## **Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statement** **Year Ending 31[st] August 2025** NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **1 Objectives and activities** The Northampton District is a delightfully diverse area comprising towns and cities, villages and open spaces. As a District, we remain committed to supporting a flourishing and sustainable network of circuits of worshipping communities which are growing, evangelistic, justice-seeking, and inclusive in their outworking of the mission of God. To this end, the trustees of the Northampton District form the District Executive (District Policy Committee - DPC) and meet six times a year to consider our objectives and to plan our activities. The District Synod, under the leadership of the District Trustees, meets twice each year and recognises the Charity Commissioners’ general guidance on public benefit and conforms to the Charities Act 2011. Our primary purpose is to advance the mission of the Methodist Church in the region by supporting the Circuits, offering opportunities to learn from one another and by offering resources of finance, personnel and expertise that may not be available locally. This is primarily achieved through the District Mission Team, the District Ecumenical Officers, the District Safeguarding Officers and the District HR Officer. The Trustees are thankful for their efforts. Our mission is to be a powerful influence in the District and a visible expression of God’s inclusive love. It is the role of the trustees to shape and influence the District by setting policies and offering guidance where needed. This is also achieved by encouraging the worship, social, and outreach activities and by seeking new ways to extend to others the fellowship of the Church family. We seek to remind the circuits of the resources they already have and continue the encouragement for churches and circuits to be flexible in their outreach particularly in terms of digital presence and engagement. This strand is supported by the District Digital Enabler post which commenced in the previous reporting period. ## **2 Achievements and performance** - a) Looked forward, and - approved the District Mission Plan, agreeing to focus for the next two years on two of the four priorities – Evangelism and Justice-Seeking. - began work on the practicalities of recruiting a Net Zero Officer, to take forward the District’s environmental policy. - agreed that work with young people is vital, to build on 3Generate, and encouraged a meeting of lay workers to discuss how to support it at District level. - considered alternative ways of organising Synod. - b) Decided the budget for 2025/26, agreeing that Circuit assessments would not be increased, with the District Advance Fund bearing the extra cost including the higher Connexional MCF assessment. Circuits were asked to use that breathing space to think about missional opportunities. 2 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 - c) Reviewed and approved a number of matters including: - grant applications: - Paid grants of £197,900 to circuits and churches in support of mission projects and property schemes with a clear priority for mission. - Committed £157,583 to be paid in under 12 months to provide financial support of projects. - Committed £230,749 for future years where a satisfactory monitoring and evaluation report has been received. - a number of District policies, including a Safeguarding Policy. - arrangements for the transfer of the District Safeguarding Officers to employment by the Methodist Church in Great Britain. - Merger of two Circuits - d) Received reports from and reviewed the work of - the District Mission Team - the District Treasurer and Grants Officer - the District Property Officer - the District Safeguarding Team - the District Ecumenical Officer - e) Discussed the difficulties faced by circuits in managing property - f) It was agreed that six Methodist churches could discontinue meeting for worship - g) Considered issues to do with being a Justice-seeking church and agreed to have a session on refugees and asylum seekers at the next two Synods. - h) pursued the Methodist objective of Net Zero by 2030, hearing of an active EcoSummit, and agreeing criteria for Action for Hope funds, including funds for any circuit conducting an energy audit of a church. - i) Began a discussion on future District mission priorities. - j) Made grants to ministers and lay people engaging in training relevant to their role in the church. - k) Supported 4 candidates for ordained presbyteral ministry (2 of whom were accepted for pre-ordination training) - l) Supported 2 probationer ministers in the early years of their ministry and moving to ordination. - m) Provided leadership in the development of regional co-operation with neighbouring Districts especially as regards the nurturing of the probationer ministers across the region through a Shared Districts Probationers Committee. - n) Were unable to fulfil all vacant ministerial appointments in the year and so one Circuit appointment was left unfilled. - o) Continued with learning and development opportunities for lay and ordained people through study days and learning groups all on zoom. - p) Held eco-summit gatherings of green champions representing different circuits across the District. 3 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **3 Financial review** During the year, the District received total income of £1,495k (2023-24: £928k) and dispersed £956k (2023-24: £1,019k). The trustees of the District have every reason to believe that the District is a going concern, principally because Circuits continue to meet their assessments and the District has adequate funds in the District Advance Fund (DAF) to cover any shortfall in income. There are no subsidiary undertakings. Trustees do not foresee any factors that will significantly affect the financial performance or position in the next year or two. The District has the following principal sources of funds: - Interest on investments - Levies on the Circuit Model Trust Funds of Circuits within the District - Contribution from the Connexional Advance and Property Fund - Assessments on Circuits within the District - Funding for distribution of grants from the Connexion (Action for Hope and the London Mission Fund). These sums are used to administer the District and to provide grants to Circuits, Churches and individuals in the District so that they may embark on, or continue with, projects that fulfil the mission of the District by bringing more people to Christ or by providing facilities that might enable this to happen. ## **3.1** ## **Investment Policy and Performance** To comply with Methodist Standing Orders, monies for long term investment are lodged with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP). TMCP acts as custodian trustee for all real estate held by Districts and for all large (over £20k) bequests and for the proceeds of sale of any property formerly owned by the District. These sums are invested in unitised investments or held on deposit. The investment returns are close to tracking the movements in the FTSE100 index. The deposit income mirrors the deposit rates available elsewhere. The investment policy of the Northampton District is aligned with that of the Central Finance Board (CFB) and TMCP because these organisations take into consideration the social, environmental and ethical considerations, both negatively and positively, that make investments suitable for the Methodist Church. Short term deposits are lodged directly with the CFB and attract good rates of interest. There are no bench marks for the expected returns or appreciation on investments at TMCP and CFB. It is the District’s policy to manage the cash and investment resources of the District so that a rate of return on investment – both by way of dividend and capital appreciation – is obtained at least as good as market rate considering the District’s low appetite for risk. ## **3.2 Reserves level and policy** Although grants are made annually out of the District Advance Fund (DAF), it is recognised that some grants will be paid by annual instalments. The trustees ensure that there is sufficient in the DAF to meet these instalments, and the trustees recognise future approved grants as liabilities on the balance sheet. Excluding the value of the manse, the reserves held in the General Fund at 31.08.25 are £19,983 (£27,455 at 31.08.24). This is slightly less than the sum of £20,000 required by our Reserves Policy. The funds held at the end of the year were as follows: 4 ## NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ||£|£| |---|---|---| |_Unrestricted funds_||| |General Fund (including Fixed Assets)|594,983|| |District Advance Fund|518,260|| |||1,113,243| |_Designated funds_||| |Manse Fund|17,316|| |Training Fund|13,920|| |Education and Youth|16,537|| |FEAST|11,518|| |Overstone Chaplain|-2,524|| |Digital Enabler|17,942|| |||74,709| |Total unrestricted funds (including designated)||**1,187,951**| |_Restricted funds_||| |Local Preachers Fund|10,762|| |Ministerial Training Fund|6,054|| |Benevolence Fund|1,210|| |Methodist Women in Britain|618|| |||18,643| |Total Funds||**1,206,594**| |Total designated and unrestricted funds||1,187,951| |Less invested in the manse||-575,000| |Uncommitted reserves||**612,951**| All funds are separately invested either with CFB or TMCP. No money is directly invested in property, securities or other forms of investment. ## **3.3 Collaborative arrangements with connected charities** The District’s main source of funding for general expenses is the assessments obtained from each Circuit within the District based on the staffing levels of the Circuit and their reserves. This was used to defray most of the cost of administering the District. This sum amounted to £204,782 (2023-24: £198,907). Each year the District is allocated a sum by the London Mission Fund (LMF). In 2024-23 this amounted to £19,705 which may be used to pay for, or contribute towards, the cost of activities within certain circuits within the District. The arrangements for managing these funds were changed during 2024-25 and the funds are remitted to the District, held in the District Advance Fund and appear in the accounts of the District. Applications for grant are received in the usual way, and grants are awarded by the District Executive (DPC). The District also obtained from each Circuit with a reserve, known as a Circuit Model Trust Fund (CMTF), a levy based on the size of the Circuits’ CMTFs at the start of the connexional year (01 September). In 2024-25 this sum was £251,352 and was credited to the District Advance Fund. The District holds no funds as custodian trustee. However, it does receive quarterly contributions from Circuits for the Methodist Church Fund (MCF). These sums are collected as agent for the MCF and are passed to the MCF later in the same quarter. Funds received by the District as agent are not recognised as an asset in the financial statements because the funds are not within its control. No fee is earned in respect of this and the District incurs no cost through this arrangement. 5 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **4 Trustees’ responsibilities** For each financial year ending on 31 August the Trustees are required to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the District’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees must: - select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently using the accruals method - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent - follow applicable accounting standards - prepare accounts to comply with the Charities SORP The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the District and enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the District and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the District’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. Training in the responsibilities of trustees is offered to all new trustees soon after their appointment. ## **4.1 Risk** The District is largely risk averse but, especially in making grants to entities embarking on new and imaginative initiatives, the District is prepared to underwrite considered risks. Risks are managed by being aware of them, quantifying their impact not only in cost terms but in possible reputational or structural damage, laying them off through an insurer and minimising them by not taking them or by setting up control systems that timeously report any significant change in the risk. The Trustees have examined the major strategic business and operational risks which the Charity faces, and confirm that systems have been established to enable regular reports to be produced so that the necessary steps can be taken to monitor these risks. ## **5 Structure, governance and management** The District is an unincorporated association and is governed by the Methodist Church Act 1976, the Deed of Union and the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church and was registered with the Charity Commission on 26 June 2009. ## **5.1 Structure** Circuits are the coordinating charities for local groups of Churches and they pay the stipends of the ministers and employ lay staff to serve the Churches in the Circuit. Most decisions are made at, or ratified by, the regular Circuit Meetings. A District is the coordinating charity for a group of contiguous Circuits and makes its decisions at the half yearly synods. The Methodist Conference is the governing body of the Methodist Church and meets once each year. The Connexional Council undertakes ongoing work on behalf of the Conference and is authorised to act on behalf of the Conference between Conferences. 6 ## NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 1. Overall regulatory authority rests with the Methodist Conference. 2. The connexional offices implement decisions made by Conference and are also responsible for the stationing of presbyters and deacons (collectively known as ministers) in individual Circuits within the District. 3. Connexional decisions are passed to the Chair of the District and the appropriate officers of the District for implementation. 4. The District passes control down to Circuit level for local implementation by the Superintendent Minister, ministerial staff and Circuit Stewards, and authority is delegated to the Circuit Meeting for certain matters. 5. The Circuit Meeting passes regulatory control down to Church Councils for local implementation by the presbyter, the Church Stewards, and other officers, and this regulatory authority is then exercised by Church Councils as Managing Trustees of their charity. ## **5.2 Purpose of the District** The District is an expression, over a wider geographical area than any Circuit, of the Connexional character of the Church. 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 purposes 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. The primary purpose of this District is to advance the mission of the Church in Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire and Oxfordshire together with parts of several adjoining counties. This is achieved by - providing opportunities for Circuits to work together and support each other - offering to Circuits resources of finance, personnel and expertise. The District serves the Local Churches and Circuits and the Conference in the support, deployment and oversight of the various ministries of the Church, and in programmes of training. ## **5.3 Governance** The District operates within a statutory framework of regulation and seeks to ensure that it follows Methodist Standing Orders. It relies on the connexional offices at 25 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SF to provide guidance on changes that could affect the District. The members of the District Executive (DPC) are annually appointed by a vote of the Synod for a continuous term not normally exceeding six years. The Chair of District is _ex officio_ chair of the District Executive. When a position becomes vacant on the District Executive, nominations are invited from ministers and lay members of Circuits within the District. The Chair of the District then shares with nominees what the roles involve. If they wish to be considered for a role, their names and reasoned statements are taken to the District Executive and the District Synod for appointment. Members may be either ministers or lay people attending Churches in the area covered by the District. 7 ## NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 The District Executive normally meets six times per year and deals with routine and exceptional matters. It oversees the work of the Grants Committee, finance, property, the District office, the District manses, stationing, safeguarding, the work of the District Mission Team, authorisations to preside at communion and extensions to local preacher training. ## **5.4 Responsibilities of the District Executive (DPC)** - i to formulate and promote policies which will advance the mission of the Church in the Circuits and Local Churches and to supervise the use of resources of personnel, property and finance and to assist Local Churches and Circuits having exceptional problems - ii to encourage inter-Circuit and ecumenical co-operation - iii to act in an executive capacity in matters remitted to the Committee by the Synod - iv to keep within its purview all District concerns not dealt with elsewhere - v to contribute and respond to the development of Connexional policies as reflected in the work of the Conference and the Methodist Council, and to carry out its other responsibilities with any such development in mind - vi to be aware that the stipend of the Chair of the District is set – currently by reference to the change over a year in the Consumer Price Index and to the annual change in the Average Weekly Earnings Index – using a formula that was agreed by the Methodist Conference for all ministers within the Connexion - vii constantly to be aware of the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission ## **6 Reference and Administrative Details** ## **6.1 Name of the charity** The Northampton District of the Methodist Church. ## **6.2 Charity registration number** 1130373, registered in England and Wales ## **6.3 Principal Office** District Office Bouverie Court 6 The Lakes Bedford Road Northampton NN4 7YD ## Tel: 01604 630128 E-mail: office@northamptonmethodistdistrict.co.uk Web-site: www.northamptonmethodist district.org.uk ## **6.4 Chair of the District** Revd. Dr. Sonia Hicks 8 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **6.5 Secretary of the Synod** Revd. Alan Bolton (Presbyteral) Mr Paul Spray (Representative) ## **6.6 District Treasurer** Mr Andrew Lewis ## **6.7 Names of trustees** The following served as trustees during the year 2024-25 or were trustees at the time of this report being approved: Revd. Dr. Sonia Hicks (Chair) Revd. Alan Bolton (Presbyteral Synod Secretary) Mr Andrew Lewis (Treasurer & Grants Officer) Mr Chris Linford (Property Secretary) Mr Matthew Forsyth (District Mission Enabler) Revd. David Alderman (Deputy Chair) Dr. Hellen Okello Revd. Andrew Farrington Ms Janet Hinds Mr Paul Spray (Representative Synod Secretary) Revd. Sara Cliff to 31 July 2025 Revd. Langley Mackrell-Hey to 31 July 2025 Revd. David Speirs to 31 July 2025 Mrs Jennifer Oliver (Secretary) Revd. Ian Suttie (Ecumenical Officer) Revd. Edson Dube Revd. Karen Beecham from 06 August 2025 Revd. Philip Robinson from 06 August 2025 The Managing Trustees for the District are the members of the District Executive (DPC). No trustee claims exemption from disclosure of his or her name here. ## **6.8 Bankers** CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church 9 Bonhill Street London EC2A 4PE ## **6.9 Investment managers and custodian trustees** Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes Central Buildings Oldham Street Manchester M1 1JQ 9 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **6.10 Auditor** Mr David Briscoe 11 De Montfort Road Hinckley Leicestershire LE10 1LQ ## **Approvals** The Trustees’ Report and the Financial Statements were approved by the District Executive Committee on 18 June 2026. Signed on behalf of the District Executive Committee Revd. Dr Sonia Hicks District Chair Date: 18 June 2026 Andrew Lewis District Treasurer Date: 18 June 2026 10 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 Statement of Flnanclal Activities (SOFA} for the year ended 31 August 2025 D18trf Not￿ to Advane• D•ffslgnat•d the G￿?1*1 Fund Fund Funds n¢* IUnrgstrf¢l•dl IUnr•strf￿￿dl lunr••trf¢t•dl R•itrfGtqd Endowffl•nt Fund• Fund• Total 202&25 In¢omo from 1 Donatrjns and 2 Conn8xb)nal knance & Prcpety Fund 3 Incorne frorn vwe5trrents IKomelrom charttabieaciilttles 4 Assessm8nts cfi cycuits 5 From Circu* Vthel Tru51 Fund5 6 ConirthlK)n to Ihe co&t of thè Char 7 Other Charrtab￿ acfvrtbs 8 1ncomefr¢)m ¢AhEr tr9d￿g actr4rtB5 9 Other i)com8 Total Incorn• 1,038 1.038 505,238 93.929 5)4,483 87,125 755 4,782 2Q4,782 251.351 251.351 50,045 359,882 1,201840 28,O)J 388.819 1N95,201 260,801 1,793 Expendlturn 9 Grants and dcnalh)ns 9a Grant5 and donatK)ns hl 202&26 9b Grants 8ThJ dtr)81w)ns after 202&26 10 Salar￿8 and assr*H￿￿ ¢￿ts 11 Cost of the Char 12 Prop8rty Mawilenanc6 13 Offte expenses 14 Syn(x15, ¢ornnMttees, ￿ferenGe 15 Tra￿Ing 16 Profess#Thl f888 17 Other outwi￿S Total •x￿ndIt￿rn .198.589 261.435 379,850 -195,539 261,435 379,850 355,183 57.601 8.414 18,906 7.852 BA07 242.165 57.601 6,414 14.340 7.652 8,307 348 24.(￿9 360,896 113,Q18 12 32,147 145.605 56,216 958.3n 447.102 2.770 N•t In¢om•ll•xpafidhur*l b￿0 galn¥ 8nd lomos on Invutm•nts 18 N81 gainsllbss8s1 on in¥8strnents Ngt Incom￿(8Xp8fid￿lUT•} 19 Transfers b8twèen funds 20 Other gainsllk)Ss￿} N•t rnovqffl•nt In fund -100.29S 75sn8 .11&638 .977 $38.828 .100.295 92,823 755.738 -211,665 .115.638 133,386 .977 -14,544 $38.828 14 50,000 $8B,828 42.S28 Y4.074 17.748 -14S21 TotalfUndsbroughtfo￿ard Totalfunds tarrledtorward 552.455 $94.gB3 -2S.814 511,260 34,184 18.643 617,706 1.206,595 74.709 li ## NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 18 June 2026. Signed: Revd. Dr. Sonia Hicks District Chair Andrew Lewis District Treasurer 12 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **1 Accounting framework and accounting policies** ## **i Accounting framework** The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the 2014 version of _Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP)_ applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective from 1 January 2015) – (the Charities SORP (FRS 102) as amended by Update Bulletin 1) – in replacement for the SORP’s 2005 version specified in its related 2008 Regulations and in accordance with the “true and fair override” provision contained therein. ## **ii Public benefit entity** The Northampton Methodist District meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes below. ## **iii Basis** These accounts have been based on historical cost except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year, on the accruals basis to show a true and fair view of the District’s financial position and activities. ## **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** Based on the monetary assets and human resources available on 31 August 2025, the trustees believe that the District is a going concern. ## **vi Consolidation** The District oversees the work of ministers and lay workers in Churches and Circuits within the District but does not have control over those Circuits or Churches, ministers or lay workers except in extreme circumstances, none of which were applicable. For this reason, the financial statements of the Churches and Circuits within the District are not consolidated into these financial statements. ## **vii Income recognition** Income is brought into account when it is more likely than not that the economic benefit of the income will accrue to the Northampton District. No attempt is made to measure the value of services donated by volunteers. Details of the cost of the District Chair are in Note 3 and the same figure also appears in the Expenditure at Note 6. Individual amounts categorised as _Other income_ in the SOFA will be shown separately if they are considered material. 13 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 The District acts as agent in the following matters: - the collection of quarterly assessments from circuits which are paid to the Methodist Church Fund (MCF). - the payment of expenses of delegates from the District to the Methodist Conference. In all these matters the transactions are not reflected in the SOFA because there is no obligation on the District to make up any shortfall in assessments from Circuits. Sums received as Circuit assessments cannot be recognised as income in the District as they are the income of the MCF. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the time of volunteers is not recognised. ## **viii Expenditure** This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, that results in the payment being unavoidable. Liabilities are recognised as soon as an outflow of economic benefit is considered more likely than not under the legal or constructive obligation committing the District to pay out resources. ## **ix Grants** Grants are recognised annually only as and when any performance conditions attaching to the award are met, even when the award is for a recurrent grant over more than one year. All grants awarded for payment in future financial years are conditional on the Finance and Grants Committee being satisfied, based on progress reports from the grantee, that the grant's achievements to date justify the payment of further instalments of that grant. Such commitments are noted as contingent liabilities and included within the District Advance Fund or other relevant designated fund in these accounts. ## **x VAT** Since the District is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers. ## **xi Tangible fixed assets** These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and individually cost at least £1,000. The manse (289 Billing Road East) is shown in the accounts at £575,000 and the land component is deemed to be £120,000. No depreciation is provided on the building because the trustees consider the current residual fair value of the manse buildings to be not less than its current value. Any depreciation would not be material. ## **xii Investments** The investments of the Northampton District are held by the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP) as custodian trustees. The valuations, at market value, are those provided by TMCP. The unrealised gains arising on investments at the end of the year are shown in the SOFA. ## **xiii Debtors and Creditors; Bank and Cash** Debtors are stated at the amounts owed to the District or prepaid. Creditors are initially recognised at settlement amount after any trade discounts, where normal credit terms apply, or amount advanced to the District. 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 the realisable values. 14 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **xiv Loans** Where concessionary loans ( _i.e._ free of interest) are made to (or received by) the District to further its charitable purposes, and are repayable after more than one year, they are initially recognised at the amount paid [or received], with the carrying value adjusted in subsequent years to reflect repayments and any accrued interest, adjusted for any impairment, if necessary. Where there is objective evidence of impairment, an immediate impairment loss is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities. Subsequent reversals of an impairment loss that objectively relate to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised, are recognised immediately in the Statement of Financial Activities. ## **xv Methodist Church Fund** The District acts as agent for the Methodist Church Fund (MCF) by collecting its assessments on Circuits and does not, therefore, include the assessments in the SOFA. If a Circuit is late in paying its MCF assessment to the District but such sum is received before the quarterly transfer to the MCF, the amount paid late will be shown as a debtor in the District’s accounts. ## **xvi Ministers’ manse costs** The District is required to provide accommodation for each Minister and their families. The District bears the cost of repairs, maintenance, building insurance, Council Tax and water charges. These costs are not shown separately as benefits-in-kind for Ministers as HMRC does not seek to tax these receipts in the hands of the Ministers. ## **2 a) Assessment on Circuits** All Circuits (see list given below in this note) paid their assessments to the District and to the MCF during the year. The assessment on Circuits is annually determined by an agreed formula. |1|Oxford|2 Wantage & Abingdon| |---|---|---| |3|West Oxfordshire|5 Banbury| |6|Buckingham, Bicester & Brackley|7 Leicester Trinity| |9|Leicester West|10 Loughborough| |11|Hinckley|12 Melton Mowbray| |13|Northampton|14 East Mercia| |15|Stamford|21 Peterborough| |23|Nene Valley|26 Milton Keynes| |27|High Wycombe|28 Amersham| |29|Vale of Aylesbury|| ## **b) Contribution to Methodist Church Fund (MCF)** In addition to the assessments on the Circuits to help defray the costs of running the District, the District acted as agent for the Methodist Church Fund which levied assessments on the Circuits in this District totalling £816,401 (2023-24: £768,016) all of which were collected or shown as debtors at the end of the year and paid over to the MCF in the year. No balance was held at the end of the year; no fee is received for this service which is performed at nearly nil cost to the District. These sums collected for and remitted to the MCF do not appear elsewhere in these financial statements. 15 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **3 Cost of Chair and trustees** ## **District Chair** The Chair of District chairs meetings of the District Executive Committee (District Policy Committee or DPC). The members of the DPC are the trustees of the District. The stipend, employer’s NIC and employer’s pension contributions of the Chair of District are paid by the Methodist Connexion. The Chair’s other costs are met mostly by the District. £ Stipend of Chair of District, Revd. Dr. Sonia Hicks 31,020 District Chair Allowance 7,755 Employer’s National Insurance contributions 5,066 Employer’s pension contributions 6,204 Chair’s expenses (including travel costs) 3,042 Housing Costs (Insurance, Water and Council Tax) 4,515 **Total 57,601** Stipend cost paid by the Connexion (see SOFA, line 6) 50,045 **Total Cost to District 7,556** Since the stipend-related costs above (£50,045) are borne by the Connexion, they appear both in the Income of the District and the Expenditure of the District (See Note 6). It should be noted that the chair is required to occupy the District manse. The manse is provided by the Northampton District and the District maintains the property. No accrual is made for the Chair’s entitlement to a sabbatical as her functions are undertaken by a Deputy Chair at minimal extra cost to the District. ## **District Mission Team Leader** The District Mission Team Leader (DMTL) is employed by the District to concentrate on supporting and resourcing circuits and churches for their mission and to manage other members of the Mission Team. The DMTL is a member of the District Executive Committee and a trustee. Remuneration of the DMTL is legally authorised as provided in the governing document as described in the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church (Book II, Part 2) All costs of his employment in 2024-25 were met by the District as follows: |||2024-25|2023-24| |---|---|---|---| |||£|£| |Salary of DMTL, Mr. Matthew Forsyth||52,827|49,458| |Employer’s National Insurance contributions||6509|5,570| |Employer’s pension contributions||3170|2,967| |Other Payroll costs including Apprenticeship Levy||388|337| ||**Total**|**62,894**|**58,332**| |DMTL’s travel expenses||4,166|4,638| |DMTL’s Office equipment||356|442| |DMTL’s other expenses||569|651| ||**Total Cost**|**67,986**|**64,063**| 16 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **Payments to trustees** It is District policy to offer to reimburse members of the District Executive Committee and others involved in the administration of District affairs for expenditure properly incurred in carrying out their duties. The Chair of the District undertakes the primary executive role within the District. Apart from the Chair of District and the District Mission Enabler, no member of the District Executive Committee was in receipt of any payment for work undertaken on behalf of the District, although certain travelling and administration costs were reimbursed whenever this was requested. ## **4 Other income** The District does not undertake fundraising. ## **5 Grants and donations and related support costs** Grants and donations totalling £464,192 were paid from the District Advance Fund during the year (2023-24: £420,455). £237,983 was paid in grants to churches and circuits in the District and £226,209 was transferred to the District General Fund or Designated Funds as shown in the tables below. |**Transfers to and from District Advance Fund**|**2024-25**| |---|---| ||£| |To District General Fund for the Mission Team Leader|62,500| |To District General Fund for Ecumenical Sponsorship|9,159| |To District General Fund for Safeguarding|27,500| |To Designated Fund for FEAST|28,000| |To Designated Fund for the Overstone Chaplain|37,000| |To Designated Fund for the Digital Enabler|53,500| |To Designated Fund for Education & Youth Work|8,550| |**Total transferred to District General Fund**|**226,209**| |**Grants paid from DAF**|**2024-25**| |---|---| ||£| |Mission and Ministry Grants|330,792| |Property Grants|106,151| |Start-Up Grants|12,653| |MAPJ Grants|13,550| |Action for Hope Grants|1,046| |**Total Paid**|**464,192**| |Less Transfers to District General Fund|-226,209| |Less Grants committed at 31.08.24|-436,572| |**Total to SOFA– Line 9**|**-198,589**| ||| |**Grants to be paid during 2025-26**|**£**| |Mission and Ministry Grants|468,733| |Property Grants|109,035| |**Total to be paid**|**577,768**| |Less Grants committed at 31.08.24|316,333| |**Total to SOFA– Line 9a**|**261,435**| 17 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 |**Grants to be paid after 2025-26**|**£**| |---|---| |Mission and Ministry Grants|1,009,449| |Less Grants committed at 31.08.24|629,599| |**Total to SOFA– Line 9b**|**379,850**| Details of the recipients of grants paid by the District during the year may be found on the District website: - https://www.northamptonmethodistdistrict.org.uk/lib/file 982934.pdf ## **Funds held for District Projects** |**Description**|**Balance**
**at**
**31.08.24**|**Balance**
**at**
**31.08.25**|**Increase**
**Decrease**| |---|---|---|---| ||£|£|£| |General Fund|||| |Extending Discipleship Exploring Vocation (EDEV)|1,374|0|-1,374| |Training Officer / Development Enabler|6,376|0|-6,376| |**Totals – General Fund**|**7,750**|**0**|**-7,750**| |Designated and Restricted Funds|||| |NPNP–FEAST|21,359|11,518|-9,841| |OverstoneChaplaincy|-3,862|-2,524|1,338| |Digital Enabler|4,274|18,023|13,749| |MAPJ Funding for Grants (Restricted)|14,544|0|-14,544| |Methodist Women in Britain(Restricted)|668|618|-50| |**Totals– Designated and Restricted Funds**|**36,982**|**27,634**|**-9,348**| At 31[st] August 2024, funds for some Designated and Restricted purposes were held in the General Fund accounts with CAF Bank and CFB. During the 2024-25 year, these funds were transferred to more appropriate accounts as follows: - Extending Discipleship Exploring Vocation (EDEV) - £1,374 transferred to the designated Education and Youth Fund. - Training Officer / Development Enabler - £6,376 transferred to the designated Training Fund - MAPJ Funding - £14,544 transferred to the District Advance Fund for distribution in the form of MAPJ grants. ## **Expenditure on charitable activities through the District Advance Fund (DAF)** The DAF receives formulaically determined contributions from the Circuit Model Trust Funds held by Circuits within the District and redistributes the monies to grantees in the District through relevant grants as assessed by the District Finance and Grants Committee. The Finance and Grants Committee is aware that grant applications must demonstrate public benefit. ## **6 Salaries and associated costs** In addition to the District Mission Team Leader, gross salaries were paid to three full time and seven part time employees. One of the full-time employees was on maternity leave from January 2025 and two part time employees were recruited to cover the absence. One of these left during the year. One part-time and one full-time employee left the employment of the District as they were transferred to the Connexional Safeguarding. The total costs were as follows: 18 ## NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ||2024-25| |---|---| ||£| |Gross pay|213,884| |Employer’s National Insurance contributions|22,809| |Employer’s pension contributions to defined contribution schemes|12,391| |Miscellaneous Payroll Costs including the Apprenticeship Levy and SMP|2,258| |**Total costs of 11 staff**|**251,342**| |Cost of District Mission Enabler (see Note 3)|62,506| |Miscellaneous DMTL Payroll Costs including the Apprenticeship Levy|388| |**Total (excluding the Chair)**|**314,236**| |Cost of Chair (see Note 3)|50,045| |**Total staff costs**|**364,281**| All lay employees are paid at or above the real living wage. The lay employees provided services for safeguarding, administration, Human Resources, Mission and one was employed as a Community Chaplain. ## **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. Lay employees are contractually employees and are automatically enrolled in NEST if eligible. ## **7 Property Maintenance** ||2024-25|2023-24| |---|---|---| ||£|£| |Chair’s manse|6,414|18,998| |**Total**|6,414|18,998| ## **8 Office expenses (General fund)** ||2024-25|2023-24| |---|---|---| ||£|£| |Printing, postage and stationery|474|1,935| |Telephone|1,907|2,042| |Bouverie Court|8,640|8,640| |Office staff costs (excluding salaries)|2,185|3,465| |Office Equipment|1,134|1,870| |**Total charged to General Fund**|**14,340**|**17,952**| |TMCP Charges|4,406|3,228| |Overstone Office|160|1,222| |**Total**|**18,906**|**22,402**| 19 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **9 Synods, Committees, Conference** ||2024-25|2023-24| |---|---|---| ||£|£| |Synods|3,952|1,727| |Committees|3,700|4,501| |**Total**|**7,652**|**6,228**| ## **10 Training** |**Training**||| |---|---|---| ||2024-25|2023-24| ||£|£| |Further Ministerial Training|5,677|7,470| |Other Training|2,630|912| |**Total**|**8,307**|**8,382**| ## **11 Professional Fees** ||2024-25|2023-24| |---|---|---| ||£|£| |Bank Fees|60|60| |Independent Examination of Accounts|288|288| |**Total**|**348**|**348**| ## **12 Other outgoings** |**Other outgoings**|| |---|---| ||£| |Safeguarding Costs (excl. Salaries)|8,414| |Ministers’ meetings (including Superintendents and new|7,733| |ministers)|| |DMTL Expenses (see Note 3)|5,092| |Other Expenses|911| |Miscellaneous Costs|1,919| |**Total from General Fund**|**24,069**| 20 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **13 Transfers between funds** The following transfers between funds were made during 2024-25. ||Gen.
Fund|Restr.
Funds|Desig.
Funds|DAF| |---|---|---|---|---| ||£||£|£| |||||| |District Mission Enabler (Team Leader)|62,500|||(62,500)| |Ecumenical Subscriptions|9,159|||(9,159)| |To General Fund for Safeguarding Costs|27,500|||(27,500)| |FEAST|||28,000|(28,000)| |Overstone Chaplain|||37,000|(37,000)| |Digital Enabler|||53,500|(53,500)| |Education & Youth|||8,550|(8,550)| |Education & Youth|(1,374)||1,374|| |Manse Repair Fund|1,414||(1,414)|| |Training Fund|(6,376)||6,376|| |MAPJ Grant Fund||(14,544)||14,544| |**Totals**|**92,823**|**(14,544)**|**133,386**|**(211,665)**| ## **14 Manse and other property** The District Chair’s manse at 289 Billing Road East. ||Land|Buildings|Others|Total| |---|---|---|---|---| ||£|£|£|£| |**Cost or valuation**||||| |Balance brought forward at
1 September 2024|110,000|415,000|0|525,000| |**Balance carried forward at**
**31 August 2025**|**120,000**|**455,000**|**0**|**575,000**| ## **15 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes** The funds that support the District Advance 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. 21 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **16 Central Finance Board (CFB) and Cash at Bank** The District holds a current account with CAF Bank, an authorised institution. The sums held are immediately available. In addition, the District has seven 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. ## **17 Debtors and prepayments** |
**Debtors and prepayments**||| |---|---|---| |**Prepayments**|2024-25|2023-24| ||£|£| |Sedgebrook Hall–Supers’Conf.–March 2026|387|0| |The Frame–Supers’Conf. Meal–October 2025|250|0| |Chairs’Retreat 2026|250|0| |Ecumenical Conference 2025|290|0| |Ministerial Stipend (incl. Pension and NIC)|3,535|3,367| |**Total**|**4,712**|**3,367**| ## **18 Creditors and accrued expenses** |**Creditors and accrued expenses**||| |---|---|---| |**Creditors**|2024-25|2023-24| ||£|£| |Expenses reimbursement|2,289|3,118| |Youth Event|1,000|665| |Telephone Costs|0|113| |Office Maintenance (IT Recycling)|0|93| |Supervision Sessions|0|60| |**Total**|**3,289**|**4,049**| ## **19 Grant Commitments and the District Advance Fund** Where grants are payable in annual instalments, it is necessary for the grantee to provide a satisfactory report on the achievements of activities funded by previous instalments of the multi-year grant award before any further instalments are paid. These reports are reviewed at the July meeting of the Finance and Grants Committee and the commitments for the following financial year are confirmed at that meeting subject to the approval of the District Executive (DPC). It is the District’s policy to recognise these committed grants as expenditure out of this fund and thus accrue the unpaid amounts at the year-end as liabilities. Payments for all subsequent years are included even though they remain subject to a satisfactory progress report. ## **20 Unrestricted Funds** ## **20.1 General Fund – balance £595,103 on 31 August 2025** The purpose of the fund is for use at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the general objectives of the District and which have not been designated for other purposes. £575,000 of this fund is held as freehold property (the manse for the Chair of District). 22 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **20.2 Designated Funds – balance £74,709 on 31 August 2025** These funds are to serve specific purposes but are not restricted by any document or deed to that purpose alone. These funds comprise: - The Manse Fund – balance £17,316 (2024: £17,919) is available to meet the costs of maintenance and improvements in the accommodation at the District manse. - The Training Fund – balance £13,920 (2024: £7,207). - *The Education and Youth Fund – balance £16,537 (2024: £10,063). - **NPNP (FEAST) – balance £11,518 (2024: £21,359). - **Overstone Chaplaincy – balance -£2,524 (2024: -£3,862). - **Digital Enabler – balance £17,942 (2024: £4,274). * The balance in the Education and Youth CFB account is £20,527 as an expenditure of £3,990 had been paid from the current account (General Fund) and was not transferred from the Education and Youth Fund. This will be transferred during the 2025-26 year. ** The funds for these projects are held in the General Fund account and not in separate bank accounts. ## **21 Restricted Funds - balance £18,643 on 31 August 2025** - The Local Preachers’ Fund – balance £10,762 (2024: £12,888) - The Ministerial Training Fund – balance £6,054 (2024: £5,231) - The Benevolence Fund – balance £1,210 (2024: £834) - ** Methodist Women in Britain – balance £618 (2024: £668) ** The funds for these projects are held in the General Fund account and not in separate bank accounts. |**22**
**Summary of movements on significant**|**22**
**Summary of movements on significant**|**22**
**Summary of movements on significant**|**22**
**Summary of movements on significant**|**individual**|**funds**|| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||**Balance**|||||**Balance**| ||**at**||**Expen-**|**Trans-**|**Gains/**|**at**| |**Fund**|**01.09.24**|**Income**|**diture**|**fers**|**Losses**|**31.08.25**| ||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**| |**General Fund**||||||| |(excluding Fixed Assets)|27,455|260,601|360,896|92,823|-11,342|19,983| |**District Advance Fund**|-25,814|1,202,840|447,102|-211,665|544,074|518,260| |Manse (Designated)|17,919|811||-1,414|-603|17,316| |Training (Designated)|7,207|336||6,376|6,712|13,920| |Education and Youth (Des.)|10,063|820|4,270|9,924|6,474|16,537| |FEAST (NPNP) (Designated)|21,359|28,000|65,841|28,000|-9,841|11,518| |Overstone Chaplain (Des.)|-3,862||35,662|37,000|1,338|-2,524| |Digital Enabler (Designated)|4,274||39,831|53,500|13,669|17,942| |**Total designated**|56,960|29,967|145,605|133,386|17,748|74,709| |Local Preachers Fund (Res.)|12,888|474|2,600||-2,126|10,762| |Ministerial Training Fd. (Res.)|5,231|822|||822|6,054| |Benevolence Fund (Restricted)|834|496|120||376|1,210| |Meth. Women in Britain (Res.)|668||50||-50|618| |MAPJ – Restricted Grants|14,544|||-14,544|-14,544|0| |**Total restricted**|34,164|1,793|2,770|-14,544|-15,521|18,643| |**Total Funds**(excl. Manse)|**92,766**|**1,495,201**|**956,373**|**0**|**538,949**|**631,595**| |Fixed Assets (Manse)|525,000||||50,000|575,000| |**Total Funds**|
**617,766**|**1,495,201**|**956,373**|**0**|**588,949**|**1,206,595**| 23 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 ## **23 Connected organisations and related parties** Connected organisations include the Methodist Connexion, other Methodist Districts in Great Britain, CFB and TMCP. All these entities have their own trustees or directors and autonomous administration such that this District has no significant influence over any of them, nor they over any District. Therefore, they are not considered related parties. The related parties of the District are the nineteen Circuits, their Chapels and Manses, which are based in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire together with parts of several adjoining Counties. Funds are transferred from Circuits to the District on a quarterly basis. During the year, the following transactions took place with related parties (as defined by Financial Reporting Standard No 8). Expenses were reimbursed by the charity to Revd Dr Sonia Hicks, Mr Matthew Forsyth and other trustees in respect of motor and travel expenses, postage, supplies and repairs and have been included in the figures set out above. ## **24 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 District that deal with mission, manses, finance, policy, grants, training, development. We are grateful to all of them for their help and commitment. ## **25 Capital commitments and contingent liabilities** There were no capital commitments or contingent liabilities at 31.08.25. A C Lewis District Treasurer May 2026 24 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 REPORTOFTHEINDEPENDENT AUDrroRSTOTHETRUSTEESOF NQFrtHAMPTON DISTRICT OFTHE NETHODISTCHURCH Oplnlon We h•b*•udited thefifian¢l•l*8t¢rn$nt$of Northampton Digtrictofttte Methodi8t ChureThitn6-cn8rfty'lfortheyear trDded 31 August 2024whi¢n ¢ompri$etTheStatementof FlnanclslActlvrties, the 88lgncesheet.the Flosy Statementand note8tothgfinancial8tat8m8nts. includinga summ8ryof $ignific8nt8o¢ountlngpolicieg. The financial reportin8framewortth£thBs been applied in theirprepatation i¥•pplic•￿t Lqwand ￿Th￿ed ￿ngdoM Accountin8stsfid8rdslUnlted knngdom GenergllyAcceptedAwountingpTacti¢ei. InouropiTrkinthefinanclslststementg'. 8￿￿¥trUe sndf3iiviw4 ofthB stote ofthe ch8rity'$$ff$ir$ a$ at31 Augu•2025andof tt$ Incomlng ttrsource8arNJ4ppliG8tion of rewurces. fortheyearthtsnended.. hB¥ebeenproperlyprepared in accordancewith United KingdomGen8raltyAccepi8dAcGountingprèEtiGE', 8nd he¥Eb¢enpreparedIn8¢cord8ncewiththewuireme￿0ftheChar￿eSAet20ll. Bnsl•foroplnfjon wo coDducifdouraudit in accordHncewrth Iniem8tionalStBnd8rdson AuditinglUKI IISAB IUKll8nfJ4pplicBbl&i8 Ourresponsibilrties underthese stsndards8refurtherdes¢dbed in theAudltors'responslbilftieglorthe8udltofthe finBn¢lalstatementssectlon Of our report. We8re ind*p6noenT olthe Ch8Yityin 8¢cOrd8n¢ew￿h the eihic81 quiretnentSthW are relevanttOOUFauditofth8financialst8temenis inihe UK. inGludinÉthe FRC'sEthiGal Srarbdard. and we havefulfilledouroiherethic81 responsibilities in BCGord8nce ¥Yiththese requirem4ms. We believe thatthe audit6¥KJgnG8we hbb*obtainedis6ufficient8nd8pproprlat&toprovide 8 b8$16forouropinioTh. Cortdu*lon* r•l•tl•gto#DlnKcon¢qwn In8yd1￿ngth¢fInan¢ia1stèt8M6nts.￿ts havBconcluthdthatthetru8te85'U8eof t￿gUIngc0￿￿rn ba3i8of accountlngin t￿preparation0ft￿fi￿nBia1ststernentsIsapp[opriats. Based onth&v4orkw£ have pertormed,we ha¥enot106ntffjieo ¥nym*eri41 un¢trrtsithtie¥r¢￿tingrOev8Drsg￿ condftion8that, Indiwduaiwor¢oiiF¢twFly. ryHycaEtsiKnifiumdoublOllih8 Gh0rity*gbii￿toc0ntifiueasa going con¢erThfor8 perlod ot*18asttWal¥* month5from wh8nihefin8ncia15t8t8mentsareauihorised forissue. Our resp0nsltyllltle$8r￿lhe re8ponsibilitie8ofthetrusteeswptn respectt0go1n8￿nCeM are descrlbed int rethntse¢tion$ ofthis rtpon. Othor Inlorm*tttsh ThemiBtee98re reSpon￿ble10rIfve otherlnforrn£tlon.The otherlnform&tlon ¢omprisetstDe informstlon Incluoed In theAnnu8lReport, otherth8nthe linan¢l8lstatementssno our Reportofthe Ir￿ependentAU0JtOBth￿rWn. Ouroplnlon on the financ181 stat¢meTht$d¢e$not C￿rth¢other infomiatlon $no. trx¢trptto the0￿ent0th0￿1s 8XPli¢itly6t&tsd in ourreport, wedo MtexpreB8Bnyform of 8ssuranceconclusionthereDn. Inconntrotion With ourauditofth£finsncis1 statements. ourresponsibilitylsto readthe otherinformatioll 8ll(t, in doingso, considerwheth&ithe otherlnfoimation Is m8thriallyincoThslsteniwththeflnanci8lstatementsoiour knovAedge obtsined inthe 9uditorotherwise8ppearsto be rngteri811ymisststed. If we 1tsentyfys￿Gh material inconsistenciesorappgrent mater181 mlsststemenis.we8re requiredtodetermlnewhetherthi$gl¥esrisetO g tnaterial mi&st*emem inthefinanGial*atementsthemselv85. If. ba58d onihew0rk￿Y have p6rformed.we concludethatthe￿I8d matsrkqlmisstAtementofthisotherintr>Ymation, W￿ are requiredtoreportthatfact. We h nDthin8to report Inthis￿%£r￿. 25 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 REPORTOFTHE INDEPENDENT AVDITORSTOTHETRIJSTEES OF NOATHAMPTON DISTRICT OFTHE NETHODi¥fcHVRCH 14Bttorx0nwhlch￿8r￿mqu1r£dI0[Op0rtbYoX¢QPt1OTh Weha¥e nothln8to Yeportln re$pe¢toftheloii0wlngmatterswhe￿the¢herltbe$lAcco￿nlS8Thd RerA)rtsl Aeguiatlon 2(X)8reouires ustoreporttoyou if. inouropinion.. thB iDforrrb*iongNen intheRepDrtoftheTrustee5 is inconsistetrtin anymaterièire8P8¢twtlhth8 financial statement& or sufficient8¢¢oUnting￿C0￿sh&Ve rhot been kept., 01 thefinancialstatsmentsare not inagreernentwththe Bceountirwrecord&8nd returns. or ho¥erK)t recewed Bllthe informBtionand expianet10nB￿ reouire forouraudit. Rgsptyn¥lbliltl•voftru•w Aswiained mofefullyinth£ Statementof Trustees. Regponsibilrties,thetrusteesareregpon$ibleforthe preparation olthe linan¢l¥l $tafrm&ntswhicn Ove 8tru&anotsirwew. anJfof$uch intern81 Cofitroi 8$tne trust&e$detemineis neces￿rytuenab19th8 prepAMionof Ih8ffnanclalAtaternentsthgtsrefr88from matsrialmlsstatemènLwhether duetofraud orerror. In pi8paringthe fingnci81stgtements, thetmstee$ 8re re$pon¥lblefor8sse551n8thech8rlty'$ abilltytocontlnueas8 goingcorttm,dixlosing. a¥applIcabl￿ matter8 rEiatedtogoingGoncern and usi￿1th8#01nKGOllCern basis Ot counting unl8ssthetfUStegs githerintendto bquidatethe ch8rwtyortrsce39e operations, or hawe no realistlc Itgrrk4tNetodos0. OurresponslblUtleslorth&aydhtytth$lln¥nd8ist•ttrmorf$ We b&enAppoSnthdas3udltorsUThJerSÈc￿oTh 14401th¢ Ch8fiU8$A¢t20118nd report In 8¢cordan¢ewtThth Actand relevantreguiatlons mad6orh8vlng8tte¢rthereunder. 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Thisde8Griwionfortn8 partofourREport orth8 InoependentAuditotS. 26 NORTHAMPTON METHODIST DISTRICT Year ended 31 August 2025 REPORTOFTHE INDEPENDENT AUDITORSTOTHETRLISTEESOF NOATHAMPTON DISTRICT OFTHE NETHODISTCHURCH Use ofourveport Thi3 report ism8de aolelytothecharty¥rrustee5, 8s0 body, in acGor(Jancewith Part4(*theCh3ritie5 IAccoutrtts nd RepDrttsl Regulation¥ 2008. OurauditworkhosbBEn undtrttsken $othot*tmghtststetothe¢harWtruSteeg those rn8ttersv￿ are requiredto state tothem in an reportandfoF no oth&rpuwo$e. Toth6fulle8texten¢ P9rfflrtted by1£w,V￿ donot &coeptor8ssurn& responsibilityto £nyone oth&rthanihe Gh3rityandthe Gharit t￿s￿89 B8 B body. farourauditwork, forthis report.orforthe opiniongwa haveformed. T/AAIMSAc¢ountsnts for8usine38 11 DeMontfortRoad Hinekley LE101LQ 21 May2026 27