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← South Bristol Methodist Church

2023-08-31-accounts

THE METHODIST CHURCH

BRISTOL & SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE CIRCUIT Circuit No. 7 / 2

SOUTH BRISTOL METHODIST CHURCH

REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 August 2023

Registered Charity - Charity Registration number - 1131502

Minister:

Rev'd Sally Spencer

Church Stewards:

Mr Robert Bennett Mrs Sue Gilchrist Mr Robert Wallace Rachel Spencer Mrs Susan Rooke Mr Adrian Westlake

Treasurer:

Mr Richards Hills

Bankers HSBCBankplc
Investment Bankers Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church
Accounts Examiner Mr HGNash FCA

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SOUTH BRISTOL METHODIST CHURCH

1[st] September 2020 – 31[st] August 2021 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

Section A Reference and Administration Details Section A Reference and Administration Details Section A Reference and Administration Details Section A Reference and Administration Details
Name of Charity
Registered Charity Number
Charity’s Principal Address
Post Code
South Bristol Methodist Church
1131502
Bedminster Methodist Church
British Road
Bristol
BS3 3BW
Trustee Name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
year		 Name of person (or body)
entitled to appoint trustee
South Bristol Methodist
Church Council
Revd Prof TeddyKalongo
Revd SallySpencer Chair Person
Mr John Seward Contact Person
Mr Robert Bennett
Mrs Frances Bullas Secretary
Mrs Aroona Smith 1 Sept - 27 Sept 22
Mrs Ann Rees
Mrs Yvonne Powell 1 Sept - 27 Sept 22
Miss Ruth Watkinson 1 Sept - 27 Sept 22
Mr Robert Wallace
Mr Adrian Westlake
Miss Julia Blackmore
Mr Clive Rooke
Mrs Susan Rooke
Mr PhilipCarter 1 Sept - 27 Sept 22
Mr Richard Hills Treasurer
Mrs Janet MacGregor
Mrs Janice Lee
Miss Kavita Bhalerao
Miss MaryHudson
Mrs Ruth Price
Mrs Sue Gilchrist
Mrs Valerie Davey
Mrs Dipti Kiran Bhalerao 1 Sept - 27 Sept 22
Mrs Jean Abbott
Mrs Carol Payne 1 Sept - 27 Sept 22
Mrs MercyCavicchioni 1 Sept - 27 Sept 22
MrDerek Rees

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Section B Structure,Governance and Management Section B Structure,Governance and Management
Governing Document South Bristol Methodist Church uses an approved governing document issued by the
Methodist Conference (as detailed below) and have not altered or changed the objects
clause of this document.
Wording of Governing
Document		 (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 to the Methodist Church.
The purposes of the Methodist Church are, and shall be deemed to have been since the
date of union the advancement of –
Trustee Selection Method (a) Each of the three congregations that make up South Bristol Methodist Church
shall appoint annually three members of their congregation to sit on Church
Council plus the two congregational stewards who sit on the leadership team.
All will be trustees of the church.
(b) Such persons, if any, as the Church Council judges it appropriate to appoint
from among those employed by the Council, or by the Circuit Meeting in work
in the local church will be trustees of the church.
(c) The Superintendent Minister and the one listed ministerial staff of the Bristol
& South Gloucestershire Methodist circuit will be a trustee of the church
(d) Other trustees for the time being members of church council
• The Church treasurer
• The Church MWiB representative
• The Church Council Secretary
• Circuit stewards as appointed by the circuit stewards meeting.
Note:- EachtrusteeMUSTbe amemberoftheMethodist Church
South Bristol Methodist Church
Structure		 (a) South Bristol Methodist Church is made up of the congregations of
Bedminster, Knowle and St.Peter's churches.
(b) There are three worship centres within SBMC.
(c) There will be an annual meeting of the whole church which will be open to all
and will be an opportunity to discuss the whole life of the church.
(d) Each congregation will hold quarterly, an open meeting to which everyone is
welcome and which will discuss any issues the members of the meeting raise.
The calling of these meetings and the voting at them will be in accordance
with the constitution, practice, and discipline of the Methodist Church.
(e) The guidelines for the working of South Bristol Methodist Church is aligned to
the constitution, practice, and discipline of the Methodist Church and can only
be amended with the trustees voting 75% in favour of any amendment.

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Section C Objectives and Activities Section C Objectives and Activities
Activities (a) The provision of regular public acts of worship open to members of the church and non
members alike.
(b) The teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups.
(c) Pastoral work including visiting the sick and bereaved.
(d) Taking religious assemblies in schools.
(e) Promoting the whole mission of the church and aiding social cohesion through activities
for older people, parents and toddlers, and other specific needs groups.
(f) Supporting other charities in the UK and overseas financially and with prayer.
Contribution made by Church
Members and friends of SBMC		 The trustees would like to acknowledge the work carried out in all of its congregations
in leading worship, providing pastoral care and maintaining the premises, especially
during the cost of living increases.
Generous giving by congregation members has continued in all three worship centres
and in these difficult times the trustees are also grateful for all the work carried out by
congregation members in their communities.
Section D Achievements and Performance
Summary of the main
achievements of SBMC		 2022/23 has been another year of great change and challenges for South Bristol
Methodist Church operating on three different premises, as our churches opened for
worship every week once more. Congregation numbers are fairly static except at
Knowle where the congregation numbers have grown as previoulsy Totterdown
members joined the Knowle congregation and there are signs that lettings have
increased.
Our congregation at Totterdown ceased to meet at the end of the last financial year and
a church of another denomination has agreed to purchase the building so that a
Christian presence will continue in the Totterdown building.
Despite all this, common resource sharing continued across all three congregations as
the minister and members worked together. SBMC is working to enable groups to come
together once again and meet the challenges of the future and have continued to
support a number of charities working in the UK to provide support for families in need,
both locally and in the wider community of Bristol and we thank God for this part of our
mission.
Over the winter months two of our congregations opened their premises as warm
spaces offering a welcome space for warmth and food and activities for those who may
be feeling the effects of the cost of living issues. So successful has this been , and so
welcome by so many of our community that we are to continue this activity into
2023/24.
There have been enormous challenges for all our congregations to keep in touch with
their friends and members and we are grateful to all who keep in touch with those who
are vulnerable and need support. We thank God for His mercies and look forward to
the future with confidence.
SBMC membership of the Bristol & South Gloucestershire Circuit is moving forward
with SBMC forming part of the South and Central mission cluster which includes
Parkway, Bethesda and Victoria Methodist Churches, the Withywood Centre and
Faithspace. With the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit we move on in faith.
Section E Financial Review
SBMC Policy on Reserves The policy is to maintain a general reserve equivalent to three months routine expenditure
AnyFunds in Deficit There are no funds in deficit

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SOUTH BRISTOL METHODIST CHURCH

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

SECTION A Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds		 Totals this
year		 Totals this
year		 Totals last
year
£ £ £ £
RECEIPTS Note
Offerings and Tax recovered 69,570 69,570 76,739
Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income		 1,908 1,908 269
Lettings 97,358 97,358 70,027
Fund RaisingActivities 5,574 5,574 4,090
Donations and Bequests 11,969 11,969 10,665
Grant for Warm Space 2,307 2,307
Other receipts 275 275 579
TOTAL RECEIPTS 186,654 2,307 **188,961 ** (a7) 162,369
SECTION B
PAYMENTS
Circuit Assessment or Share 80,356 80,356 83,373
Donations 1,367 1,367 1,041
Repairs and Maintenance 21,792 21,792 14,800
Utilities (Insurances, water
charges, heating & lighting)		 33,525 33,525 26,971
Otherpayments 32,481 402 32,883 28,350
TOTAL PAYMENTS 169,521 402 **169,923 ** (b9) 154,535
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS
FOR THE YEAR		 17,133 1,905 19,038 7,834
Total funds brought forward from
last year		 105,684 515 **106,199 ** (c6) 98,365
Sub total 122,817 2,420 125,237 106,199
Transfers and adjustments (c7)
TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR 122,817 2,420 **125,237 ** (c8) 106,199
SECTION D
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
(these amounts are not included in total receipts/payments figures above) £ £
Balance brought forward from lastyear 0 0
Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 1,968 2,328
Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations 1,968 2,328
BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID 0 0
SECTION D
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
(these amounts are not included in total receipts/payments figures above) £ £
Balance brought forward from lastyear 0 0
Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 1,968 2,328
Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations 1,968 2,328
BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID 0 0

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SOUTH BRISTOL METHODIST CHURCH

SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH

SECTION E

Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting.

SECTION E
Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting.
INTERNAL
ORGANISATIONS		 Receipts Payments Net Receipts/
Payments		 Adjustments Openingbalances Closing
balances
Bedminster 568 630 (62) 518 456
Knowle 876 1,134 (258) 1,434 1,176
St Peters, Brislington 332 545 (213) 326 113
Totterdown 0 2,219 (2,219) 2,219 0
Sub total of Internal
Organisationsfunds		 1,776 4,528 (2,752)
)
19,038		 4,497 (e11) 1,745
Church accounts (totals
brought forward from page
2 - totals column)		 **188,961 ** (a7) **169,923 ** (b9 )
19,038		 (c7) **106,199 ** (c6) 125,237
TOTAL CASH FUNDS 190,737 174,451 16,286 110,696 (x) 126,982
TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL
PAYMENTS

SECTION F STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2023
Bank Deposit Account
Bank Current Account
Total funds held by Internal Organisations
SUB TOTAL - Church accounts
Cash in hand
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH
Central Finance Board
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Other funds		 OPENING
BALANCES
52,306
53,893
106,199 (c6)
4,497 (e11)
110,696
(x)		 CLOSING
BALANCES
Cash in hand
Bank Current Account 69,471
Bank Deposit Account
Central Finance Board 55,766
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Other funds
SUB TOTAL - Church accounts 125,237
Total funds held by Internal Organisations 1,745
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 126,982
SECTION G At At
SECTION G
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES
Other Assets
Land & Buildings (Insurance value)
Investments (include Endowments)
Other Liabilities
Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end		 31 August
2022
1,249
15,512,394
0
0
0		 31 August
2023
Investments (include Endowments) 1,249 1,225
Land & Buildings (Insurance value) 15,512,394 16,573,649
Other Assets 0 0
Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end 0 0
Other Liabilities 0 0

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DECLARATIONS

Treasurer

I confirm that I have prepared the accounts from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church Council

of the Church Council
Signature of Treasurer
Name
Address
16 Norton Road, Knowle, Bristol, BS4 2JG

Presentation to the South Bristol Methodist Church Council for approval.

I confirm that the Report and Accounts were presented and approved by the Church Council on 18th October 2023

Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting Rev'd Sally Spencer Date

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

SOUTH BRISTOL METHODIST CHURCH

This Report is on the Church Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2023

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

Signature Hilary Gordon Nash, FCA 75 Manor Road Keynsham Date XX November 2023 Bristol, BS31 1RE

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