2025-08-31-accounts

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Central Methodist Church, Chesterfield Registered Charity Number 1128075 Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 August 2025

Reference & Administration Details	2
Structure, Governance and Management	4
Structure
Governance
Management
Objectives and Activities	5
Objectives
Activities
Achievements and Performance	6
Resourcing the Activities of the Church	7
Serious Incidents	8
Future Plans	8
Public Benefits Statement	8
Exemption From Disclosure	9
Funds Held as Custodian Trustee	9
Financial Review
Overview	9
Accounts for the Year Ending 31 August 2025	10
Declarations	13
Notes to the Accounts	14
Cornerstone	16
Designated Funds	17
Contingent Liabilities	19
Commitments	19
Ex-gratia Payments	19
Independent Examiners Remuneration	19

Reference and Administration Details

Charity name: Central Methodist Church, Chesterfield S40 1UH (‘Central’)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1128075

Registered Office Central Methodist Church Saltergate CHESTERFIELD S40 1UH

Trustees: 1 September 2024 – 31 August 2025

Name	Position
Rev. Mark Carrick	Minister (Chair)
Rev. Gill Newton	Superintendent Minister
Sue Walker	Senior Church Steward
Deborah Andrews	Senior Church Steward Church Treasurer & Representative from Congregation
Rosie Bourne	Church Steward
Judith Cornwall	"
Sally Davies	“
Anne Hayes	" & House Groups Representative
Paul Timperley	Chair of Finance
Reg Rodda	Representative from Congregation & Local Preachers Representative
Kay Rodda	Representative from Congregation
Alyson Franks	“
Lisa Curtis	“
Gillian King	“
David Parkin	“
Helen Briddon	“
Chris Sharratt	“
Judith Timperley	Pastoral Committee Secretary
Brian Offiler	Church Council Secretary
John Hawkins	Circuit Steward
Enid Pont	Church Secretary
John French	Chair of Resourcing Mission (Property)
Will Nightingale	Chair of Church Life Team & Local Preachers Representative
David Humphrey	Chair of Grants Committee
Lesley Parkin	Centrepoint Committee Representative
Katie / Steve Pearson	Youth and J Gang Representative
Margaret Chinnery	Worship Coordinator
Roger Jones	Music Representative
Rev Paul King	Christians Together for Chesterfield

	Representative
Angela Walker	Safeguarding Officer & Cornerstone Committee Representative
Rev Richard Harris	Ex Officio

Bankers:

Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes, Central Buildings Oldham Street MANCHESTER M1 1JQ

Lloyds Bank 98 Victoria Street LONDON SW1E 5JL

Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church 9 Bonhill Street LONDON EC2A 4PE

Independent Examiner

Wilson Howe Chartered Accountants 212A Bocking Lane SHEFFIELD S8 7BP

Structure, Governance and Management

Structure

The Church is governed by the laws relating to the Charity Commission and the Methodist Church. The governing document of the Methodist Church is the Methodist Church Act 1976.

In practice the Methodist Church is governed in accordance with its Constitution, Practice and Discipline (CPD) and is organised in four tiers:

i. Individual Churches whose governance is exercised by Church Councils;
ii. Circuits (geographical groups of Churches) whose governance is exercised by Circuit Meetings;
iii. Districts (geographical groups of Circuits) whose governance is exercised by Synods (with Policy Committees exercising interim delegated authority); and
iv. Connexion, directed by the Methodist Conference (with the Methodist Council exercising interim delegated authority).

Each Church, Circuit, District and the Connexion is a Charity, depending upon turnover, either registered or exempt. The Connexion determines overall policy, which is administered by Districts and implemented by Circuits and Churches. Financially, the Connexion levies Districts, Districts levy Circuits, and each constituent Church offers an annual gift to the Circuit. Thus, for Churches, all three organisational tiers are ‘related parties’.

Central Methodist Church is located within the Derbyshire North East Methodist Circuit within the Sheffield Methodist District.

Governance

Central Methodist Church is governed by a Church Council consistent with the manner set out above. Members of Church Council either hold an office upon which the Constitution, Practice and Discipline confers membership, or are elected by the Church at the Church Annual General Meeting which consists of full members of the congregation, or are appointed by the Church Council to ensure a breadth of membership. The Circuit Meeting appoints a Circuit Steward to the Church Council.

Management

The Church Council is chaired by the Minister, who is appointed by the Circuit, and routinely meets three times a year.

The members of Church Council are the managing trustees. As well as managing the daily operation of the church and its three paid part-time staff members (one caretaker, one cleaner, one secretary), the Church Council exercises stewardship over the Church building (which is over 150 years old and Grade II listed) on behalf of the custodial trustees TMCP (Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes, nominees of the Methodist Church of Great Britain (the Connexion)). There is no Chief Executive Office role within the church governance structure.

Staff

Central Methodist Church employs three part time staff: a Caretaker, a Church Secretary and a Cleaner.

Objectives and Activities

Objectives

The purposes of the Methodist Church are, and shall be deemed to have been since the date of union, the advancement of:

(a) the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrines and the discipline of the Methodist Church;
(b) any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit or other organisation of the Methodist Church;
(c) any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church;
(d) any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.

Activities

The activities of Central Methodist Church as specified at registration are:

i. The provision of regular public acts of worship, open to members of the Church and non-members alike;
ii. The provision of sacred space in Central Methodist Church, Saltergate, Chesterfield for prayer and contemplation;
iii. Commending Christ and the teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small group meetings and activities for children and young people;
iv. Pastoral work including visiting the sick and bereaved and offering pastoral support to those in need or trouble;
v. Promoting Christian outreach and providing opportunities for Christian fellowship to the public through provision of refreshment facilities and a bookshop selling Bibles and other Christian resources such as literature, cards, texts, etc.;
vi. Taking religious assemblies in local schools and other such places;
vii. Promoting Christianity through the staging of events and services and distributing Christian literature;
viii. The provision of facilities and gatherings with a Christian ethos for people of differing ages;
ix. Promoting the whole mission of the church through providing recreational and other activities and facilities and thus aiding social wellbeing and cohesion;
x. Supporting any charitable purpose for the time being of any organisation (local, regional or national) of the Methodist Church or of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church or of any charity subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.

Achievements and Performance

Central Methodist Church is a large religious community worshipping in Chesterfield. In terms of membership numbers, Central is one of the larger Methodist Churches in the country with one of the largest memberships of any single church in the Sheffield District. The main activities take place in a large building which is, in part, Grade II listed and is located in Saltergate, Chesterfield. The building contains a sanctuary for worship, a large hall with kitchen, and various ancillary rooms.

The activities of Central are grouped under a number of headings:

Worship

The principle coming together of the Church is in Sunday morning worship, which is live streamed. There is a weekday service on Friday lunchtimes.

A Prayer Ministry Team supports the Sunday morning worship and meets weekly. In addition there is weekly Celtic morning prayer.

Christian Development

There are a number of small House Groups (which meet fortnightly or four weekly), intended to assist in developing knowledge of the Christian Faith.

Church members participate in learning and development in respect of safeguarding, pastoral ministry and equality, diversity and inclusion.

Young People

Work among young people takes place through various groups, including:

i. J-Gang and Sunday Evening Youth - worship and learning for young people
ii. 5th Chesterfield Rainbows - weekly
iii. 5th Chesterfield Guides - weekly
iv. 5[th] Chesterfield Brownies - weekly
v. Creche - during Sunday morning worship
vi. Toddler group - Thursday morning activity for parents, carers and under 5s
vii. Messy Church - during school holidays.

In addition, a good deal of the work developing the faith of the young people of the Circuit takes place on Central premises.

Meeting the Community

Central pursues a policy of voluntary community service through:

i. Cornerstone - coffee bar and bookshop with a friendly supportive atmosphere, 5 days per week
ii. Institute - Snooker group meeting at various times throughout the week
iii. Centrepoint - luncheon club for older people one day per week
iv. Drop-in centre for Ukrainian refugees - meets weekly
v. A ‘Memory Café’ – for those living with dementia and those supporting them – meets monthly
vi. A ‘Warm Space’ group – meets weekly during winter months.

Additionally Central provides facilities for secular groups including:

i. A macular support group
ii. A chair exercise group
iii. The Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir.

The Wider World

Central is a Fair Trade church.

Central seeks to be aware of, and respond to, the needs of the wider world, both locally and globally, through specifically focussed meetings and worship, encouraging participation in, and providing grants to support, the work of national and local charities. The children and young people of the church are encouraged to learn and become aware of the wider world through Junior Mission for All (JMA) activities, including collecting to support Methodist projects in the UK and internationally.

Meeting One Another

The social cohesion of the Church is ensured by:

i. Pastoral Visitors - maintain contact with members and the wider church family
ii. Short Mat Bowling – weekly on a Monday evening (Autumn – Spring)
iii. Women on Wednesdays – meeting monthly with a talk of general interest
iv. Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB)
v. Sisterhood – meeting weekly
vi. Snooker Group (The Institute).

Resourcing the Activities of the Church

A core aspect of the ethos of Central is that of ‘Stewardship’, i.e. the generous giving of time, talents and money by the worshipping community is the basis for delivering our mission.

The activities of the Church are overseen by five teams, who report to and advise the Trustees:

i. Church Life Team
ii. Leadership Team – including Church Stewards
iii. Resourcing Mission (Finance) Team
iv. Resourcing Mission (Property) Team
v. Grants Committee – recommending distribution of grants under the Caring for Others and Outreach funds.

In turn, these are supported by a number of groups with specific purposes:

i. Worship Team, Worship Music Group and Communion Stewards – coordinating and supporting worship services
ii. Welcome Team – welcoming those attending Sunday morning worship
iii. Tech Team – enabling audio and visual support of worship services and events
iv. Catering Team – providing refreshments at events
v. DLO (Direct Labour Organisation) - undertaking general maintenance of the Church building (saving significant cost).

Resourcing Church Activity (Stewardship of Money)

A core aspect of the approach to money is that day to day activities are funded to a very large extent through giving from the congregation, rather than by fund raising events. In this way, the Church is able to concentrate its energy on delivering the activities listed above, and also to set aside 10% of regular freewill giving for the ‘Caring for Others’, which includes regular donations to national Methodist Charities. Additionally, from its inception, Central resolved that any surplus from “Cornerstone” would be used, not for day to day activities which a Church ought to fund, but for “Outreach” into the community.

In the past year a project for the replacement of the Church kitchen was completed and a project to replace the Church Boiler was commenced.

Serious Incidents

No serious incidents have occurred during the year in question.

Future Plans

Central intends to continue to offer its declared charitable activities, as outlined above, in order to continue to serve our wider neighbourhood.

The town centre location, and the extensive premises, provide for new opportunities, but also require provision for future liabilities consequent upon managing on behalf of TMCP an over 150 year old Grade II listed building.

Specific tasks already identified for the coming year are:

The commissioning of the main central heating boilers completing this project;
Consideration being given to the extension of the main heating system into a section of the building currently heated separately by electricity;
Consideration being given to the replacement of the carpets in the Sanctuary and on some stairs as these are showing signs of wear.

Public Benefit Statement

The Catechism for the use of the people called Methodists states that:

i. The Methodist Church is part of the universal Church;
ii. Its doctrines are based on the revelation of God in the Bible;
iii. It has received and preaches the Gospel the apostles preached; iv. It accepts the Creeds of the early church;
v. It accepts the principles of the Protestant Reformation.

The distinctive feature of the Methodist Church is that its message has been summarized as ‘ The Four Alls’ :

“All need to be saved.

All may be saved. All may know themselves saved . All may be saved to the uttermost.”

The traditional features of the Methodist Church include:

i. the importance of lay leadership in preaching, pastoral care, and the administration of the local congregation;
ii. the importance of hymn-singing in worship and in the teaching of doctrine;
iii. the subdivision of congregations into small groups for instruction, pastoral care and fellowship;
iv. the Circuit system, linking local congregations in an area, and the District grouping a number of Circuits;
v. the Connexional system, linking all congregations through the annual Conference.

Central Methodist Church exists to make this offer to the people of Chesterfield and so meets the Charity Commission’s “Public Good” criterion.

Exemption from Disclosure

No exemptions are claimed.

Funds held as Custodian Trustee

No such funds are held.

Financial Review

Overview

Central’s financial aim is to live within its means. In the year 2024-25 operational activity resulted in a surplus of £9,912.

The full accounts show an overall decrease in funds of £36,692. The main reason for this is the use of funds for replacing the kitchen and boiler (interim costs).

We try to operate within a ‘balanced budget’ in terms of day to day activities. Funding for new initiatives is very constrained. Funding for major maintenance has been eased by receipt of payments from generous bequests in the current and previous year.

Overall, the finances are reasonably satisfactory, although it will be necessary to continue to monitor the medium-term financial position in the coming and future years, taking account of regular income and expenditure, as well as exceptional items, such as the receipt of bequests and the funding of major property repairs.

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Notes to the Accounts

1. Basis of Preparation

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Historic Cost Convention and with, Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) (FRS 2) on Accounting for Charities except that it does not use the accrual concept.

2. Accounting Policies

Valuation of assets: The charity owns no fixed assets.

Depreciation: Furniture, computers, printers and other such equipment are expensed in the year of acquisition.

Recognition of transactions:

Income is recognised upon receipt. Income from endowments is recognised when transferred to Restricted Funds. Income from grants and gifts is recognised upon receipt. Payments under operating leases are charged to expenditure when paid.

A liability is recognised when a commitment is entered into.

Designated Funds: Funds are designated for specific planned expenditure.

3. Fixed Assets

The Constitution, Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church provides that Church (Charity) Trustees may with permission erect buildings from charitable funds and for Custodian Trusteeship to be vested in the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP), with the Charity Trustees acting as Managing Trustees of the building on a basis akin to a peppercorn repairing lease. The Managing Trustees may not alter the building structurally without TMCP authority (which is in some circumstances delegated to District Committees). Permission has to be sought from TMCP to dispose of land and buildings and the proceeds are shared between the Connexional Advance and Priority Fund and the Circuit Advance Fund. Since the Charity Trustees merely manage the church complex and the charity would not benefit from its disposal, its historic cost (which is unknown) is not included in these accounts.

4. Income

The charity’s principal source of income is freewill offerings and associated Gift Aid. Other income is from a miscellany of sources, including lettings.

A grant of £1,000 was received from Chesterfield Borough Council for the Warm Spaces initiative.

A Grant of £15,600 was received from Benefact Trust towards the costs of replacing the boiler.

A bequest of £5,000 was received. This bequest is unrestricted.

Payments totalling £7,135 were received in respect of recovery of VAT under the government’s Local Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

5. Reserves Policy

It is the policy of the Church to maintain liquid funds in the General Fund and some Designated Funds sufficient to cover one year's Assessment and other non-discretionary costs, together with working capital equivalent to one quarter's normal expenditure. Based on the year 2024/25 this amounts to £83,801. On 31 August 2025 sufficient funds were available in the agreed funds (General fund, Church Fabric fund and TMCP) to cover this, with a margin of £39,917. The excess of liquid funds over that required to meet the reserves policy will assist in the financing of property enhancements under consideration as detailed above.

As explained in the section on “Achievements and Performance”, the Charity enjoys the use of, and is responsible for, a comprehensive suite of buildings. The main church building is over 150 years old and is Grade II Listed by virtue of its frontage and sanctuary ceiling. The Trustees therefore maintain a buildings development and maintenance schedule, reflecting specific short and medium-term projects, including potential extension of the main heating system, replacement of carpets and work on the sanctuary roof. In order to provide for the costs of these as they arise, and to smooth their impact on the charity’s finances, sums are periodically designated to meet those costs.

6. Trustees’ Remuneration

During the Connexional year 2024-25, of the Trustees listed in the Report, no Trustee received remuneration or expenses for their duties as Trustees, although the Rev M Carrick received a Ministerial stipend from the Circuit for his services as Minister and Mrs E. Pont received a salary as Church Secretary.

7. Related Party Transactions

Transactions with the related parties specified in the report under ‘Structure’ (i.e. other Methodist Church registered charities) are clearly shown in the accounts and, where appropriate, are detailed below:

7.1 Assessment

The Connexional hierarchical organization of the Methodist Church provides for the costs of the Connexion to be met by the Districts; for the costs of Districts (including their share of Connexional costs) to be met by Circuits; and for the costs of Circuits (including their

share of inclusive District costs) to be met by churches. In this way, the cost of the overall church organizations bears upon churches.

In addition to the surcharged costs, the costs of the Circuits include the costs of ministerial stipends and manses, the costs of lay workers and any specific Circuit initiatives. The figure stated in the accounts from the General Fund is the share of these costs paid by Central.

7.2 Grants to the Circuit - None.
7.3 Grants to National Methodist Charities

During the year, grants were made to National Methodist Charities (included in the table at explanatory note iv to the accounts).

Cornerstone

As an expression of the Methodist Church’s social conscience, the Trustees offer for sale, refreshments, cards with Bible texts, Bibles, and Christian books, five days a week. This outreach venture is known as ‘Cornerstone’ and is staffed by volunteers from the Church, the Circuit, and beyond, and the net surplus is applied to organisations whose charitable purposes ‘reach out’ into community; and to individuals undertaking projects/training sympathetic with the Christian message.

The summary accounts of this venture are as follows:

Designated Funds

As a matter of principle, the Trustees (i) set aside funds for specific purposes and (ii) encourage groups not to maintain accounts separate from the Church. The summarized accounts for those groups that do maintain separate accounts are shown as a sub-set of the accounts, whilst movements on those included in the accounts as “Designated” Funds are shown below:

Explanatory Notes

i. Church Fabric Fund (previously Provision for Capital Renewals):

The main church building is over 150 years old and is Grade II listed, which imposes liability for conservation of integrity and security for future generations.

ii. Mission Opportunities Fund & Property Projects Fund:

These two funds derive from a single Development Fund which had dual purposes: initiatives related to significant internal work to make the building fit for purpose for the 2020s and beyond; and initiatives where the cost was an enabler for a wider Mission opportunity. The two funds reflect both semi-restricted donations and designations for the short and medium term.

iii. Cornerstone Refurbishment Fund:

Cornerstone is used by the public five days a week, and periodically has to be refurbished. Sums are set aside annually to meet these periodic refurbishments.

iv. Caring for Others & Outreach Funds :

These reflect the consequences of the Trustees’ policy towards the stewardship of money. Redevelopment of the Church in 1985 was supported generously by the Connexion and the Trustees resolved from then to repay that generosity by allocating 10% of “Freewill Offerings” to Connexional Funds and to Charities. The range of beneficiaries has been expanded, but the principle of helping others remains. Likewise, when the Cornerstone Bookshop was opened in 1985, it was resolved that the Church should not become reliant on any surplus, which should instead be applied to “reaching out” into communities over and above normal Church outreach.

Grants made in 2024/25 are as follows:

rants made in 2024/25 are as follows:
Caring For Others
District/Connexional Funds
Connexional Property Fund	1560
Methodist Ministers' Housing Society	300
Shefeld Ministers' Housing Fund
Central/Circuit Initatves
Minister's Benevolence Fund	46
3-Generate Children & Youth
Assembly	720
Methodist/Natonal Charites
All We Can	2000
Christan Aid	200
Methodist Homes	200
MWiB	100
Local Charites
Ashgate Hospice	1000
Bolsover Freedom Project	200
Child Contact Centre	500
Hope House	250
Mayor's Appeal	300
Pathways	1000
Chesterfeld Foodbank	1000
Saltergate Children's Home, Ethiopia	200
Dancing for Health	192
Bury Port Methodist Church Door	500
TOTAL	10268
Outreach
Methodist/Natonal Charites
Mission in Britain	800
Mission in the World	800
Central/Circuit Initatves
Posters & Publicity - Internal Transfer	312
Christmas Outreach	383
Easter Outreach	193

Messy Church	186
Christans Together for Chesterfeld	50
Christan Educaton Chesterfeld	50
TOTAL	2774

Contingent Liabilities

There are no contingent liabilities.

Commitments

There are no commitments.

Ex-gratia payments

There were no ex-gratia payments made during the year.

Independent Examiner’s Remuneration

The Independent Examiner charged £528.00 for their services examining the 2024/25 accounts.