== ELBURTON METHODIST CHURCH ~~ON nnee~~ Charity number 1128726
Springfield Road, Elburton, Plymouth, Devon PL9 8PR
Annual Church Report
1[st] September 2020 – 31[st] August 2021
Minister: Reverend Andy Chislett-MacDonald
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Administrative information required by the Charity Commission
Elburton Methodist Church
The Church was registered with the Charity Commission on 23[rd] March 2009.
The correspondence address is:
Elburton Methodist Church, Springfield Road, Elburton, Plymouth, Devon PL9 8PR Correspondence should be addressed to the Minister - Revd Simon Leigh
The Managing Trustees are the Members of Church Council. The Trustees in March 2021numbered 26 and were: -
| 2021numbered 26 and were: - | ||
|---|---|---|
| MrsDeniseAvent | Mr DavidFinemore | MrsDiSmart |
| Mrs Carol Batchelor | Mrs SheilaHadley | MrsPatricia Stringer |
| Mr Tom Biss | MrsBarbara Jeffery | Mrs Jennifer Tomlinson |
| MrsHelenCarhart | Mr Tristan Merrifield | Mrs Jenny Weymouth |
| RevA. Chislett-MacDonald | MrJohnNorthcott | MrsBrendaYoungs |
| MrsMavis Clooke | MrsRosemaryPalmer | RevdDavidYoungs |
| MrsElizabethColeman | MrsMargaretPassmore | |
| Mrs Jean Davies | MrsDoreen Pope | |
| Mrs JuneDinner | MrsMaureen Richardson | |
| Mr RobertFaulkner | Mr Tony Sleep |
Number of Church Members in March 2021 was 84
Reserves Policy
The Development Fund is held towards impending improvements of the building and outreach work. In the General Fund we aim to hold a reserve of six months running costs in accordance with recommended guidelines.
Safeguarding Policy
Elburton Methodist Church has an updated Safeguarding Policy, which is reviewed annually.
Dated June 2022
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CONTENTS
List of Trustees
Elburton Methodist Church Policy
Treasurer’s Report
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Elburton Methodist Church Policy
The General Church Meeting, at the request of the Church Council, agreed that the Church Policy for Elburton Methodist Church should be based on the reports submitted to that by the Organisations. The prime goal of the Church should be to promote the work of Christ in the area of Plymstock and through the Methodist Connexion and that this should be guided by our mission statement:
To Love God
To Love People
To Make Disciples
In accordance with the Policy of the Plymouth and Devonport Circuit of the Methodist Church this should include:
Worship : which should
Be God centred and Spirit led. Relevant, welcoming and of good quality. Include opportunities for different styles in a flexible worship space. Be appropriate to the immediate needs of the Church. Give opportunity for people to participate.
Learning : through
Encouraging people to develop their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Providing opportunities for Bible Study, Fellowship, House Groups and Prayer. Encouraging people to attend training courses at Local, National or Ecumenical level.
Caring : involves
Pastoral Care for all those connected to the Church.
Encouraging community involvement. Supporting the Housebound Being available at the vulnerable moments in life.
Service :
Encouraging people to use and develop their skills. Responsible giving. Supporting Christians in community projects (e.g. Lunches) Advocating justice in the community and the world. Promoting Fair Trade
Evangelism :
Encourage the sharing of the good news with all. Support new Disciples especially the young people.
Provide a warm welcome and love for all those who enter the Church, and at Baptism, weddings and Funerals.
Revised 15[th] October 2007
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ANNUAL REPORT
The church report for September 2020 to August 2021 is very different from previous reports due to being closed, apart from three weeks in December until May 23[rd] 2021. No clubs or organisations met until September 2021.
We welcomed our new Minister, Rev’d Andy Chislett-Macdonald, in September, via zoom, email and phone calls. Due to changes in the Circuit, he remained with us only until August 2020 when Rev’d Darren Middleton took responsibility for Elburton.
Being closed did not mean there was no worship or contact between members.
Pastoral Visitors kept in contact with their contacts by phone calls and when permitted in open air, socially distanced meetings. This team is very ably led by Margaret Passmore, who probably did more than her fair share of contact keeping.
Our Property Steward, John Northcott, and Minor Maintenance Team Leader, Tony Sleep, visited the premises weekly to comply with Insurance requirements. After lockdown, the Team met as usual, monthly, to keep the church in good repair. We are very grateful to this team and their commitment to keeping the premises in good repair.
In September, we took out 2 Zoom licences, which enabled services to be offered morning and evening. These were much appreciated by those who were willing and able to use zoom. The evening services were particularly appreciated by a lady in a nursing home, and others who were unable to socialise. The fact that preachers were willing to lead worship in this way was greatly appreciated. The morning services continued until May, the evening services until the end of July. It was with some regret that these services finished.
The Church Council met, using zoom, on two occasions. The stewards also used this facility.
‘At Home with Jesus’ continued weekly, reaching out to more than 50 people, some of whom were not Elburton members but who appreciated being able to worship, knowing others were receiving the same message. Many thanks are due to Carol and Graham Batchelor who delivered copies to a number of folk, during their ‘daily exercise’ and to Di Smart who wrote and compiled these mini services. These also came to an end at the end of July.
Four ‘Couriers’ were produced during 2020 and 2021. Many thanks toLiz Coleman and Jean Davies for producing these magazines.
The return to church services was varied. We were limited to 30, with chairs suitably spaced, masks being worn, socially distanced spacing marked out and hand sanitisers available. Many found not being able to sing difficult and socialising after the service was, of course, very limited.
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When it was permitted a small choir was formed, who were able to sing without masks, which greatly added to our worship. We were fortunate that all our planned preachers were willing to lead worship and those able to attend appreciated the opportunity to worship with others.
Some contact was maintained with JaM [Junior Church] and Messy Church with craft packages being made available to those who wished to collect them.
In December 2020 we made contact with the local primary school in response to the difficulty families, who usually received free school meals, were experiencing during the school holidays. 30 families were identified by the school and food parcels were made up for these families. We were greatly assisted in this scheme by the local Co-op. Treats in the form of knitted mini-stockings, filled with sweets were also included. Christmas cards were given to each family.
None of our other activities started again until September. Methodist Women in Britain was one of the first to start. The only Lunch Club still running did not re-start until February 2022, partly due to the need for a new cooker, and finding a team to help, as some helpers were no longer able to do so.
The Uniform organisations did not return until September, and then in a limited way, due to instructions from their Organisations.
As can be seen from our Financial Report, we remain financially healthy and pray that with the return to most activities, new plans for the future, Elburton Methodist Community Church will continue to thrive. Our Treasurer, Bob Faulkner resigned with effect from 31[st] August 2021, as did David Finemore as Gift Aid Secretary. At the time of the report replacements were being sought.
TREASURER’S REPORT
A copy of accounts is attached, which have been reviewed by an Independent Examiner. The closure of the church and its related activities for most the year has had a noticeable effect on our finances, as shown by the accounts.
Last year, to 31 August 2020, there was an excess of income over expenditure of £6,419; in the latest accounts, to 31 August 2021, there is an excess of expenses over income of £10,719 a drop in net income for the year of £17,138.
This figure does include three substantial items: the purchase of the clavinova £4,171 , new windows and doors, £2,860 and a new boiler, £2,820 – totalling £9,851 all of which are nonrecurring.
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Our offerings and gift aid tax refund amounted to £32,365, down from £44,562 in the previous year. Many thanks to all who continued their offerings through direct debit, the envelope scheme or by cash. Thanks go to David Finemore for all his work on the Gift Aid.
Lettings were £337 , down from £4,546; there was no fund raising for the church , last year £1,019.
On the positive side legacies/donations increased to £2,950 from £1,325.
On expenses the Circuit assessment of £27,278 was down on last year £30,526 thanks to the waiver by the Circuit, for the second year of one monthly payment £2,479.
Also reduced were property costs £7,449 down from £13,192; administration £2,897 down from £4,328.
For our internal organisations, not meeting during the year has meant income reduced to £588 compared to £8,556 in previous year and for expenses reduced to £331 , from £6,186 in previous year. In the year to 31 August 2021 a total of £1,979 was transferred from internal groups to general funds, this included the balances on hand of four groups that have ceased to meet, Monthly Luncheon Club, Friday Lunch Club, Rainbow Café, and Table Tennis Group, all will be greatly missed,
Overall, though the pandemic has drastically affected both our activities and our finances we are still well blessed with good financial reserves, General - £88,299; Restricted - £2,233 Total Reserves £90,532 .
Prayerfully as things gradually return to “normal,” though who is to say what is normal, with our new minister, Darren – welcome, we can look forward to growth and the positive use of those reserves.
Bob Faulkner October 2021
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Elburton Methodist Church
Receipts and Payments - Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021
| Note Receipts Collections excluding Gift Aid 2 Tax recovered under Gift Aid 3 Legacies/Donations 4 Property Lettings 5 Interest and Investment Income 6 Fund Raising 7 Other receipts 8 Internal Organisations 18 Sub Total General Funds Collections for External Organisations Total Receipts Payments Circuit Assessment Property Costs Church Repairs and Maintenance Cleaning and Hygeine Insurance Utilities Administration 11 Donations-Methodist 13 Donations Others 13 Fund Raisimng 14 Publicity Other Payments 15 Internal Organisations 18 Sub Total General Funds Capital Expenditure 10 Collections Passed onto External Organsiations 16 Total Payments Net income(Expenditure)for year Transfers from Internal Organisations Total funds in hand at 1st September 2020 Total funds in hand at 31st August 2021 |
2020/21 2019/20 GENERAL RESTRICTED TOTAL £ £ £ £ 25,981 25,981 33,274 6,384 6,384 11,288 _____ _ 32,365 32,365 44,562 2,950 2,950 1,325 337 337 4,546 243 243 398 0 0 1,019 775 595 1,370 1,425 0 588 588 8,556 ___ _____ __ 36,670 1,183 37,853 61,831 0 1,558 1,558 2,628 ______ ______ 36,670 2,741 39,411 64,459 |
|---|---|
| 27,278 27,278 30,526 1,691 1,691 4,197 1,744 1,744 3,383 2,454 2,454 2,451 1,560 1,560 3,161 |
|
| 7,449 7,449 13,192 2,897 2,897 4,328 0 0 0 650 0 37 37 300 0 0 0 100 226 0 226 102 298 205 503 0 0 331 331 6,186 |
|
| 38,148 573 38,721 55,384 7,887 1,964 9,851 0 |
|
| 0 1,558 1,558 2,656 |
|
| 46,035 4,095 50,130 58,040 |
|
| -9,365 -1,354 -10,719 6,419 1,979 -1,979 0 0 95,685 5,566 101,251 94,832 88,299 2,233 90,532 101,251 |
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EL8URTON METHODIST CHURCH REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 Respective respon$lbllttles of tN5tees and examlner As the tharily's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts,. you consider that the audit requiremènt of section 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe 2011 Actl doe5 not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts (under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and to state on the ba515 of procedures speafied in the General Directions given by the Charfty Comm15sioner5 under sèction 14515llbl of the 2011 Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Ba515 of independent examiner< report My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the CharStv Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting rècords kept by the charity and comparison of the accounts prèsentèd with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in thè accounts, and seeking explanations for you as trustees ¢on¢ernin8 any such matter5. The procedures undertaken do not providè all the evidence that would be required In an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examlnérfs statement In Connection with my exarnination, no matter has come to my attentlon:_ which gives me rèasonable cause to believe that in any materials respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with Sèttlon 130 of the 2011 Act and; to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to tomply wlth the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met.. or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Best Accountancy Services 12 Colebrook Road Plympton Plymouth PL7 4AA mouth) Ltd