2025-08-31-accounts - Alton Methodist Church

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

From

Period start date Period end date 01 Septembe 2024 31 August 2025 r To

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name

Alton Methodist Church

Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1129465.

Charity's principal address Draymans Way Alton Hants

Postcode GU34 1AU

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
Rev P Simpkins	Minister	Methodist Church UK
Mr A Robb	Steward	Annual Church Meeting
Mrs C. Woodruffe	Steward	Annual Church Meeting
Mrs A Mitchell	Representative elected by Church Annual Meeting	Annual Church Meeting
Mrs A. Simpkins	Steward	Annual Church Meeting
Mr H. Smith	Steward	Annual Church Meeting
Mrs C. Stovold	Steward	Annual Church Meeting
Mr G Titterington	Treasurer	Church Council
Mrs D Titterington	Church Council Secretary	Church Council
Miss J Nicholls	Family Committee representative	Church Council
Mr D Allan	Steward and Property Committee representative	Church Council
Mr N. Hughes	Finance Committee representative	Church Council
Mr L. Sheridan	Lighthouse representative	Church Council

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September 2024 – August 2025

Mrs J. Marlow	Church Family Visitors representative	Church Council
Mrs L. George	Safeguarding	Church Council
Mrs A Hughes	Representative elected by Church Annual Meeting	Annual Church Meeting
Mrs J Meager	Representative elected by Church Annual Meeting	Annual Church Meeting
Mrs D. Wright	Representative elected by Church Annual Meeting	Annual Church Meeting
Mrs N Buck	Representative elected by Church Annual Meeting	Annual Church Meeting
Mrs G Bentley	Representative elected by Church Annual Meeting	Annual Church Meeting
Mr M. Morrice	Representative from Circuit Stewards	Circuit Stewards

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name	Dates acted if not for whole year
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
(custodian trustees of our building)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

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September 2024 – August 2025

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document

(eg. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is constituted

Alton Methodist Church is governed by Statutory Instruments 1996 Number 180, as amended by Statutory Instruments 2007 Number 2655.

Trust

(eg. trust, association, company)

Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Election by the Church’s Annual Meeting. Vacancies that arise during the year can be filled by election at a Church Council meeting.

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Alton Methodist Church is part of The Hants-Surrey Border Circuit (36/1) in the South East District of the Methodist Church, UK.

Alton Methodist Church is managed by the Church Council (Managing Trustees). A number of committees are responsible for specific facets of the Church’s work.

These include: The Family Committee The Finance Committee The Property Committee.

The Church Council meets three times per year or more often if necessary. It receives reports from groups and reviews their work providing guidance and direction and authorises policy and is ultimately responsible for the activities of the groups.

Much of the day to day running of the church is entrusted to a team of stewards elected by the church membership. In addition, there is an annual church meeting where the whole of the church membership is able to meet and review the work of the church over the previous year.

The Church works to manage and limit risk as far as practicable. It reviews its practices against the Charity Commission’s “Internal Financial Controls for Charities” document regularly. It only pays for services in cash in exceptional services (and no such occasions occurred in the year under review). All cheque and electronic payments require 2 signatures. All receipts are banked promptly. Operational risk is managed by servicing all fire extinguishers, electrical equipment, and sliding doors regularly. Personal and reputational risk is managed by adopting best practice, as recommended by the Methodist Church nationally, to safeguarding.

Section C Objectives and activities

The objective of the Church is summed up in our mission statement which states:

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

The calling of Alton Methodist Church is to respond to the Gospel of God’s Love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.

This can be summarised in four key areas, i.e. worship, learning and caring, service and evangelism.

Worship: Increase the awareness of God’s presence and

celebrate God’s love.

Learning and Caring: Help people to grow and learn as Christians. Service: Be a good neighbour to people in need and

challenge injustice.

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September 2024 – August 2025

Make more followers of Jesus Christ.

Evangelism:

The Church comprises 90 members and others who have not entered into membership. One service meets each Sunday. In addition, there are normally many activities during the week. These include: Girls and Boys Brigades, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Monthly Lunch Club, and Child Contact Centre. Many of these groups involve people and young people who are not members of the church. We value and wish to develop our links with the local community and the provision we are able to make, particularly for the elderly, vulnerable and young people with special needs who are welcomed into our various groups. In addition, there are a number of groups from the community who use these premises.

Our paid staff comprises the Minister, and an “Anna Chaplain” (Chaplain to older people in the town and surrounding villages.) Grant applications and fund raising towards this role in the last year has proved successful and adds a degree of financial security to the post over the next 3 years plus. The work of the Anna Chaplaincy is highly respected and commended by grant making bodies for its work.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

All other activities are undertaken by volunteers. There are over 50 volunteers involved in some way in the activities that take place at the church.

For administrative purposes the Methodist Church in the country (the Connexion) is divided into 33 districts. Each district is further divided into Circuits. The Alton Methodist Church is one of eleven churches in the local Circuit. Circuit assessment is a sum paid quarterly to the circuit treasurer to cover Ministers salaries and a contribution towards District and Connexional running costs. Our Minister is employed and paid by the Circuit. The Hants Surrey Border Methodist Circuit is in consultation with the Berkshire Surrey Border Methodist Circuit with a view to becoming one larger circuit from Sept. 2025. The name of the amalgamated circuit will be ‘The Blackwater Valley Circuit’

The church signed a covenant with the local Anglican parish in 2009 to work more closely together. The project known as the Greater Alton Project (GAP) currently funds with others a Chaplain to the elderly (particularly those in nursing homes, and known as the “Anna Chaplain”) as mentioned above.

The trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit, and believe this is illustrated by the Church’s service to the welfare of the elderly members of the surrounding community (outside our church) and to the younger members through the youth organisations. Generosity from Church members through a gift day, and ongoing giving have enabled the churches finances to remain sustainable post pandemic.

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September 2024 – August 2025

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

Restrictions on Activities:

The regulations governing the Church do not permit the consumption of alcohol, and allow only very limited forms of gambling, on the premises.

Policy on grant making

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

The Church does not make grants to organisations outside the Methodist Church from its own funds, but it does often provide a channel for its members to make contributions to other charitable organisations working in the local community or globally to further objectives that are complementary to our own objectives. This year our chosen charity for particular support was MSF (‘Medicins Sans Frontierres’).

Investment policy

The Church does not engage in speculative investment activity and all of our reserves are held in an interest bearing bank account operated by the UK Methodist Church.

Volunteers

Most of the work of the Church is performed by volunteers. Currently about 50 volunteers work for the church on a regular basis.

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September 2024 – August 2025

Section D Achievements and performance

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6 September 2024 – August 2025

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

Worship

The church offers one worship service per Sunday with an average attendance of 50-70 people each week. Special services have been held including funeral/thanksgiving services. We continue to develop strong relationships with the Parish churches through the Greater Alton Project (GAP) and have held a number of well attended joint services. We also provide a recorded online service.

Learning and Caring: The minister, along with the Pastoral Secretary and members of the congregation offer strong pastoral support to one another and to the wider community.

Service: Members of the church run a weekly coffee morning and a monthly lunch club at the church. These are both well attended by mainly older people some of whom are members of the church but many are not. This helps to reduce the sense of loneliness and isolation that some of these folk tell us that they experience at times. We run successful children’s activities in the form of Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade companies, and members lead very successful Duke of Edinburgh groups leading to bronze, silver and gold awards.

Evangelism: Members share their faith through friendship and service.

Together with the GAP churches we have employed a chaplain to older people (Anna Chaplain). This ministry has been very much appreciated by individuals and by local care home staff. She has led communion services, participated in funeral services, attended coffee morning and lunch clubs and, where appropriate, has shared her faith as a means of encouragement to those who she spends time with.

We have worked with other churches in the town on projects like community carols, lent courses and supporting organisations like Foodbank.

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September 2024 – August 2025

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

Church Reserves Policy for Alton Methodist Church which is part of the Hants-Surrey Border Circuit 36/1

Trustees Annual Report Church Reserves Policy

The Charity’s Reserves Policy deals with:

(a) Our General Fund

Other funds also held which are NOT required to be included in our reserves are:

(b) Internal organisations (Restricted)

(c) GAP funds (Restricted)
(d) Special collections, where the Church collects money on behalf of other charities to facilitate giving by our members (Restricted)

(e) Benevolent Fund (Restricted).

Our Reserves:

(a) Our General Fund

We aim to hold in reserve sufficient money in our general funds to cover a minimum of 6 months expenditure i.e. £40,000.

The reason for this is twofold:

(i) The Church needs a minimum of 3 months average expenditure in reserve as working capital to cover normal running costs.

(ii) Maintenance of church buildings. Funds need to be available to meet unexpected repair bills.

This Reserves Policy has been approved by the Church Council (Managing trustees) on 27[th] February 2020.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

None

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

The Church derives most of its income from donations of its members. A small amount of income is derived from letting out rooms within our building.

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);

The Church has been successful in winning external grants to support the provision of an “Anna Chaplain” to support elderly people of all denominations in the Alton area. Currently support is coming from East Hampshire District Council Communities Fund, The Mercers’ Company, The Complins Memorial Trust, the Methodist Church HSB Circuit, and individual donations.

how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and individual donations. objectives including any ethical investment policy Regular giving from church members has continued. A very good gift day adopted. has reflected the generosity and commitment of our church members and friends.

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September 2024 – August 2025

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Graham Charles Titterington Full name(s) Philip Mark Simpkins Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Minister Treasurer etc) Date 12[th] November 2025

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September 2024 – August 2025

CHURCH RECEIFfs AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE MEfHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025 Hants aThl Surrey Bonler Clr¢utt c1ult ¥ Roglstsrvd Charlty. Charlty R•glstratiM If not a registered thanty Her Rv4•nu• and Customs Gift Aid nurnber 1129465 charitable status. Meth(Klist rharthe5 England and Walas that we not registeffjd tharilies are excepted from regi51ral*Jn under Stat{rtY Insts7k 2014 No.242) Mintster.. Rev Phli Church Stevmrds: r David Allan MrAlan Robb Christine Stovold Lvz Strain MrB Carol WOodne Mrn Helen SmFth Mrs Angela Simpkins PArs Anna Milchell Treasurer. PAye1 ot7

Totalts l•t SECTION A FurK Funds a1 RECEIPTS Offerin s and Tax recover1 Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 9,910 81,728 83 3,717 5,075 5,244 3,717 4076 19.244 118,695 3,089 3.529 16,965 105,311 a4 Leth"n a5 Other receipts TOTAL RecEIPTS 14,000 23,910 a6 la71 SECTION b1 PAYhlENTS b2 Circuit As5e5sment or Shwe 53,(X)O 4.353 53,000 53.000 5.047 Donats"ons 1.¢)00 irs and Maintenance utilits.es Ilnsurances. water ehargas, htal'ng & lighting) 4,793 4.793 7,119 b7 Other pay7nents TOTAL PAYMENTS 9,401 79,428 7.099 8,099 18,SOO 87,527 24,058 103.526 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMEP FOR THE YEAR c1 15,357 15.811 1,786 last 65,083 40,149 105232 103,446 c3 Sub total c1+c 136J99 105.232 Transfw5 and ad" c5 TOTAL FiIPrn AT EIID OF YEAR 105.232 Ic61 SECTION D FOR INFOKIIATION ONLY: IAONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS ltheBe amounts axe not to be thcluded In total r•eelpls1 d1 BaL8nce hthrwatd from L8st 276 d2 Offerin sIGffts. receNwJ for extemal anis"ons 2.873 d3 OfferingslGifts - p8s58d to external organisatK)ns 6,130 3,149 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID Idl+d2-d3 12 Pay82017

SECnON Swnm¥ywifcuth At2029 NOtsthstth•nd&dan ORGAt115AMONS rxthg hA¥Mf 117(¢ 2-trW•¢oJMDi 27 31,1 (c 105 32 136.399 OYCHIIRCH 1WI 140.QOB SECIXIF CLONQ BALW4CE8 CHURCH-Ci8H FUNELD01)I 37 Dè TILtytees Ieod15tCwth P 12 SUB ToT-cr£knIC£un Z32 136A cetral from4bwI1¢121 109.118 140.19 8eu

¢ustodian truslees, while are the man4ing tru5188s of th8 pfop8Fty. During the cour3e ofthe yw 2023-2tr24, the Truslees betame a%dr& of errtjr in way in whh be required to pay HMRC £4271. 0fth £4,254 lte$ to Ihe emptyenl ofttE Anna Chaplain, and £17 to unrestrthj fuThJ independenl bank accounts KE have thr accounts exarned indep8ndenty. 8 Month5. rètying on <JUrlUnte chapLqin5 iu cOne th? miss Fund Anna ChaFlwt 4t1.53 21697.58 9.09 2212.22 138.50 3.83 54735.28 1135.30 1086.01 o_oo 138.50 Benevolent Fund T(Aal 40149.12 23.1 .13 55959.79 Spla1 ¢olledloD• lanco Naomi H 0.00 1110 o.(X) 39.33 0.00 300.00 0.Tr] s7(.07 12.10 All We Ca) 0.00 0.00 0.00 8141.50 8129.40 12.10

Feed in Tarrffp*fft Events Gr8nts recewed:. HSBC Circu ComF4in EHDC 1,689.42 1.557.41 1.000.00 500.00 345 00 20.00 131.98 5.243.81 Total Consummables 3,055.24 1,051.69 70.85 489.60 2,295.30 353 25 148.50 1.936.44 Total 9.400.87 Bank chaFg8s Website hosting Phone and Intell1 Personal expense Grant5 frorn.. 5,OCM).(KJ 5.IYN) (X) 3000.00 1.1.00 Total 14.oc.00 Complin Memorial Trust The ns1th Tnt PafisioNs and HMRC Expense5 Salary 982.07 372.61 5,609.15 Totsl 6,963.83

Treasur•r l confirm that I have prepw8d the xcounl8 frcffi the rOrts of the Church and that they include al fund$ under the control tsf the ChurGh Council Syanature of TreasurBr Name Graharn ChaTles Titteringlon 11 and We aplxoved. Synatura oftsQw(ltsnwel Name of Dale Independent Examlnerfs Reportto th• Tnwt•e¥ oflhe Chur¢h Tho charitys trusle85 arp resp)nSib forthe preparat¥)n of the accourts. The chariws trus1888 consider that an independent exinat)n 15 needed. It my . Cunmis5ion lund8r SecC 145(51(bl of Ihe ChitIeS Acll. and to state whetherparttiJl* matters have ccffne to my attentlon. P4e8of7

Ba$i of Independ8nt Exam1n88 R•port My exarninalion was carried out in acGord3nte gÈneral Directions gDien by the Chadty Cornmission. An examination includes a review of the 3ccounting re[d8 kept by the charity and mparison of the accounts presented With those records. It also Includes consideration ol any unusual items or di$closure8 In the accounts. and seeking explanations trom the trustees conceming any Such matters. Th8 procedur8s undertaken do not providè all the ?vidence that would be required in an audit. and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the aCCnts present a Irue anLI fai v18w and the report is limited to those matters Sel out in the stslement below. Independent Examln8r'8 Statsmgnt In connection %Mlh ry examination, no matter has come to my attention (other than that diy¢1059d below'l". which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect tht . to keep a(x)unting records in accordance Mlh section 130 ofthe Charities Atk,. . to prepar& accounts which accord with the accounting record5 and compw wlh the accounting requiretnent5 of thè Charities Act have not been m81.. or lo which, in my opinion. attention should be dr2*m in order to enable a proper undersl8n(Jing of the accounts lo be reathed ' Ple8se t• th& worfs in the br8ck8ts if th8y do not8pplyappropFi8t6 131 I h&¥Èihave nor obtained Independent verification of 811 investments vAth the Trustees for Method18t Church Purposes I'TMCP'I or held in other Trusts, Bank balances and Funds al the Cèntral Finan Board of the Melho(list Church I'CFB.). %4hioh are individually in eKess of £to,000 (ten thousand pound818t the balance sheet date. 'Ptsas& as appropFiafe Name Signature Relevant Professional qualific8tion or body Address Dale