## **CHRISTCHURCH METHODIST CHURCH** ## **Trustees Report and Financial Report** ## **1[st] September 2023 – 31[st] August 2024.** ## **Charity Number 1129001** Aims and Purposes Christchurch Methodist Church Council (CMCC) has the responsibility of working with the Loughborough Circuit Ministry Team; the Reverends Karen Beecham, Martin Swan, Sandra Marshall and Calvin Chung to promote the whole mission of the Church and manage the pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical work of the Church. Rev. Martin Swan has a part time appointment to work with Christchurch specifically for all pastoral and ecumenical work at the church. CMCC is specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church buildings known as Christchurch Methodist Church, Field Street, Shepshed, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 9AL. ## Objectives and Activities The Church Council is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church, and to become part of our church community. The CMCC maintains an overview of worship in the church and ensures that this worship is relevant to all sections of our community. When planning our activities for the year the Minister and the CMCC have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our church community through: - Worship and prayer, learning about the Gospel, and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus - Provision of pastoral care for people living in Shepshed, who are members of our community - Missionary and outreach work. To ensure all of this can happen we need to maintain the fabric of the Church buildings. ## Achievements – Serving our community Based in the heart of the town the CMCC work to ensuring that our buildings are available to all community groups, and we reach out to provide a welcoming space for the community to gather. On a Tuesday morning a Singing Café provides an opportunity for vulnerable adults, including those with dementia, to sing and remember past experiences in a comfortable supportive environment. On a Wednesday a community outreach project called Chat and Chomp is provided to offer a **2** warm space, coffee, and a free meal to the community. During the colder months this group helps people to stay warm and fed. On Friday mornings, Church members provide an open coffee morning at which residents of the town can pop in for a chat, a cup of coffee and a piece of home-made cake. These coffee mornings help to keep people in touch and offer a chance for meeting friends from the town. In addition the following community groups use the premises: - 6th Shepshed Guides - Shepshed Brownies - Christchurch Gilbert and Sullivan Group - Knit and Natter - ACT 1 Youth Theatre Group - Chera Voce - Slimming World - Shepshed Dance classes - Serenade Ladies Choir - Senior Choir - Shepshed Craft Group - Christchurch Writers Group - Shepshed Seniors Club Church members can also use the premises for celebrations with family and friends, for Birthdays, Wedding Anniversaries, and personal celebrations. Pastoral Care Many our Church members are no longer actively able to attend church due to ill health or advancing years. We maintain a weekly electronic service sheet to keep members in touch with the church community and avoid them feeling isolated and lonely and this has been a help to members who have moved away or moved into supported accommodation. Our members have felt that it was helpful for people to keep in touch with friends within the church. In addition, church members in need of visiting, in either times of distress or loss are visited by the Minister as required. Our minister Rev. Martin Swan also has a pastoral role now in the town and is active in engaging with our community on pastoral matters. Pastoral lay visitors visit those in need and a prayer chain is in place to support those within the Church family to pray for those in need. Even when members are isolated, the prayer chain helps them to remain in touch and care for the pastoral needs of others. The Church also regularly collects food to support the food bank in the town and members volunteer there. **3** ## Worship Worship normally takes place on a Sunday morning at 10.45 am these are led by either the Ministers from within the circuit or Lay Preachers, and Local Arrangement services occur once a month led by the Stewards. On the third Sunday of the month a ‘Something Different’ service is held in the morning, with an evening service being held on that evening. Christchurch is a member of Churches Together in Shepshed (CTIS) and works with the other churches and denominations within the town on various ecumenical projects including Learning in Lent, the Easter Walk of Witness and the Remembrance Parade and Service. Together we support the Passion youth drop-in Centre, which engages young people in the town and provides a safe place, keeping young people off the streets. Members from Christchurch regularly attend circuit services where Methodists from around the circuit can gather and worship together, these are hosted by different churches within the circuit. Members who are not able to attend church are able to follow worship online with the Circuit every Sunday. Once a month Connected Worship takes place at Christchurch on a Saturday evening with preachers, worship leaders, and worshipers coming from different denominations within Shepshed. ## A building fit for the Community A quinquennial inspection of the property took place in 2021 and recommendations for repairs and work to be carried out over the next 5 years have been received. The trustees have undertaken some key work identified and are working through the list for other items. In this financial period major work was undertake on the flooring in the back rooms which had to be dug up down to the sub floor level, a new sub floor was installed and then new flooring installed. This was to make safe areas of the flooring which were rising and causing an uneven surface for walking on. This work cost just over £12000 to complete. **4** ## Financial Review and Reserves For the period covered by this report the income on our unrestricted fund was £53300. During this period, we paid £34000 to the Loughborough Circuit as our proportion of the circuit share for ministerial costs, £15700 on building maintenance (including the £12000 for the floor) and other church expenditure amounted to £11900. This expenditure includes donations to other charities or organisations of £1200. Full details are given in the financial statements that were approved and signed by Church council in October 2024. N.B. All accounts figures rounded to the nearest £100 in this report. These figures show a small increase in giving from regular members but also show a 23% rise in costs for electricity and gas. The Church Council is aware of a risk to our income from loss of regular contributors and income from church donors has steadily reduced as church members have passed away. Christchurch has always endeavored to hold a reasonable of level of reserves, ideally at £25,000 although this has not often been possible. However, the legacies and the levels of reserves held at present mean that the trustees have confidence that whilst we had a negative budget in 23-24 we will have sufficient reserves to cover this. However, the long-term future of the church will rely on either additional income being generated, or expenditure being reduced. The potential for income being generated from additional lettings, is not high given that the Church is let every evening of the week. The only potential lettings would be during the daytime which is far less popular. The Church has a fixed energy contract for Gas which will expire within the next 2 years, and our electricity prices are fixed for the next few years, so these costs can be predicted. One issue facing us is the aging congregation are no longer able to maintain the level of cleaning of the premises that once took place, and therefore our cleaning contract costs will increase as this work needs to be paid for in the future. **5** ## Administrative Information Christchurch Methodist Church is in Shepshed, Leicestershire and is part of the Loughborough Methodist Circuit. This forms part of the Leicester and Northampton District. Church Council members and trustees for the period of this report were: |hurch Council members and|trustees for the per| |---|---| |Circuit Superintendent Minister|Rev Karen Beecham| |Circuit Minister|Rev Martin Swan| |Steward|Lorraine Cutts| |Steward|Jane Dobson| |Steward|Steve Price| |Steward|Gladys Watret| |Steward|Rosemary Grimley| |Church Treasurer|Dawn Scott| |Assistant Treasurer|Lorraine Cutts| |Church Secretary|Ian Scott| |Safeguarding representative|The Minister| |Elected from AGM|Katie Brooks-Duncan| ||Cynthia Popley| ||Alan Hobson| ||Lynn Hobson| |Circuit Steward|Bryan Harrison| The administrative address for the church is: Field Street, Shepshed, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 9AL The Church Council meets quarterly to discuss and approve church business and the trustees and members are elected yearly at the Church Annual General Meeting held in May or June. Authority may be delegated to subcommittees formed at the wish of the Church Council. Report produced by Dawn Scott on behalf of Christchurch Methodist Church Council **6** CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OFACCOUNTS Christchurch Methodlst Church She shed FOR THE YEAR ENDED Saturday 31 August 2024 Lou hborou Clrcult Circult no. 23110 Reglstered Charfty . Chartty Roglstratlon numb•r 1129001 not a register8d charty HIS Majestys Revenue and Customs Glft Ald number (The HMRC number is equNalent to a regist8r8d charty number terrrts of ev•Jence of charitable status and may be us8d to gN8 to donors Of grant funders w￿hIng to see evidence of the organiSat￿n'S Charitab￿ status. Methodist charl(￿S in England and Wa￿S th8t are not regkstered charrtps ar& exc8Pt8d from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) Mntster.. Rev. Martn Swan Church Stewards". Mrs L(xraine Cutts Mrs Jane Dobson Mrs Rosemary Grnnby Mrs v￿tOrIa Merr Mr Steve Pr￿8 Mrs Gtsdys Watret Treasurer.. Mrs Dawn Scott Church48Cgipts-and-payThents-2024 AJT.x15 1 of5 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Chrlstchurch Methodist Church Shepshed IthT•¥trlct•d Pastrlci•d T￿1• tlls SECTION A Mr 81 RECEIPTS a2 Offerin s Èntj Tax r8CXJV8rnd Bank and CFB knt8rest and Investrnent knco 04 L8ttn 85 Other rece Is TOTAL RECEIPTS 53.297 53,297 a7 49,892 SECTION b1 PAYMENTS b2 cwcU￿ AsseSSr￿nt or Share 34.025 b3 Donatlons Re air5 and M8int8nan¢e UtS1illes Iln8urances. water eharyes, htth 15.734 b5 b8 b7 Other TOTAL PAYMENTS rrent5 b8 61,608 81,606 (b91 47,848 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR c1 •6 Total fvnds brought lorwar¢l frDm last year c6 Sub total e1+c2 TBnsf&TS and ad. strrents e7 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR {c3+c4 36.262 4.834 41.096 1¢81 49,405 Ic61 SECTION O FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS th•¥• amounts ar• not to b• Includ•d In lotal r•c•l m•nts 11 •$ abov• d1 8alanc8 brou ht forw8rd frDm *$t ar ¢J2 Offerkn slGffts- rnCe￿d for 8Xtemal o an￿t￿nS Offerkn &Gfft¥ - BS88d to extemal an￿8th)n$ d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID d1 +d2-d3 2of5 Christhurth M&tfv)dlst Church Sh shod secnoN E ol Chuth aLfOuntslot m* >¢ar 51 ZOZ4 Inlornal C>T•n¢aI￿￿$ to th• MB•tMg NDt¢ that tho lun4Sol a *y)ukY nomAty Pjstr(￿ funtrs b• IhryvJukJ bv u*d IDr•ny PUWDSB. Th¢ DIFFEREW FORM D• ul•d lo rnport 4cwunb Iw M•thoo81 g DJafi(• ThoMJ r•garfno IAnJt•ryJ th$ Ind wnnedod Op•nifiQ Da*ni•$ IPITEFIIUL OR¢ANI•ATK9NS P4￿ftty Trnl¢*r4rt 52 S￿) Iowi ￿ Inwmai luftds 52 52 bro4htfpw•vd p•p 2. 1¢71 ¢6 41 TOTAL CASH FUHDS HELO BY 53&97 n•cessary and brhi9 th• TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL PAY*ins SEenoN F OPEtrIIMG CLOSING CHIIRCH.CA8H FUIOS h In hand 100 Ban an*D A￿UnI Cefttrai Fin4n¢ Trustèog lor Mfrinooi￿ Chuth Pu J•s SU• TOT*L.CNrGh 41 Tol•l fund3 oy lffllerngiopJon•J1￿￿I O*• d•na S2 TOT*L CAOH FiWIOS HELD BY CHURCH SECT￿￿ G 31 2024 R ASS TSAnd U* udo EndOI¥TpiiTrnly L¥nd a noits M In￿ra￿L* ¥aiu• O*h•rAA LO*n •r•nd omer M IncW• only •1 tho C•nlrnl IS ItlCbJd• only Fundl al TN**•*lor M•thodql Chuth Purpo• 91 InCknd• ahy0th•rinw*y￿ts In￿ •bn•rrt4ThKp fnJgts•f•>xrrt•thii • ¥l• Jds Nam8 ol Church.. Christ¢hur¢tt Methodist Church Shepshed No.: 1129001 Declarations and Scrutiny I conflrm that ihese Rec8iPtand Payment based 8ccount8forthe ￿art9 31 August2024 have been prepared from the records ofthe Church and that U)ey include all fjjnds under the Control of the Chur trustees. Signature of treasurer .... /7//0/S* Name and address oftr8asur8r......... 21 F*kl Awnu•, Slwpthed. Loughborough . Postcode......... LE129SH Proaontatlon to the Church trust••• I conffim thatthe annual report8nd a¢xountsbrthe yearended 31 Augusl2024 We￿h•111 be. pr&sented the meeting ofthe Churth twstees held on ....... Signature of Ihe Chair of the m8ebng Nam8 ofth6 Chairofthe ￿eth'n9 Independent Examlnerfs Report to the Trustees of the Chrf8t¢hurch Methodl8t Church Shepshed Charly Number 1129001 R•sponslbllltle8 and basls of roport I reportto the trugtèes on my examination ofthe accounts of ch￿StChurCh Methodistchurch Shepshed for the year &nded 31 August 2024 sal out on pages 2 to 3. As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for the prepara￿On ofth8 accounts in acwrdanc* with the requirements ofthe Charib'esAc120111'lhe Adl. I reportin respectofmy examination oflh& Church's acthunts carried outunderseclion 145 ofthe Actand, In carying out my ex8minalion. I have followed all tre applicable DireLXions given by the Chanty Commission under sec*on 145(5)Ibl ofthe ACL . delete or orde as appropriat& 4015 Name of Church.. Christchurch Melhodist Church Shepshed No.: 1129001 Indep•ndent Examiner's Statement I have completed my examination. I ￿nfirn thatno material matter5 have come to my att8ntion in connection with th8 examination which give me cause to believ8 that in. any material respect. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 ofthe A¢ or the accounts do not accord with the ac￿Unts.ng re￿rds. I have no concems and have Come auoss no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order ID enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. I have not obtained independentverification ofall investrnents with the Trustees for Methodist Churd) Purposes or h8ld in other trusts. bank balan￿S and funds at the Central Finance Board ofthe Meihodist Church which are individually in eX￿$S of£10.000 (tén thousand pounds) atthe balance sheetdate. Signature of ind8P@ndent examiner Name of independent examiner: Andrew Thorpe R8levant profession81 qualification of independentexaminer: ACA Name of fimi (wher8 appropriate).. NIA Address: 52 Priory Road, Loughborough, L8iC8St8rshire. LE113PP Date Churchryre¢%iplsvand*aymnts-2024 A￿.X[S 5of5