## **Annual Report of Morpeth Methodist Church and Centre for the Community,** ## **Registration no: 1128303, for the year to 31[st] August 2023** ## Administrative Information and Structure The Church’s mission statement is “To make Christ visible in the world”. This report will discuss the means in which this is discharged. The Church comprises the Sanctuary and 5 rooms of various sizes. The address is: Howard Terrace, Morpeth. NE61 1HU. Tel no: 01670 511078. The Church was opened in 1905, extended in 1986 and reconfigured and further extended in 2005. The Church has 100 confirmed members and approximately an additional 25adherents. The Church is a member of the South-East Northumberland Ecumenical Area (SENEA), a federation of Methodist and United Reformed Churches, Newcastle Methodist District and the Northern Synod of the United Reformed Church. Next year SENEA will be disbanded and the Church will be a member of Sout East Northumberland Circuit. Our presbyter is Rev Antony Oakley. Darleen Turner is our Office Manager. The Governing Board is the Church Council, whose members, the trustees, during the year were: the minister (Antony Oakley), the Leadership Team (Pam Oakley, Vivien Scott, David Simpson, Bridget Rowbottom, John Carss, Jane Greaves, Darleen Turner, Maureen Baker, John Leithead) and elected and ex-officio members (Clive Kemp, Dorothy Potts, Judith Quenet, Pat Folkard, Wendy Garvey, Catherine Wakefield). The trustees understand their responsibilities described in the document “Managing Trustees and their responsibilities” published by the Methodist Church Property Department resource division. Church Committees and groups report to the Church Council. Church Council’s function and terms of reference are described in pages 516-522 of The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church, volume 2 (Methodist Publishing House 2016). Church Council met four times during the year. The Council’s members discussed the management of the Church’s activities and made decisions regarding based on their discussions. This year’s Annual Church Meeting was held on 9th July 2023 ## Aims, Objectives and Delivery The aims of the Church, as seen on the Charities Commission website, are: “The provision of regular public acts of worship open to members of the Church and nonmembers alike. The provision of sacred space (a building) for prayer and contemplation. The teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups, pastoral work, including visiting the sick” Morpeth Methodist Church and Centre for the Community also offers facilities for regular meetings of clubs, societies, organisations and focus groups and for special events to the wider community. These are used regularly by both Church groups and groups in the local community. The Church seeks to pursue its mission statement by “Celebrating Christ, growing in His love, praying and acting for Him and being a Centre acting as a resource for the whole community. The Church is a member of the South East Northumberland Ecumenical Area. This was dissolved on 31[st] August 2023 and the Church then became a member of the South East Northumberland Methodist Circuit. The Presbyter to the Church is Rev Antony Oakley. In September 2023 Antony became Superintendent Minister of the South East Northumberland Methodist Circuit. The committees and groups that report to the Annual Church Meeting or Church Council are: Leadership Group, Pastoral Group, Worship Group and Mission Partnership The Leadership Group includes the Church stewards. The Church Treasurer reports to this group, as does the Centre Manager The Centre Manager acts as Safeguarding Officer and Health and Safety Officer. A Church member acts as Church Secretary and another as Church Treasurer The structural organisation of the Church seeks to cover three broad areas of influence: - 1) The spiritual, pastoral and social needs of its members. - 2) The mission of the Church within our community and Area - 3) The care and development of the physical assets of the Church - 4) The promotion of the facilities for the benefit of the wider community Services are held in the Church on Sunday mornings. Tuesday Communion Services are held weekly. The Church’s activities in our local and wider communities continue. The Church office staff cover the Centre for the Community during working hours and weekday evenings. They provide a welcome and support to those using the centre. They organise lettings and manage the centre as well as supporting the minister and congregation. Currently we have the Centre Manager, one member of office staff and the janitor employed.. The Church runs groups on a Sunday for children and young people. Junior Church meet weekly in the Church during term time. The 6th Morpeth Beavers, Cubs and Scouts met in the Church meet during the week Womens Meeting Point and Men’s Breakfast Group meet in the Church. Drop in lunches are usually held weekly on Tuesdays and the Memory Café meets fortnightly in the Church for those with cognitive impairment and their carers. Both of these activities have been well supported and appreciated by those attending. The Church continues its Mission Partnership with Kamuzinda Victory Christian Church, Uganda. Morpeth and Kamuzinda Churches support each other with regular prayer, meetings and communication. Collections of donations for the benefit of KVCC are held after Sunday services twice a year. The Church is used as a centre in Morpeth for musical events, including concerts, performances for Morpeth Music Society and performances by bands and choirs. ## Comment on the Annual Accounts The audited accounts for the year ended 31[st] August 2023 are set out in the attached file. These show that the payments for the use of the premises contain no element of profit nor general overheads (insurance, utilities, cleaning etc). Under normal circumstances, the fees received are approximately equal to the salaries of staff needed to service the use of the premises. This year there was a deficit of £6319 between these figures. There was an increase in expenditure on energy and as the 1986 Church redevelopments age the cost of repairs and maintenance increased. Most of the expenditure items are self explanatory. By far the largest expense is the Area Assessment which is set by the Area Executive and covers the Church’s central overheads, including stipends and other central expenses. There was an increase in expenditure on energy and as the 1986 Church redevelopments age the cost of repairs and maintenance increased. The accounts show a surplus of £222. We received a bequest of £6469 this year and £1250 was transferred from the account of the 13+ group which has ceased to meet. The Church accounts were balanced this year due to these extraordinary sources of income. It is anticipated that the Church will continue to operate at a deficit and this will be addressed during this year and future years The Church finances aim to operate on the basis of a balanced annual budget, with outcomes monitored by the Leadership Group. Church Council approved a Reserves Policy holding reserves approximately equal to six months of normal expenditure, in accordance with the recommendation from the Methodist Connexion. Responsibility for day to day receipts and payments and the presentation of final and interim accounts are the responsibility of the Church Treasurer, David Simpson.He is standing down as treasurer from 31[st] August 2023. He will be replaced by Lorrie Bronsema. MORPETH METHODIST CHURCH 51•tement of Flnanclal Pxawthts-01 stpttnW2022 to31 August 2023 202V22 (full yearl 2022Da out.turn 2022123 F¢)re¢¥st If4COME 65.092 Offerings Gfft Ald 60,989 62,IKA) 17,863 18,691 17,IKM) 471 Staff Furlou8h Lettings Donation$ 32.213 37,017 38,¢XKI 1,073 682 8,527 Bequests 6,268 Transferfrom 13+account 1,250 1,250 Charitable receipts ME5￿lIan￿OuS 1,755 3.861 In¥estments- intere5t& dNidend5 671 130.530 131,776 127Aty) EXPENI)miRE 64.356 AreaA5se55rThènt 51.4BO 51.480 41,694 Salariesabd Pensions 43,336 45,250 3,622 Insurances 3.765 7,331 Ene 14,190 16,0 12,111 Runnin8 costs and repairs Charitable 8lvlng 11,796 12.IKKJ I,￿5 5.952 Miscellaneous 4,397 85 143 Bank char8e5 120 115.209 131.554 133 14.6791 Ntt In¢om• l•¥p•rKltturel 16,2501 karKI Re￿IveS * 11A￿22 Asat31JXZ3 CurrentAccount 21,157 20.708 Le8aciesTMCP Endowment 16,776 17.271 5,W5 6,682 Central Find￿t Board 6,857 49,610 49A42 D &mpson. 28 sePtern￿r 2023 MORPETH METHODIST CHURCH I h3veexamined the financial record50f the Morpeih Meihoo￿t Church forthe yearended 31 Au¥u5t 2023, including the bank recDrds and SUPPDrtihg docuMentat￿n I certify that the attached account5 Correct￿ summarise these transartions includiw the current reserves in the bankat 31 August 2023. George Mccowie Chirttrred kcountant Mccowie & Co 2 Goslorth Park Avenue Newcasiie upon Tyne NE12 8EG Dated.. 30 ottober 2023