Marlborough Road Methodist Church
Registered Charity No 1128694
Trustees Annual Report for year ending August 2024
The Methodist Church Marlborough Road St Albans AL1 3XG
Reference Information and Administration
The managing trustees
Trustee name Office (if any)
- 1 Revd J Daniel Yovan Chair, Presbyter St Albans section 2 Deacon Nigel Perrott Deacon (Cornerstone House) 3 Ann Scorer Church Steward 4 Janis Gilbert Church Steward 5 Idy Osibodu Church Steward 6 Marjorie Wilson Church Steward 7 Paul Bates Church Steward 8 Maggie Dodd Church Steward 9 Carl Meredith Treasurer 10 Judith Head Pastoral Co-ordinator 11 Rona Wightman Secretary to Church Council 12 Frances Bates Representative from General Church Meeting 13 Andrew Johnstone Representative from General Church Meeting 14 Erma Profit Representative from General Church Meeting 15 Jenny Evers Pastoral Visitors’ Representative 16 Di Churcher Pastoral Visitors’ Representative 17 Ian Gilbert Senior Property Steward
Dates acted if not for whole year
To April 2024
From April 2024
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 (weekly) public acts of worship, open to members of the church and non-members alike.
Pastoral work includes visiting the sick, frail or housebound and those 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.
This year we started a monthly ‘Saturday Club’ for primary age children, an afternoon of activities and snacks.
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, our deacon, the Anna Chaplain, and administrative staff provided by the circuit. During this year we have used a contractor to provide lettings management.
Achievements and Performance 2023-24
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!
Church and Circuit Resources
This year we welcomed our new presbyter, Revd Daniel Yovan. Daniel has charge of both Methodist congregations in the St Albans section.
The picture shows (left to right):
Revd David Jebb, Superintendent & Hertsmere section;
Revd David Chapman, Beds, Essex & Herts District Chair;
Revd Daniel Yovan, St Albans section Revd Rosemary Mutopo, Welhat section Deacon Nigel Perrot, Cornerstone House.
Alan Sharp was presented with a certificate marking his 60 years as a Local Preacher at the Local Preachers and Worship Leaders meeting in September. In August he was celebrated by ArtServe for 64 years of church organ playing fr both the Methodist Church and Anglican Churches in London and Hertfordshire.
We continue to appreciate the support and missional work of Nigel Perrott, the Circuit Deacon, based in the St Albans section. Nigel works out of Cornerstone House in Salisbury Village on the western side of Hatfield, where he is carrying out mission work on the estate, as well as supporting the two St Albans Methodist congregations.
Our Anna Chaplain continues to expand the work of Anna Chaplaincy locally as well as serving and supporting the local older community.
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 help deliver our mission. Our finances are also affected as older donors die or move away to be with family. This year the number of members dropped below 100. However, we do have children and younger people in the congregation, and four of them became church members this year.
We are very grateful to all the volunteers undertaking tasks and roles, especially to our church stewards who oversee Sunday worship and other church activities and the property team who oversee the maintenance of our late Victorian premises..
Living and worshipping still affected after the pandemic
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 and its consequences and through long-lasting effects on our way of life.
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 sheet.
Worship
For much of the year our worship was shared with 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 was undergoing a major renovation, mainly to deal with problems arising from the Victorian refurbishment. The two congregations shared Sunday morning worship at Marlborough Road from 30 July 2023 to 28 April 2024.
Our services were enhanced by the larger numbers and by the organist and choir of St Peter’s. Additional clergy not only spread the preaching load, it enabled more regular Junior Church sessions. Spending more time together has enriched our already solid relationship.
We were already grateful to two Lay Readers from St Peter’s who regularly lead worship at Marlborough Road. There are several special services each year which are established as united services held at one or other of the churches – the Covenant Service in January, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Aldersgate Sunday and St Peter’s Patronal Festival. This pattern will continue following the shared worship period.
Once St Peter’s had returned to their refurbished building our stewards have been trying out different worship styles with our much smaller congregation, particularly in terms of seating layout.
Our joint ministry with St Peter’s to provide a monthly Holy Communion service in three local retirement complexes has continued.
Bible Study
The Bible Study group meets fortnightly in the lounge of the retirement flats across the road from the church.
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 have still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Our 23/24 programme was:
October 2023
Rev Pearl Roper, Pastor New Testament Church of God & Councillor Jennifer Murray ‘The story and legacy of the ‘Windrush’ generation and the challenges that remain’
November 2023
George Woods – Methodist Local Preacher and Chief Business Office St. John’s Ambulance UK ‘Building on a 1000 years of history’
December 2023
Natalie Liley – Local Campaigner
‘Why do we need foodbanks in St Albans area?
February 2024
Rev Peter Crumpler – Retired Anglican Vicar, Background in Journalism and Communications ‘Distinguishing fact from fiction – truth in a modern age’
March 2024
Reverend Daniel Yovan, St Albans Methodist Minister
‘How Christianity came to my village in India, and my call to ministry’
April 2024
Liz Needham – St. Albans for Refugees
‘The reality of a refugee’s experience - How we can help’
May 2024
The Very Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore, Dean of St Albans
‘Saints in Colour’
June 2024
Major Heather Poxon – National Territorial Environment for the Salvation Army ‘Understanding and Tackling the Climate Emergency and building a sustainable future’
Toddlers
This group is highly regarded locally and has been at capacity on several occasions. We do rely on a relatively small number of regular volunteers to keep the doors open.
Children and young people
A new initiative this year has been ‘Club Saturday’, a monthly afternoon of games, crafts and pizza that launched in February 2024. The club is for primary age children, and this provides a next step for ‘toddler families’ as the children get older.
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.
Fellowship Groups
Only two of our four fellowship monthly groups were still running at the end of this year, “St Stephen’s” and the “Readers”. These are opportunities for companionship, mutual support and stimulation discussion. Tuesday Fellowship ceased in January and Marlborough Men ceased regular meetings in March 2024.
Cornerstone House & Diaconal Work
This manse is Deacon Nigel’s base for community work and evangelism on the Salisbury Village estate. 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 is leading us in developing a project to convert our hall to a soft play and community café facility to serve local families and young people. More and more offices are being converted to residential use, so there is a growing need for a community space.
Anna Chaplaincy – spiritual care for older people
A joint initiative by the two St Albans Methodist churches appointed Maggie Dodd to the post of Anna Chaplain in March 2021. She was the first Anna Chaplain in Hertfordshire and the first full-time Anna Chaplain in the country.
The pandemic-delayed Anna Chaplain Commissioning Service took place at MRMC on 22 October 2023 with the Mayor and Mayoress in attendance. The preacher was Debbie Thrower, the founder of Anna Chaplaincy. The delay meant that as well as commissioning Maggie Dodd, two volunteer Anna Chaplains (from St Peter’s and from St Mary’s with St Leonards) were also commissioned and our church member Jane Perrott was commissioned as an Anna Friend.
Group Photograph from Left to Right
Rev Mark Dearnley, Vicar, St Peter’s; Rev Wendy Sellers, Vicar, St Leonard’s, Sandridge; Rev Daniel Yovan, Presbyter, Hatfield Road and Marlborough Road Methodist Churches; Mrs Jane Perrott, MRMC / Cornerstone, Anna Friend;
Mrs Maggie Dodd, Anna Chaplaincy Lead;
Mr Peter Curtis, St Peter’s, Anna Chaplain;
Rev Canon Dr Ruth Goatly, St Mary’s Marshalswick & St Leonards Sandridge & Jersey Farm, Anna Chaplain; Mayor Anthony Rowlands, Mayoress Annie Stevenson, St Albans City and District Council; Debbie Thrower, Anna Chaplaincy Founder and Pioneer
Rev David Jebb, Superintendent, St Albans & Welwyn Methodist Circuit, Methodist Ecumenical Officer for Hertfordshire
Venerable Charles Hudson, Archdeacon of St Albans
St Albans Anna Chaplains lead worship in seven St Albans care homes and one in Hatfield, and connections with local clergy are being made. The worship use the ‘Messy Vintage’ model. A new project being piloted this year is an arts project linking a care home wit a local primary and a local secondary school.
Maggie leads a monthly Afternoon Worship at Hatfield Road Methodist Church and ‘CAMEO’ - a lunch with speaker and / or activity at the Salvation Army, around the corner from MRMC. Both of these involve some optional crafting as well as tea and chat.
The ‘Love to Care Homes’ project this year saw 600 crafted angels made by churches, schools and community groups being delivered to residents just before Christmas.
A new initiative is the Chance to Chat on Mondays at Morrisons supermarket, run with support from Hatfield Road Methodist Church and St Paul’s CofE.
Maggie compiles a directory of activities and support for seniors, twice a year, distributed via churches, libraries and GP surgeries.
Maggie speaks locally and nationally and writes articles for the local newspaper about Anna Chaplaincy and related topics such as digital exclusion of older people.
Holiday at Home
This joint initiative involving MRMC, Hatfield Road MC and St Peter’s was enjoyed by over 60 guests in August. The holiday takes place over four days, two at each of the Methodist churches. The participants were treated to a range of activities: performances by ukulele band, ‘The Jumping Fleas’, a sing-a-long session, craft activities that ranged from ‘bear-hug’ cards to painting and flower arranging, Bingo, seated exercises, Scrabble, Rummikub and quizzes.
The sun shone (mostly!), the welcome was warm, and the food was amazing! Cottage pie, gardeners pie, poached salmon, marmalade chicken, creamy tortellini bake, a range of salads and vegetables, and traditional fish n’ chips. Puddings included pavlova, fruit crumble, sticky toffee pudding, fruit salads, trifle, ice cream, white chocolate cheesecake and lemon tart.
Several guests confided they rarely saw other people or managed to get out and about due to mobility issues, so it was a joy to see their confidence grow and new connections made. It’s hoped a number may be able to attend the weekly Friday Day Care group at Hatfield Road, enabling them to feel less isolated.
Organisations we regularly support
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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.
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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 We are a Partner Church, and each year a different country is featured. For 2024 the featured partner organisation is the Self-Help Initiative For Sustainable Development (SHIFSD) in Liberia
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Christian Aid – the Christian Aid Week house to house collections did not resume. We raised money through collections at church and direct individual donations.
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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.
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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.
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The Living Room – has centres in Hertfordshire, including St Albans, helping people overcome addiction. We hold a retiring collection at the Aldersgate Sunday service in May, one of our joint services with St Peter’s church.
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Methodist Homes – a housing and care charity, we hold a collection on Methodist Homes Sunday.
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. The continued high cost of energy remained a concern. 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.
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.
Our volunteer lettings officer stepped down in the spring, Deacon Nigel filled in while a replacement was sought, he found this helpful in getting to know community users of the premises. However, it is quite an onerous task, and with no volunteer replacement available, we now have a paid Lettings Officer.
We have installed a defibrillator on the outside of the building.
Eco Church
Our June Thinking Lunch is on an environmental theme and is included in the Sustainable St Albans SustFest community programme of events.
Our church is quite well known locally for its recycling efforts and we featured in the Green Christian St Albans display at the SustFest Expo. We are not official collectors but we act as a collection point and then pass materials on to local registered Terracycle collectors. Our recycling station is in the corridor between the church and the hall and includes dental products, crisp and snack packets and coffee pouches.
The picture on the left shows two bales of crisp packets being dropped off (by bicycle) to a local collector.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
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.
Website, Social Media and publications
Our website had a makeover this year, with core content being retained but with a fresh layout and excellent graphics. We are grateful to a church member with graphical design skills and website expertise!
We have two social media accounts, on Twitter[1] and Facebook. We find the former is useful for gathering news and information from national organisations, the latter is more of a local ‘shop window’.
Or bi-monthly church magazine the Marlborough Round ceased publication with the December / January issue when the co-editors stepped down and no replacements came forward.
We are grateful to the volunteers who compile and distribute our weekly Notes .
Inter-Church relations
We have continued to work closely with Hatfield Road Methodist Church, the bonds being strengthened by the Lay Worker 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. We are grateful to the Hatfield Road Safeguarding Officer for now acting also for MRMC. 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!
We continue to value our close relationship with St Peter’s Church of England, which became even closer this year with shared weekly worship for the duration of the St Peter’s refurbishment project.
1 We deactivated our Twitter account in 2025
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.
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.
Our principal sources of funds are voluntary donations, lettings and fund-raising.
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 Trustee
June 2025
CHURCH ACCRUALS ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH
STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
Marlborough Road Methodist Church
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 Aug 2024
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 Aug 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 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 Jervis Daniel Yovan 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 2024
| 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 2023-24 £ £ £ £ £ 70,266 3 70,269 12,294 9,800 22,094 18,129 159 18,288 1,617 8 1,625 39,137 39,137 2,606 2,606 333 333 141,443 2,614 10,295 - 154,352 |
|---|---|
| 74,000 74,000 3,580 5,130 8,710 26,453 26,453 28,364 28,364 - - - 1,701 17,347 19,048 846 846 134,098 846 22,477 - 157,421 |
|
| - - 7,345 1,768 (12,182) - (3,069) - - 7,345 1,768 (12,182) - (3,069) |
|
| 39,034 3,948 53,084 - 96,066 46,379 5,716 40,902 - 92,997 |
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 |
J1.É 41 311 a,117,1 4i2L Yl¥RLD)714
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 2024 there are no capital commitments.
No Contingent liabilities were identified at 31st August 2024.
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 |
2023/24 | 2022/23 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| 1,117 | - | ||
| 1,968 | 3,208 | ||
| 2,118 | 2,091 | ||
| 967 | 1,117 |
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 | 2,000,000 | 575,000 | - | 2,575,000 |
| Additions | - | - | - | - |
| Revaluations(+/-) | - | - | - | - |
| Disposals(-) | - | - | - | - |
| Transfers *(+/-) | - | - | - | - |
| Balance carried forward | 2,000,000 | 575,000 | - | 2,575,000 |
| Accumulated depreciation | Accumulated depreciation | Accumulated depreciation | Accumulated depreciation | Accumulated depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance brought forward | - | - | - | - |
| Depreciation charge foryear(-) | - | - | - | - |
| 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 2023-24
| Fund Name | Opening Balance | Incoming Resources |
Resources Expended |
Transfers | Closing Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Funds | |||||
| Benevolent Fund | 445 | 3 | 150 | 298 | |
| Cornerstone Project | 4,646 | 334 | 4,980 | - | |
| LayWorker Fund | 47,993 | 9,959 | 17,347 | 40,605 | |
| Total Restricted | 53,084 | 10,296 | 22,477 | - | 40,903 |
Unrestricted Funds
| Unrestricted Funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 8,129 | 129,397 | 114,125 | 23,401 | |
| Major Repair Fund | 10,091 | 226 | 10,317 | ||
| Organ Repair Fund | 5,813 | 560 | 6,373 | ||
| Investment PropertyMaintenance Fund | 15,000 | 11,260 | 19,974 | 6,286 | |
| Internal Organisations | 3,949 | 2,613 | 845 | 5,717 | |
| Total Unrestricted | 42,982 | 144,056 | 134,944 | - | 52,094 |
| Total Funds | 96,066 | 154,352 | 157,421 | - | 92,997 |
````Comparative analysis of restricted and designated funds 2022-23
| Fund Name | Opening Balance | Incoming Resources |
Resources Expended |
Transfers | Closing Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Funds | |||||
| Benevolent Fund | 442 | 3 | 445 | ||
| Cornerstone Project | 4,365 | 6,000 | 5,719 | 4,646 | |
| LayWorker 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 PropertyMaintenance 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 |
Doclaratlons and Scrutiny 6) Al•Fl¢owh R(*d M•WIBt Chui¢h
CHURCH ACCRUALS ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH
STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
Marlborough Road Methodist Church
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 Aug 2024
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 Aug 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 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 Jervis Daniel Yovan 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 2024
| 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 2023-24 £ £ £ £ £ 70,266 3 70,269 12,294 9,800 22,094 18,129 159 18,288 1,617 8 1,625 39,137 39,137 2,606 2,606 333 333 141,443 2,614 10,295 - 154,352 |
|---|---|
| 74,000 74,000 3,580 5,130 8,710 26,453 26,453 28,364 28,364 - - - 1,701 17,347 19,048 846 846 134,098 846 22,477 - 157,421 |
|
| - - 7,345 1,768 (12,182) - (3,069) - - 7,345 1,768 (12,182) - (3,069) |
|
| 39,034 3,948 53,084 - 96,066 46,379 5,716 40,902 - 92,997 |
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 |
J1.É 41 311 a,117,1 4i2L Yl¥RLD)714
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 2024 there are no capital commitments.
No Contingent liabilities were identified at 31st August 2024.
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 |
2023/24 | 2022/23 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| 1,117 | - | ||
| 1,968 | 3,208 | ||
| 2,118 | 2,091 | ||
| 967 | 1,117 |
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 | 2,000,000 | 575,000 | - | 2,575,000 |
| Additions | - | - | - | - |
| Revaluations(+/-) | - | - | - | - |
| Disposals(-) | - | - | - | - |
| Transfers *(+/-) | - | - | - | - |
| Balance carried forward | 2,000,000 | 575,000 | - | 2,575,000 |
| Accumulated depreciation | Accumulated depreciation | Accumulated depreciation | Accumulated depreciation | Accumulated depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance brought forward | - | - | - | - |
| Depreciation charge foryear(-) | - | - | - | - |
| 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 2023-24
| Fund Name | Opening Balance | Incoming Resources |
Resources Expended |
Transfers | Closing Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Funds | |||||
| Benevolent Fund | 445 | 3 | 150 | 298 | |
| Cornerstone Project | 4,646 | 334 | 4,980 | - | |
| LayWorker Fund | 47,993 | 9,959 | 17,347 | 40,605 | |
| Total Restricted | 53,084 | 10,296 | 22,477 | - | 40,903 |
Unrestricted Funds
| Unrestricted Funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 8,129 | 129,397 | 114,125 | 23,401 | |
| Major Repair Fund | 10,091 | 226 | 10,317 | ||
| Organ Repair Fund | 5,813 | 560 | 6,373 | ||
| Investment PropertyMaintenance Fund | 15,000 | 11,260 | 19,974 | 6,286 | |
| Internal Organisations | 3,949 | 2,613 | 845 | 5,717 | |
| Total Unrestricted | 42,982 | 144,056 | 134,944 | - | 52,094 |
| Total Funds | 96,066 | 154,352 | 157,421 | - | 92,997 |
````Comparative analysis of restricted and designated funds 2022-23
| Fund Name | Opening Balance | Incoming Resources |
Resources Expended |
Transfers | Closing Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Funds | |||||
| Benevolent Fund | 442 | 3 | 445 | ||
| Cornerstone Project | 4,365 | 6,000 | 5,719 | 4,646 | |
| LayWorker 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 PropertyMaintenance 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 |
Doclaratlons and Scrutiny 6) Al•Fl¢owh R(*d M•WIBt Chui¢h