Reglstered Charlty - Charlty Reglstration numbor If not a regFStered chartty Her MaJ•sty'¥ Revenue and Custom8 Gift Aid number (Thè HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in temis of evidence of charitable status and may be used lo give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidenGe of the organisation's charrtable status. Melhodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charitie$ are excepted from registration under StatLrtory Instrument 2014 No.242) 1127814 Minister. Revd. Paullne Crfspln Church Stewards: Mrs Maggie Wheeler Mrs Jlll Groom Mt$8 Ra¢h Davies Mrs Audrey Mann Mr Chris Woodhams Mrs Jean Petter Treasurer. Mlke Pottor SFA 2023-2024 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Fareham Methodist Church Fund• Incl Unrntrkt•d Trust No Totakn th FunOB 21694 year SECTION A Totsls last year a1 RECEIPTS a2 Offerin and Tax recovered Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 61,602 61,602 59,620 3.539 3.539 12,808 13,469 91.416 2,308 13.564 26,895 102.387 a4 Lettin 12,8C6 13,469 91.416 a5 Other recoipts TOTAL RECEIPTS (a7) SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS Circuit Assessment or Share 49,164 49.164 46,815 3.019 b3 Donations 3,375 24.959 3,375 Re airs and Maintenance Utilities Ilnsuran¢es, water charges, heatin htin Carelakin & Cleanin 24.959 12,316 b5 12,547 12.S47 10,540 5,670 106.265 11,808 10.540 5.670 106.255 9,457 4,852 88,267 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS b8 Ib9} SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR 14.839 14.839 14,120 Total funds brought forward from last year c2 97.138 105.943 c6 91,819 c3 Sub total c1+c2 82.297 8.807 91,104 105.939 Translers and ad'ustments 279 279 c7 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR Ic3+¢4) 82,576 8,807 91,383 {¢81 105,943 (¢01 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO ExfERNAL ORGANISATIONS Ith080 amount8 arn not to bg Includ￿ In total rece1￿Paym0nt8 fi urw abov•) d1 Baloncx brou ht forward from last d2 Offerin 31Grfts- received for extemal o anwtions 2.410 2,436 d3 OfferingslGrfts - F4ssed to extemal organisaltons 2,410 2,436 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) 2of5 SFA 2023-2024 Fareham Methodist ¢lwrtth CH ACC 8ECMON E Summaryofthe Chvrth aLwunts forlhe year enw 31 Aiiwst2024 hwrwl iOlh8 Churtfi Meetiw. Nottrttvtthe lU￿S01 an Inlemal Offaanisatknn)Iru￿ r￿malY ie RÈstrKY*¢ fuThY& be ¢leaty Shrth￿ Ihatfv c0j￿ t¢ tsany Metl**list purp)8e ThN must t ND A DIFFERENT FORM mu# k WY at¢(xJrt515ee Ile1￿￿t￿•1•i. wro4n9 trarthts trt D$tric* INTERNAL ORGANisAnoNS Pa Fw 205 97 249 1.820 15 e3 JunhjrChU￿Th 144 174 1.981 175 PargNt&T*)¥dl•rn 401 13 163 ¢7 sutst￿* Of In*wn&t e8 4,1 639 811 Chvrch a¢coi#its It(¢•t• 2.totLL4 ￿Umn1 IC*26S 114J391 lo7) 105,943 91.383 eBI BYCHURCH 96.038 11GN35 114A961 108.S82 92A65 r￿ssery TOYWLREC&PTS PAYIIEins SeC710t4 F TA ¢LOSIMO CHURCH. CASN FUNDS HELD •t31 C88h in hand 8ank CurrenlAcoxm 22.179 Bank tje itAc(thrrt f4 Central Fin•rte Bo8 44,328 8.807 8,807 SUB TQTAL. chU￿h funds he￿ by IntemalOtgan**Jx D•tarth Wfrum abM)1è121 039 e12 TOTAL CASH FUND$ HELD BY CHURCH 92,465 SECMON G At 31 Av9U812Q24 IThER ASSETS4fft1 LIAWUTES Indude ErnknTnents 15 9S5 L*ld & Bumdi 3339511 172 477 Loan f4 onty Flmds •tthe Cwtr* FITh￿ f5 kxlude OTh￿ FundslWJat TnJ5*estrK4thist PLrws 2OfS Charity Number 1127814 Declaration by Treasurer I confimi that these Receipt and Pa￿nent based accounts for the year to 31 August 2024 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they indude all funds under the control of the Church tNstees. Signature of treasurer.............. 2S-I- Name and address of treasurer Mike Petter 4 Romyns Court Fareham P014 1NB Presentstlon to the Church trustees I confimi that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 were presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on . Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting Revd Pauline Crispin SFA 202>2024 4of5 Independent Examinevs Report to the Trustees of the Farnham Methodist Church Charity Number 1127814 Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the ac¢ourts of the Fareham Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2024 set OLrt on pages 1 to 3. As the Church's trustets, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('th8 A¢Y). I report in respect of my examination of the Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of th8 Act and, in carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515){b) of the Act. Indopond•nt ExamIn0￿3 Statomont I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed belo￿) vthich give m8 cause to b8liev8 that in, any material respect.. the accountina records not keDt in accordance with section 130 of th8 Act: or the accounts do not accord with accountiTh2 records. I have no ¢oncems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be dravm in this report in order to enable a proper Understar￿ing of the accounts to be reached. I have obtsined independent vertfication of all investments Yath the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balan￿8 and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are indivirjually in ex￿$$ of £10.000 {ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner MRS JoANN.o.... CJftC&oQH Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner Name of fimi (where appropriate) Iq. |>i.....Eii.G.H.... Si K£or.., ...¢nisvJo:RTH.......................... Po lQ....IA Date SFA 202&21Y24 Sof5 FAREHAM METHODIST CHURCH Notes a¢com an Ac¢ounts for Y ar ended 31 ust 2024 Both the General Fund and Trust No. 216￿ are unrestn"ct¢d. Trust No. 21694 consists of Model Trust bequests. Othgr Roc•lpts and Ottw Paymènts Recei Weekday actrvrty 5.114 Mirri mavkèt.. £1098 Messy Church. £171 Holiday at Home-. £303 Coffee Centre.. £605 Friday lunch.. £1160 Fu￿ra1 payment £678 Shidey sts11 £200 Bazaar. £699 Organ & Keybjard fund donationg EnvIr￿mental Sunday lunch donation$ Sunday coffee donations uests(Law. Bally. Guest) Dofiat￿ for TV Asytum support 805 250 469 220 5,575 400 359 277 13,489 Pa ents Messy Chur COp￿ng, Copyright & Website New ¢)Jpier 2.314 2.256 128 262 424 Ber￿oI8￿ce payments Other incl expenses 5,67 Advan¢¢ payment Grft Aid Wortd Missions Mi$$ion in Britain Fund for the Supwt of Presbyters and Deacons Fund for human need BRF Friends of hor¢*less in Fareham Christians T%)3etr*r in Far•tAm JunKir Chijrch Fareh8m Masonic Club (for u9e of car parkl 185 1.000 600 300 250 250 250 200 150 3,375 Ropair• 80iler service Fire extinguishers Fire alam seNi¢e Smoke head relocab.on Electrical tesb"ng15 year) Electrical work & ceftsfication Nefv￿rk reconfigu AST Door entry system AV system incl screens and monit General erepairn <£75 230 100 260 90 980 5,441 227 372 16,866 413 24,959 FAREHAM METHODIST CHURCH Notes accompanying Puounts for Year end&J 31st August 2024 continued Broadband Gas EleCtri￿ty 8T Insurance Utilities 362 7.291 62 3,833 12.547 Caretaking and cleaning Wages Janitorial supplies PHS Window dean 8.720 738 220 10,540 G8neral Fund at 31st August 2024 Running Costs Reserve Benevolence Reserve Asylum Fund Organ & Keyboard reserve Environmental Fund Major Repairs Reserve Unrestricted tequests @ TMCP Unrestricted bequests in account Restn"cted bequests ac£ount 42,249 1fy) 8.829 250 27,000 8,807 2,744 625 91104 Appeals for Extemal Organisations Action for Children Youth 0pb.ons Comic Relief Christian Aid Week Basics Bank Slep by Step Wortd Mission Fund JMA 290 165 243 593 2410.00 The investment shovm in Section G is Trust No. 17856 and Trust No. 22184 with the Trusteas for Methodist Churth PUrF￿seS {Charity No. 1136358). 10. The BLtikling$ and "olher assets" (contents arKi organ) are valu*J at the sums for which they are insured. The sums insured are increas&J annualty acu)rding to appropriate indices. Independent Examlnerfs Raport to the Tru8tee$ of the Fareham Methodist Church Charity Numbor 1127814 R8sponslblliti08 and basis of report I réport to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Fareham Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2024 set OLrt on pages 1 to 3. AS the Church's trust8es, you are responsible for the preparation of the attounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Ad 2011 ('the Art). I report in respect of my exarnination of trE Church's accounts caryied out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all th8 applicab18 Directions given by the Chanty Commission under section 145(5}(b) of the ACL Independont ExamlnaV• Statemont I have completed my èxamination. I confmi that no material mattws have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disdosed below") ￿1¢h give me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accountino records were not keDt in accordance with section 130 of the Act,. or the accounts do not accord accountina records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I have obtained independent verification of all investments WFth the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balan￿ and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church v4hich ar& individualty in excess of £10.000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner tTh.f2024 Sof5