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2021-08-31-accounts

Marlborough Road Methodist Church

Registered Charity No 1128694

Trustees Annual Report for year ending August 2021

The Methodist Church Marlborough Road St Albans AL1 3XG

Reference Information and Administration

The managing trustees

Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for
whole year
1 Rosemary Fletcher Chair
2 Revd Andrew Prout Presbyter (Hatfield Road Methodist Church)
3 Janis Gilbert Church Steward
4 Mercadell Lewis Church Steward To January 2021
5 Theresa Tetteh Church Steward
6 Ann Scorer Church Steward
7 Ena Folkes Church Steward To October 2020
8 Carl Meredith Treasurer
9 Celia Hudson Pastoral Co-ordinator
10 Rona Wightman Secretary to Church Council
11 Frances Bates Representative from General Church Meeting
12 Di Churcher Representative from General Church Meeting
13 Andrew Johnstone Representative from General Church Meeting
14 Patti McConnell Representative from General Church Meeting To April 2021
15 Erma Profit Representative from General Church Meeting
16 Mike Scorer Representative from General Church Meeting
17 Marjorie Wilson Representative from General Church Meeting
18 Jean Blight Representative from General Church Meeting /
Pastoral Visitors’ Representative		 To September 2020 /
from December 2020
19 Judith Head Safeguarding Officer
20 Ian Gilbert Senior Property Steward
21 James Rowley Secretary to Finance and Property committee
22 Jenny Evers Co-opted / Representative from General
Church Meeting		 From September 2020 /
from April 2021

Trustees for the charity

The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP) are custodian trustees.

Appointed advisers

We appoint an Auditor each year to check our accounts.

Structure, governance and management

The charity’s trusts

Our governing document is the Methodist Church Act 1976

The charity is constituted as a trust.

Trustees are selected in accordance with the Constitutional Practice and Discipline (CPD) of the Methodist Church. Representatives are elected by the Annual General Church Meeting. Other trustees are appointed by Church Council by virtue of their role. There is also provision in the CPD for trustees to be co-opted by Church Council.

Governance

As a Methodist Church, we are a Church within a Circuit, in our case the St Albans and Welwyn Circuit. The Circuits fall within Districts, our Circuit is in the Bedfordshire, Essex and Herts District. The Methodist Church is a Connexional Church, that is, we see ourselves as part of an interconnected ‘body’ that offers mutual encouragement and support.

Connexional systems, requirements and guidance help us minimise risks; our Circuit Meetings and Church Council and committees consider any specific issues for us to deal with.

Our safeguarding policy is reviewed annually.

Trustees are required to familiarise themselves with CC3 The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do . Our Circuit arranges annual Trustee training sessions.

Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

The purposes of the Methodist Church are 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 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.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

Our main activity is the holding of regular public acts of worship, open to members of the church and non-members alike.

Pastoral work includes visiting the sick and bereaved.

We run a weekly drop-in toddler group for pre-school children and their carers and a weekly drop-in coffee morning that is mainly attended by older people.

Our premises are used by a number of community groups for cultural, educational and physical activity.

We support other charities in the UK financially and with prayer.

We have been working jointly with Hatfield Road Methodist Church (Charity No 1173147) to employ two Lay Workers: a three year post for a Children and Families Worker and a five year post for an Anna Chaplain. The Children and Families Worker was appointed in June 2020 and the Anna Chaplain was appointed in April 2021. The Employer is Hatfield Road Methodist Church.

Our trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Local churches, circuits and districts are not defined as external grant-making bodies.

Nearly all of our activity is carried out by volunteers, lay and ordained, with support of stipendiary presbyters and the lay workers, and administrative staff provided by the circuit.

Achievements and Performance 2020-21

Marlborough Road Methodist Church is an open and diverse congregation of Christians set near the centre of St. Albans. Our Calling is to:

Worship

The Church exists to increase awareness of God's presence and to celebrate God's love Learning and Caring

The Church exists to help people to grow and learn as Christians, through mutual support and care Service

The Church exists to be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice Evangelism

The Church exists to make more followers of Jesus Christ

Most of our activities fall under more than one heading!

The background – summary of pandemic 2020/21

2020

14 September – ‘rule of six’ for social gatherings (not applicable to church services)

14 October – tier system introduced

5 November – national lockdown

2 December – return to tier system of restrictions 2021

6 January – national lockdown

6 March – schools re-open

19 March – Step 1 some relaxation but ‘stay local’

12 April – Step 2- non-essential retail re-opens

17 May – Step 3 - further relaxing of restrictions including indoor pubs and restaurants

4 June – postponement of Step 4

19 July – Step 4 – most legal restrictions lifted.

Source: Deaths in the UK | Coronavirus in the UK (data.gov.uk) (accessed June 2022)

Worship

As we progressed through the year our plans and activities all had to allow for uncertainty as well as actual lockdowns and protective measures. Our Covid-19 Management Group continued to meet to assess our situation in the light of regulations and Methodist guidance, and to advise on whatever measures we should take for our premises and activities.

Thanks to careful consideration and adjustments to church seating layout and circulation, and in line with Methodist Church guidance, we opened the church for private prayer on 23 August and held a service of worship in church on Sunday 30 August, the first since lockdown began in March 2020, and almost exactly 30 years since our minister’s first service as a Methodist minister.

Face coverings were required in accordance with regulations and we operated a register for track and trace purposes. Advance notice of intention to attend also helped with marshalling and seating. Use of hand sanitiser and social distancing were also required. The windows and doors were kept open. The service was of shorter duration of 30 to 45 minutes, included reading hymns and listening to recordings, but no singing. There was no coffee and chat after the service. Thirty people attended, about half of our ‘normal’ number.

We held services throughout September and October, including special occasions: a 100[th] birthday, Harvest, World Church, One World Week, Junior Mission for All, Black History Month and on 1 November a service for All Souls.

We ceased holding services of public worship when national lockdown was re-imposed on 5[th] November. We decided we would not hold services, or meetings in our church hall, while we were in Tier 4, ie throughout December. The church building was opened for prayer on Christmas Day.

‘We continue to be a praying, worshipping community. We have not ceased to be a church.’

We did manage to have a connected Christmas – the congregation was invited to make angel tree decorations, and the tree was decorated and placed in the vestibule, where it could be seen by passers-by.

Although holding of church services was legally permitted, our Covid-19 Management Group continued to assess the risks and it was not until Palm Sunday, 28 March, that the risk level was deemed acceptable for worship in the church building to resume.

We remain grateful to the Circuit ministers who continued to produce an ‘at-home’ order of service and to the church volunteers who continued to prepare a weekly update to email to members. The service and update were posted to those without email.

From December a new initiative of a service via a telephone conference call was started, on Wednesday afternoons. When our minister was on sabbatical in the spring we joined the service organised by Stratford-upon-Avon Methodist Church.

We made use of Zoom of course: the weekly ‘after church coffee’ (pictured right), Bible study group, Junior Church gettogethers and our Church Council and other administrative meetings. Some of the fellowship groups used Zoom to keep in touch, others interacted by email.

From Easter onwards were again able to hold services on the church premises, with our Covid-19 precautions in place.

Thinking Lunches and Evenings

The 2020-21 programme of Thinking Lunches had been drafted, but as it turned out it was not feasible to hold these in church or online. However, four online Thinking Evenings were held this year:

A Church in a Circuit

In some ways it was easier to connect within the Circuit through the ether than on the ground. Our members could enjoy online worship with other Circuit churches in various forms – pre-recorded services compiled by St Johns Potters Bar and Digswell Village Church, and live services from Hatfield Road Methodist Church.

Meetings could be joined from our homes, avoiding trips across the circuit - certainly a boon on dark winter evenings.

There were a number of regular and special meetings this year as we considered ‘The Way Forward’ for the St Albans and Welwyn Circuit. A pragmatic restructuring of the circuit, to take effect from September 2022 was proposed, to allow for the shortfall of presbyters across the Methodist Church. There are currently four presbyters and a deacon for our circuit. The proposal was to re-organise the presbyters’ responsibilities for individual churches to align with the three local authority areas: Hertsmere, Welwyn Hatfield and St Albans. The deacon is based in north-west Hatfield, working on what was set up as the ecumenical De Havilland project, supporting people in the new housing built on the former de Havilland industrial area. It was proposed that the deacon continue to be based in what is now re-badged as ‘Salisbury Village’, but that the St Albans section churches would take responsibility for the diaconal work, with the deacon also supporting missional and pastoral work in St Albans.

The proposals were broadly accepted and formally adopted in May 2021. The De Havilland project was wound up over the summer, and so the St Albans Methodist Churches took on the responsibility for diaconal work from 1 September 2021.

A Church in a Connexion

Our minister was appointed as a representative of the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District at the Methodist Conference, held in Birmingham from 24 June to 1 July 2021. She was one of the 60 present in the Conference Hall (socially distanced) and the other 246 attendees were on line.

Here is an extract from her report to the church members as published in our bi-monthly church newsletter the ‘Marlborough Round’.

I felt privileged to share in the Induction of the Reverend Sonia Hicks as President of the Methodist Conference, as Sonia and I overlapped for two years at theological college and she is the first student from my training days at Queen’s College to be President.

It was a momentous conference and decisions were made on all sorts of matters - selling of Methodist Church House, matters of finance (there is a deficit in the Pensions Funds!), on-line Holy Communion, and that Justice, Solidarity and Dignity be the basis for our Methodist Church work. It is 21 years since Our Calling was introduced and this continues to be the way in which we focus our mission, now to include the God for All Strategy .

But as predicted the only debate which made the BBC and the Press was the one on Wednesday morning on issues to do with human sexuality.

Following prayerful consideration by the whole Church, the Methodist Conference has voted to confirm provisional resolutions on the principles or qualities of good relating, understanding of cohabitation and same sex marriages conducted on Methodist premises or by Methodist officeholders.

A report on marriage and relationships, ‘ God in Love Unites Us’ , was received by the Conference in 2019 and the local District Synods were asked to consider the provisional resolutions and report back to this year’s Conference. The Conference received a report on the results of the local conferring which showed that 29 out of the 30 Synods confirmed support for the provisional resolutions.

The Revd Sonia Hicks, President of the Conference, prayed ahead of the main debate on Wednesday morning in Birmingham, asking that the Conference’s “words may be imbibed with your grace, with tenderness from on high.”

A range of views were expressed on the resolutions, in particular on cohabitation and same sex marriages. The Revd Dr Jonathan Hustler, spoke to the Conference acknowledging the “depth

of feeling, pain and anxiety that there is” with a commitment to work across the Connexion with District Chairs to heal divisions.

Speakers called for unity going ahead irrespective of the decision. Other speakers spoke of the acceptance of diversity that younger Church members have for each other with younger speakers relating their own lived experience as Christians from the LGBTQI+ community. Another representative asked that the Church does not ostracise those who oppose the introduction of same-sex marriages in the Church, saying the great majority of these people are trying to be faithful to Scripture as they see it.

The Methodist Church included other denominations and Methodist Churches across the world in the process of listening and consultation, with written submissions from ecumenical partners to the ‘God In Love Unites Us’ report and workshops with global Methodist partners.

Following the vote on the provisional resolutions the Revd Sonia Hicks said: "The debate today and our wider conversation has been conducted with grace and mutual respect. As we move forward together after this historic day for our Church, we must remember to continue to hold each other in prayer, and to support each other respecting our differences."

Service – being a good neighbour

Our community outreach and support activities have been in abeyance because of the pandemic, our Toddler group and Chatterbox coffee morning did not restart. Many of our volunteers are older or vulnerable in terms of Covid-19 risk.

As a church we also support a number of local, national and international organisations. When we could not hold the usual collections and fundraising activities, the church and members made donations directly.

Organisations we regularly support are:

Lay Workers

The Lay Workers Project is a joint initiative by the two St Albans Methodist Churches.

Our Children and Families Worker , Emma Williams (nee Haggis) started work in August 2020. In the summer and early autumn she got to know church families through garden visits. Through the winter and spring lockdown, Emma kept in touch via texts, phone calls and emails, as well as running Junior church online each Sunday morning, one session for those in primary school and another for those in secondary, with children from both Methodist churches. Emma reported:

Over the weeks we followed a series exploring the Psalms and how so many emotions are expressed within the lines. Something I thought was very appropriate as many people struggled with the restrictions. [the photo] shows the outcome of one of our activities where young people were challenged to recreate an image from the Psalm using things they have around their homes.

Emma also kept in touch with the young people at university.

In early 2021 Emma set up an online youth group for year 10 -13 students, but it did not take off – probably because the students are weary of screen-time - so was discontinued for the rest of the school year.

Emma had made contact with St Peter’s Primary and Fleetville Junior School and recorded assemblies for them just before Christmas. Fleetville gave her an opportunity to do another assembly before the end of the spring term. This one was also pre-recorded via Zoom and explored some of the similarities and differences between Passover and Easter, fitting in with what some of the pupils had been looking at in their lessons. Emma was also invited to do an assembly alongside a member of staff at Oakland Primary, in the school playground. This assembly focused on the different foods eaten in association with the festivals, and was well-received.

Emma prepared Easter packs for our families. The packs included: a couple of crafts (a wreath and story wheel for children in primary school and a keyring craft for those in secondary school); an Easter card; an Easter story book for very young children and very importantly, some chocolate. This was an attempt to encourage the children and young people to spend some time away from screens and also to remind/teach them about some of the events which took place in the final week of Jesus life. Some of the children and young people were very happy to show off some of their efforts when we were able to meet in our church buildings on Easter Sunday.

In the summer term Emma was able to restart some Junior Church sessions. Over the summer holidays she provided activity sheets for children attending church. She also organised some garden gatherings – this was the first opportunity in 18 months for the families from the churches to meet up and socialise in person.

We appointed Maggie Dodd to the post of Anna Chaplain in March 2021 and she began work in late April. She is the first Anna Chaplain in Hertfordshire and the first full-time Anna Chaplain in the country.

In her first months in the post Maggie organised a number of small group meetings in gardens to get to know church people. She also arranged a tea party at Davis Court retirements flats (across the road from our church) and held informal services at Tara’s Retreat care home in Sandridge.

In August we were again able to run Holiday at Home – this comprises a few days of activities at the St Albans Methodist churches. Careful Covid-19 protocols were in place. Activities include crafts, puzzles, performances, games and of course tea, cake and chat. The montage shows images from Holiday at Home.

Minister’s Sabbatical

Our minster was on sabbatical during January, February and March 2021. It was not the sabbatical she had envisaged, no trip to revisit Sri Lanka and retreats were online rather than going somewhere quiet. Walks were local rather than over the hills and far away. However, it was still a time of rest and re-set, and also for learning. Rosemary carried out research on the transition to retirement for clergy, contacting 25 retired clergy from various denominations and distilling their responses into a paper for the District Sabbaticals Committee. She also took up German lessons and had the time to play the piano and to knit squares for Knit for Peace blankets.

Eco Church

We have continued to make slow progress towards achieving an Eco Church award. Our recycling collections had to be suspended, but we promoted alternative collection points. We also participated in Sustainable St Albans SustFest.

Inclusive Church

We have been endeavouring to ensure that we are inclusive in our welcome, and in June 2021 our Church Council decided that we should apply to join the organisation Inclusive Church.

Inter-Church relations

We have continued to work more closely with Hatfield Road Methodist Church, the bonds being strengthened by the Lay Workers project. The church stewards hold regular joint meetings, which they have found very helpful for brainstorming and mutual support. Holiday at Home has been a joint activity since 2019. We are looking ahead to changes arising from the adoption of the Circuit’s Way Forward measures, with the churches sharing a presbyter and a deacon.

We continue to value our close relationship with St Peter’s Church. The clergy meet regularly and our minister is authorised to preside at Eucharistic worship at St Peters (since September 2015). We are very grateful to the two Lay Readers from St Peters who regularly lead worship at Marlborough Road. There are several special services each year which are now united services – the Covenant Service, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Aldersgate Sunday and St Peter’s Patronal Festival. Chatterbox Coffee Morning and Thinking Lunches are well supported by St Peter’s, although of course these did not happen this year. St Peter’s have been involved in Holiday at Home since its inception.

The pandemic has disrupted the City Centre Churches interactions, but mutual support has continued.

Financial review

The Church’s policy on Reserves is to maintain a reserve in the general fund to cover a month’s running costs and to hold a sensible reserve in the repair, organ and cottage funds to cover emergency repair works.

No funds are materially in deficit.

Our principal sources of funds are voluntary donations, lettings and fund-raising. Lettings income has continued to be affected by Covid-19 lockdowns.

Our expenditure goes entirely in support of our key objectives and activities.

Our investment policy has been maintained through the moral and ethical policies of the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church

Please refer to our Accounts for more details.

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the foregoing report.

Signed on behalf of the trustees:

Rona Mary Wightman Church Council Secretary

Date:28 June 2022

CHURCH ACCRUALS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

Marlborough Road Methodist Church

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 Aug 2021

FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 Aug 2021
St Albans & Welwyn Circuit Circuit No. 34/13
Registered Charity- CharityRegistration number 1128694
If not a registered charity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid
number

(The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242)

Minister:

Reverend Rosemary Fletcher

Treasurer:

Carl Meredith

Name of Church

Circuit No 34/13

Marlborough Road Methodist Church

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2021

Notes to
the
accounts
Income
1 Offerings
2 Donations
3 Gift aid
4 Interest and investment income
5 Income from investment properties
6 Internal organisations
7 Other charitable income
8Total income
Expenditure
9 Circuit assessment or share
10 Grants and donations
11 Property maintenance
12 Insurance,utilities etc
13 Depreciation
14 Office expenses
15 Other expenditure
16 Internal organisations
17Total charitable expenditure
18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments
19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties
20Net income/(expenditure)
21 Transfers between funds
22 Other gains/(losses)
23Net movement in funds
24 Total funds brought forward
25 Total funds carried forward		 General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total
2020-21
£
£
£
£
£
68,210
68,210
12,816
40,902
53,718
15,806
15,806
38
38
13,167
13,167
4
4
3,630
3,630
110,037
4
44,532
-
154,573
84,000
84,000
3,891
3,891
10,290
10,290
7,637
7,637
-
1,203
1,203
1,776
22,761
24,537
3,916
3,916
108,797
3,916
22,761
-
135,474
-
-
1,240
3,912
-
21,771
-
19,099
-
-
1,240
3,912
-
21,771
-
19,099
69,943
7,055
24,051
-
101,049
71,183
3,143
45,822
-
120,148

Name of Church Marlborough Road Methodist Church

Circuit No 34/13

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2020

Notes to
the
accounts
Income
1 Offerings
2 Donations
3 Gift aid
4 Interest and investment income
5 Income from investment properties
6 Internal organisations
7 Other charitable income
8Total income
Expenditure
9 Circuit assessment or share
10 Grants and donations
11 Property maintenance
12 Insurance,utilities etc
13 Depreciation
14 Office expenses
15 Other expenditure
16 Internal organisations
17Total charitable expenditure
18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments
19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties
20Net income/(expenditure)
21 Transfers between funds
22 Other gains/(losses)
23Net movement in funds
24 Total funds brought forward
25 Total funds carried forward		 General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total
2019-20
£
£
£
£
£
73,249
73,249
18,279
5,365
23,644
22,587
665
23,252
194
13
207
23,059
23,059
5,217
5,217
80
80
137,368
5,230
6,110
-
148,708
84,000
84,000
3,500
525
4,025
10,911
10,911
9,749
9,749
-
1,806
2,034
3,840
3,262
3,262
4,420
4,420
113,228
4,420
2,559
-
120,207
-
-
24,140
810
3,551
-
28,501
20,000
-
20,000
-
-
4,140
810
23,551
-
28,501
65,803
6,245
500
-
72,548
69,943
7,055
24,051
-
101,049

O•Mr•i Dwgnat•d R•stfict1 Fund¥ Tofai• Tot•ls 20x1 Pun< Flx•d Agxts Chwch Irv•mfrt 5.IXI),CW 5.cw.r 425.W 5.(IXI,OXJ J.423.rxrf) 5.423.C Curr•rt A•Mts 33,824 18,(65 51.a75 44,242 th• Irw•knwts TMCP 14.578 so.884 44 855 Cbh •t B•nk rd in IS, .J19 31 e40 42,870 l09,•eO Curr•rrt Il•tytlfl•• Cr•dtr• léu• In ￿•r 1 y•wl 201&19 27.270 4.918 97.270 IX.1 4,91$ 101,01• 31.Nl 40,437 42,87f 40.4J7 5.046.110 ,￿,0¢9 Lonoi•rrn lknblNtI•¥ du• •ft•r ffK+r• th•n on• Gf¥rn¥ D• ablo •ft•1 201&19 Lcqr Chur¢h N•1 •u•i 6,418.811 41870 6.616,1 s￿21,0 •lth• cnuf¢h S.496 841 5.45e 841 42 870 0.409.711 5,484.612 17184 ),W1,9•6 n•t•J 42,870 45,437 6,46•.B41 4Z870 Syn•d Church Tr•a*ur•r MconJrtH

Notes to the Accounts

1 Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the 2014 version of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102 – the Charities SORP (FRS102) and taking note of the Update Bulletin 1 issued in 2016.

2 Funds

The funds held constitute: General Funds held for any purpose of the Church which are Unrestricted. Restricted funds which are held for a narrower purpose . There are no Endowment funds. Details of each material fund are disclosed in the final note to these accounts. Any funds may be represented by more than just cash.

3 Accounting policies

Basis

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year, on the accruals basis to show a true and fair view of the Church's financial position and activities.

Incoming Resources

Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the Church becomes entitled to the resources, and the trustees are reasonably certain they will receive the resources; and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Resources Expended

This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, that results in the payment being unavoidable. Liabilities are recognised as soon as an outflow of economic benefit is considered more likely than not under the legal or constructive obligation committing the Church to pay out resources.

Grants

Grants made by the Church from its own funds are recognised in full at the time of agreement or when the Church accepts that there is a legal or operational obligation to make the payment.

VAT

Since the Church is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers.

Tangible fixed assets for use by the Church

Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £10,000. Property assets are stated at current fair value. The current fair value of the main church premises is evaluated by the trustees at 2021 deemed values, with reference to insurance assessments. The current fair value of the residential investment property is evaluated by the trustees with reference to comparable property sale transactions in the locality and to advice received from the letting agent engaged to manage the property on behalf of the trustees. Both properties have been reviewed for impairment.

Debtors and Prepayments

Debtors primarily consitute amounts owing by HMRC in respect of gift aid claims.

Creditors

Creditors include both trade creditors and donations to be paid to charities from the church General Reserve as determined by Church Council following confirmation of the full year income and expenditure.

4 Payment to Trustees

There were no payments made to trustees for additional services provided to the Church, in either the current or prior year.

5 Fees for examination or audit of the accounts

There were no fees paid or payable to the independent examiner for reporting on the accounts or for other services, in either the current or prior year.

6 Paid employees

The church did not employ any staff during the current or prior year.

7 Capital Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

At the 31 st August 2021 there are no capital commitments.

No Contingent liabilities were identified at 31st August 2021.

8 For information only Money received and passed on to External Organisations

Balance brought forward from last year
Offerings/Gifts - received for External Organisations
Offerings/Gifts - passed to External Organisations
Balance carried forward		 2020/21 2019/20
£ £
- 1,585
1,744
1,180 1,585
564 -

9 Tangible Fixed Assets Cost or valuation

Main church
premises
£		 Residential
investment
property
Fixtures, fittings
and equipment
£
£		 Residential
investment
property
Fixtures, fittings
and equipment
£
£		 Total
£
Balance brought forward 5,000,000 425,000 - 5,425,000
Additions - - - -
Revaluations(+/-) - - - -
Disposals(-) - - - -
Transfers *(+/-) - - - -
Balance carried forward 5,000,000 425,000 - 5,425,000

Accumulated depreciation

Accumulated depreciation
Balance brought forward - - - -
Depreciation charge foryear(-) - - - -
Revaluations(+/-) - - -
Disposals(-) - - -
Transfers*(+/-) - - -
Balance carried forward - - - -
Net book value
Brought forward 5,000,000 425,000 - 5,425,000
Carried forward 5,000,000 425,000 - 5,425,000

10 Loans

The Church currently has no loans and has not held any loans during the current or prior year.

11 Analysis of funds 2020-21

Fund Name Opening Balance Incoming
Resources		 Resources
Expended		 Transfers Closing
Balance
Restricted Funds
Benevolent Fund 442 442
LayWorker Fund 23,610 44,532 22,761 45,381
Total Restricted 24,052 44,532 22,761 - 45,823
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund 30,234 100,845 108,797 9,172 31,454
Major Repair Fund 18,469 6 18,475
Organ Repair Fund 6,237 14 6,251
Investment Property Maintenance Fund 15,000 9,172 - 9,172 15,000
Internal Organisations 7,057 4 3,916 3,145
Total Unrestricted 76,997 110,041 112,713
-		 74,325
Total Funds 101,049 154,573 135,474
-		 120,148

````Comparative analysis of restricted and designated funds 2019-20

Fund Name Opening Balance Incoming
Resources		 Resources
Expended		 Transfers Closing
Balance
Restricted Funds
Benevolent Fund 500 467 525 442
LayWorker Fund - 5,644 2,034 20,000 23,610
Total Restricted 500 6,111 2,559 20,000 24,052
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund 18,326 127,764 110,049 - 5,807 30,234
Major Repair Fund 18,440 29 18,469
Organ Repair Fund 6,584 73 420 6,237
Investment Property Maintenance Fund 22,453 9,500 2,760 - 14,193 15,000
Internal Organisations 6,247 5,230 4,420 7,057
Total Unrestricted 72,050 142,596 117,649 - 20,000 76,997
Total Funds 72,550 148,707 120,208
-		 101,049

Name of Church (Lo P:0 ht)Cji%T C(11..... No..... Declarations and Scrutiny I confimi that these aGGruals-based accounts for the year to 31 August 2021 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the Gontrol of the Church trust88S. Signature of treasurer ............ Date....G Y£1.. IOLI Name and add￿$3 of treasurer . chfLL Mt @E biTH Post Code.. ￿LI gsyi Pr88entatlon to the Church tru8tee8 I confim that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 werelwill be. presented to the meeting of the Church trust888 held on Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of th8 meeting Date .2 1 ZCLI Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the ..Church Charlty Number.............. Re8ponslbllltles and ba818 of rnport I report to th8 Irustee$ on my examination of the accounts of the Lf)tyIti￿L..l1 .@u. r).fj. tr!¥0 IfT.. Church for the year ended 31 August 2021 set out on pages io l As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for th8 preparatson of the aGcounts in 8ccordance wth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Act'l I report in respect of my examination of the Church's accounts carrièd out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all thé applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under séction 145(5){b) of the Act. delete or circle as appropriate

. delete or cirda as apprqxi8te No !iL$Lq(I lrnlopendont Examlnee8 Slatenwit I have compf8t8d my exAmination. I c£Jnfirni that no material matter8 have come to my attention in connethon wilh Ihe examinatson ( "I vthlch glve me cause to belie￿￿ that in, any material respect: Ihe accounting records wgre rN)I kept in accordance wllh sectlon 130 of the Art or the accounts ijo not accord wilh the accounts'ng reenrds.. or Ihe 8ccounts do not comply wrth the applicable requirements conceming the form and contsnt of accounts set out in the Ch8ritie8 (Accounts and R8POrts) R8oulatr'ons 2008 other than any requirement th8t tha accounts give a 'true and fairf VI￿. whoch is not a matter consbdered as part of an independent examination the trustee8' annual rep(Kt is not cons18tent V•lth the accounts I have no concems and have come across no other metters In connection with the 8xaminats.on to which attention sho*Jld be drawn in this report in order lo enable a proper und8rBtanding of the accounts to be roathed. I havelh04wf oblainad ind8p&ndent veriflcalion of all investments with the Trustees for Methodisl Church Purpose3 or hald in other trusts, bank balanc8s and funds at the C8ntr81 Finance Board of the Methodist Churth which are ndl￿d￿allY in ex￿58 of £10.000 (ten thousand pw)ds) at the balarLe sheet date Signaiwe of indepandont examlner Name of independent examiner DJS.rJ Relevant profession81 qualmcallon ot Independent &xamifter ELwyhJ Po51 Code hLL 08r 24iL

CHURCH ACCRUALS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

Marlborough Road Methodist Church

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 Aug 2021

FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 Aug 2021
St Albans & Welwyn Circuit Circuit No. 34/13
Registered Charity- CharityRegistration number 1128694
If not a registered charity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid
number

(The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242)

Minister:

Reverend Rosemary Fletcher

Treasurer:

Carl Meredith

Name of Church

Circuit No 34/13

Marlborough Road Methodist Church

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2021

Notes to
the
accounts
Income
1 Offerings
2 Donations
3 Gift aid
4 Interest and investment income
5 Income from investment properties
6 Internal organisations
7 Other charitable income
8Total income
Expenditure
9 Circuit assessment or share
10 Grants and donations
11 Property maintenance
12 Insurance,utilities etc
13 Depreciation
14 Office expenses
15 Other expenditure
16 Internal organisations
17Total charitable expenditure
18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments
19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties
20Net income/(expenditure)
21 Transfers between funds
22 Other gains/(losses)
23Net movement in funds
24 Total funds brought forward
25 Total funds carried forward		 General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total
2020-21
£
£
£
£
£
68,210
68,210
12,816
40,902
53,718
15,806
15,806
38
38
13,167
13,167
4
4
3,630
3,630
110,037
4
44,532
-
154,573
84,000
84,000
3,891
3,891
10,290
10,290
7,637
7,637
-
1,203
1,203
1,776
22,761
24,537
3,916
3,916
108,797
3,916
22,761
-
135,474
-
-
1,240
3,912
-
21,771
-
19,099
-
-
1,240
3,912
-
21,771
-
19,099
69,943
7,055
24,051
-
101,049
71,183
3,143
45,822
-
120,148

Name of Church Marlborough Road Methodist Church

Circuit No 34/13

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2020

Notes to
the
accounts
Income
1 Offerings
2 Donations
3 Gift aid
4 Interest and investment income
5 Income from investment properties
6 Internal organisations
7 Other charitable income
8Total income
Expenditure
9 Circuit assessment or share
10 Grants and donations
11 Property maintenance
12 Insurance,utilities etc
13 Depreciation
14 Office expenses
15 Other expenditure
16 Internal organisations
17Total charitable expenditure
18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments
19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties
20Net income/(expenditure)
21 Transfers between funds
22 Other gains/(losses)
23Net movement in funds
24 Total funds brought forward
25 Total funds carried forward		 General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total
2019-20
£
£
£
£
£
73,249
73,249
18,279
5,365
23,644
22,587
665
23,252
194
13
207
23,059
23,059
5,217
5,217
80
80
137,368
5,230
6,110
-
148,708
84,000
84,000
3,500
525
4,025
10,911
10,911
9,749
9,749
-
1,806
2,034
3,840
3,262
3,262
4,420
4,420
113,228
4,420
2,559
-
120,207
-
-
24,140
810
3,551
-
28,501
20,000
-
20,000
-
-
4,140
810
23,551
-
28,501
65,803
6,245
500
-
72,548
69,943
7,055
24,051
-
101,049

O•Mr•i Dwgnat•d R•stfict1 Fund¥ Tofai• Tot•ls 20x1 Pun< Flx•d Agxts Chwch Irv•mfrt 5.IXI),CW 5.cw.r 425.W 5.(IXI,OXJ J.423.rxrf) 5.423.C Curr•rt A•Mts 33,824 18,(65 51.a75 44,242 th• Irw•knwts TMCP 14.578 so.884 44 855 Cbh •t B•nk rd in IS, .J19 31 e40 42,870 l09,•eO Curr•rrt Il•tytlfl•• Cr•dtr• léu• In ￿•r 1 y•wl 201&19 27.270 4.918 97.270 IX.1 4,91$ 101,01• 31.Nl 40,437 42,87f 40.4J7 5.046.110 ,￿,0¢9 Lonoi•rrn lknblNtI•¥ du• •ft•r ffK+r• th•n on• Gf¥rn¥ D• ablo •ft•1 201&19 Lcqr Chur¢h N•1 •u•i 6,418.811 41870 6.616,1 s￿21,0 •lth• cnuf¢h S.496 841 5.45e 841 42 870 0.409.711 5,484.612 17184 ),W1,9•6 n•t•J 42,870 45,437 6,46•.B41 4Z870 Syn•d Church Tr•a*ur•r MconJrtH

Notes to the Accounts

1 Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the 2014 version of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102 – the Charities SORP (FRS102) and taking note of the Update Bulletin 1 issued in 2016.

2 Funds

The funds held constitute: General Funds held for any purpose of the Church which are Unrestricted. Restricted funds which are held for a narrower purpose . There are no Endowment funds. Details of each material fund are disclosed in the final note to these accounts. Any funds may be represented by more than just cash.

3 Accounting policies

Basis

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year, on the accruals basis to show a true and fair view of the Church's financial position and activities.

Incoming Resources

Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the Church becomes entitled to the resources, and the trustees are reasonably certain they will receive the resources; and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Resources Expended

This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, that results in the payment being unavoidable. Liabilities are recognised as soon as an outflow of economic benefit is considered more likely than not under the legal or constructive obligation committing the Church to pay out resources.

Grants

Grants made by the Church from its own funds are recognised in full at the time of agreement or when the Church accepts that there is a legal or operational obligation to make the payment.

VAT

Since the Church is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers.

Tangible fixed assets for use by the Church

Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £10,000. Property assets are stated at current fair value. The current fair value of the main church premises is evaluated by the trustees at 2021 deemed values, with reference to insurance assessments. The current fair value of the residential investment property is evaluated by the trustees with reference to comparable property sale transactions in the locality and to advice received from the letting agent engaged to manage the property on behalf of the trustees. Both properties have been reviewed for impairment.

Debtors and Prepayments

Debtors primarily consitute amounts owing by HMRC in respect of gift aid claims.

Creditors

Creditors include both trade creditors and donations to be paid to charities from the church General Reserve as determined by Church Council following confirmation of the full year income and expenditure.

4 Payment to Trustees

There were no payments made to trustees for additional services provided to the Church, in either the current or prior year.

5 Fees for examination or audit of the accounts

There were no fees paid or payable to the independent examiner for reporting on the accounts or for other services, in either the current or prior year.

6 Paid employees

The church did not employ any staff during the current or prior year.

7 Capital Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

At the 31 st August 2021 there are no capital commitments.

No Contingent liabilities were identified at 31st August 2021.

8 For information only Money received and passed on to External Organisations

Balance brought forward from last year
Offerings/Gifts - received for External Organisations
Offerings/Gifts - passed to External Organisations
Balance carried forward		 2020/21 2019/20
£ £
- 1,585
1,744
1,180 1,585
564 -

9 Tangible Fixed Assets Cost or valuation

Main church
premises
£		 Residential
investment
property
Fixtures, fittings
and equipment
£
£		 Residential
investment
property
Fixtures, fittings
and equipment
£
£		 Total
£
Balance brought forward 5,000,000 425,000 - 5,425,000
Additions - - - -
Revaluations(+/-) - - - -
Disposals(-) - - - -
Transfers *(+/-) - - - -
Balance carried forward 5,000,000 425,000 - 5,425,000

Accumulated depreciation

Accumulated depreciation
Balance brought forward - - - -
Depreciation charge foryear(-) - - - -
Revaluations(+/-) - - -
Disposals(-) - - -
Transfers*(+/-) - - -
Balance carried forward - - - -
Net book value
Brought forward 5,000,000 425,000 - 5,425,000
Carried forward 5,000,000 425,000 - 5,425,000

10 Loans

The Church currently has no loans and has not held any loans during the current or prior year.

11 Analysis of funds 2020-21

Fund Name Opening Balance Incoming
Resources		 Resources
Expended		 Transfers Closing
Balance
Restricted Funds
Benevolent Fund 442 442
LayWorker Fund 23,610 44,532 22,761 45,381
Total Restricted 24,052 44,532 22,761 - 45,823
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund 30,234 100,845 108,797 9,172 31,454
Major Repair Fund 18,469 6 18,475
Organ Repair Fund 6,237 14 6,251
Investment Property Maintenance Fund 15,000 9,172 - 9,172 15,000
Internal Organisations 7,057 4 3,916 3,145
Total Unrestricted 76,997 110,041 112,713
-		 74,325
Total Funds 101,049 154,573 135,474
-		 120,148

````Comparative analysis of restricted and designated funds 2019-20

Fund Name Opening Balance Incoming
Resources		 Resources
Expended		 Transfers Closing
Balance
Restricted Funds
Benevolent Fund 500 467 525 442
LayWorker Fund - 5,644 2,034 20,000 23,610
Total Restricted 500 6,111 2,559 20,000 24,052
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund 18,326 127,764 110,049 - 5,807 30,234
Major Repair Fund 18,440 29 18,469
Organ Repair Fund 6,584 73 420 6,237
Investment Property Maintenance Fund 22,453 9,500 2,760 - 14,193 15,000
Internal Organisations 6,247 5,230 4,420 7,057
Total Unrestricted 72,050 142,596 117,649 - 20,000 76,997
Total Funds 72,550 148,707 120,208
-		 101,049

Name of Church (Lo P:0 ht)Cji%T C(11..... No..... Declarations and Scrutiny I confimi that these aGGruals-based accounts for the year to 31 August 2021 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the Gontrol of the Church trust88S. Signature of treasurer ............ Date....G Y£1.. IOLI Name and add￿$3 of treasurer . chfLL Mt @E biTH Post Code.. ￿LI gsyi Pr88entatlon to the Church tru8tee8 I confim that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 werelwill be. presented to the meeting of the Church trust888 held on Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of th8 meeting Date .2 1 ZCLI Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the ..Church Charlty Number.............. Re8ponslbllltles and ba818 of rnport I report to th8 Irustee$ on my examination of the accounts of the Lf)tyIti￿L..l1 .@u. r).fj. tr!¥0 IfT.. Church for the year ended 31 August 2021 set out on pages io l As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for th8 preparatson of the aGcounts in 8ccordance wth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Act'l I report in respect of my examination of the Church's accounts carrièd out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all thé applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under séction 145(5){b) of the Act. delete or circle as appropriate

. delete or cirda as apprqxi8te No !iL$Lq(I lrnlopendont Examlnee8 Slatenwit I have compf8t8d my exAmination. I c£Jnfirni that no material matter8 have come to my attention in connethon wilh Ihe examinatson ( "I vthlch glve me cause to belie￿￿ that in, any material respect: Ihe accounting records wgre rN)I kept in accordance wllh sectlon 130 of the Art or the accounts ijo not accord wilh the accounts'ng reenrds.. or Ihe 8ccounts do not comply wrth the applicable requirements conceming the form and contsnt of accounts set out in the Ch8ritie8 (Accounts and R8POrts) R8oulatr'ons 2008 other than any requirement th8t tha accounts give a 'true and fairf VI￿. whoch is not a matter consbdered as part of an independent examination the trustee8' annual rep(Kt is not cons18tent V•lth the accounts I have no concems and have come across no other metters In connection with the 8xaminats.on to which attention sho*Jld be drawn in this report in order lo enable a proper und8rBtanding of the accounts to be roathed. I havelh04wf oblainad ind8p&ndent veriflcalion of all investments with the Trustees for Methodisl Church Purpose3 or hald in other trusts, bank balanc8s and funds at the C8ntr81 Finance Board of the Methodist Churth which are ndl￿d￿allY in ex￿58 of £10.000 (ten thousand pw)ds) at the balarLe sheet date Signaiwe of indepandont examlner Name of independent examiner DJS.rJ Relevant profession81 qualmcallon ot Independent &xamifter ELwyhJ Po51 Code hLL 08r 24iL