Annual Report of Morpeth Methodist Church and Centre for the Community,
Registration no: 1128303, for the year to 31[st] August 2024
Administratve Informaton 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 25 adherents.
The Church is a member of the South 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, Maureen Baker, Lorrie Bronsema, Paul Crook) 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 19[th] May 2024
Aims, Objectves 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 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:
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1) The spiritual, pastoral and social needs of its members.
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2) The mission of the Church within our community and Area
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3) The care and development of the physical assets of the Church
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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 meet in the Church 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 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 2024 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 £23914.18 was transferred from reserve accounts in order to meet expenses.
Most of the expenditure items are self explanatory. 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 £4480.07. The Church accounts were balanced this year due to transfers from reserves as above. 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 Council has considered the financial position of the Church. We cannot continue with our current financial deficit. It has been determined that we cannot afford regular employees in the Centre. This has been discussed appropriately with our 3 employees who have accepted redundancy from 23[rd] September 2024. Church Council is continuing to
consider further changes in the foreseeable financial years to maintain the financial stability of the Church.
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, Lorrie Bronsema.
Income
| Income | ||
|---|---|---|
| Offerings | ||
| Regular | 50415.00 | |
| Envelopes | 4938.75 | |
| Collection plate | 1932.32 | 57286.07 |
| Gift Aid | 15459.55 | |
| Lettings | 41693.68 | |
| Donations | 3878.51 | |
| Charitable Donatons | ||
| Christian Aid | 143.00 | |
| Kamuzinda | 772.50 | |
| MWIB | 201.30 | |
| Action4Children | 264.02 | |
| Methodist Homes | 219.20 | 1600.02 |
| Miscellaneous | 1952.06 | |
| Bank Interest | 404.03 | |
| Transfer from reserves | ||
| Deposit acc (CFB) | 6000.00 | |
| TMCP | 17914.18 | 23914.18 |
| Total Income | 146188.10 | |
| Expenditure | ||
| Area assessment | 51480.00 | |
| Salaries & Pensions | 47033.28 | |
| Insurance | 3332.34 | |
| Utilities | 13573.01 | |
| Repairs & Operational Expenditure | 18806.74 | |
| Charitable Donations | ||
| Christian Aid | 143.00 | |
| Kamuzinda | 772.50 | |
| MWIB | 363.30 | 1278.80 |
| Miscellaneous | 1574.12 | |
| Bank charges | 129.74 | |
| transfer to deposit account (CFB) | 4500.00 | |
| Total Expenditure | 141708.03 | |
| Net Income | 4480.07 | |
| Closing Bank | 25188.36 | |
| Opening Bank | 20708.29 | |
| 4480.07 |
Independent Examlnofs Statement I have completed my examination. I nfjrrn that no material matters have come lo my attenlion in connection wtth the examination (other Ihan that disc1088d bek) thich give me cause lo believe that in, any material r8spect.' the accounting records wwe not kept in a¢G9rdae sectson 130 of tt%.e Act. or the 8CCC4Jnts do rt accord with acc¢wntino wrts. I have concern8 arKI have a(Yc6s no other mattar8 *ryth the examlnation to thich attention should be drawn in this report in ord?r to enabla a urrflerstanding of the accounts to l)e I havelhave nor obtslned independent verlficallon of all Nestments with the Truste88 lor Methodist Church Purpo8e8 or hekl In other tnists, bank balances and funds at th6 Central Finan Board of the Methodist Church which arn individuauy In ex8$ of £10.(JXI thousand pounds) at the balance 8heet date. of Indepw#dent examiner .. . Name of independent examiner CH.AISfdf.Vl? ..HPA.r.....Ho.fi A).trl................. Relevant profosslonal qualiflc8tion of ind8pend8nt examiner Nama of firm (wthere appropriate) Address .l.%.....S.diR£ ..Ao.ftJi ........hJF721.£rtTq.J ..IA.RK................................ . Post Code N£6.l...G. GQ Dale ..Q.7. delete or circl8 as appropriate