Downham Market Methodist Church - Trustees Annual Report —2022/2023 Registered Charity No —1129143 Principal Address Downham Market Methodist Church c/o 1 Camomile Close, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 9UJ. Trustees: all members of the Church Council, the Governing Body of the Church, are trustees and are listed below (correct up to end August 2024) Paul Critchley, Shirley Williamson, Sylvia Cornwell, Beryl Boyce, Janet Roust, Mary Cumbers, Terence Foster, Margaret Harrison, Alison Durkin, Pat Mewhew, Joyce Dent, Heinz Hessler, Ralph Perkins, Alan Rix, John Roust and Maureen Hibling. ## Minister Revd Paul Critchley Charity Constitution: Previously excepted charities; - excepted charities were not required to register but are regulated by the Charity Commission. This is because they have been excepted from the requirement to register either by legislation or an order made by us. Churches and chapels of some Christian denominations; The Charities Act 2006 required excepted charities with an annual income of over £100,000 to register with us. Charity trustee selection method: Charity trustees for Downham Market Methodist Church are appointed as per the rules of the Methodist Church. They are a mixture of stationed minister, Deacons, volunteer elected stewards and volunteer representatives elected from individual organisations within the Church. Summary of the objectives of the charity: THE PURPOSES OF THE METHODIST CHURCH ARE AND SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN SINCE THE DATE OF UNION 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 SUBSIDARY OR ANCILLARY TO THE METHODIST CHURCH. Summary of the main activities for the public benefit; What RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES —The main act of worship at Downham Market Methodist Church was the 10am service with attendance increasing this year to around 55-60 people per week. A midweek Holy Communion service continued to be offered once a month. We have a regular number of worshippers attending worship from one of our local Care Homes. Communion is also led at Ashville Care Home in Downham Market. Evening worship continued online using Zoom during the winter months and although numbers attending this service has declined, it is a worthwhile activity for those who cannot attend church in person. Several families brought children for baptism, providing wonderful occasions to welcome people to the church. Funerals for church members and for others from within the community have been a regular occurrence. The signed services which were run in conjunction with the ‘Sign the Cross’ community have now ceased as our deaf attendees now attend worship at the Deaf Church in Huntingdon. Monthly benevolent collections are donated to other charities, such as Action for Children, Christian Aid and Macmillan Nurses. These are agreed annually by the trustees. There is the opportunity to donate in cash weekly, or to donate online. The church members also regularly support the local food bank and at Christmas support other local churches in providing hampers for families in need on Christmas Day. ## Who THE GENERAL PUBLIC —any member of the community may attend any service and can seek help and/or support from members of the charity. ## How The building is in daily use by community groups. Lettings are ably managed by the Church Administrator. She ensures that people using the facilities are well looked after and she helps promote these activities via social media and posters where appropriate. Community Choirs, Dance and Exercise Groups, and the Dementia Cafe make regular use of the premises. A local youth group, who encourage the young people to use music and drama, meet at the church and also occasionally share in worship. These Community lettings provide both valuable facilities for the public and essential revenue for the Church. The rooms are also used by the church's own groups such as Messy Church (an initiative aimed at offering families the opportunity to learn about the Bible through crafts, stories and food) and the Ladies Friendship Circle, which provides a regular meeting with talks, outings and fellowship. Members of the church have been generous in giving via BACS to support both the church's financial needs and charity support. The Social Centre, based in the church buildings, supports the elderly in the community. It has provided a welcome to members of the public Monday to Friday between 9am and 1.30pm, with hot lunches served to the many who appreciate the food, friendship and companionship on offer. For those who can't get out, the Social Centre provided a 'meals on wheels' service, delivering lunches, using volunteer drivers. This has provided a vital service to many isolated, elderly members of the community. The Revd Paul Critchley has oversight of not only Downham Market Methodist Church but other smaller Methodist chapels in the surrounding villages of West Norfolk and has now taken on the role of Superintendent of the West Norfolk Methodist Circuit. He has supported the work of the Social Centre as well as visiting and supporting the work of local care homes and schools. The church supports a number of house groups, where people meet for Bible study and fellowship. This gives members of the church the opportunity to speak of their faith and share in discussion. These house groups occasionally lead services in the church. RISK The trustees review the risks that the charity is exposed to on an ongoing basis and take steps to mitigate those risks as appropriate. Reserves Policy Our Reserves Policy relates to our general (unrestricted) funds, which are freely available to be used for any or all of the purposes of the Church. Our Reserve Policy is to hold 50% of annual expenditure in hand; these reserve funds allow for fluctuations in receipts against set payments and act as contingency funds. The Church holds funds to continue the ongoing upgrades to its premises to maintain and improve the fabric of our buildings and to enhance the ability of our members, users of our services and visitors to make maximum use of the facilities. CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS DOWNHAM MARKET Chufch FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 WEST NORFOLK CirGuit Clr¢ult no. 14120 R8g18ter8d cha￿ty- C￿rity Regi8tratlon numbar If not a registered chafily M8le8ty'8 Revènut and Customs GiftAld nurriber (The HMRC numb8r is equivalent lo a ￿giSte[e￿ Gharty number in terms of evidenc& of chantab statu8 arKJ may k used to gwe to donors or gr8nt fil￿er$ ￿Shing lo see evidence ol the org8ni5ation's chantable str1￿ Melhtrjist Charit￿8 in England and W31e5 that a￿ not registered charities are ex¢eplwJ frorn registrat￿￿ under Statthory Instrument 2014 No.2421 1129143 Minister.. REV PAUL CRITCHLEY Church S16wards'. Lg S ￿ILL Treasurer". Alison Durkin DM-2324 Recs& Pay5 Church Accounts v1 150¥24 1of5 ACCOUIITS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 DOWNHAM MARKET Churtkn UnroStri¢tsd R•%b*tod Fund Fund& Totsis th1* ypar Totals la8¢ SECTION A RECEIPTS Not a2 OTferin 5 8nd Tax reeover8d Bank End CFB intBresland Invesimeni Income 45.145.83 46,616 83 7.524.03 7,524 2T,36D 22,46ll 102,490 4,318 04 27.360.25 19.344 85 Other rEceipis 22206.QS + 97.72 +1%40 22.460 17 102.490.2B a6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 1Q7.274 SECTIOPI B PAYNtENTS b2 CifcuilA¥sessment or Sha 38,075.00 38,07S 39,988 b3 Donauons 1,540 QQ 8S17 12 1.575 rs8nd Maintenance 6.517 7.092 charges. heali & li 16.077 08 16.077 12.551 b7 herpa5rynents TOTAL PAYIIENTS 28,982 09 91.191.29 28.gB2 52.1T5 113,3ft1 SECTION C Er RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR a6 11.298 99 11.299 .107 Totslfvnos broughlforward from lèst year f30.080.16 13D,IJfjO 136.167 Subtotal cl+c2 141,as 130.000 Translets ad stmetrts ¢7 c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR 1¢3+c41 141,3S9.15 141,359 13Q,060 IL41 SECTIOP4 D FOR INFORKIATI¢)N ONLY.. MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED 014 TO EYfERNALORGANISATION$ IthoseAmoufft* 4r& notto bw In¢luded In total r•e•l onts ngur¢s abo¥e} B318nr& brou hl foryé8rd from ￿$t d2 Offerin 5IGM5- recelved ftt&xt8mal o nisatsons 2,552.45 2.541 d3 OffenngslGrfts . passed to extemal N9anlgat￿nS 2.552.45 2.$41 8AL4NCE STJLL TO BE PAID d1+d2431 2of5 15ty24 t)OWNHAM MARKEr I￿tER 1N851 194731 L￿E$FRIEND￿P 10ts1 8425 57We.C4 72.95 b1Dtsltrflrl 59x4 1024YD 59 163.083 171.007 ToTAL￿EC￿Vrs TOTAL PAYiIEiirs opeNING CLWMG MuR¢H-CAEHFUNDS￿LO￿Jl Au hMd 12 75,543 87.604 3UB TOTAL.ChwK¢n**o ooj 29 TOTALeASHFiiMDSIiELD8YCHiAiC SECTitsiG OThERA58Et5*rtdL￿1Lffl￿￿ 31 A￿U*l(v￿4 3047 129.LVJ 201 253.L¥J 41 N8m& of Church.......... No........... Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for Ihe yearto 31 August 2024 have been prep8re(I from the records of the Church and that they Ind￿le 411 funds underthe control of the Churd) trustees. SKJnalure of trea5urer................. Name and address of treasurer........ p£J Po8tCode............... Presentation to th8 Church tn18t8e8 I confirm th2tthe annual report and aGGount5 for the year ended 31 August 2024 werehvill be. pre8ented to the m*ting of the Church Irusiees held on Synalure of the Chair of meeting Name ofthe Chair of the meobng Datt. Independent Examiner's Report to the Trust••s of tho h%A rt4.*...........Church IIIfiiE3 Charlty Number.............. Responslbllhles ar￿ basis of report I reportto the trusl8es on my eXaMinat￿n ofthe accounts ofthepowktsA￿ .¢ts.l.I¥ÈT.... Church for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages. I to S.. As the Church'8 truste88, you are responsible forthe prepara￿On of the aCc￿unIS in accordance wlh the requirements of the Charrties Act 20111'theAct'i. I report in respect of my examina￿On ofthe Church's accounts Ga￿Ed out under section 145 of the Act and. in carryiry out my examination. I hav8 followed all the appli(zb* DirectK>n5 given ty the Charity Commi4sion under sect￿￿ 14515llbl of the Act. ' delete or Circ￿ gs appropriats ￿￿2324R*￿&P￿5ch￿￿A￿UnttV1 IS￿24 40f5 Name of Church .... No............. Independent Examln•rfs Ststement I have completed my examination. I confimi that ng material rnatters have come to my attention in connection wth the examination lother than that disclosed below") which give rne cause to believg that in, any material respect.. the ac£ounting records were not kept in accordance wrth section 130 of the Act., or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no eoncéins and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to wh￿h attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave not. obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Mèth(xlisl Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balan￿S and funds at the Central Fillan￿ Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of indepèndent examiner Name of independent examiner rFt F4> Rèlevant professional qualrfication of independent examiner Name of fimi Iwhere appropriatel Address Post Code delète or Circ￿ as appropri8tè DM-2324 Recs & Pays Church Accounts v1 150924 5ofS