## HIGH STREET METHODIST CHURCH WITNEY Charity number: 1129034 

## High Street Methodist Church 

40 High Street WITNEY 

OX28 6HG 

## Annual Return: 1 September 2023 – 31 August 2024 

## Trustees 

|Trustees||
|---|---|
|Rev Jason Cooke|Graham Beechey|
|Dr Fraser Campbell Logue|Linda Burbage|
|Rebekah Coleman|Valerie Donogue|
|Margaret Maycock|Janet Buckle|
|Jonathan Miller|Jane Heath|
|Rev Andrew Biggs|Ian Cotton|
|Helen Williamson|Anne Emily Crawford|
|Heather Davies|Keith Early Crawford|



## Structure 

High Street Methodist Church Witney is a member of the Methodist Church UK Connexion. The charity is governed in accordance with the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church. 

## Activities 

The last 12 months (1 September 2023 – 31 August 2024)  have seen the church continue to be a busy hub at the very heart of our community, and we should be proud 



## HIGH STREET METHODIST CHURCH WITNEY Charity number: 1129034 

## High Street Methodist Church 

40 High Street WITNEY 

OX28 6HG 

## Annual Return: 1 September 2023 – 31 August 2024 

## Trustees 

|Trustees||
|---|---|
|Rev Jason Cooke|Graham Beechey|
|Dr Fraser Campbell Logue|Linda Burbage|
|Rebekah Coleman|Valerie Donogue|
|Margaret Maycock|Janet Buckle|
|Jonathan Miller|Jane Heath|
|Rev Andrew Biggs|Ian Cotton|
|Helen Williamson|Anne Emily Crawford|
|Heather Davies|Keith Early Crawford|



## Structure 

High Street Methodist Church Witney is a member of the Methodist Church UK Connexion. The charity is governed in accordance with the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church. 

## Activities 

The last 12 months (1 September 2023 – 31 August 2024)  have seen the church continue to be a busy hub at the very heart of our community, and we should be proud 



of the reputation we have within the town for being a place that is active in making Witney be the best it can be. 

Our worshipping community remains constant in our weekly attendance numbers. Our membership numbers have declined, but this is due to the removal of those who had not been active for a number of years or had moved away, so the reduction in numbers doesn’t display any real term drop off. Our pastoral team continues to provide exceptional care for the church membership, and the church does an excellent job of ensuring that it is a community rooted in love and fellowship. 

Church life continues to be busy and thriving. The church community meal now provides free meals each week to those who either need a good meal or some good company, and the church coffee bar offers free drinks and snacks to anyone who needs them, a provision gratefully accepted by so many in the community with hundreds visiting each week. The Alpha team continues to put on at least two Alpha courses each year, and this is a ministry growing in both numbers and power. In addition to this, we continue to have successful small group ministries, prayer teams, and around 1,000 children attend our church each year to explore Christianity as part of the Experience programme. The church also oversees an Ecumenical Town Centre Chaplaincy team that has almost 20 chaplains now recruited and ministering to the town. Another ministry of note is the Dorcas team, who continue to use ‘craftivism’ to bring hope to the community and to challenge injustice in the world. These are just some of the ministries that are active through High Street Methodist Church. 

The church staff and stewards continue to do an exceptional job of ensuring the day-to-day church activities run well, and just as importantly, that the church building remains one of the busiest buildings in all of Witney. U3A members use the building almost daily, as well as music societies, the horticultural society, the Women’s Institute, weight loss classes, dance classes, and many many more. Three groups that use our building that I wish to make particular note of are Witney Community Fridge and Larder (WFR), Christians Against Poverty (CAP), and Apollos Clothing. These are all housing in the Wesley Centre meaning that this centre has now fulfilled it’s long term vision of being a centre for social justice. WFR provides around 30,000 food collections each year, CAP helps numerous people exit debt as well as running LifeSkills courses, and Apollos is a relatively new charity that offers free clothing to anyone who needs it. 

The annual report is a welcome opportunity that enables us to take a step back and see the large scope of work that takes place in and through the church, and we can truly say that the community would not be the same without us. 

God Bless, 

Rev Jason Cooke 



of the reputation we have within the town for being a place that is active in making Witney be the best it can be. 

Our worshipping community remains constant in our weekly attendance numbers. Our membership numbers have declined, but this is due to the removal of those who had not been active for a number of years or had moved away, so the reduction in numbers doesn’t display any real term drop off. Our pastoral team continues to provide exceptional care for the church membership, and the church does an excellent job of ensuring that it is a community rooted in love and fellowship. 

Church life continues to be busy and thriving. The church community meal now provides free meals each week to those who either need a good meal or some good company, and the church coffee bar offers free drinks and snacks to anyone who needs them, a provision gratefully accepted by so many in the community with hundreds visiting each week. The Alpha team continues to put on at least two Alpha courses each year, and this is a ministry growing in both numbers and power. In addition to this, we continue to have successful small group ministries, prayer teams, and around 1,000 children attend our church each year to explore Christianity as part of the Experience programme. The church also oversees an Ecumenical Town Centre Chaplaincy team that has almost 20 chaplains now recruited and ministering to the town. Another ministry of note is the Dorcas team, who continue to use ‘craftivism’ to bring hope to the community and to challenge injustice in the world. These are just some of the ministries that are active through High Street Methodist Church. 

The church staff and stewards continue to do an exceptional job of ensuring the day-to-day church activities run well, and just as importantly, that the church building remains one of the busiest buildings in all of Witney. U3A members use the building almost daily, as well as music societies, the horticultural society, the Women’s Institute, weight loss classes, dance classes, and many many more. Three groups that use our building that I wish to make particular note of are Witney Community Fridge and Larder (WFR), Christians Against Poverty (CAP), and Apollos Clothing. These are all housing in the Wesley Centre meaning that this centre has now fulfilled it’s long term vision of being a centre for social justice. WFR provides around 30,000 food collections each year, CAP helps numerous people exit debt as well as running LifeSkills courses, and Apollos is a relatively new charity that offers free clothing to anyone who needs it. 

The annual report is a welcome opportunity that enables us to take a step back and see the large scope of work that takes place in and through the church, and we can truly say that the community would not be the same without us. 

God Bless, 

Rev Jason Cooke 



Church
Accruals Accounts
2023-2024
THE METHODIST CHURCH
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
(ACCRUALS BASIS)
for the year ended 31 August 2024
HI h Street Methodlst Church, Wltne
Church
R•gl8l•rod Charfty- R•gl8tratlon numbor {If appllrAbl•)
1129034
Wilne
& Faringdon
Clrcult No
2303
Mlnlster
Rev Jason Cooke
Church Stewards
Graham Beechey
Jane Healh
Janel 8uckle
Helen Wllliamson
Linda 8urbage
Fraser Logue
Church Treasurer
Jonathan Miller

Hlgh Street Method15¢ Church. Wltney
Number
1129034
Statement ol Flnandal Artlvliies ISOFA) forthe year ended 31 2024
Section A
Statement of financial activities
¢omm•n
owment
or year
In¢omlng resourcu {Nots 4)
F01
F02
F03
F04
F05
,995
10S.014
1.772
4.361
Total
Resou￿•9 expended (Nots 5)
Exp#ndltur• ¢n:
Ctturth kJ¥itieg
54,582
15.468
Othw
Total
N•t IncomdloXPondltur•) b•for• Inv•8tmènt
galn81{1088eg1
1,670
2,226
3,896
11,028
Nei 98ln¥k)SSèSl on inv05tw¢ms
Not Incomellexpendltur•)
Extraordlnary ftèms
Tranlhrs be￿88n fund•
Olhér rè¢ognl$ed galn81(Ioss88):
revduobon offixed assd¥fu thethanVsfP*n Ug¢
Othwg*￿O58e8>
Net movenwit In funds
1.870
2,226
3,896
11.028
Reco￿111811On of funds..
TOIAI ful￿& ￿￿9hrI￿￿*
Total funds carri￿ fonv•rd
58.798
57.128
4,283
2,057
63,078
59,18S
52,050
83,078

Hlgh Street Methodlst Church, Wltney
Number
1129034
Balance Sheet a5 at 31 August 2024
Section B
Balance sheet
Restrlcted
income
funds
Unrestricted
funds
Endowment Total this
funds
year
Total last
yBar
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
F01
16,811
16,811
F02
F03
F04
16,811
16.811
F05
22,415
22,415
(Note 8)
Total fixed assets
Current assets
Debtors
INote 91
Cash at bank and in hand (Note 10)
Total currenl assets
807
2,389
35,908
38,297
2,389
53,316
55,705
3,083
44,780
47,863
809
17,408
17,408
Blo
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
(Note 111
811
13,331
13.331
7.1g7
Net current assets/(liabilities)
B12
24,966
17,408
42,374
40,66e
Total assets less current liabilities
B13
41,777
17,408
59.185
63.081
Creditors: amounts falllng due after
one year
(Note 111
Provisions for liabilities
814
815
Total net assets or liabilities
816
41,777
17,408
59.185
63,081
Funds of the Charity
Endowment funds
B17
Restricted income funds
818
2.057
2.057
57,128
4,283
58,798
Unre$tritted funds
819
57,128
Revaluatlon reserve
B20
Total funds
B21
57.128
2,057
59,185
63.081
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all
na
Te
Print Name
Dale of
Rev Ja50n Cooke
Jonathan Miller

Hl8h Street Methodlst thurch. Wltney
Number
1129034
Section C
1. 8asls of accountlng
The fthantlal statemem5 ha¥e been wepared undef the Chartll¢s Art 2011 a¢mTdanreffvkh 2014 vwskn of Attounfln8and Rep)rtkn8 bYCharit￿s..
Statemeht of Recomfflended PracticelSOPPI a￿lcable to th*h*s wyrlwthelr arro￿ knaccortharttfmrth the $I￿rK￿l Reportir8Standwd f¢f Sm•ller
Enthles appll¢•ble In ¢he UK leffertTr4e from l Jmary 20151-thè CtharttsSORPIFLSSt)-kn ieplataM* fortheSOAV520o5%v￿on$Pedfi00 kn IlSte14tsd
20￿ Re8ul•tions •rwl In •¢(•rdanEe Itu¢•rnl IwtyW￿. ¢•lt¥rd I￿re1￿.-
2. Funds
The lunds hehltafistiiute.. G*n•ra Funds hekl for ￿ pwpose of theCPMth**bth •re lknirktod. Ae5triaedlunds are lora ￿rrO￿tr puipose
￿cl￿d￿8 those foi intem•l ory•l￿tk￿5. Tlwe I￿3&￿1he loltyMln8 Is llsied. OEtaU5 oleach mèterlal l￿d a1edi5ths￿ In 16.
Anyfuids rnaybe represemed by more j¥si ¢•
Notes to the accounts
3. Aeeountlno polld•s
Ba515
These ic(o¥nis ￿¥￿been Wepa￿d ¢>nthÈbasisof htstcrfkal cost ¢xr¢pt that s1￿￿n31t￿lrffla￿etVllU￿atlhten￿ oltheyear. on ihe
i￿r￿al5 basis io showa iwe•r+d f•lr¥*wofthÈChwth"s posKw and
Income
I￿orne Is Induded In the si#efflent ofFI￿%111 ￿1￿111*$($0FA)mknthe(hllrth 1￿1￿￿¢5￿41tdtothere￿￿rcel￿d the tntstses*È reison•Lqy
¢ert•lTriheyv4151 Yqcel¥eth•re50rn and the￿￿￿e￿ry¥lye￿ berne•swed**hsth¢ltni relabl￿ty.
Expendlture
Is iewistdwhena liawrty ora •tbses. ttsi resufvs p•ymtffl beth8w04￿1e. ulb￿lI1e$9re fecowmstd
soon a5 arsoutfiow ofemnornlc benefft Is tonshlered more rK4 vnd¥ii* le8•lort￿Str￿ ￿l￿n￿￿the￿r•jlT to pay oul
i•soire5.
Gr4nts
made bythe Churth from are r¢¢wise¢ inlu14t1￿l￿tht of•qre¢mtstty*then Churth attewthat thue is a le831 N Operati￿11
ob*tionto make the payrnew. 8r*rt is r¢¢wrert Mryethln￿y￿rtht tsa￿n¢e futureyear$15tre4ted 8$ • pro¥islon fty fvture
¢¢ffjmhme#tsin the 8alanEe Sheet aeakn theaw¥ryth the PrO¥￿10n￿￿￿r*ea$4d In hAurt ￿11$ •$1tt5takntrtsare wld kn attordaKewlth the
8ln311¥ a8reed terms.
VAT
thethurth is not VAT rtytere4 al InputVAT *ith thè*4￿$*$￿￿4￿h k re(er&
Tanglble fixed ass•ts for use by th• Churth
These avtwlialixd Ilthy ￿ Ix u5qd forff￿•t￿￿￿ ¢Myw. •*J £L(W.
The lrtehold ptopeny bs sIL•V4n ¥¢osL.
In¥estment Propertles
ith¥esimeffl propenits. no Wopertyls¢wrth* deernEdto￿ be htll il* kn¥ftrmpwpxes oltht ch•rlty.
In¥•5tmqnts
In*stmentsère valued ￿ the balancesheet at makn value1tth¢￿lmd. Is ￿d￿le￿ In thta¢crytrrts 4thnr•cdvabl•wd •ny8ths
orlosse50n revaul￿0Th ai theyearend ¥eslK**m kn the SO
Debt¢)rs and Prepayments
Credltors
Cfedttus InthJdetyAstafidl￿ ￿￿teleph￿ etelnA

Hl8h Str••l Mrfhodlst Churth, Wltn•v
Numb•r
1128034
Spclion C
Notes lo the accoijnls
cont
Note 4
Analv81s ol I￿ome
fund• Totsl lund• Prfor y••r
Donatlon8 and
l•gAcle•:
olleclions
Gift Aid
Donattons
Legacies
rant
76.768
14.033
76,768
14,033
7.990
76,671
14,452
35,872
ircuit
Total
98,791
98.791
126,995
Other trndlng
•¢llvlll•s:
Letting6
Coffee Bar
Events Income
Other
102,490
102,490
98,671
343
Ineome Irom
Invvtm•nt•:
entral Finance Board
1.615
1,615
1,772
Olh?r.
Colectiong for extemal orwisatson
undry Incayne
379
4.427
379
4.427
597
3,764
er
TOTAL INCOME

Hlth Str••t M•thodlst Chyrth, Wltney
Numb
1129034
Seclioii C
Not?￿ to Ilip,Ic.c.c)Iiiil
.ont
Note 5
Analv818 of exD•ndlturo
RMtri¢t•d
Unr•gtrkt•d Incom• Endowm•ni
fund•
fundi
fund#
Totsi lufid• Prlory••r
Ana
Circuit Assessfflent
Salaries, NIC and Penslon costs
Grants and Donations
OulreachlMi83Eon'
Expfrndlture on
Church a¢tlvltl••:
88,539
58,788
9.483
2,082
88,539
58,788
10,628
2,082
88.118
39,310
1.145
7,85S
1.780
Totsl ex
endlture on church actlvltle•
158,892
1.145
160,037
157,083
Exp8ndltur• on
Propfrrty
M8nlenance ol church bulldln
11,685
24,850
5,804
11,885
24,850
5.604
32,007
22,575
Utilities
insurance, heal li
reclallon
ht etc
De
Total ex
andlture on
42.139
42,139
54.582
Other
un
ure
ee
ar
Total oth¢r ox
ondlturo
14,267
1,081
15,348
15,468
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
15.
97
17.5
' Outreach was d888ed 88 Sundry Expendture In prevloug 8¢¢ounlg

h stre•t Methadlst Church, Wlth
Number
1129034
Seclioii C
Nolps lo the.Iccoiinl%
cont
Not• 6
D•talls ol ¢•rtaln It•m• of OXD•ndlturn
Th1• yur
La•1 year
Ind•pond•nt •xthln•V• f•••
420.00
420.00
A••urnnc• ••r¥lc•• olh•rthan audlt or Inknnd•nt
eximln•tlon
Tax idvl•ory l•e•
Oth•r l•M Ilor •xampl•: flnanclal advlc•, con•ultancyi
accountancy p•ld to th• Ind•p•nd•nt
Not• 7
Pald •mDIov••8
Th18 v••r
Last v•*r
S•laile8 and waqog
Soclal ••eurltv
Pon•lon co•ts Id•fin•d ¢onlrfbutlon seh•m•)
Other •mDlovM b•n•llts
Total stoff co•t•
for th• charfty who•• contrncts af• wlth and Irn pald
No •mploy•e• r•¢•lv•d •mploye• b•n•llts (•xdudlng •mploy•r p•n•lon cothl for th•
roportlng perlod ol moro than £60.000
11.2 Av•rag• h•ad count In th• y•ar
Th• p•rt8 of th• eharlty In whlch th• •mploy•ts work
• yo•r
Numb•r
y•ar
Number
Tol41

Hlgh Street Methodlst Church. Wltnry
Number
1129034
Section C
Notes to the accounts
cont
Nots8
Tangible fixed assets
8.1 Cost or valuatlon
Frg•hold larld
& bulldlng8
Othfrr land &
bulldln
p￿n(
ma¢hlnory and
motor vehlclos
Flxture8,
flttlngs and
•qulpm•nt
Total
At the beginning of the
year
Additions
26.538
26.538
Revaluations
Disposals
Transfers '
At end of the year
26.538
26.538
8.2 Dapreclatlon and Impalmionts
-Basls
Rate
M Line
ine
ne
At beginning of the
year
Disposals
4.123
4.123
Depreciation
5.604
Impairment
Transfers.
At •nd of the year
9.727
9,727
8.3 Not book value
Net book value at the
beginning of the year
Net book value at the
end of the year
22.415
22.415
16.811
16.811

Street Methodlst Church, Wltn¢v
Number
1129034
8ocliori C
Nolvs lo Ihp,Iccoiiiils
conl
Note 9
Debtorn and prepayments
Th1• year
Last yoar
Trade debtorn
2.389
3,083
Prnp•ym•nts and •¢¢ruod In¢om•
Other debtors
Totsl
2,389
3.083
Noto10
Cash at Hand and In Bank
Th1• year
Laat year
Held at Central Flnance Board
Held at Bank
29.441
23.855
20
28,973
15,194
613
44.780
Held In C••h
Total
53.316
Not• 11
Cr¢dltors and ac¢rual•
Amounts fallln
Thls vear
due
Last vear
In
Amounts lallln
Thls vear
due after
Last voar
Trade credftorn
Accrua￿ and deferred Income
Othér ¢redltors
525
2,354
1,343
3,500
7.197
3.500
13,331
T4)tal

H58h StrÈÈt M*thodlrt Church, Wltn
Numbor
1129034
Ser.IiDn C
Notp% to tlie ar.r.oiinls
Note12
Transactlons wlth trustees and related Dartles
12.1 Trustso remun¢rallon and bgneflts
Non• of the trufjt•￿ have be•n pald any rnmunèrallon or rè¢elv•d •ny othor b•n•fits from an
•mploym•ntwllh thlr charlty or a relat￿ Qntlty ITrue or Fal•el
TRUE
12.2 Tru8teu' exp•nse8
No INfts• •xpoM•• havo bwn Incurr•d IT1￿ or False>
TRUE
113 Transacllon{s) wlth rnlatod partl88
Th•rn h•v• b••n no r•l•t•d yrty tran•4Gtloft• kn th• r•portlng P•Tlod (fru• or Fal••)
TRUE
Amounts
wrltten off
durfng
r•porting
Mame ofth• tru8tse or
rnlat•d yrty
R•latlon8Np
to ch•rlty
Descrlpoon of tha
Iran$8cdonl$l
B•lance at
Pgrlod end
Provl8lon for bad d•bts
at P•fflod end
Amount

High Street Methodlst Church, Witney
Number
1129034
DECLARATIONS
Treasurer
I confirm that these accrual based accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 have been prepared from the records of the
Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church Council l Members. Meeting l Leadership Group".
Signature of Treasurer
Dale
Name ol Treasurer
Jonathan Miller
Address
41 Wytham View, Eynsham. Witney. OX29 4LX
Presentstion to the Church Council for approval.
I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 were presented lo
the Church Counal al its meeting on
3rd ?
and were approved.
Si9nalure of the Chair of the meeting
Narne of the Chair of the meetin9
Rev Jason Cooke
Dale
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the
High Street Methodist Church Witney
This Report is on the Church Accounts for the year ended 31 August
2024
Respective responsibilitses of Trustees and Examiner
The Church's Iruslees are responsible for ensuring Ihat the annual report and accounts for the year lo 31 August 2024
present a true and lair view of the Church's income and expendiluie for the year and of ils assets and liabilities al the balance
sheet dale. The trustees consider Ihat an audit is not necessary for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 Ilhe
Charilies Act) and that an independenl examination is needed
11 is my responsibility lo..
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charittes Act.,
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Direcb"ons given by the Charity Commission under Section 14515llbl
of the Charities ael,. and
lo siale whether particular matters have come lo my attention.

Hlgh Street Methodlst Church, Wltney
Number
1129034
Bas1$ of Independent Examlnefs Report
My examination was c8rried oul in ac£ord8nce the general direction$ glven by the Charity Commiss￿n. An ex*min8lon
indudes a review of ihe aLuunling records kept ty th• charity 8nd a comparison of tho a¢counts presented wilh those
records.11 also IndUd￿ con$lderatyon of ony unusual Ilems, In naiure or scale. or dlsdosures in the axounts, seeking
ex￿anationS from the Trustees conceming such mgllers. The procedures undertaken do not provlde all the e￿dence Ihal
would b& requlred in an audlt and. con$8quenlly no oplnlon is glven os io whol￿rthe accounts present a Inje and fair view.
My rèport li limi18d lo thos• matt￿5 sel oul in the slatamonl below.
Indopendent Examlnetrs Slaternent
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention
(1)
which gives me reasonable cause lo believe ihat in any material respect the requirements:
. to keep accounting fecA)rds in act￿dance with Section 130 of the Charities Act 2011.
. to prèpare accounts which accord with Ihe accounting records and cornply with the ac¢ountlng
requirements of the Charilies Act
have not been mel., or
{21
to whKh. In my opinion, attention should be drawn In order to enable a proper understanding of the
accounts lo be reached.
13)
I have obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees ft)r Methodist Church
Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance 8oar(l of the Methodist Church
which are individually in excess of £10,000 Iten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date.
Name of independent
examiner
HoLLé O
S¢gnature of independent
examiner
Relovanl Professional
ualifKation or bod
Name of fim (where appropriate)
SOL￿￿1￿￿1{ IJ 2
Address
7Afj
Oate
27
212025