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 2025) 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 holding steady at around 55-60 people per week with seasonal fluctuations according to the weather. 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. The church has an excellent relationship with one of the local schools and they visit us for their Harvest and Christmas Celebrations. Several year groups also hold a carol concert in the church for parents to attend. Evening worship continued online using Zoom during the year 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. 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. In the coming year the church will be celebrating it’s 60[th] Anniversary with a number of events planned to celebrate the occasion. ## 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. 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