## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
**(Charity Registration No. 1129515)**
**Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2023**
|||Page|
|---|---|---|
|**Contents**|Information|2|
||Trustees Annual Report including||
||Reserves Policy|3 – 11|
||Statement of Financial Activities|12|
||Balance Sheet|13|
||Notes to the Financial Statements|14 – 23|
||Independent Examiner’s report|24|
1
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
**(Charity Registration No. 1129515)**
**Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## Information
## **Superintendent Minister Principal Address**
## **Bankers**
Rev. Dr. Stephen Day
Circuit Office West Croydon Methodist Church 93 London Road Croydon CR0 2RF Barclays Bank plc
## **Independent Examiner**
Paul Newton, JCS Accountants
## **Trustees (Year ended 31 August 2023) (* denotes resigned during that year)**
Revd Nigel Cowgill Revd Dr Stephen Day Revd Richard Lowson (Appointed 1[st] September 2022) Revd Gyula Fiak (Appointed 1[st] September 2022) Mrs Juliet Smith Revd Pamela Clews* Revd Dr Leslie Griffiths Revd Jennifer Potter Rev. Juliet Ushewokunze (Appointed 2[nd] March 2023) Mr Robin Haslam Ms Dorothea Macauley* Desmond Williams Adrian Pickett Toyin Ogunyemi (Appointed 9[th] August 2023) Simon Tayler (Appointed 9[th] August 2023) Mrs Doreen Ridden Mrs Pauline Little Miss Jennie Hall Miss Fran Byard Mr Alan Mills Mrs Linda White Ms Constantia Pennie Mrs Denise Watson* Mrs Collis Peart* Mrs Rosemary Jones*
Mrs Comfort Croffie Mr Adrian Howe Mr Kofi Asamoah-Twum* Miss Sukhvinder Kalsi Mr Lawrie Bannister Mr Tolulowaleyi Laval Mr Paul Parkinson Mrs Gillian Haslam Miss Siân Williams Mr Paul Taylor Mr John Anstey Mr Hugh Roberts Mrs Gertrude Nartey Mrs Rohini Herat Mrs Ruth Tayler Mr David Tayler Mrs Elizabeth Smart Mrs Alyson Stonehouse* Mr Josef Hopeson-Sowah Mr Nicholas Kusah Mrs Ann Atkins Mr Andrew Thynne Mrs Dunstana Davies Mr Byron Asbruce Mrs Adebukola Lawal Mr Ola Ogunyemi Mrs Sonia Smith Miss Becky Chipere
Henrietta Williams* Miss Sian Williams Eunice Boadu Mary Salter (Appointed 1[st] September 2022) Alberta Larkai-Doherty (Appointed 9[th] November 2022) Tirena Gunter (Appointed 1[st] May 2023) Pauline Foster (Appointed 1[st] May 2023) Christine Elliott (Appointed 1[st] July 2023)
2
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **Governing documents and objective**
The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the date of the 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 subsidiary or ancillary of the Methodist Church.
In setting our objectives and planning our activities the circuit has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular to its supplementary public interest guidance on advancing our objectives as set out above.
## **Mission Statement**
Croydon Methodist Circuit draws on the Methodist Church in Britain’s vision as a “discipleship movement equipped for Mission” and works to priorities taken from “Our Calling” within our local context;
The circuit encourages members individually and each of the churches collectively to engage in local community activities, social outreach, ecumenical work and inter-faith contact and co-operation;
We encourage the development of richly diverse and inclusive communities of faith which allows the exploration of discipleship by all people – regardless of background and without discrimination;
We seek to provide to our communities an example of God-filled lives and to enable the people of our churches to respond to the generosity of God’s grace through worship and Christian service;
We seek to link together the people of our circuit churches so that they can be mutually supportive and encouraging, sharing in and learning from each other’s experience of Christian living.
3
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **Review of progress and achievements**
Throughout the financial year the Croydon Methodist Circuit had four staff members: three ministerial staff: Revd Dr Stephen Day, Revd Richard Lowson and Revd Gyula Fiak, together with Mrs Juliet Smith (Circuit Administrator).
All our churches remain committed to maintaining their involvement in community outreach activities. The Covid pandemic continued to affect community engagement by churches, although not as much as in the previous two years:
- Addington Methodist Church engages with three local schools: leading assemblies and hosting activities to share the Christmas and Easter stories. Beavers, Cubs Scouts, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides meet in the church and four well-attended Parade services are held each year. The church has a monthly Messy Church that is well attended. The church holds a monthly coffee morning during which donations are collected for the Vine Food Bank in New Addington; these events are well supported by the local community. The church hosts a weekly Luncheon Club that is designed for anyone who is retired or has an afternoon spare to have lunch and fellowship.
- Christ Church Methodist Church in Addiscombe was able to hold its annual summer holiday club for children aged 5-11 for the first time in several years. The church holds a monthly Messy Church and runs a weekly Stay and Play toddlers group. Brownies and Guides meet at the church. Café worship takes place monthly.
- At Downsview Methodist Church, Upper Norwood, the Luncheon club met weekly and also had an outing where members and volunteers went out together for lunch. The Downsview Players, an amateur dramatic group based at the church, put on a show at which they had one performance particularly for people with additional needs and they also took it to Hall Grange. In addition, the Girls’ and Boys’ Brigades meet weekly as does the Community choir. In partnership with the Waddington Way Residents Association the church put on a Big Lunch to commemorate the King's coronation. The church also started a new outreach programme of providing drinks and refreshments to the parents from Downsview School who park in the car park to collect their children.
- Norbury Methodist Church holds a weekly Pop-in community café which is well attended and valued by local people. The church also runs a weekly craft group and Posh Tots, a weekly group for toddlers and their carers. Various community events take place on the premises, including monthly surgeries for the local ward councillors.
4
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Trustees Annual Report For the year ended 31 August 2023**
- The premises of Parchmore Methodist Church and Community Centre are being used by six community groups, five of which were also using the premises pre-Covid. The trustees are considering the possibility of re-opening the Parchmore Lunch Club to support local people; It is envisaged this would initially be with a small group of people on a limited basis. The church also holds a monthly coffee morning and provides a valuable opportunity for people to meet over refreshments to chat and play games.
- Shirley Methodist Church has begun new forms of community engagement. A group gathers each month to make bread, some of which is given away to family, friends or neighbours. A monthly film club developed from showing films during Lent in 2023. Church members have a close link with Hall Grange, the residential care home run by MHA, giving support as volunteers and supporting activities in the home and in the Wilderness, a heritage garden on the Hall Grange premises (https://www.mha.org.uk/get-involved/thewilderness).
- South Norwood Methodist Church holds a coffee morning twice a month. The minister and several church members lead a monthly service at Acacia Care Centre, a local residential care home.
- West Croydon Methodist Church has a Wednesday Club offering support to individuals and families who are homeless or struggling in other ways. It operates weekly except the last week of each month, offering food, toiletries and clothing.
The above shows that many of our churches run various activities for children and young people. Churches host and engage with a range of uniformed organisations. West Croydon Methodist Church has a particular ministry with children and young people; it has an active youth club to support young people in their Christian faith with many being confirmed and received as church members.
The circuit provides ministers and preachers to lead a weekly Sunday afternoon worship service at Hall Grange, a residential care home run by MHA. Several church members do voluntary work at Hall Grange.
The circuit equips lay volunteers by providing training and development opportunities to empower them to identify and use their gifts and skills to the glory of God. Training has been offered to local church and circuit trustees to equip them for their roles. Prescribed office holders in local churches and the circuit have engaged with the mandatory Unconscious Bias and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion as part of the Methodist Church in Britain’s Justice, Dignity & Solidarity strategy. The circuit trustees also adopted a raft of policies relating to circuit lay employees.
5
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2023**
The circuit’s work is guided by the Methodist Church in Britain’s statement “Our Calling”:
- The Church exists to increase awareness of God's presence and to celebrate God's love
- The Church exists to help people to grow and learn as Christians, through mutual support and care
- The Church exists to be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice
- The Church exists to make more followers of Jesus Christ
The circuit provides initial training for Local Preachers and Worship Leaders as well as ongoing peer support for those accredited. Creating Safer Space safeguarding training is offered annually to those needing initial or refresher training.
The Circuit staff continue to work in partnership with local and national voluntary and statutory bodies. They engage ecumenically with Croydon Churches Forum as well as other local groups.
## **Plans for the future**
The circuit trustees have committed all circuit churches to conduct a community exploration to understand better the community in which they are situated. These explorations will involve churches engaging with their neighbours and data about the local wards. The resulting information will help churches to assess their vision and mission, especially in light of changes resulting from Covid and other events. Information from all the community explorations will be gathered to help circuit trustees to see whether there are common strands which help churches and communities to work together for a common purpose. The initial mission planning work of the community explorations will be accompanied by seeking a deacon to be stationed in the circuit from September 2024. Should a deacon be stationed in the circuit they would divide their time between supporting the minister of three churches in the south of the circuit and being the Circuit Mission Enabler. The post of Circuit Mission Enabler is a new one for the circuit and has been envisaged to support all circuit churches in clarifying theirfuture vision and mission as well as identifying opportunities for working together between churches and communities.
## **Risk Assessment**
The Circuit Leadership Team (CLT) continues to review the regulatory framework in which the circuit operates and where the CLT finds areas of risk to the circuit, appropriate action is taken to minimise the risk.
6
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **Safeguarding**
Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God’s image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s recreation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm. The Croydon Methodist Circuit commits itself to ensuring the implementation of Methodist Connexional Safeguarding policy; government legislation, guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches in support of this.
Local church and circuit safeguarding officers have ensured that those new to the relevant offices within local churches and the circuit have obtained a DBS disclosure and attended the Foundation Module training offered locally or in the wider district and, where appropriate, the Advanced Module training offered by the London District. Revd Cameron Kirkwood and Doreen Ridden are qualified to offer Foundation training within local churches or across the circuit. Local church safeguarding officers have also been making sure that those who hire our premises are compliant with safeguarding policy and practice.
The Croydon Methodist Circuit commits itself to the provision of support, advice and training for lay and ordained people that will ensure people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults who may be vulnerable.
7
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **Financial Review**
The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice.
For the first time since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic all churches were able to meet their assessment payments for the year ended 31 August 2023 in full, reflecting improvements in local churches’ Sunday offering and letting incomes.
At the end of the previous financial year the circuit’s lay pastor retired and in view of the impact of the pandemic on local church finances a replacement staff member was not recruited at the time although the circuit meeting has since carried out a review of the circuit’s staffing during the financial year and approved an application for a deacon to be stationed in the circuit with effect from 1 September 2024.
In the previous financial year the circuit had incurred over £52,000 on repair costs to manses in preparation for the arrival of two new circuit ministers in September 2022 and to enable a vacant manse not currently used to house a staff member to be re-let.
As a consequence of the improved income position and reduced staffing and property repair costs in the year ended 31 August 2023 the circuit’s financial resources increased by £43,519 in the year ended 31 August 2023 (2022: decrease of £64,694) and the circuit’s net current assets increased from £128,675 at the beginning of the year to £172,194 at year end, of which £71,868 (2022: £57,640) represents general reserves.
The circuit anticipates that churches will be able to meet future assessment payments in full, and therefore expects its financial performance to be stable over the 2023-26 period. Taking into account the actions taken in recent years to reduce the circuit’s fixed expenditure and therefore church assessmeent levels, the Trustees have every reason to believe that the circuit is a going concern.
## **Reserves Policy**
The reserves of the circuit are dependent on the extent that its ongoing costs can be funded from the assessments levied on the individual churches. The circuit seeks to operate its financial affairs each year on an ongoing basis. At the year end, the actual readily available reserves, being the circuit’s General and Model Trust funds, represented 7.73 months (2022: 4.58) expenditure, which is in excess of the stated policy of general reserves of at least six months expenditure. Looking forward, the circuit is confident that for the foreseeable future total reserves will remain at an adequate level.
8
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **Structure, governance and management**
The governing document for the circuit is the Deed of Union (1932) and the Methodist Church Act (1976).
Detailed governance arrangements are outlined within the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church by order of the annual conference (CPD).
The Connexional Office implements decisions made by Conference and is also responsible for the stationing of Presbyters in individual Circuits.
Connexional decisions are passed to the Chair of the District and appropriate Officers of the District for regional implementation.
The district passes control down to circuit level for local implementation by the Superintendent Minister, ministerial staff and Circuit Stewards via the medium of the Circuit Meeting.
The membership of the Circuit Meeting is laid down in the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church. Together the members of the Circuit Meeting are the Managing Trustees of the Circuit.
## **Trustees**
As set out in Methodist Standing Order 510, the members of the Croydon Methodist Circuit meeting are the Charity Trustees, membership being made up of ministers and circuit office holders, who are automatically trustees, together with representatives appointed by the local churches.
Owing to the number of individual churches in the circuit and the fact that the majority of the Circuit Meeting members are those elected by individual churches, it is clear that the make-up of the meeting is subject to frequent change. There were 53 trustees as at 30 June 2023 (2022: 61). A list of trustees is provided on page 2.
## **Related Parties**
The Circuit is part of the London District and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference. The following Methodist Churches are linked to the Circuit:-
|Addington Methodist Church|Parchmore Methodist Church|
|---|---|
|Christ Church Methodist, Addiscombe|Shirley Methodist Church, Croydon|
|Downsview Methodist Church|South Norwood Methodist Church|
|Norbury Methodist Church|West Croydon Methodist Church|
9
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Trustees Annual Report**
**For the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year.
In preparing these accounts, the Trustees are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply these consistently;
- Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts;
- Prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Croydon Methodist Circuit and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Circuit and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
So far as each of the trustees is aware, there is no relevant information that has not been disclosed to the independent examiner and each of the trustees believes that all steps have been taken that ought to have been taken to make him aware of any relevant information.
10
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
**Trustees Annual Report For the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **Approvals**
The Trustees’ Annual Report was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf on 27 June 2024 by:
Rev Richard Lowson
Robin Haslam
11
Circuit No: 35/41
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2023**
|**Note**
**Income**
**Donations**
3
**Charitable activities**
Assessments on churches
5
Grants receivable
6
Letting income
4
**Total from charitable**
**activities**
**Other**
Income from Monetary
Investments
**Total income**
**Expenditure**
**Expenditure on activities**
Grants and donations payable
7
Salaries and associated costs
8
Property
9
District Assessment & Levy
10
Other outgoings
11
**Total charitable expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**before investment** **gains/**
**losses**
Gains or Losses on property
revaluations
**Net (expenditure)/income**
**before transfers**
Transfers between funds
21
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**2022 - 23**
**2021-22**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Total**
£
£
£
£
£
£
0
2,186
2,186
100
100
236,303
236,303
250,555
250,555
0
0
0
0
68,800
68,800
20,500
20,500|
|---|---|
||305,103
305,103
271,055
271,055|
||3,938
3,938
748
748|
||**309,041**
**2,186**
**311,227**
**271,903**
**271,903**|
||0
1,600
1,600
0
0
142,155
142,155
166,354
166,354
40,621
40,621
92,094
92,094
66,834
66,834
69,997
69,997
16,498
16,498
8,152
8,152|
||**266,108**
**1,600**
**267,708**
**336,597**
**336,597**|
||**42,933**
**586**
**43,519**
**(64,694)**
**(64,694)**
0
0|
||**42,933**
**43,519**
**(64,694)**
**(64,694)**|
||**42,933**
**586**
**43,519**
**(64,694)**
**(64,694)**|
||2,291,523
0
2,291,523
2,356,217
2,356,217|
||**2,334,456**
**586**
**2,335,042**
**2,291,523**
**2,291,523**|
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All funds are unrestricted. All activities relate to continuing operations.
12
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## Circuit No: 35/41
|**Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2023**
**Note**
**Fixed Assets**
Tangible fixed assets
14
**_Total fixed assets_**
**Current Assets**
Debtors
15
Investments with TMCP
16
Central Finance Board
Deposits
17
Cash at Bank and in hand
17
**_Total current assets_**
**Current Liabilities**
Creditors (due in under 1
year)
18
**_Total current liabilities_**
**_Net current assets_**
**_Total assets less current_**
**_liabilities_**
**Long Term Liabilities (due**
**after more than one year)**
19
**_Net assets_**
**Funds of the Circuit**
General Fund (Unrestricted)
20.1
Circuit Model Trust Fund
(Unrestricted)
20.2
**_Total Unrestricted Funds_**
Restricted Funds
**_Total Funds_**|
**General**
**Fund:**
**Unrestricted**
**Circuit Model**
**Trust:**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Totals**
**2023**
**Totals**
**2022**
£
£
£
£
£
2,162,848
2,162,848
2,162,848|
|---|---|
||2,162,848
2,162,848
2,162,848|
||10,845
10,845
27,254
99,740
99,740
106,673
58,210
58,210
49,594
29,061
586
29,647
9,604|
||98,116
99,740
586
198,442
193,125|
||26,248
26,248
64,450|
||**26,248**
**26,248**
**64,450**|
|||
||71,868
99,740
586
172,194
128,675|
||2,234,716
99,740
586
2,335,042
2,291,523
0
0|
||**2,234,716**
**99,740**
**586**
**2,335,042**
**2,291,523**|
||**2,234,716**
**2,234,716**
**2,184,850**
99,740
99,740
106,673
**2,234,716**
99,740
**2,334,456**
**2,291,523**
**586**
**586**
**0**|
||**2,234,716**
**99,740**
**586**
**2,355,042**
**2,291,523**|
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees and were signed on their behalf on 27 June 2024 by:
Rev Richard Lowson
Robin Haslam
13
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **1. Basis of accounting and accounting policies**
## **i Basis of preparation of financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP (FRS 102), Financial Reporting Standard 102 and the Charities Act 2011.
## **ii Public benefit entity**
The Croydon Methodist Circuit meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. It is an unincorporated trust with principal office at West Croydon Methodist Church, 93 London Road, Croydon CR0 2RF.
## **iii Basis**
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s) below.
## **iv Content**
The financial information presented is relevant, reliable, comparable and complete. Where estimates are used these are based on experience, research and judgement. The accounts are expressed in £ Sterling, rounded to the nearest pound.
## **v**
## **Going concern**
The charity has a reasonable expectation that there are adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. There are no material uncertainties affecting this expectation. It has therefore continued to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.
## **vi. Funds**
General unrestricted funds represent funds which are expendable at the discretion of the Circuit in the furtherance of the objects of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. Such funds may be held to finance both working and capital investment.
## **vii**
## **Consolidation**
The Circuit oversees the work of ministers and lay workers in Churches within the Circuit but does not have control over those Churches, ministers or lay workers except in extreme circumstances, none of which were applicable. For this reason, the financial statements of the Churches within the Circuit are not consolidated into these financial statements.
## **viii Income recognition**
Income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. Donations are accounted for gross when received.
Rental income is accounted for on an accruals basis.
In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the time of volunteers is not recognised. Further information on this matter is provided in the Trustees’ Annual Report.
## **ix Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
14
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **x Grants**
Grants made by the Circuit from its own funds are recognised in full at the time of the agreement or when the Circuit accepts that there is a legal or operational obligation to make the payment. When the grant is recurrent over more than one year the balance payable in future years is treated as a provision being released for future commitments in the Balance Sheet against the appropriate fund, the provision being released in future years as instalments are paid in accordance with the originally agreed terms.
## **xi VAT**
Irrecoverable input VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expense was incurred.
## **xii Tangible fixed assets**
These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and individually cost at least £1,500. The freehold property is shown in the accounts at deemed historical cost representing each property’s gross carrying value at 1 September 2015, being that property’s insurance reinstatement value, as notified by Methodist Insurance plc at the previous renewal date. The value of the land element of the property is deemed to be one third of the total carrying value, based on research undertaken by Savills.co.uk. Further information can be found on their website. If acquired after that date and/or where freehold property has subsequently been extended, the cost of acquisition and/or extension is taken. No depreciation is provided because the trustees consider the current residual fair value of the properties in their present condition is not less than its historical cost, and, in the absence of any evidence of impairment, any depreciation provision for the buildings component of the properties would be immaterial.
## **xiii Receivables and Payables; Bank and Cash**
Debtors are stated at the amounts owed to the Circuit or prepaid. Creditors are initially recognised at settlement amount after any trade discounts, where normal credit terms apply, or amount advanced to the Circuit. Subsequently creditors that are current liabilities are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid. The liquid funds of bank balances and deposit account balances are shown at their realisable values.
## **xiv Methodist Connexional Funds**
The Methodist Church Connexion raises assessments against Circuits and these are paid quarterly to their Districts. The Circuits raise assessments against Churches in the Circuit. The District remits to The Methodist Church Fund quarterly most of the sums received from Circuits. A small sum is retained by the District to meet its own costs.
## **xv Ministers’ manse costs**
The Circuit is required to provide accommodation for each minister in the Circuit and their families and this is seen as a benefit to the Circuit. Ministers are expected to occupy the manse provided for them. The Circuit bears the cost of repairs, maintenance, buildings insurance, Council Tax and water charges. These figures are not separately disclosed as benefits in kind for ministers as HMRC does not seek to tax these receipts in the hands of ministers.
## **xvi Investment properties**
No property is currently deemed to not be held for the long term purposes of the charity.
## **xvii Financial instruments**
The Charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
15
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **2. Glossary of terms**
**CFB:** Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church manages a Common Deposit Fund and a series of pooled investment funds for Methodist entities in Great Britain and provides investment advice to those entities
**Church:** a group of members from fewer than 10 to more than 300
**Circuit:** a group of Methodist Churches near each other, typically between 10 and 30
**Circuit Meeting:** The Trustees of the Circuit, most of whom are appointed by their local Churches and others by virtue of a role they undertake for the Circuit and/or their local Churches.
**CMTF:** Circuit Model Trust Fund
**Connexion:** The Methodist Church in GB which includes the Head Office at Methodist Church House, all Methodist Districts, Circuits and Churches in Great Britain
**District:** a group of contiguous Circuits, usually between 15 and 30
**FRS:** Financial Reporting Standard
**HMRC:** Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
**MCF:** Methodist Church Fund
**SOFA:** Statement of Financial Activities
**SORP:** Statement of Recommended Practice
**TMCP:** Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes, the legal owner and Custodian Trustee of all Methodist Model Trust property, including Legacies, Endowments and Accumulated Funds
## **3. Income from donations**
|**Donations**|Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
2022|
|---|---|
||**-**
**2,186**
**2,186**
**100**|
## **4. Income from other trading activities**
Letting income has been received in respect of the following properties:-
|Huntingfield
Pollards Hill East
Southern Avenue
**Total**|Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
2022
10,000
10,000
-
36,000
22,800
36,000
22,800
11,000
9,500|
|---|---|
||**68,800**
**68,800**
**20,500**|
16
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **5. Assessments on Churches**
The Circuit comprises 8 churches and each is assessed for a contribution to meet the overall net costs of the Circuit. An Assessment on Churches is determined annually by the Circuit using a formulaic method which takes into account the relative number of members in each church and its relative income.
|Addington
Christ Church
Downsview
Norbury
Parchmore
Shirley
South Norwood
West Croydon
**Total**|Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
2022
20,266
20,266
22,532
33,955
33,955
39,288
28,385
28,385
33,076
14,509
14,509
6,787
26,508
26,508
27,616
49,054
49,054
54,148
22,426
22,426
26,108
41,200
41,200
41,000|
|---|---|
||**236,303**
**236,303**
**250,555**|
The churches are considered to be related parties of the circuit.
## **6. Grants receivable**
No grants were received in 2023 or 2022.
## **7. Grants and donations payable**
Total grants of £1,600 (2022: £Nil) were made from the Shared Warmth Fund to assist individuals with energy costs.
## **8. Salaries and associated costs**
Stipends were paid to 3 presbyters in the year (2022: 3 presbyters), and salaries paid to 1 lay workers (2022: 2 lay workers). The salaries are paid by the Connexion but funded by the Circuit.
The superintendent minister of the circuit, the other presbyters, the lay employees and the circuit stewards and treasurer make up the Circuit Leadership Team (CLT) and are considered as key management personnel. The superintendent chairs meetings of the CLT and circuit meetings. The members of the circuit meeting are the trustees of the circuit.
The Presbyters of the circuit undertake the primary executive roles within the circuit. Apart from the three presbyters and the lay employees, who are trustees by virtue of their position, no member of the circuit meeting or CLT was in receipt of any payment for work undertaken on behalf of the circuit although certain travelling and administration costs were incurred in relation to specific projects.
17
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023**
Key management personnel and total staff costs related to the presbyters and lay employees were as follows:
|Gross stipends and salaries
Employer's National Insurance contributions
Employer's pension contributions to defined
benefit and contribution schemes
Travel expenses
**Total key management personnel costs**
Fees paid to supernumerary ministers
Communications and other expenses
Computers for Ministry
Ministers training
Removal expenses
**Total salaries and associated costs**|2022 – 23
2021 – 22
£
£
96,850
122,734
7,989
12,148
22,738
23,510
1,235
1,910|
|---|---|
||**128,812**
**160,302**
1,575
1,300
3,206
3,921
528
513
287
318
7,747
0|
||**142,155**
**166,354 **|
Included in key management personnel costs above are salary and employment-related expenses related to the three non-presbyteral staff by category as follows:
|Gross salaries
Employer’s national insurance
Pension contributions
Travel expenses|Administration
Total
2021 - 22|
|---|---|
||17,545
17,545
42,680|
||1,181
1,181
3,547|
||1,053
1,053
2,560|
||65
65
798|
||**19,844**
**19,844**
**49,585**|
No employees received employee benefits that totalled more than £60,000. There is no accrual for holiday pay as it is immaterial; the holiday year ends on 31 August. All staff are paid at or above the living wage. The travel costs of Presbyters who attended CLT and circuit meetings is included within their overall travel expenses and is not separately determined.
## **Pensions**
Most ordained presbyters and deacons are members of the Methodist Ministers’ Pension Scheme (MMPS). This is a defined benefit scheme. The Supreme Court held in 2014 that Methodist ministers (which term includes presbyters and deacons) are not employees of the Church. For simplicity, however, when dealing with National Insurance Contributions and pension contributions, the terms ‘employer’ and ‘employee’ are used as they would be in an employing body.
On the other hand lay employees are contractually employees and have the option of joining a scheme which the Circuit has arranged with The Pensions Trust. This is a defined contribution scheme and the Circuit contributes as employer to this scheme.
The Connexion accounts for the MMPS in the annual Methodist Church in Great Britain accounts. The MMPS is in deficit but a plan for removal of the deficit has been proposed and is being implemented. Details of the deficit on this scheme can be found in the Annual Report and Accounts of The Methodist Church at www.methodist.org.uk
18
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **9. Property costs**
The circuit is Managing Trustee for 7 manses, 4 of which were occupied during the year by presbyters or lay staff serving in the Circuit. Three manses, Huntingfield, Pollards Hill East and Southern Avenue were let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancies. With the exception of the let manses, the Circuit is responsible for the payment of Council Tax, Utilities, Water Charges, Insurance and maintenance. In addition the Circuit pays a contribution towards the operational costs of the Circuit Office and periodic professional survey fees for the manses and churches in the Circuit. All costs are paid from the General Fund.
|**Maintenance -**
Barnfield Avenue
Norbury Avenue
The Manse, Huntingfield
Pollards Hill East
Sefton Road
Southern Avenue
Letting agents’ fees
Council Tax
Water charges
Insurance
Survey fees
**Total**|2022 – 23
2021 – 22
£
£
2,299
11,371
751
20,777
9,283
3,271
2,973
23,057
606
470
75
8,290
7,693
2,717
9,571
13,407
963
1,422
3,983
4,812
2,424
2,500|
|---|---|
||**40,621**
**92,094**|
## **10. District Assessment & Levy**
The District Assessment is calculated relative to the proportion of church members and staffing (presbyters and mission staff only) of all Circuits in the London District. 25% of the overall cost is calculated using relative staffing proportions and 75% is calculated using relative membership proportions.
The Levy is calculated on a sliding scale percentage of the Circuit’s CMTF account balance as at 31 August of the accounting year.
|Methodist Church Fund
(MCF)
District Expenses
Levy on CMTF funds
**Total**
**ther outgoings**
Circuit office
Resources
Payroll admin cost
Independent examiner’s fees
Miscellaneous
**Total**|Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
2022
51,514
51,514
57,166
12,182
12,182
8,158
3,138
3,138
4,673
**66,834**
**66,834**
**69,997**
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
2022
1,986
1,986
1,088
2,036
2,036
2,279
480
480
480
1,554
1,554
1,218
10,442
10,442
3,087
**16,498**
**16,498**
**8,152**|
|---|---|
## **11. Other outgoings**
19
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **12. Payments to trustees**
The Circuit does not make payments to trustees other than as disclosed in note 8 above.
## **13. Governance costs**
A fee of £1,554 (2022: £1,218) was charged by the Independent Examiner for the examination of the Circuit’s accounts and accounting records.
## **14. Circuit manses and equipment**
The Circuit Manses are all freehold properties and their value is shown as the deemed historical cost representing each property’s carrying value at 1 September 2015 or acquisition value if purchased after that date (see Note 1 (xii). The cost of extensions to freehold properties since 1 September 2015, or acquisition date if later, are capitalised.
Office equipment consists of one computer in the Circuit Office
## **14.1 Cost or valuation**
|**Cost or valuation**
Balance brought forward at
1 September, at cost
Additions in the year
Revaluations in the year
_Less:_Disposals in the year
Gain on sale
**Balance carried forward**|Office
Land
Buildings
Equipment
Total
£
£
£
£
704,100
1,458,748
1,336
2,164,184|
|---|---|
||**704,100**
**1,458,748**
**1,336**
**2,164,184**|
## **14.2 Accumulated depreciation**
|**Accumulated depreciation**
Balance brought forward at
1 September
Depreciation charge for the year
**Balance carried forward**|Office
Land
Buildings
Equipment
Total
£
£
£
£
1,336
1,336
0
0|
|---|---|
||**1,336**
**1,336**|
## **14.3 Net book value**
|Brought forward
**Balance carried forward**|Office
Land
Buildings
Equipment
Total
£
£
£
£
704,100
1,458,748
0
2,162,848|
|---|---|
||**704,100**
**1,458,748**
**0**
**2,162,848**|
20
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **15. Debtors and prepayments**
Circuit assessment debtors are measured on the basis of the amount expected to be recovered within twelve months. Debtors refer to the General Fund.
|**Trade debtors**
Circuit assessments (net of provisions of £54,476
(2022: £58,328))
**Prepayments and accrued income**
**Total (net)**|2022 – 23
2021 – 22
£
£
0
10,000
10,845
17,254|
|---|---|
||**10,845**
**27,254**|
## **16. Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes**
The funds that support the Circuit Model Trust Fund are held by TMCP in Trustees Interest Funds on which interest is credited to the accounts each month. These are regarded as medium and long term investments.
TMCP is the legal owner and Custodian Trustee of all Methodist Model Trust property, including Legacies, Endowments and Accumulated Funds. Trust property is held for and on behalf of local Managing Trustees who are responsible for the day to day management of trust property. TMCP ensure that, through providing guidance and acting under their direction, the Managing Trustees comply with charity law and Methodist law and policy as determined by the Methodist Conference.
## **17. Central Finance Board (CFB) and Cash at Bank**
The Circuit has a current accounts at Barclays Bank plc, an authorised institution. The sums held on those accounts are immediately available. In addition the Circuit has a deposit accounts at CFB, a common deposit fund. Interest is earned on these accounts and credited monthly; the sums deposited can be withdrawn without notice and without loss of interest. These sums are viewed as being liquid.
## **18. Creditors and accrued expenses**
Creditors and accrued expenses refer to the General Fund
|**Creditors and accruals**
Trade Creditors
Accruals and deferred income
**Total**
**Maturity analysis of basic financial**
**instruments**
**Trade creditors**
Trade Creditors
Accruals
**Total**|2023
2022
£
£
0
0
64,450
64,450
**64,450**
**64,450**
Accrued at
Accrual made
Accrued at
01-Sep-22
Paid in year
in year
31-Aug-23
0
0
0
0
64,450
(64,450)
26,248
26,248|
|---|---|
||**64,450**
**(64,450)**
**26,248**
**26,248**|
It is expected that all sums accrued at 31 August 2023 will be paid during the year to 31 August 2024.
21
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **19. Long Term Liabilities**
The Circuit has no long term liabilities as at 31 August 2023 (2022: £Nil)
## **20. Unrestricted Funds**
## _**20.1**_ **General Fund – balance £2,234,716 at 31 August 2023 (2022: £2,184,850)**
The purpose of the fund is for use at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the general objectives of the Circuit and which have not been designated for other purposes. About 97% of this fund is held as freehold properties. During the year £9,410 was paid out as grants and donations from the General Fund.
## _**20.2**_ **Circuit Model Trust Fund – balance £99,740 at 31 August 2023 (2022: £106,673)**
The purpose of the fund is for use at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the general objectives of the Circuit. Its main source of income is the contributions from the sale of manses in the Circuit.
Although this is technically an Unrestricted Fund under the control of the Circuit Meeting, prior approval is still required from the District to utilise these funds. Methodist Standing Orders 930, 913 and 917(2) are applicable.
## **21. Summary of movements on significant individual funds**
|**Fund**
General Fund
Model Trust Fund
Shared Warmth Fund
**Total Funds**
**Fund**
General Fund
Circuit Model Trust
Fund
**Total Funds**|Balance at
Balance at
01-Sep-22
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
31-Aug-23
£
£
£
£
£
2,184,850
305,836
(262,970)
7,000
2,234,716
106,673
3,205
(3,138)
(7,000)
99,740
2,186
(1,600)
586|
|---|---|
||**2,291,523**
**311,227**
**(267,708)**
**0**
**2,335,042**|
||Balance at
Balance at
01-Sep-21
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
31-Aug-22
£
£
£
£
£
2,220,488
271,286
(331,924)
25,000
2,184,850
135,729
617
(4,673)
(25,000)
106,673|
||**2,356,217**
**271,903**
**(336,597)**
**0**
**2,291,523**|
Transfers from the Circuit Model Trust Fund were to facilitate major repairs to circuit manses.
## **22. Volunteer contributions**
Every entity (Connexion, District, Circuit, Church) within the Methodist Church in GB is heavily reliant on volunteers who contribute their skills, time and money in the furtherance of the work of the Church. Principally this contribution is by serving on committees of the Circuit that deal with mission, manses, finance, policy, grants, training, development. We are grateful to all of them for their help and commitment.
22
## **Croydon Methodist Circuit**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **23. Capital commitments and contingent liabilities**
There were no capital commitments at the year end (2022: £nil). The circuit had contingent liabilities of £7,000 at the year end (2022: £7,000) representing grants awarded subject to conditions which had not yet been met at that date.
## **24. Lease Commitments**
The Circuit has contracts or obligations for the following:-
There are short term obligations for telephones and ancillary equipment at the Circuit Office. The total annual cost in not considered material.
23
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the Croydon Methodist Circuit**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Croydon Methodist Circuit (the charity) for the year ended 31 August 2023 set out on pages 11 to 23 **.**
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Church’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Report) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination;
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Paul Newton FCA Jacob Cavenagh & Skeet 5 Robin Hood Lane Sutton Surrey SM1 2SW
Date: June 2024 27
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