2023-08-31-accounts - St. Peter's Methodist Church Canterbury

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Minister’s report to the Annual Church Meeting

June 2023

Junior Church
St Peter’s Primary
Winter Night Shelter
Pride
Fair Trade
Contemporary Theology lectures
Home & Study Groups and Pastoral care
Eritrean Congregation
Online presence
Student work

Junior Church

It is a joy to see our young people join us for worship each Sunday, and to know that they are supported and nurtured in their faith through our Junior Church. Our thanks go to those who help out with our young people, especially to Dawn and Wendy for their hard work and creativity.

Schools ministry

Every week during the school term, St Peter’s Primary have an act of worship in the Church.

They also regularly use the Church for other activities and services such as the end of year services, nativity plays, Christingle services and School ‘Talent’ shows. In addition they use the Church to help with their RE lessons.

Following Paul Glass’s departure last year, Catherine Wagstaff also had to come off the Governing Body owing to other work commitments. I am grateful to Philip Wells for agreeing to stand as a Foundation Governor, he will start in this role with the new school year. We are still in need of another Methodist to serve as a Foundation Governor and ensure that the school continues to run with a Methodist ethos.

My thanks go to Adriana for her ministry with the Friday morning Coffee morning to the parents at the school. My thanks also for her service as a Steward.

The school would particularly welcome greater involvement from church members in the life of the school. In addition, Tim has regularly led worship at the Methodist school at Boughton under Blean.

Revd Alison Walker took up her role as the new chaplain at Kent College in the Summer of 2022 and has settled well into the role.

Winter Night Shelter

For the second year running Catching Lives were unable to run their traditional rolling shelter last winter due this time to problems with their insurance. I have recently been informed that the insurance issues have been resolved, and that Catching Lives do intend to operate a ‘normal’ night shelter programme again this coming Winter. My thanks to Richard Cockell for representing the Church in its relationship with Catching Lives. We will be offering them our hall space on Wednesday evenings, and will require Church members to volunteer to come and host the Shelter before the guests bed down for the night.

Pride

Following the decision to register the premises for same sex weddings which was taken during the last Connexional year. St Peter’s is one of only two mainstream Churches in Canterbury offering for same sex weddings. Revd Danny Wheadon has agreed to be the appointed person at St Peter’s and will be able to conduct 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. It was also heartening that some of the staff from the school marched with us during the Parade, and are keen to explore greater involvement in similar events through the course of the years ahead.

We are also delighted to continue the work of Deacon Joy in hosting the Trans Support Group on a monthly basis. We held the Trans Memorial Service in the Winter, in what was a deeply moving ceremony.

Fair Trade

Following the distressing news that Traidcraft would cease trading, the decision was taken to host a final FairTrade fair at St Peter’s at the end of March. It was very well attended and provided an opportunity to give thanks for the ministry Traidcraft have offered over the years. As a Church we are still proud of our status as a Fair-Trade Church, and where possible will continue to buy our supplies from Fairly Traded sources. Our thanks go to Glen Sharman, Jennifer Walters and their team of helpers who made sure the event was able to take

place, and for the hard work of so many over the years supporting such a vital expression of the work of God’s kingdom.

Contemporary Theology Lectures

We have continued to host the Canterbury Contemporary Theology lecture series at St Peter’s during the Winter and Spring of 2023. The programme was rather interrupted by several speakers having difficulties which led to cancelled lectures. We were still enriched by some very powerful lectures from the former Bishop of Liverpool Paul Bayes, Professor Anthony Reddie and Jayne Ozanne. Doreen Rosman takes over from Judith Dimond as the Chair of the Committee, so there will continue to be a strong Methodist presence going forward.

Home & Study Groups and Pastoral Care.

My thanks go to those who have organised and led our House Groups during the past year. I know that it has often been a struggle to co-ordinate diaries and venues. It still feels as if we are making tentative steps to re-establishing what ‘normal’ is following the lockdowns. House groups are a central feature of the identity of Methodism and I warmly encourage all church members to think about joining a group, or working with others in the church to setting up new groups. We are all called to regular meeting with others for prayer, Bible study, fellowship and mutual support in our faith.

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. We are in urgent need of more pastoral visitors. As we have lost some of our visitors either by them moving away, or as they have passed away. It has meant that the pastoral visitors lists have grown longer.

If you are interested in becoming a pastoral visitor, please contact Revd Tim, or Revd Danny when he arrives. They will talk you through what is required, and the nature of the role.

My thanks go to Mary Anderson for her time as pastoral secretary and then for Michael Stace as he took on the role, in co-ordinating our pastoral visitors.

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 delighted to formalise our relationship with them as they have established themselves within

the ecumenical scene here in Canterbury. We will continue to uphold and support their ministry irrespective of the prevailing political climate.

Several members of St Peter’s still continue to host Ukrainian refugees in their homes, nearly 18 months after the Russian invasion. The rental home organised by Diana Bax for a Ukrainian family continues to provide support. As a Church we have provided space for several Ukrainian groups to meet and offer support. We were honoured to receive a special performance from the Ukrainian Women’s Choir as part of our Sunday service in the Spring. We will continue to offer what support we can, and host support groups here, until hopefully one day soon, the conflict is over and it is safe for our Ukrainian families to return to their homes.

Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) use our premises regularly to support Refugee women with language and other classes. I am thrilled that some members of our church help out with the work of KRAN in supporting some very vulnerable people within our local community.

Ecumenism

It is good to see that the Ecumenical Contemplative Prayer meeting continues to meet regularly at St Peter’s.

The Good Friday Ecumenical walk of witness and open air service was well attended by members of St Peter’s.

Online presence

Our thanks go to our volunteers who have staffed our Sound and AV desk each Sunday to ensure that our services are available for the congregation to worship and for the service to be livestreamed for those of our community who are house bound.

Thank you to Glen Sharman, Mithila Fernando, Brian Davis and Philip Wells for all their hard work and technical skill.

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 Brexit and the pandemic has hit the Universities in Canterbury particularly hard, impacting both on the finances as well as the well-being of the staff and students. We have had our community life enriched by the students attending worship. We enjoyed several students leading the music in our morning service led by our new church member Jake.

Revd Danny will take over formally as the Methodist Chaplain following my departure in the Summer. We will continue to offer a warm welcome to students as they start back in September.

Changes

We have said farewell to several of our congregation this year. Enid Lazell, Jim and Anne Baird, and today we say farewell to Mithila as she leaves for Sri Lanka and married life. You will always have a home here at St Peter’s.

Significant thanks needs to be offered to Andrew Bell who has stepped up to take on the role of Church treasurer following the departure of James McCrea last year. That the transition has been as smooth as it is, is a testament to Andrew’s hard work.

Our Premises Manager Roy Hollands will be leaving his post at the end of August. Roy has been in post since November 2019. He has worked tirelessly at overhauling our systems, to ensure that we are compliant with all the various legislations and procedures which the Methodist Church and wider statutory bodies require of churches these days. In addition he has significantly improved our relationships with the various community groups using our premises, as well as increased the amount of usage the premises has during the week. We are now pretty much at maximum capacity.

Roy will continue in his role with the District as both Property officer and ecumenical officer so he will still maintain some contact with St Peter’s. We thank him for his hard work and wish him well for the future.

The Church Council have agreed to seek a replacement for Roy, and the advert will be going out shortly. There is the possibility that the role may be combined with the new Circuit administrator role which will also be moving to Canterbury as Danny will take on being both the Minister at St Peter’s and the Circuit Superintendent.

This is my final Annual Church Meeting at St Peter’s. I leave with a sense of regret that COVID so impacted on the past five years, and changed so much of the nature of the Church life against all of our wishes. I leave also with a sense of sadness at the lives which were lost, some of them far too early, when they still had so much to contribute. I leave with a sense of relief that you have such an experienced minister coming in Revd Danny Wheadon. On meeting him, I was impressed with the many gifts and graces which he will bring to the role of your Minister. I pray that you will work with him to further work out the call and claim of God in your lives and the wider community.

I thank you for the love, kindness and support I have received over the past five years. I ask for your prayers for my future ministry and for the staff, students and

residents of the Universities of Leeds and Leeds City Centre as I move to serve as their Chaplain. I will continue to pray for you and wish you every success as you continue the work of God in this City.

On this Conference Sunday, I am reminded of the words of one of the hymns traditionally sung during the Ordination Services. Words which apply to all who know and claim Jesus for themselves.

1 You servants of God, your Master proclaim,

and publish abroad his wonderful name;

the name all-victorious of Jesus extol;

his kingdom is glorious and rules over all.

2 God ruleth on high, almighty to save;

though hid from our sight, his presence we have; the great congregation his triumph shall sing, ascribing salvation to Jesus our King.

3 "Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!" let all cry aloud, and honour the Son; the praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,

fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.

4 Then let us adore and give him his right: all glory and power, all wisdom and might, all honour and blessing with angels above and thanks never ceasing for infinite love

CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS SL Patefs Mothodlst Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2023 Canterbury & East Kent Clrcuit Circult no. 38127 Règislered Charity - Charlty Registration number If not a registered charity Her Majestys Revenuo and Cu8tom8 Gift Aid number {The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered Charity numb8r in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to glve to donors or grant fundèrs wshing to see evidenr of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not gistered thartties are excepted from regislratlon under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) 1128069 Minister: Reverend Tim Nicholls Church Stewards: Philip Wells Helen Brown Richard Cockell Treasurer: Andrew Bell churches-receipts-and-payTnents.2023 1ofS

ACCOU[S FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 St. Peterfs Methodlst Church Unr•#trlctsd R•sbfj¢tsd Totals th1$ Fund• Fund y•ar SECTION A Total¥ latst ygar a1 RECEIPTS Note a2 Offerin s and Tax recovered Bank ané CF8 inlor8St and Investrnanl inGome 77,001 TI,001 75,768 03 2,692 77,669 1,392 158.754 15,980 18,672 77.669 1.392 174,734 499 84 L811in 68,606 996 145,869 a5 Other receipt$ TOTAL RECEIPTS 15,980 {a7} SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 90,000 90,000 85,OC4) b3 Donations b4 Re airs and Mainlenance Ulililles Ilnsurances, w81er charges, heatirvJ & lighting) 19,034 19,034 17.383 b5 18,654 18,654 12.177 b6 b7 Other P8yTnents TOTAL PAYMENTS 28,194 155,882 28,194 155.882 22,826 137,386 b8 {b9) SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ¢1 a&b8 2,872 15,980 18,852 8,483 Total funds brought foThv8rd from last year c2 109,645 435 110,080 101,597 Sub total c1+c2 112.517 16.415 128,932 110,080 Transfets 2nd ad'ustments ¢7 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR {c3+c41 112,517 16.415 128.932 Ic81 110,080 (¢61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS these amounts are not to b• Included In total r•cgiptslpayments flgures abov•l d1 Balance brou hl forward from last ar 990 990 d2 Offerin slGifts- recfjived for extemal or aniSatn8 d3 OfferingslGlfts - passed lo extemal organisations 990 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d243) 990 2of5

Sl. Pelels MetWist TIQNS REPORMN T THÈ CHURCH COUNC ChwBh SUMMARYOF CHURCH A COUNT A14D IN R ORGANI $ECTh)N E • fo•tywth• Gul Noie Dm kntsthi Summaryoftho Church Occotsfty th•rendd 31 Aww12023and oni$trOn faPDrbnp to IheChw¢h couChurCh M¢e¥ng. Notethatthefvnds of an ternal oaTrI&ln w¢ulO r#)Ma1 be RoBcd fund$ Unk itcDuhl b¢ trAI iheycould b8 used foranyM&th&ll$t This g¢¢kn mu81 b¢ tptOd to Hthve altho gross IKOMB totslts olthe thur¢h. into¢ ex¢eods IArCrL¥1% tshOl, thon moth0¢ of accourtirg ADA DIFFERENT FCH4M rrlbo ug¢d 10 rawrttho llccountsl kkndlslvb8it¢l Fleast ref•1 b)the guhlaru Th)t8¥fvwdlng trafr$ th¢ Dl$tr 4TERPIAL ORGANISATlOtIs Not R8c•lpt81 Cbts baLrync ¢7 ub totA 12 Chur¢h a¢¢ount Itrt•ls broughtforward trom pag• 2- tolth colurnnl 174,n4 lan 151.102 18.152 l¢n 110,080 1¢81 128932 BYCHLIRCH 174,734 115,882 le52 110.080 128,932 Continue on i Beporth sh8et ntstesssfy and lI9e totdslom8Yd TOTAL RECEfpT8 TQTAL PAYMENT8 SECMON F ATEMENTOF ASSET AND LIABILmt OPEP41NG BLANeE$ CLOSING elLcEs VRCH- CA&1 PUND$N&D a131 AwNt20 CBsh In hnd 110 110 Bank CurranlArrnunl 2.678 1711 Bank D ItAccount Cenlral Finan¢0 8oard 88.832 76.524 Trustses for Purpos99 18,580 34.487 SiIB TO7AL-ChurehaEcouryt# ToWfu$ held by ht8rnal Oryanlsdlbn$I L)5in9 bal8n¢o tot#1 fromatrrf)ve}1•121 110 128.932 le121 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 110,080 128,932 cnoN Q ¢)ThER ASSET8and LIAAILmE8 18eptember2022 31 Augwt2 Investhn In&uda EnMents Land & J11¢' 5e8 notss bwf¥nctval 737 316 737 316 - showatOUtr1RThjl r8nd UatHl#ieg 14 hdud• orly 4tthè Contral FinarKe ts Indud# ¢niy AtTwst88sfor klolWt fvJrpog0$ 1 rudeayaeIlnwQ9knntsl1tt*¢•Stt 0•t0frPtW8ts accOtr i¥ in linBfS 3of5

Name of Church .' SL Pelefs Methc4Jist Church No . 1128069 Declarations and Scrutiny I confirn Ihal these Receipl and Payment based accounts for Ihe year to 31 August 2023 have been prepared from the record8 of the Church and that they includ8 all fvnds under the control of the Church trust88s. Slgnatureoftreasurer....... ......................................... ............. Date 11thApril 2024 Name and address of treasurer .' Mr Andrew Bell St. Peterfs M8thodi8t Church. St. Peterfs Street, Canterbury, Kent Post Code . CTI 2BE Prnsontalion to Ihe Church trus1•08 I confirm that the annual report and accou to the me8ting of the Church trustees held for th r ended 31 August 2023 vtsrethll be. presentsd Slgnature of the Chair of the méeting Name of lh8 Chair of the meeting . Danny Date 111h April 2024 Independent Examlnerfs Report to the Trustees of th• St. Peter's Methodist Church Charity Numbor: 1128069 Responsibilities and ba81s of report I report to the trustees on my examln8tion of the accounts of the St. Peterfs Methodlst Church for the year ended 31 August 2023 set out on pag8s 1 to 3. As the Church's truslees, you ar8 responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance th the requirements of the chare8 Act 2011 (Ihé Act,). I report In respéct of my examination of the Church's accounts carried out under 8ectlon 145 of the A and, in carrylng out my 8xamin81ion, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commtsslon under sectron 145(51{bl of the Act. ' dekne or clrde as approprfate 4of5

Name of Church . St. Peterf5 Methodlst Church No . 1128069 Independent EXarnInes Statement I have completed my examlnation. I confirm that no material matters have ¢ome to my attention in connection wilh the examination (other than that disclosed below") which give m8 cause to believe that in. any material respect: Ihe a¢¢ounting records were not kept in accordan vMth section 130 of the Act. or the 8c¢ounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have rKJ concems 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 understanding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave nor obtsined Independent verification of all inveslments the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or h81d in other trusts. bank balances and funds al the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church vthlch are irKJividually in excess of £10.000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet dats. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examlner: Neil D Beverton R818vant professlonal qualification of independent examiner: FCA Name of firm (where appropriate> .' Beverton & Co. Address '. Maybrook House, York Street, Dover, Kent, CT17 9FA Date . 11th April 2024 delete or circle as appropriate rJ ur¢he$-re¢eipts-and-paymenls-2023 5of5