## **Minister’s report to the Annual Church Meeting June 2022** 

## **Junior Church** 

Our Junior Church has been able to start up again following the pandemic. It is a joy to have young people worshipping regularly. Our Easter Sunday service was enriched by a short animation they had worked so hard to produce of the Easter Story. We also welcomed over 30 people to an inaugural Messy Easter. We are looking for volunteers to set up a team to run regular ‘Messy Church’ events that our young people can come long to and invite their friends to as well. 

## **Old Wives Lees** 

Following the decision by the Church Council at Old Wives Lees to close the chapel in 2021. The remaining members of Old Wives Lees have transferred their membership to St Peter’s. They still host occasional services in the home of Mary and Peter Bartlett. The church also supports monthly services in the Village Hall. 

## **Schools ministry** 

Every week during the school term, St Peter’s Primary have an act of worship in the Church. Revds. Tim, Paul Glass and Catherine Wagstaff serve as Foundation Governors to ensure that the school still runs with a Methodist ethos. The school would particularly welcome greater involvement from church members in the life of the school. Revd Tim will be exploring some ways that church members could get more involved. In addition, Tim regularly leads worship at the other Methodist school at Boughton under Blean, and also leads a worship once a term at each of the Kent College Schools. 

Paul Glass will be moving away in the Summer, and his ministry across the schools will be much missed. 

Revd Alison Walker will move to take up her role as the new chaplain at Kent College in the Summer. 

## **Winter Night Shelter** 

1 



Catching Lives were unable to run a traditional rolling shelter last winter due to restrictions related to the pandemic. We were able to secure use of a B&B at the Eleventh hour and were able to provide bed spaces to 15 individuals with many positive outcomes resulting from this. 

Richard Cockell is representing the Church at meetings to see how we can support their work going forward over the coming months and with volunteering opportunities and provision of the Church Hall during the Winter months. 

## **God in love unites us all** 

Following a range of discussions over several years, the Methodist Conference of 2021 invited each Church Council to vote on whether it was willing for same sex weddings to be conducted on its premises. The Church Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of this at our December meeting, and St Peter’s is now registered for same sex weddings. At the recent Pride march, it was heartening to see the reaction of so many within the procession, and onlookers delighted to see the Church represented. A celebration of the hard work, so many have put in over the years to help the Church work through its issues of exclusion. We hope to host our first same sex wedding at St Peter’s at some point in the new Connexional year. 

## **Home & Study Groups** 

It has been encouraging to hear that our house groups have started up again. Indeed, one of them has so many people attending, that it may have to split into two separate house groups as there aren’t front rooms big enough! The opportunity to meet regularly with other Christians for mutual support and the chance to pray and study the Bible together is a vital component of Church life. I would hope that more church members who are not part of a House Group feel able to either join an existing group, or look at starting another group. 

My thanks go to those involved in the running of the House groups. In addition, my thanks go to the pastoral visitors for all their hard work in supporting our church members throughout the year. Their work is invaluable, and I know from the comments I hear, how much their efforts are appreciated. 

## **Eritrean Congregation and Refugee Support** 

Our friends from the Eritrean Church continue to meet regularly at the Church on Sunday afternoons for worship and pastoral support. We are 

2 



delighted to continue to offer them the space to continue their vital work in supporting some of our most vulnerable members of our community. We will continue to uphold and support their ministry irrespective of the prevailing political climate. 

Following the devastation caused by the Russian assault on Ukraine, St Peter’s has responded through several members hosting Ukrainian refugees in their homes, Diana Bax has organised a rental home for a family, and others are providing a range of support from language and translation support, to hosting support groups here at the Church. 

Over the course of the year to come we will continue to work with our ecumenical colleagues and other partners to establish Canterbury as a City of Sanctuary for refugees and asylum seekers. 

## **Ecumenism** 

St Peter’s is still heavily involved ecumenically, as demonstrated in the Contemporary Theology lectures which we host between January and July, and which enrich the local theological scene. This year we will have had several high-profile speakers including Rowan Williams, Barbara Glasson and the Secretary of the Conference Jonathan Hustler. 

The Ecumenical Contemplative Prayer meeting continues to meet. 

Several of the church community joined in the Good Friday Ecumenical walk of witness and open air service. 

## **Online presence** 

As the church has reopened for public worship, so we have moved from our pre-recorded services back to in person worship. Through a generous donation from the Helen Davis Foundation, we were able to purchase equipment to enable the live streaming of our services and other events. This has meant that some of our House bound members and people from further afield have been able to share in our worship. Our thanks go to the Helen Davis foundation, to Deacon Joy for her efforts in setting up the equipment, and for the team of volunteers who staff the sound and AV desk each Sunday. Each week we are averaging around 50 people who are engaging in worship who might otherwise be unable to attend. 

## **Student work** 

The impact of the pandemic has hit the Universities in Canterbury particularly hard, impacting both on student welfare and on the staff. Deacon Joy has continued to offer pastoral support and care throughout 

3 



the year. As she moves away to Nottingham, Revd Tim will act formally as the Methodist chaplain. We will continue to offer a warm welcome to students as they start back in September. 

## **In Remembrance** 

We remember before God those of our community who have passed away during the course of this Connexional Year. 

Merle Bown; Sheila Thompson; Joy Webster; Pam Lee Evans; Jim Lees; Jessie Collinson; John Wilson; Pat Snell; Bernard Powell; Joy Sharman; Bob Want; Revd Ted Bishop; John Wilkins. 

May they rest in peace and rise in glory. 

## **Changes** 

It has also been a year of farewells, as the impact of the pandemic has meant that some have moved away to be nearer to their families or have moved for work. During the year Pat and Allen Denney, Lucy Langsford, John and Gillian Butler, Malcolm and Heather Peach and Graham and Angela Gibbens have moved away. We thank God for their ministry amongst us and wish them every joy in their new settings. 

Over the coming months we will also say our farewells to James and Rachel with Sarah, Emma and Thomas McCrea as they move to Lancashire. We thank them for their contribution to the life of the Church, especially to James who has served the church as treasurer over the past four years. 

We will also say farewell to Deacon Joy Everingham and to Revd Paul Glass. 

There will be a leaving service for both of them on Sunday 24[th] July at St Peter’s at 6.30pm. Where I anticipate a large turnout of people to give thanks for their ministries and their time living and sharing with us. 

We also thank Janet Glass for all her various contributions to the life of the Church, both as a regular worshipper at St Peter’s, and in her work at Kent College and for the District. We pray that she enjoys her retirement and finds the move to the Wey Valley circuit to be a time of new opportunities and excitement. 

We also remember George and Bill Everingham, giving thanks to them for having shared Joy with us. We wish them well for the future as they move to new opportunities. 

4 



_This, this is the God we adore, our faithful, unchangeable friend, whose love is great as his power, and neither knows measure nor end:_ 

_Tis Jesus the first and the last, whose Spirit shall guide us safe home; we’ll praise him for all that is past, and trust him for all that’s to come._ 

Joseph Hart (1712-1767) 

5 



CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH
STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
SL Petevs Method18t
Church
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 August 2022
Cantsrbury & East Kent
Circuit
Clrcult no.
Reglstsred Charlty- Charity Registratlon number
1128069
If not a reglstered charity Hèr Majestys Revenue and
Customs Glft Ald numbor
{The HMRC number is equivalent to a r6gister8d charity number in temis of evid8n¢e of charitable
stetus and may be used to give to donors or grant funders Mtishing to see evidence of the organisation's
charitabla status. Methodist charities in England and W818s that are not register￿ charities are
exrApted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242)
Mlnisler:
Reverend Tim Ni¢MIs
Church SteNYards:
Philip Wells
H616n Brown
Mithila Femando
Adrlana Perera
Richard Co¢kell
Treasurer:
James McCr8a
Chwch R aTrJ P 2015.￿9
1015

ACCOUNTS F¢)R The YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022
St. Peterfs Methodist
Church
Unr•8trlctsd R•$trf¢twl Tots18 thls
Funds
Fund•
Total¥ last
ar
SECTION A
a1
RECEIPTS
a2
Offerin s and Tax recovered
Bank and CFB intere51 and
Investment income
75.768
75,76B
72.921
412
87
172
04
Lettin
Other receipts
TOTAL RECEIPTS
68.606
996
145,782
68,606
65.766
3.307
142,166
86
87
145,869
{a71
SECTION
b1
PAYMENTS
b2
Circuit A68essment or Share
85,000
85,000
70.000
b3
Oonations
Re
airs and Maintenanc*
Utilities (In8uranrAs, wal&r
char
heatin
htin
17,333
17,383
25,761
b5
12,177
12,177
14,341
b7
Other Pa￿￿ents
TOTAL PAYMENTS
22,826
137,3B6
22,826
137,386
24,052
1¥154
(b9}
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS
¢1
a6-b8
8,396
87
8.01
Total fund8 brought forward from
1881 year
101,249
348
101,597
c6
93.585
Sub totsl
1+¢2
435
110,080
101.597
Transfers and ad. stments
c7
TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR
(c3+c4)
109,645
435
110,080
Ic8)
101.597
{c6)
SECTION D
FOR INFORIIATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO E￿fERNAL ORGANISATIONS
{thes8 omounts are not to bg InGludod In total roc•1
ontsfi
ur06 above
d1
Balance brou ht foThward from last year
89
d2
Offerfn ￿Gffts- received for extem81 or
nisations
990
352
d3
OffgringslGift8 - passed to ex18mal organlsatlons
441
d4
BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID
{d1+d243}
990
C&utch R P 2015￿￿
2of5

St. Pet9rf5 Methodist
CHUR HC
MMARYOF CHURCHACC
D PITER￿ R
Tr4GT
lolkJwth•
thk•
Summary ofthb cThJreh XCo￿tsIDrlh9 yearended 31 ￿¥￿St202? ht*rn&l org£n&al0￿ ¥ewting ID the Churth CourriilChur¢h MpFbnp. Noteth•lth• hjrth of
8n Intsm81 woubj normally be Regidd*Jknds be C￿artY$t￿n th*iihDy COU￿ be used IN8nyKtsIWis1 purpose. musl bo
conV￿led￿Hrrtve althfrgrw Irttm• ondw¥dthtotsI$of￿ (*w¢h. W9r0s6 irrrnexceedB the *ru8L* t￿￿￿3￿￿￿￿. Ihen ttje knals m•th(￿ ofa¢¢M1kn9
ANDA DFFEWT FORM must bo ￿ed to rerxlrtlts a¢rA)UThtsI￿ K*thtyJiSt￿tr&tQl. f4eaEe refer iotsguKlance rntes r•gl￿1n9tr8nSfW% bet*Yen th• DIst￿t
con￿thd D*tittOraoniso1w.
WIERNAL
ORGANISAMONS
NetRqc4
Pay￿￿nts
Openr
aosl
Or9*nW￿ lunds
011
I.19ts￿ ¢0￿Mn)
146,
1•7)
Ib91
101,597
Id}
110,080
BYCHURCH
146.869
137J•G
101.597
110WI
Conunue ona 8¢p•r•ts
nx•ss•ryaryJ bfvJthe
tot**forw&
TOTAL RECEIPTS
TOTAL
PAYMENTS
SECMON F
OPENING
CLO￿0
CHURCH- CA8H FV14D8 •131 A
Cash
110
t10
Bgnk
$78
Bart 5tt**wunl
Central Rn•rK•a¢•rO
78.Cfj7
88.e32
TTU5tstsforlhltrtsJ15tChurth PUF
18,560
Otherfunds
SUB TOTAL. Church accwnts
TL%*lfunds h?h4 by IntsMlllthgBrW0￿ (tr*
balllnc•totslfrDm le121
11
TOTAL CASH FUIID$ HELD BY CHURCH
101.597
110,080
secTKIN G
OTHER AStET8 afid LIABIUTE$
1 Sepl•rn¥or 2021
31 AugL*t2022
Imfaalrnents
IrKlude Erff*ywmon
410916
410 916
Lathj & Buildi
notes re ￿Jrarte v41L*
326,400
326.400
45,918
45.918
. s￿ErnOu￿1r￿lll￿d
rend
f4 ￿L￿ja only Funds hobj 9t￿ C¢otr•l FlnaNx Bullrd
f5 only FundB hok1 aiTruEtsesfcr ￿￿￿dIEt Churr*
91 ￿￿￿1•¥nyoth$rlr￿estr￿0rts Inotthe c•$h•lwwi(rfTrKPtru•*4mntsthhl•hxlwJ*J In IIMf5
201$th￿R*IFJ

Name of Church . St. Peter's Methodist
No: 1128069
Declarations and Scrutiny
I confirm Ihat these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2022 have been
prepared from the records of the Church and that they indude all funds under the control of the
Church trustees.
Signatureof treasurer...............................................................
Date.......................
Name and address of treasurer . Mr J Mccrae
St. Petevs Methodist Church. St. Peterfs Street. Canterbury, Kent. Post Code . CT12BE
Presentatlon to the Church trustees
I confimi thal the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 wereMill be"
presented to the meelino of the Church trustees held on ...............
Signature of the Chair of the meeting
Name of the Chair of the meetlng . Re¢d Timothy Nicholls
Date .'
Independent ExamlneVs Report to the Trustees of the
St. Peterfs Methodist Church
Charlty Number . 1128069
Responsibllltles and basls of report
I report to the trustees on my examlnation of the accounts of the St. Peterfs Methodlst 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 requlrements of the Charities Act 2011
('the ACV).
I report in respect of my examination of Ihe Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the
Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Dlrections given by the
Charity Commlsslon under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
' delete or circle as appropriate
2015 R and P.xl
4ofS

Name of Church . Sl. Pelerfs Methodist Church
No: 1128069
Independent Examlnerfs Statement
I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material rnatte￿ have come to my attention
in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed belo￿} which give me cause to
believe that In, any material respect:
Ihe accountlng ￿COrdS were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act: or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection viith the examination to
which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of Ihe
accounts to be reached.
I have obtained independent verification of all Investments with the Trustees for Methodlst Churth
Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Flnance Board of the
Methodist Church which are individually In eX￿$S of £10,000 (ten thousand pourKls) at the
balance sheet date.
Signature of Independent examiner
Name of independent examiner . Neil D Beverton
Relevanl professlonal qualification of independ8nt examiner . FCA
Name of fimi (where appropriate) . Beverton & Co.
Address . Maybrook House, York Street, Dover, Kent, CT17 gFA
Date .
delete or circle as appropriate
Sep22
2015 churth R •KI P.>Js
Sofs

CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH
STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
SL Petevs Method18t
Church
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 August 2022
Cantsrbury & East Kent
Circuit
Clrcult no.
Reglstsred Charlty- Charity Registratlon number
1128069
If not a reglstered charity Hèr Majestys Revenue and
Customs Glft Ald numbor
{The HMRC number is equivalent to a r6gister8d charity number in temis of evid8n¢e of charitable
stetus and may be used to give to donors or grant funders Mtishing to see evidence of the organisation's
charitabla status. Methodist charities in England and W818s that are not register￿ charities are
exrApted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242)
Mlnisler:
Reverend Tim Ni¢MIs
Church SteNYards:
Philip Wells
H616n Brown
Mithila Femando
Adrlana Perera
Richard Co¢kell
Treasurer:
James McCr8a
Chwch R aTrJ P 2015.￿9
1015

ACCOUNTS F¢)R The YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022
St. Peterfs Methodist
Church
Unr•8trlctsd R•$trf¢twl Tots18 thls
Funds
Fund•
Total¥ last
ar
SECTION A
a1
RECEIPTS
a2
Offerin s and Tax recovered
Bank and CFB intere51 and
Investment income
75.768
75,76B
72.921
412
87
172
04
Lettin
Other receipts
TOTAL RECEIPTS
68.606
996
145,782
68,606
65.766
3.307
142,166
86
87
145,869
{a71
SECTION
b1
PAYMENTS
b2
Circuit A68essment or Share
85,000
85,000
70.000
b3
Oonations
Re
airs and Maintenanc*
Utilities (In8uranrAs, wal&r
char
heatin
htin
17,333
17,383
25,761
b5
12,177
12,177
14,341
b7
Other Pa￿￿ents
TOTAL PAYMENTS
22,826
137,3B6
22,826
137,386
24,052
1¥154
(b9}
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS
¢1
a6-b8
8,396
87
8.01
Total fund8 brought forward from
1881 year
101,249
348
101,597
c6
93.585
Sub totsl
1+¢2
435
110,080
101.597
Transfers and ad. stments
c7
TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR
(c3+c4)
109,645
435
110,080
Ic8)
101.597
{c6)
SECTION D
FOR INFORIIATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO E￿fERNAL ORGANISATIONS
{thes8 omounts are not to bg InGludod In total roc•1
ontsfi
ur06 above
d1
Balance brou ht foThward from last year
89
d2
Offerfn ￿Gffts- received for extem81 or
nisations
990
352
d3
OffgringslGift8 - passed to ex18mal organlsatlons
441
d4
BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID
{d1+d243}
990
C&utch R P 2015￿￿
2of5

St. Pet9rf5 Methodist
CHUR HC
MMARYOF CHURCHACC
D PITER￿ R
Tr4GT
lolkJwth•
thk•
Summary ofthb cThJreh XCo￿tsIDrlh9 yearended 31 ￿¥￿St202? ht*rn&l org£n&al0￿ ¥ewting ID the Churth CourriilChur¢h MpFbnp. Noteth•lth• hjrth of
8n Intsm81 woubj normally be Regidd*Jknds be C￿artY$t￿n th*iihDy COU￿ be used IN8nyKtsIWis1 purpose. musl bo
conV￿led￿Hrrtve althfrgrw Irttm• ondw¥dthtotsI$of￿ (*w¢h. W9r0s6 irrrnexceedB the *ru8L* t￿￿￿3￿￿￿￿. Ihen ttje knals m•th(￿ ofa¢¢M1kn9
ANDA DFFEWT FORM must bo ￿ed to rerxlrtlts a¢rA)UThtsI￿ K*thtyJiSt￿tr&tQl. f4eaEe refer iotsguKlance rntes r•gl￿1n9tr8nSfW% bet*Yen th• DIst￿t
con￿thd D*tittOraoniso1w.
WIERNAL
ORGANISAMONS
NetRqc4
Pay￿￿nts
Openr
aosl
Or9*nW￿ lunds
011
I.19ts￿ ¢0￿Mn)
146,
1•7)
Ib91
101,597
Id}
110,080
BYCHURCH
146.869
137J•G
101.597
110WI
Conunue ona 8¢p•r•ts
nx•ss•ryaryJ bfvJthe
tot**forw&
TOTAL RECEIPTS
TOTAL
PAYMENTS
SECMON F
OPENING
CLO￿0
CHURCH- CA8H FV14D8 •131 A
Cash
110
t10
Bgnk
$78
Bart 5tt**wunl
Central Rn•rK•a¢•rO
78.Cfj7
88.e32
TTU5tstsforlhltrtsJ15tChurth PUF
18,560
Otherfunds
SUB TOTAL. Church accwnts
TL%*lfunds h?h4 by IntsMlllthgBrW0￿ (tr*
balllnc•totslfrDm le121
11
TOTAL CASH FUIID$ HELD BY CHURCH
101.597
110,080
secTKIN G
OTHER AStET8 afid LIABIUTE$
1 Sepl•rn¥or 2021
31 AugL*t2022
Imfaalrnents
IrKlude Erff*ywmon
410916
410 916
Lathj & Buildi
notes re ￿Jrarte v41L*
326,400
326.400
45,918
45.918
. s￿ErnOu￿1r￿lll￿d
rend
f4 ￿L￿ja only Funds hobj 9t￿ C¢otr•l FlnaNx Bullrd
f5 only FundB hok1 aiTruEtsesfcr ￿￿￿dIEt Churr*
91 ￿￿￿1•¥nyoth$rlr￿estr￿0rts Inotthe c•$h•lwwi(rfTrKPtru•*4mntsthhl•hxlwJ*J In IIMf5
201$th￿R*IFJ

Name of Church . St. Peter's Methodist
No: 1128069
Declarations and Scrutiny
I confirm Ihat these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2022 have been
prepared from the records of the Church and that they indude all funds under the control of the
Church trustees.
Signatureof treasurer...............................................................
Date.......................
Name and address of treasurer . Mr J Mccrae
St. Petevs Methodist Church. St. Peterfs Street. Canterbury, Kent. Post Code . CT12BE
Presentatlon to the Church trustees
I confimi thal the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 wereMill be"
presented to the meelino of the Church trustees held on ...............
Signature of the Chair of the meeting
Name of the Chair of the meetlng . Re¢d Timothy Nicholls
Date .'
Independent ExamlneVs Report to the Trustees of the
St. Peterfs Methodist Church
Charlty Number . 1128069
Responsibllltles and basls of report
I report to the trustees on my examlnation of the accounts of the St. Peterfs Methodlst 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 requlrements of the Charities Act 2011
('the ACV).
I report in respect of my examination of Ihe Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the
Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Dlrections given by the
Charity Commlsslon under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
' delete or circle as appropriate
2015 R and P.xl
4ofS

Name of Church . Sl. Pelerfs Methodist Church
No: 1128069
Independent Examlnerfs Statement
I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material rnatte￿ have come to my attention
in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed belo￿} which give me cause to
believe that In, any material respect:
Ihe accountlng ￿COrdS were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act: or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection viith the examination to
which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of Ihe
accounts to be reached.
I have obtained independent verification of all Investments with the Trustees for Methodlst Churth
Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Flnance Board of the
Methodist Church which are individually In eX￿$S of £10,000 (ten thousand pourKls) at the
balance sheet date.
Signature of Independent examiner
Name of independent examiner . Neil D Beverton
Relevanl professlonal qualification of independ8nt examiner . FCA
Name of fimi (where appropriate) . Beverton & Co.
Address . Maybrook House, York Street, Dover, Kent, CT17 gFA
Date .
delete or circle as appropriate
Sep22
2015 churth R •KI P.>Js
Sofs