2023-08-31-accounts - Marlborough Road Methodist Church

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Marlborough Road Methodist Church

Registered Charity No 1128694

Trustees Annual Report for year ending August 2023

The Methodist Church Marlborough Road St Albans AL1 3XG

Marlborough Road celebrated its 125th Anniversary this year. The current building was opened on 30th June 1898 succeeding four previous dedicated meeting places, the first being a converted outbuilding at the back of a Baker’s Yard on what is now ‘Romeland’ (adjacent to the Cathedral) and certified for Methodist Worship in 1794. Our Church Anniversary service was held on Sunday 25[th] June 2023.

Reference Information and Administration

The managing trustees

Office (if any)

Trustee name

1 Revd Andrew Prout Chair, Presbyter St Albans section 2 Deacon Nigel Perrott Deacon (Cornerstone House) 3 Ann Scorer Church Steward 4 Janis Gilbert Church Steward 5 Theresa Tetteh Church Steward 6 Idy Osibodu Church Steward 7 Marjorie Wilson Church Steward 8 Paul Bates Church Steward 9 Carl Meredith Treasurer 10 Judith Head Pastoral Co-ordinator 11 Celia Hudson Pastoral Co-ordinator assistant 12 Rona Wightman Secretary to Church Council 13 Frances Bates Representative from General Church Meeting 14 Andrew Johnstone Representative from General Church Meeting 15 Erma Profit Representative from General Church Meeting 16 Jenny Evers Pastoral Visitors’ Representative 17 Di Churcher Pastoral Visitors’ Representative 18 Ian Gilbert Senior Property Steward

Dates acted if not for whole year

To April 2023

From April 2023

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 continue working jointly with Hatfield Road Methodist Church (Charity No 1173147) to employ a full-time Anna Chaplain. The post is for five years, from 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.

Our activity is carried out by volunteers with support of stipendiary and supernumerary presbyters, the Anna Chaplain, and administrative staff provided by the circuit.

Achievements and Performance 2022-23

Marlborough Road Methodist Church (MRMC) 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! This year we continued to adjust and adapt to the ongoing circumstances resulting from Covid-19 pandemic.

This was a transitional year as the first stage of the Circuit’s ‘The Way Forward’ plan came into effect, with Revd Andrew Prout, presbyter of Hatfield Road, St Albans, taking on responsibility for Marlborough Road as well. This would be for one year only, as Andrew would be moving to a new station from September 2023.

Another part of The Way Forward is the new arrangement for Cornerstone House, where the Circuit’s Deacon is based. Cornerstone House is located in the large residential area and industrial area developed northwest of Hatfield on the site of the former de Havilland factory. Since September 2021 has been under the St Albans section for administration and support; this year there was also a change of personnel, with Deacon Nigel Perrott taking up station in our Circuit at the start of the reporting year.

We have been getting to know two other new staff members in the Circuit, as three presbyters retired or moved to new posts during 2022/23 and two new presbyters, one of whom is our new Circuit Superintendent, took up their station at the start of this reporting year.

Church and Circuit Resources

We have had a considerable change in Circuit personnel, with only Revd Andrew Prout remaining in the Circuit. In September 2022 we welcomed (left to right):

Revd David Jebb,

Circuit Superintendent & Presbyter for Hertsmere A a Section;

Revd Rosemary Mutopo, Presbyter for Welwyn Hatfield Section; ~ Deacon Nigel Perrott, Deacon based in St Albans Section.

An ongoing concern for our church is the demographic of the congregation, which is skewed heavily towards older people. Gradually there are fewer people able to take on the voluntary roles that deliver our mission.

Living and worshipping still affected after the pandemic

Although vaccines have greatly mitigated the threat of Covid-19, the pandemic has left its mark on our people and our community. For many people, including those associated with this church, the pandemic has affected their health and wellbeing and how they live their lives, through the illness itself and through side effects of measures needed to try and tackle the dangerous and highly infectious virus.

It has particularly affected members and Anna Chaplaincy work in residential care.

We have continued to use Zoom for some meetings and fellowships, and our circuit continues to prepare a weekly ‘at home’ service that is emailed or posted with our notice sheets.

Worship

Our Covid-19 precautions have enabled us to continue in-person Sunday morning worship; we have also continued to distribute the Circuit’s weekly ‘home worship’ service sheet.

In the winter we were approached by St Peter’s (Church of England), a congregation with which we have established a close relationship stemming from the Anglican – Methodist Covenant of 2003. Their church refurbishment project had been developed partly to deal with building issues arising from the Victorian refurbishment of this very old church building, and as the floor was to be entirely renewed, the congregation would not have access to the building for some months. Could they share worship with us?

We are already grateful for two Lay Readers from St Peters who regularly lead worship at Marlborough Road. There are several special services each year which are established as united services – the Covenant Service in January, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Aldersgate Sunday and St Peter’s Patronal Festival.

We were honoured to be asked and of course we said yes, and there followed some months of intricate work on legal considerations and practical arrangements, thank you to the clergy, stewards and property committee for resolving these matters.

The welcoming service on 30 July 2023 was poignant as it was also the last morning service that would be led at Marlborough Road by Revd Andrew Prout before he left the Circuit.

Thinking Lunches

The format is a speaker then discussion on (usually) the first Thursday of the month. The audience bring their own drinks and snacks. The lunches are free to attend, donations are invited to cover costs and any surplus is donated to a charity chosen by the speaker. Our seating is comfortable, the topics are challenging. Attendance numbers are lower than before the pandemic. Our 22/23 programme was:

September – Lionel Wallace, High Sherrif of Hertfordshire

Beautiful Minds – youth mental health and wellbeing in Hertfordshire

October – David Jonathan, Grassroots Luton

Celebrating Difference, Staying Faithful -Building Peace and Reconciliation Together with Different Faith in Luton

November – Doral Hayes, Churches Together in England

What’s Unity got to do with me? The role and potential of ecumenical work in the church today

December – Deacon Nigel Perrott, Cornerstone House Who and what is a deacon in the Methodist Church

January – Revd Dr Leslie Griffiths (pictured, with Revd David Jebb and Revd Andrew Prout

New Year, New Hope?

February – Maggie Dodd, Anna Chaplain, St Albans Anna Chaplaincy and the importance of spiritual care in later life

March – Peter Berners-Lee, Chair, St Albans Churches Together

Physics and faith – Uncertainty and Meaning

April – meeting cancelled as speaker was ill

May – Jerome Phelps, Debt Justice The Growing Global South Debt Crisis

June – Rachie Ross, Operation Noah

For the Love of God and Creation, let’s clean up the Church’s money, shall we?

Toddlers

The Toddler group had paused after the Children and Families Worker left in June 2022. There is normally a summer break in any case. With no replacement Worker appointment possible, the group restarted in October 2022 thanks to the efforts of the volunteers increasing their commitment to weekly involvement, supported by a rota of ‘coffee helpers’. This group is popular with the community and has been full house on several occasions.

Children and young people

Half Term Holiday Fun sessions for primary school children were held at HRMC in the October and February half term holidays. Deacon Nigel also organised three ‘Stay and Play’ summer holiday morning craft sessions for families at MRMC.

We are delighted that premises users include two Brownie packs and Family Centre support sessions.

Chatterbox coffee morning

This is a drop-in coffee morning with ‘regulars’ who appreciate the companionship and stimulating conversations, as well as ’occasionals’ who turn up from time to time and those who do just walk in off the street - Chatterbox takes place in the vestibule, so is visible to those passing by. Although the charges for drinks and biscuits and sometimes cake are modest, there is a gradual build up of surplus funds, from which this year we have donated to Christian Aid and All We Can.

Cornerstone House & Diaconal Work

This manse is Deacon Nigel’s base for community work and evangelism. Part of the downstairs has been formed into a Community Room where Nigel hosts twice weekly ‘drop-ins’. Many of those attending struggling with debt, family breakdowns and other difficulties, and Nigel has been forging links with local support services as well as drawing on his own experiences of debt counselling and foodbank operating.

Nigel has gradually built up other community events such as ‘Bacon & Coffee’ informal sessions for pre-schooler families, a Mum and Baby group, evening kids’ fun sessions, and monthly film nights and other one-off events such as a day trip to Legoland. He has built up the facilities at Cornerstone House, including insulating the conservatory to enable year-round use of the space, including enjoying the new soft play and sensory equipment.

He has developed links with other churches and youth leaders in the area to develop prayer meetings, Bible studies and other activities. He is also building relationships between groups at Cornerstone, MRMC and HRMC – for example, the Legoland trip included participants from all three locations.

Nigel also instigated missional activity in the St Albans section and he organised The Knitted Bible exhibition that was held at MRMC in May – see cover picture. This was an opportunity to share Bible stories with people who may not attend to church, and was a joy for those already familiar with Bible stories.

Organisations we regularly support

Action for Children – a national charity founded by a Methodist minister, supporting children living in poverty. Members of the congregation have ‘lantern’ collecting boxes, although the difficulty of gathering them in during lockdown meant that the lantern box holders donated direct instead, and we have continued this practice. There is an annual collection at church on Action for Children Sunday in July.
All We Can – the Methodist Development and Relief Fund, works with local organisations to help people experiencing poverty and injustice, and also responds to humanitarian emergencies such as disastrous flooding in Pakistan, persistent and severe drought in East Africa and Tropical Cyclone Freddie that swept across Malawi. We are a Partner Church, and each year a different local project is featured. For 2023 the featured organisation was Eagles, an organisation that supports communities in Malawi to build resilience and take the initiative to solve the problems they face by identifying the resources they have and using them to transform their circumstances.
• Christian Aid – the Christian Aid Week house to house collections did not resume. We raised money through collections at church and direct individual donations.
FEED – a foodbank run by the Vineyard Church in St Albans. We have a monthly collection of items at church, and we publicise other ways for our church members to contribute.
Fund for Human Need – a Methodist-affiliated charity that provides small emergency grants to individuals who are destitute and vulnerable. We hold a quarterly benevolence collection to top up our church benevolence fund and any overspill goes to the Fund for Human Need.
The Living Room – has centres in Hertfordshire, including St Albans, helping people overcome addiction. We hold a retiring collection at the Aldersgate Sunday evening service, held this year on 21 May 2023. It is a joint service with St Peter’s church.
Methodist Homes – a housing and care charity, we hold a collection on Methodist Homes Sunday, this year 11 June 2023.

Our building serving the community

A significant and very visible asset for our church is our building: the worship space itself, the hall and the church foyer and also, tucked away at the back, a small lounge. In the spring our Lettings Officer considered the many ways in which our bricks and mortar benefit our local community, and also help to maintain the church. A concern this year has of course been the huge increase in energy costs and the cost of living, a problem for us and for the people who use our premises. Whilst the premises hire is an important source of income for the church, we balance that with a desire to welcome and support people in need, and our rates are set accordingly.

In the Letting’s Officer’s words:

“…. meeting was with a couple of young people who were looking to set up a “young person’s Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”) meeting” (young in this context being under 30). Both of the young people were members of the two, weekly AA meetings we have on our premises. Between them the groups comprise over sixty people. It was very affecting to hear these young people talk so passionately about how the meetings had helped to change the path of their lives, how it was not just the support offered by MRMC in making our premises available (at heavily discounted rates) that was appreciated but that they were treated with respect and made to feel welcome. Small gestures such as giving a group its own cupboard in the kitchen made them feel like they belonged and were part of the community at MRMC.

“Every day we have groups using our premises. This ranges from the two Brownie packs on Monday and Tuesday evenings, fitness classes, dog training classes, a folk club with dancing on Friday’s, u3a monthly with a wide range of activities, the historical society (SAHAAS) with lectures. We have two toddler groups, a coffee morning, a music group for babies, PlayBall for kids on Saturday mornings, children’s birthday parties most weekends. We have two AA groups and a third is to start next month. We rent concert and rehearsal space to prestigious choirs such as Imperial Male Voice, Voix de Vivre and St Albans Choir. Yet again this summer we will support the St Albans Organ Festival. The Church of God of Prophecy holds a service every Sunday afternoon on our premises. And yes, we still have room for plenty of one-off requests and potential new partners.”

We are very grateful to the volunteers who support this aspect of our mission by meeting users and hirers, invoicing, programming the heating control system, assessing risks and monitoring safety issues, overseeing building maintenance work and carrying out small maintenance tasks, keeping the garden looking lovely, checking the receipts and paying the bills.

Lay Workers

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

Our Children and Families Worker moved on to a new post in Derbyshire in June 2022 and efforts to recruit a replacement have been unsuccessful.

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

The past year has seen the continuation of Afternoon Services, often in ‘Messy Vintage’ format, at the two St Albans Methodist Churches and other local churches. A new ‘Memory Worship’ monthly service for people living with dementia and their carers has been introduced at one of the churches. The service involves the senses, with music, creativity and hospitality. Maggie continued to take services in turn with Canon Margaret Tinsley from St Peter’s at retirement flats.

Maggie has continued to work with care homes to establish (or re-establish following Covid-19) regular worship. This has involved also forming relationships with people from local churches, lay and clergy, to support care home worship local to them. The Messy Vintage format is always enjoyed, and a new Songs and Praise format has been developed. This year six care homes in St Albans and one in Hatfield, near Cornerstone House, have started worship sessions in addition to the two existing homes that Maggie was already engaged with. An initiative at Harvest Festival brought children from a local primary school into an adjacent care home, an intergenerational event which was very much enjoyed by all involved and was repeated with carol singing at Christmas. There is potential to extend this inter-generational activity to other locations. Maggie has also been asked to lead Thanksgiving Services for care home residents, this is a growing ministry to the care home workers, residents and families.

At Christmastime Maggie led a second successful campaign to ‘send love to care homes’ in St Albans by creating knitted/felt and wooden hearts. Thirteen churches were involved, including both MRMC and HRMC, the Cathedral, seven CofE churches, the Baptist and URC churches, as well as various Rainbow and Brownie units and craft groups. Over 600 hearts were created, collected, wrapped and delivered to 12 care homes in St Albans and the surrounding villages. Some lovely posts were shared by care homes on their Facebook pages about the hearts – they were cherished and often hung alongside the stars we created last year for them.

Maggie helps with the Holiday at Home four day ‘summer club’ for seniors, organised for a number of years now by a team from MRMC, HRMC and St Peter’s, held at the two Methodist Churches. Pictured above are holidaymakers being entertained at MRMC by the HRMC Music Group.

The Spring Diary of Anna Chaplaincy linked events for seniors was followed up with the St Albans Churches Groups, Services and Events for Seniors booklet covering summer and autumn. These were distributed via local churches and similar outlets. It was also handed out at surgeries by Social Prescribers, which means the information reaches people who might not otherwise have found out what churches offer.

An important part of Maggie’s work is spreading the word about Anna Chaplaincy. This has included giving talks across a wide variety of settings, including a National Connexional Webinar, The Abbey Women’s Group, St Paul’s Lunch Club, St Alban’s Diocese Vocations Day, Churches Together in Hemel Hempstead, Redbourn Churches Together in Lent, St Albans Salvation Army CAMEO group, Rickmansworth Deanery Synod, a Thinking Lunch at MRMC, Walton-on-Thames Methodist Church, Hemel Hempstead Methodist Church Lent talk, leading a Free Church Service at St Albans Cathedral, having a stand at the first Cathedral Charity Showcase event. Maggie also meets with interested local clergy and church workers. She writes regular ‘Faith Focus’ articles for the Herts Advertiser local newspaper.

Maggie continues to recruit people to help with Anna Chaplaincy, either as volunteers who help with services and activities, or with a commitment to Anna Chaplaincy as an Anna Friend, with the associated training and support from the Anna Chaplaincy Network. Maggie herself delivers training, over the summer she worked with two Methodist Homes for the Aged (MHA) Chaplains in Hitchin to provide a course series on Spiritual Care for people who spiritually support older people. Attendees included people from churches in St Albans, and from the Hitchin and Bedford area.

Eco Church

Our Church magazine always features EcoTips from A Rocha, the Eco Church organisation. These general tips are augmented by local information, such as repair services for outdoor clothing, local supermarket and other retailer recycling schemes and refill providers.

Our own recycling efforts paused during the pandemic and restarted this year. We collected for various Terracycle schemes - we pass our items on to registered Terracycle collections at local churches, schools and community groups.

This year we twinned our bins, having previously twinned our toilets.

Our June Thinking Lunch is on an environmental theme and is included in the Sustainable St Albans SustFest community programme of events.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

In this Windrush 75 year (1948 – 2013) we unveiled a plaque commemorating the late Cyril Roper who was born in Nevis. The plaque particularly celebrates Cyril’s work in raising awareness of prostate cancer, a disease that particularly affects men of Caribbean heritage.

We continue to be conscious of EDI issues and take steps to develop our awareness and actions through our membership of Inclusive Church and Methodist Church initiatives and guidance. Our Thinking Lunches are often addressing Peace and Justice topics. We are a Fair Trade Church.

“We believe in inclusive church – a church which celebrates and affirms every person and does not discriminate.” Extract from Inclusive Church vision statement.

Inter-Church relations

We have continued to work closely with Hatfield Road Methodist Church, the bonds being strengthened by the Lay Workers project and now having the same minister. 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.

The Church of God of Prophecy have worshipped on our premises for many years, we are glad that God is praised here on Sunday afternoons as well as Sunday mornings!

Sharing a minister with HRMC has widened our network of churches that we have a particular link to. Many of our members attended the Windrush Recognition and Appreciation Service held in July at Hatfield Road Methodist Church and led by the New Testament Church of God . The service was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress and two District Councillors.

We continue to value our close relationship with St Peter’s Church of England, which became even closer this year when we began to share weekly worship for the duration of the St Peter’s refurbishment project.

Screenshot from the service on 30[th] July 2023 with church leaders from St Peter’s, MRMC, New Testament Church of God and Church of God of Prophecy.

Churches Together in St Albans (CTSA ) seeks to help churches to work and to grow together. CTSA have three forums a year as well as other events such as the Cross Procession, Unity at the Cross, 24 Hour Prayer for Thy Kingdom Come, Carols at the Clock Tower, and the service of prayer for Christian Unity each January. Meetings are open to all.

MRMC is always open for the annual September CTSA City Centre Prayer Walk, when a short prayer and pause is held in each location.

Each church has CTSA reps who can vote at the AGM. Maggie Dodd in her role as Anna Chaplain is a member of the CTSA Enabling Group, made up of members of several different churches and meeting about 4 times a year.

It is always a delight to welcome participants in the Historic Churches Bike n Hike , held in September. Nobody need to use the pump, we are happy to say. This year we additionally welcomed visitors to the History Fair organised by the St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society.

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.

In this financial year our reserves have been depleted by the huge increase – from £4,500 to £18,000 - - in energy prices. We also incurred significant planned and unplanned maintenance expenditure on the church premises and the adjacent cottage owned by the church.

We recorded a net deficit this financial year. However, we expect to remain financially viable for the foreseeable future.

Our principal sources of funds are voluntary donations, lettings and fund-raising. We have been experiencing a reduction in member donations over the last year or so due to death or re-location of some regular givers. A one-off legacy donation this year was very welcome.

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 Wightman Church Council Secretary

June 2024

CHURCH ACCRUALS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

Marlborough Road Methodist Church

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 Aug 2023

	FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 Aug 2023
	St Albans & Welwyn Circuit		Circuit No. 34/13

Registered Charity - Charity Registration 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 Daniel Jervis

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 2023

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
2022-23
£
£
£
£
£
59,627
2
59,629
11,952
11,057
23,009
14,061
14,061
1,138
1,138
38,956
38,956
654
654
171
171
125,734
654
11,230
-
137,618
79,833
79,833
1,950
1,950
44,656
44,656
20,956
20,956
-
-
-
2,573
18,438
21,011
353
353
149,968
353
18,438
-
168,759
-
-
24,234
-
301
7,208
-
-
31,141
-
-
-
24,234
-
301
7,208
-
-
31,141
-
63,268
3,647
60,292
-
127,207
39,034
3,948
53,084
-
96,066

Name of Church

Circuit No 34/13

Marlborough Road Methodist Church

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2022

General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total
2021-22
£
£
£
£
£
69,982
69,982
19,127
25,668
44,795
15,836
15,836
195
195
29,815
29,815
757
757
225
225
134,955
757
25,893
-
161,605
84,000
84,000
4,466
4,466
18,909
18,909
10,142
10,142
-
764
764
3,440
32,572
36,012
253
253
121,721
253
32,572
-
154,546
-
-
13,234
504
6,679
-
-
7,059
21,149
-
21,149
-
-
7,915
-
504
14,470
-
7,059
71,183
3,143
45,822
-
120,148
63,268
3,647
60,292
-
127,207

----- Start of picture text -----
General Fund Designated Restricted Endowment Totals 2023 Totals 2022
(Unrestricted) Funds Funds Funds
Notes to the (Unrestricted)
Accounts £ £ £ £ £ £
Fixed Assets
Church building and other property 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000
Investment properties 575,000 575,000 575,000
Investments -
Total fixed assets 2,575,000 - - - 2,575,000 2,575,000
Current Assets
Debtors and prepayments 48,290 5,396 53,686 37,185
Loans by the Churches - -
Investments with TMCP - -
Central Finance Board Deposits - 159 21,173 21,332 44,076
Cash at Bank and in hand - 6,270 3,790 26,515 24,035 55,700
Total current assets 42,020 3,949 53,084 - 99,053 136,961
Current liabilities
Creditors (due in under 1 year) 2,987 2,987 9,754
Grants payable within 2018-19 - -
Total current liabilities 2,987 - - - 2,987 9,754
Net current assets/liabilities 39,033 3,949 53,084 - 96,066 127,207
Total assets less current liabilities 2,614,033 3,949 53,084 - 2,671,066 2,702,207
Long term liabilities
(due after more than one year)
Grants payable after 2018-19 - -
Loans to the Church - -
- -
Net assets 2,614,033 3,949 53,084 - 2,671,066 2,702,207
Funds of the Church
General Fund (Unrestricted) 2,614,033 2,614,033 2,638,266
Designated Funds (Unrestricted) 3,949 3,949 3,648
Total Unrestricted Funds 2,617,982 2,641,914
Restricted Funds 53,084 53,084 60,293
Endowment Funds - -
Total Funds 2,614,033 3,949 53,084 - 2,671,066 2,702,207
----- End of picture text -----

Signed

Church Treasurer

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 2022 deemed values, with reference to estimated resale value as vacant possession. 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 2023 there are no capital commitments.

No Contingent liabilities were identified at 31st August 2023.

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	2022/23 £ 3,606 3,208 5,697 1,117	2021/22 £ 564 5,998 2,956 3,606

9 Tangible Fixed Assets Cost or valuation

Balance brought forward Additions Revaluations (+/-) Disposals (-) Transfers * (+/-) Balance carried forward	Main church premises Residential investment property Fixtures, fittings and equipment Total £ £ £ £ 2,000,000 575,000 - 2,575,000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2,000,000 575,000 - 2,575,000

Accumulated depreciation

Accumulated depreciation
Balance brought forward	-	-	-	-
Depreciation charge for year (-)	-	-	-	-
Revaluations (+/-)	-	-		-
Disposals (-)	-	-		-
Transfers* (+/-)	-	-		-
Balance carried forward	-	-	-	-
Net book value
Brought forward	2,000,000	575,000	-	2,575,000
Carried forward	2,000,000	575,000	-	2,575,000

10 Loans

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

11 Analysis of funds 2022-23

----- Start of picture text -----
Incoming Resources Closing
Fund Name Opening Balance Transfers
Resources Expended Balance
Restricted Funds
Benevolent Fund 442 3 445
Cornerstone Project 4,365 6,000 5,719 4,646
Lay Worker Fund 55,486 5,228 12,721 47,993
Total Restricted 60,293 11,231 18,440 - 53,084
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund 23,479 114,273 149,128 19,505 8,129
Major Repair Fund 18,493 144 - 8,546 10,091
Organ Repair Fund 6,294 359 840 5,813
Investment Property Maintenance Fund 15,000 10,959 - 10,959 15,000
Internal Organisations 3,648 654 353 3,949
Total Unrestricted 66,914 126,389 150,321 - 42,982
Total Funds 127,207 137,620 168,761 - 96,066
----- End of picture text -----

````Comparative analysis of restricted and designated funds 2021-22

Fund Name	Opening Balance	Incoming Resources	Resources Expended	Transfers		Closing Balance
Restricted Funds
Benevolent Fund	442					442
Cornerstone Project	-	8,235	3,870			4,365
Lay Worker Fund	45,381	17,658	28,702	21,149		55,486
Total Restricted	45,823	25,893	32,572	21,149		60,293
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund	31,454	125,454	114,657	- 18,772		23,479
Major Repair Fund	18,475	18				18,493
Organ Repair Fund	6,251	43				6,294
Investment Property Maintenance Fund	15,000	9,441	7,064	- 2,377		15,000
Internal Organisations	3,145	756	253			3,648
Total Unrestricted	74,325	135,712	121,974	- 21,149		66,914

Total Funds	120,148	161,605	154,546		-	127,207

Name of Church: Marlborough Road Methodist Church No: 34/13 Name of Church: Marlborough Road Methodist Church = No: 34/13

Declarations and Scrutiny Declarations and Scrutiny

I confirm that these accruals-based accounts for the year to 31 August 2023 have been prepared from the records of the Church and | confirm that these accruais-based accounts for the year to 31 August 2023 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees. that they include all funds under the contrat of the9 Church trustees. ; Signature of treasurer ………………………………………… Date…………………….. Signature oftreasurerALELEAL pera Date... 5. {Pnhot 202% Name and address of treasurer …………………………………………………. Name and address oftreasurer moe Be:ay SEOUTyee by ………………………………………………. Post Code……………… BA Pare! SE TT ALBANS Post Code.. AL.'S. SiS Presentation to the Church trustees Presentation to the Church trustees

I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 were/will be presented to the meeting of the | confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 were/wittbe presented to the meeting of the Church Church trustees held on …………….. trustees held on 43D2 fapeey

Signature of the Chair of the meeting ………………………………………………… Signature of the Chair of the meeting. RMS Peerseecesececeeeceeeenennens Name of the Chair of the meeting ………………………………… Date …………………… Name of the Chair of the meeting «ess . Darrrd Youn date lS. | afoee.

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the Independent Examiner's Renort to the Trustees of the

Marlborough Road Methodist Church Marlborough Road Methodist Church

Charity Number 1128694 Charity Number 1128634

Responsibilities and basis of report Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Marlborough Road Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2023 Treport fo the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Marlborough Road Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 7023 set out on pages … to …. As the Church’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the set out on pages requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). requiremenis of the“4 Charitiesto “. As Act the 2071 Church's(‘the trustees, Act). youare responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accardance with the

I report in respect of my examination of the Church’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my [report in respect of my examination of the Church's accounts carried oui under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying oui my

examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. examination, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. * delete or circle as appropriate * delete or circle as appropriate

Name of Church: Marlborough Road Methodist Church No: 34/13 Name of Church: Marlborough Road Methodist Church No: 34/13

independent Independent Examiner’s Statement Examiner's Statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination i have compieted my examination. | confirrn that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below*) which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect: (other than that disclosed below") which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

«  the the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act: or

=  the the accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or

e  the the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the accounts de not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view, (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view, which is nota matter considered as part of an independent examination which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination e  the the trustees’ annual report is not consistent with the accounts trustees’ annual report is not consistent with the accounts

i have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order {o enable a praper understanding of the accounts ¢e be reached. this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

| have/have-net obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other I have/have not* obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance d of the Methadist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of thousand pounds) at the balence sheet date. £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner ..,....4...00.0...8 are eee apr Name Signature of independent examiner ……………………………………………………… of independent examiner cb Roki Son Name of independent examiner ………………………………………………………… Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ALcA peteaeeerees : Address Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ……………………………… SHARMA DELL wernt rns Address ………………………………………………………………………………………… AAT So Post Code Atb o&E Date …………………………………………………………… Post Code ………………Date ………………………………………… colt LB pe cs

CHURCH ACCRUALS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

Marlborough Road Methodist Church

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 Aug 2023

	FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 Aug 2023
	St Albans & Welwyn Circuit		Circuit No. 34/13

Registered Charity - Charity Registration number				1128694

If not a registered charity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift		Aid
number

Minister:

Reverend Daniel Jervis

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 2023

Name of Church

Circuit No 34/13

Marlborough Road Methodist Church

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2022

Signed

Church Treasurer

Notes to the Accounts

1 Basis of accounting

2 Funds

3 Accounting policies

Basis

Incoming Resources

Resources Expended

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.

Debtors and Prepayments

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

Creditors

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 2023 there are no capital commitments.

No Contingent liabilities were identified at 31st August 2023.

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	2022/23 £ 3,606 3,208 5,697 1,117	2021/22 £ 564 5,998 2,956 3,606

9 Tangible Fixed Assets Cost or valuation

Balance brought forward Additions Revaluations (+/-) Disposals (-) Transfers * (+/-) Balance carried forward	Main church premises Residential investment property Fixtures, fittings and equipment Total £ £ £ £ 2,000,000 575,000 - 2,575,000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2,000,000 575,000 - 2,575,000

Accumulated depreciation

Accumulated depreciation
Balance brought forward	-	-	-	-
Depreciation charge for year (-)	-	-	-	-
Revaluations (+/-)	-	-		-
Disposals (-)	-	-		-
Transfers* (+/-)	-	-		-
Balance carried forward	-	-	-	-
Net book value
Brought forward	2,000,000	575,000	-	2,575,000
Carried forward	2,000,000	575,000	-	2,575,000

10 Loans

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

11 Analysis of funds 2022-23

````Comparative analysis of restricted and designated funds 2021-22

Fund Name	Opening Balance	Incoming Resources	Resources Expended	Transfers		Closing Balance
Restricted Funds
Benevolent Fund	442					442
Cornerstone Project	-	8,235	3,870			4,365
Lay Worker Fund	45,381	17,658	28,702	21,149		55,486
Total Restricted	45,823	25,893	32,572	21,149		60,293
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund	31,454	125,454	114,657	- 18,772		23,479
Major Repair Fund	18,475	18				18,493
Organ Repair Fund	6,251	43				6,294
Investment Property Maintenance Fund	15,000	9,441	7,064	- 2,377		15,000
Internal Organisations	3,145	756	253			3,648
Total Unrestricted	74,325	135,712	121,974	- 21,149		66,914

Total Funds	120,148	161,605	154,546		-	127,207

Name of Church: Marlborough Road Methodist Church No: 34/13 Name of Church: Marlborough Road Methodist Church = No: 34/13

Declarations and Scrutiny Declarations and Scrutiny

Signature of the Chair of the meeting ………………………………………………… Signature of the Chair of the meeting. RMS Peerseecesececeeeceeeenennens Name of the Chair of the meeting ………………………………… Date …………………… Name of the Chair of the meeting «ess . Darrrd Youn date lS. | afoee.

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the Independent Examiner's Renort to the Trustees of the

Marlborough Road Methodist Church Marlborough Road Methodist Church

Charity Number 1128694 Charity Number 1128634

Responsibilities and basis of report Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Marlborough Road Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2023 Treport fo the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Marlborough Road Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 7023 set out on pages … to …. As the Church’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the set out on pages requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). requiremenis of the“4 Charitiesto “. As Act the 2071 Church's(‘the trustees, Act). youare responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accardance with the

I report in respect of my examination of the Church’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my [report in respect of my examination of the Church's accounts carried oui under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying oui my

examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. examination, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. * delete or circle as appropriate * delete or circle as appropriate

Name of Church: Marlborough Road Methodist Church No: 34/13 Name of Church: Marlborough Road Methodist Church No: 34/13

independent Independent Examiner’s Statement Examiner's Statement

«  the the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act: or

=  the the accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or

e  the the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the accounts de not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view, (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view, which is nota matter considered as part of an independent examination which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination e  the the trustees’ annual report is not consistent with the accounts trustees’ annual report is not consistent with the accounts