## **NAILSEA METHODIST CHURCH**
**TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**Page 1**
## **NAILSEA METHODIST CHURCH**
## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**______________________________________________________________**
The trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025.
## **Reference and Administrative Information**
**Registered charity number** 1128514
## **Minister**
Rev Sally Ratcliffe
## **Church Stewards**
Richard Lancaster Jane Powell Diane Todd Ceri Bowen Lesley Rogers Peter Todd (from 20[th] July 2025)
(For full list of trustees see page 6)
## **Principal Office**
Chapel Precinct 74 Silver Street Nailsea Bristol BS48 2DS
Tel: 01275 854304 e-mail: methodist-church@outlook.com
## **Independent Examiner**
Matthew Bracher BSc FCA Gravita Chartered Accountants Bath House 6-8 Bath Street Bristol BS1 6HL
## **Bankers**
HSBC Bristol Cabot Circus
**Page 2**
## **NAILSEA METHODIST CHURCH**
## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**______________________________________________________________**
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
Nailsea Methodist Church is part of the Gordano Valley Circuit (No.15), in the Bristol District (No.7) within the Methodist Church in Great Britain (The Connexion). In all matters Nailsea Methodist Church is governed by "The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church". All property is owned on Model Trusts controlled by the Managing Trustees (The Church Council), who govern all areas of Nailsea Methodist Church's activity. Nailsea Methodist Church was registered as a charity on 12th March 2009.
The purposes of the Methodist Church are defined in Section 4 of the Methodist Church Act of 1976:
## **Purposes**
The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the union the advancement of:
a) the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church.
b) any charitable purpose for the time being of any connexional, district, circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church.
c) any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution being a 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.
This report seeks to define the specific activities of Nailsea Methodist Church within the greater structure of the Methodist Connexion. All the activities of the Church are intended for public benefit, both spiritual and in service to the local community.
## **Trustees**
The trustees who served the charity during the period are the members of the Church Council, shown on Page 6. New trustees are voted on by the General Church Meeting normally held in July each year. They are made aware of the financial position of the Church and of their responsibilities as trustees. Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
## **Organisation**
The Church Council of Nailsea Methodist Church holds the responsibility of running its financial affairs. It is assisted in this role by the Property Management Team and the Church Stewards, operating within a budget approved by the Church Council.
## **Related Parties**
One trustee, Corinne Day, was employed on a part time basis as Church Office Co-ordinator. During the year, aggregate donations from trustees amounted to £37,356 (2024 - £40,980) of which £6,533 (2024 - £10,094) related to restricted funds.
**Page 3**
## **NAILSEA METHODIST CHURCH**
## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**______________________________________________________________**
## **Volunteers**
Almost all the activities of the Church involve substantial work by volunteers, for example as Church Council members (trustees), office holders, committee members, activity group leaders and helpers.
## **Grant Making**
The Church Council delegate the power to make grants and donations to the Mission Committee. This committee allocates grants of the order of £2,200 to various bodies and reports back to the Church Council.
## **Risks**
The trustees have identified the major risks to which the charity is exposed. These risks are reviewed annually, and systems have been established to mitigate the risks.
## **Review of Developments, Activities and Achievements 2024 2025**
In September 2024, we welcomed our new minister Rev Sally Ratcliffe. Sally has guided us through revisiting our mission action plan in line with the Methodist way of life. Our mission is to be like Jesus and link the transforming love of God into every aspect of daily life through:
## **Worship**
- Offering a warm welcome to visitors and those exploring faith.
- Having a pattern of worship that is varied and accessible to all including Holy Communion, Café Church and Messy Church.
## **Learning and Caring**
- Praying and caring for one another via the pastoral care team and the prayer diary.
- `o` Meeting in-house/fellowship groups of different shapes and sizes.
## **Service**
- Ensuring our buildings are well maintained for the use of church groups and as a community space.
- `o` Caring for the world that God made through our Eco Church activities and focus, including the celebration of the Season of Creation.
- Having a presence in the local community though Busy Bees, Hobby Horse, the Refugee Café, Bookmark and Film Club.
- Ensuring our Tuesday Fellowship continues to thrive offering a place of friendship and faith to the older members of our community.
- Engaging Brigade.
## **Evangelism**
`o` Offering a warm welcome to all.
`o` Looking .
**Page 4**
## **NAILSEA METHODIST CHURCH**
## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**______________________________________________________________**
These premises are looked after by a Property Management Team made up of about seven volunteers who meet bi-monthly. We have three paid staff. In addition, we employ a small firm of cleaning contractors - who are in early every weekday morning. These premises are very heavily used 6 days per week - with over thirty regular groups and a number of one-off bookings. We are an Eco-church - so much of our maintenance and upgrading is aimed at improving insulation and reducing energy costs. We have PV panels on the roofs of both buildings aimed to be used on improving our sustainability We hosted a Flood Forum in June 2025 to inform local residents of risks and appropriate actions. Our Craft Fair is a real community event - the community of our church brought together & the community of Nailsea with proceeds going towards mission committee grants. For over 35 years, the 1[st] Brigade (GB) fun and an endless variety of ways, GB offers a SAFE and welcoming environment for girls, nurturing them towards adulthood and telling them of the love of Jesus.
## **Financial Review**
The Church Council approved a broadly balanced general budget for 2024-25. On property, there was a net underspend against the budget. Some £3,000 was due to increased lettings income and a further £3,000 arose from timing of receipts. Repairs and maintenance was some £3,500 below budget. Energy costs were lower due to the mild winter and warm spring. Some £7,600 income was received from the solar panels feed in and export tariffs. Income from the offertory was very close to the budget, additional interest of some £2,500 was received other income was around £1,000 higher. Contributions towards family work were accrued in the earmarked fund pending the review of the lay worker role. Overall, some £39,000 was added reserves during the year. A table showing the movement of reserves is shown on page 5.
The accounts are divided into separate funds and accounts.
## **1. General Account**
This includes the Church's main source of income - weekly and monthly "collection". Expenditure is principally the "assessment" paid to the Gordano Valley Circuit to cover Ministers' stipend and central Methodism and Circuit costs, together with the church's non-property related administration expenses.
## **2. Property Account**
The income is made up of rent and room hire charges arising from the use of the premises, balanced by expenditure on the maintenance, upkeep and administration. The property account is kept in balance, with any shortage of income transferred from the general account.
## **3. Designated and Restricted Funds**
Within the general funds the Church Council designated income from the installation of solar panels towards further energy efficiency initiatives and property maintenance. The funding for a lay worker comes from specific donations. These funds have been treated as being restricted. Following the departure of the families worker in July 2024 the church is reviewing what type of role is needed going forward.
A number of internal organisations within the Church organisation hold separate funds, i.e., the Film Club, Tuesday fellowship, and the Girls Brigade which has its own bank account. The transactions for internal organisations have been recorded separately in the accounts.
**Page 5**
## **NAILSEA METHODIST CHURCH**
## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**______________________________________________________________**
## **4. Outreach**
Income from Mission and Outreach comes partly from general church funds and partly from specific church collections or collections from church affiliated organisations that pass income through the church funds and on to nominated charities. Expenditure is by way of cash payments to nominated charities and Methodist organised charities, and by way of discounted room hire charges to one charitable organisation using the premises.
## **5. Accounting Policy**
The accounts are presented on a receipts and payments basis using the Methodist Church standard form of accounts.
## **6. Reserves**
Reserves are held to cover general or designated purposes and the general risks of unforeseen expenditure or a fall in anticipated income. Each year the trustees review the level of reserves. The trustees s of their impact on its income resources and expenditure. In recent years, the trustees have adopted a policy of seeking to maintain a minimum reserve based on a sum advised by the Circuit in respect of the annual assessment and 50% of other expenditure. The minimum reserve based on this policy was some £50,000 at 31[st] August 2025.The trustees have also designated certain funds for lay work, energy efficiency and repairs. The movement of reserves during the year was as follows:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Reserves Funds Funds Transfers Reserves
01-Sep-24 Raised Applied 31-Aug-25
£ £ £ £ £
General Fund 92,113 151,830 134,358 (5,000) 104,585
Property Reserve 15,750 12,500 28,250
Energy Efficiency 388 7,608 482 (7,500) 14
Lay Worker -
unrestricted 13,046 13,046
Lay Worker - restricted 9,988 14,797 - 24,785
Total 131,285 174,235 134,840 - 170,680
Funds of Internal
Organisations 6,189 3,080 4,070 5,199
**----- End of picture text -----**
on 25[th] February 2026
Signed on behalf of the trustees.
Rev Sally Ratcliffe Chair of the Meeting
Mrs E Rose
Church Council Secretary
**Page 6**
## **NAILSEA METHODIST CHURCH**
## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**______________________________________________________________**
## **Trustees elected at Annual Church Meeting**
## **Church Stewards:**
1. Richard Lancaster
2. Jane Powell
3. Diane Todd
4. Ceri Bowen
5. Lesley Rogers
6. Peter Todd (from 20[th] July 2025)
**Representatives:**
1. Eleanor Espley
2. Mike Poxon (to 20[th] July 2025)
3. Meryl Markall
4. Joy Shipway
5. Peter Todd (to 20[th] July 2025)
6. Anita Dale
7. Phyllis Wilmott
8. Nigel Nardman
## **Appointments ratified by the Church Council**
1. Secretary Liz Rose 2. Treasurer David Markall 3. Pastoral Secretary Vacant 4. Lay Worker Vacant 5. Centre Manager Mike Rose 6. Circuit Steward Vacant **Representatives:** 7. Worship Planning Felicity Gibb 8. Mission David Sharp 9. Property Management Team Mike Rose 10. Local Preacher Alan Emery 11. Junior Church Rose Lancaster 12. Girls Brigade Jane Powell / Officers on rotational basis 13. Administration Corinne Day 14. ICT Manager Richard Lancaster 15. Eco-Congregation representative John Silvester 16. Christians Together in Nailsea Marjorie Sharp 17. Safeguarding Jane Powell 18. Charity Commission Liaison John Payne
**Ministers** 19. Sally Ratcliffe 20. Russell Herbert
## **CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS**
## **THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS**
|**STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS**|**STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS**|**STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS**|**STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|**Nailsea Methodist Church**||||
|FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 August 2025||||
|**District 7**|**Circuit 15**|||
|**Registered Charity - Charity Registration number**
Minister:||||
|||1128514||
|||||
|Rev Sally Ratcliffe||||
|Church Stewards:||||
|Richard Lancaster||||
|Jane Powell
Diane Todd
Ceri Bowen
Peter Todd (From 20th July 2025)
Lesley Rogers||||
|Treasurer:||||
|David Markall||||
|||||
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## **ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **Nailsea Methodist Church**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Totals this Totals last
SECTION A Funds Funds year year
£ £ £ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings and tax recovered 77,808 77,808 79,104
a3 Ad Hoc donations and legacies 1,473 1,473 14,110
a4 Family Worker contributions 14,797 14,797 25,065
Bank and CFB interest and
a5 Investment income 6,554 6,554 6,109
a6 Lettings 60,383 60,383 55,340
a7 Other receipts 13,220 13,220 11,584
a8 SUB-TOTAL (AR) 159,438 14,797 174,235 191,312
a9 Loans
a10 TOTAL RECEIPTS 159,438 14,797 174,235 191,312
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 54,495 54,495 56,498
b3 Family Worker 26,369
b4 Donations 2,200 2,200 2,050
b5 Repairs and Maintenance 10,881 10,881 31,178
Utilities (Insurances, water
b6 charges, heating & lighting) 22,310 22,310 20,187
b7 Other payments 44,954 44,954 47,784
b8 SUB-TOTAL 134,840 134,840 184,066
b9 Loans repaid 3,500
b10 [TOTAL PAYMENTS] 134,840 134,840 187,566
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTS (PAYMENTS)
c1 FOR THE YEAR (a12-b10) 24,598 14,797 39,395 3,746
Total funds brought forward from
last year
c2 121,297 9,988 131,285 (c6) 127,539
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) 145,895 24,785 170,680 131,285
c4 Transfers and adjustments (c7)
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) 145,895 24,785 170,680 (c8) 131,285 (c6)
SECTION D
CHARITY FUND
d £ £
d1 Balance brought forward from last year - 70
Offerings/Gifts - raised for other charities
d2 11,847 9,715
Offerings/Gifts - paid to other charities
d3 11,840 9,785
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) 7 -
**----- End of picture text -----**
8
Nailsea Methodist Church
## **SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL**
## **SECTION E**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Net Receipts/
INTERNAL Receipts Payments Adjustments Opening balances Closing balances
ORGANISATIONS £ Payments £ £ £ £ £
e1 Film Club 640 643 (3) 15 12
e2 Tuesday Fellowship 783 781 2 505 507
e3 Girls Brigade 1,657 2,646 (989) 5,669 4,680
e4
e5
Sub total of Internal
e6 Organisations funds 3,080 4,070 (990) 6,189 (e11) 5,199 (e12)
Church accounts (totals
brought forward from page
e7 2 - totals column) 174,235 (a12) 134,840 (b10) 39,395 (c7) 131,285 (c6) 170,680 (c8)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD
e8 BY CHURCH 177,315 138,910 38,405 137,474 (x) 175,879 (y)
Continue on a separate sheet TOTAL
if necessary and bring the TOTAL RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
totals forward
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
OPENING
BALANCES CLOSING BALANCES
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total 31st Aug
CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025 1st Sept 2024
funds Funds Funds 2025
f1 Cash in hand 50 50 50
f2 Bank Current Account 7,952 2,276 2,276
f3 Bank Deposit Account
f4 Central Finance Board 123,283 143,568 24,786 168,354
f5 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
f6 Other funds
f7 SUB TOTAL - Church accounts 131,285 (c6) 145,894 24,786 170,680 (c8)
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing
f8 balance total from above) (e12) 6,189 (e11) 5,199 5,199 (e12)
f9 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 137,474 (x) 145,894 29,985 175,879 (y)
SECTION G
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total 31 Aug
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES 1st Sept 2024 funds Funds Funds 2025
g1 Investments 651 653 653
g2 Land & Buildings (note 1) 5,011,009 5,141,312 5,141,312
g3 Buildings Contents (Insured Value) 300,833 308,656 308,656
g4 Other Assets - Debtors and Prepayments 17,621 13,624 13,624
g5 Other Liabilities - Creditors 869 2,072 2,072
**----- End of picture text -----**
Notes:
1 Land and Buildings and Contents are shown at the insured value which was last assessed by Methodist Insurance in November 2024
9
## **DECLARATIONS**
## **Treasurer**
I confirm that I have prepared the accounts set out on pages 1-3 from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church Council
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Signature of Treasurer Date 25th February 2026
Name David Markall
Address 3 Huntley Grove, Nailsea, Bristol BS48 2UQ
Presentation to the Nailsea Methodist Church Council for approval
I confirm that the Accounts have been presented to the Church Council on 25th February 2026
and were approved.
Signature of the Chair of the meeting
Name of the Chair of the meeting
Rev Sally Ratcliffe
Date
25th February 2026
**----- End of picture text -----**
10
**Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
|**On accounts for the year**
**ended**
**Set out on pages**
**Report to the trustees/**
**members of**|Charity
no
31st August 2025
1128514
Nailsea Methodist Church
7-10|
|---|---|
the year ended 31/08/2025
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
## **Independent examiner's statement**
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
|**Signed:**
**Name:**
**Relevant professional**
**qualification(s) or body**
**Address:**|**Date:**
ICAEW
Gravita, Chartered Accountants, Bath House, 6 - 8 Bath Street, Bristol BS1 6HL
26th February 2026
Matthew Bracher BSc FCA|
|---|---|
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