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2022-08-31-accounts

2022 Annual Report for the Charity Commission Neath Port Talbot Methodist Circuit Registered 23[rd] September 2009 Registered Number: 1131776

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its 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 being a 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 Neath Port Talbot Methodist Circuit acts as an umbrella body and resource provider for the nine Methodist Churches and their people of which it is comprised.

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

The adopted mission statement is in line with the Methodist Church’s statement of ‘Our Calling’ and ‘Priorities for the Methodist Church’.

Mission Statement

The Calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the Gospel of God’s love in Christ and to work out its discipleship in worship and mission.

The Circuit exists, therefore, to enable the local churches to:

Aims and Strategy Objectives

Aim 1) To ensure worship takes place through the communities of the Circuit.

Aim 2) To expand fellowship within each church, its community and the circuit.

Aim 3) To encourage and nurture caring relationships with each other within the churches and people in the local and world community.

Aim 4) To bring people to an awareness of Christ through word and example.

Principles

In implementing the Policy we shall:

The Trustees have had due regard to the Charities Act 2006 in relation to public benefit guidance.

Review of activities : 1[st] September 2021- 31[st] August 2022

1) Circuit Staffing

In September 2021, Revd Rosemary Davies continued to serve as Superintendent Minister with the support from one part-time Circuit Pastoral Worker, Robin Sherwood. Robin also has lay authorisation to preside at Holy Communion in the circuit. Revd Rachel Wheeler, a minister without appointment living in Bridgend offered help with preaching appointments and other events in our circuit and this has been of great benefit. Revd Gordon Sollis, a supernumerary minister residing in the circuit continues

to have pastoral charge of North Cornelly Church and also takes services in the Circuit. All the Circuit staff work together to provide pastoral care in partnership with the pastoral visitors in individual churches.

Mr. Clem Raymond continues in a voluntary capacity as a Circuit Support Worker organising the prayer chain and helping with plan-making. Clem also has lay authorisation to preside at Holy Communion throughout the Circuit. Rachel Freeman continues in her contract of three hours per week to provide any administrative help when needed by the Circuit Superintendent. The staff team meet regularly and every two months they are joined by members of the Circuit Leadership Team which includes the Circuit Stewards, Minutes Secretary, Treasurer and Property Officer.

2) Circuit services and events

A number of Circuit Services and other events were held during the year, enhancing our sense of fellowship together. Due to the pandemic, some were held on-line via Zoom:

Service of Remembering

The annual service to remember those who have died over the last year was held on 2[nd] November 2021 . The service was held at Skewen church and livestreamed. The service was well supported by friends from around the circuit, as well as by families who were particularly invited because funerals for relatives had been taken by members of the circuit staff team during the year. This has proved to be a worthwhile initiative, indicating our continuing pastoral care for those who have been bereaved.

Advent & Christmas

To provide a united focus during Advent, a liturgy was produced as in recent years for use in all the churches on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas and on Christmas Day itself. For each week there was a Bible passage, prayer and song, together with the traditional lighting of a candle on the Advent ring.

Christmas carol services were arranged in churches throughout the circuit. We held an online Christmas Eve Communion service and Christmas Day services were held in a smaller number of churches. There were no services on 26[th] December (Boxing Day).

Covenant service

The annual Methodist covenant service was held in all the churches over the 2 Sundays, 2[nd] & 9[th] January 2022.

New Year Party and worship

A thoroughly enjoyable Circuit New Year Party was held online on 7[th] January 2022. It was good to see people ‘on screen’. We are very grateful to Gwyn Aubrey for coordinating the event for us. The evening concluded with an act of worship led by Revd Rosemary Davies.

Ash Wednesday

The annual Ash Wednesday service took place online on 2[nd] February 2022 led by Rev Gordon Sollis with all the other staff taking part.

Lent and Easter

A liturgy to help us focus on Christ’s journey to the cross was used on every Sunday in Lent. We held a Circuit Communion service at Skewen on Maundy Thursday which was livestreamed. Services took place in churches on Good Friday and there was an ecumenical service at Ty Santes Fair, Skewen. The early morning Easter service on Aberavon seafront was led by Rev Rosemary Davies and Rev Rachel Wheeler played hymns on the guitar. There was an 8 a.m communion service at Sandfields church followed by breakfast. Neath church decorated an Easter cross in the morning service and it was placed outside for all to see.

3. Mission & outreach

Churches continued to support the Foodbanks in Neath and Port Talbot by giving food and money to support hungry people in these communities. We held a Circuit ‘coffee and conversation‘ event on 8[th] May 2022 in which all the congregations met to consider mission in their own context and to share in food and fellowship together. Transport was arranged so that Cymmer and Glyncorrwg congregations could be present. It was a very successful event.

Website / social media

Our website (www.neathporttalbotmethodist.org.uk) contains basic information about the circuit but over this past year more of our focus has been on the use of whatsapp and facebook pages to publicise circuit events and services. Several churches operate whatsapp groups to exchange local information and to support one another in prayer. We are very grateful to Gwyn Aubrey for maintaining the website for us.

Work with children, young people and families

Sadly, this aspect of our work has been hit by the pandemic and our congregations are mainly elderly.

4. Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

The Methodist Church requires a number of different office holders at church and circuit level to attend appropriate training. A record is also kept and updated of all those who need to have DBS disclosures. Basic safeguarding training for stewards and pastoral visitors was undertaken this year and there was a good take-up.

5. Property

The Sandfields & Taibach manses have continued to be let on a short-term lease in order to provide income for the Circuit.

Quinquennials for several of the churches are now overdue due to the pandemic. With the easing of Covid restrictions, churches have begun to do maintenance work on their buildings and some usergroups have begun to use our premises again which is welcome news.

6. Finance

We have been fortunate in receiving regular income from the letting of two former Manses in the circuit. The Circuit Treasurer has been keeping an eye on the finances and we have been able to help individual churches by keeping the assessment at a

manageable level. More people have taken out standing orders to support their churches and this has helped with preparing budgets.

7. Christian discipleship & fellowship Bible Studies and Prayer Meetings

Weekly studies and prayer meetings have been taking place online and have provided opportunities for people to meet ‘on screen’ and share in discussion and prayer. This has brought the Circuit churches closer together.

Circuit Men’s group

This group has not met during the year and there is a questionmark over whether it will recommence again as people have become older and more frail.

Oasis group

This group for women on the periphery of the church has not really been active this year. Individuals have kept in touch with each other by ‘phone or social media.

8. Worship

The circuit remains incredibly grateful to all our Local Preachers and Worship Leaders. Worship Leaders and Local Preachers meet together on a regular basis for mutual support, fellowship and training. In July 2022, preachers took part in a preaching series on the book of Isaiah using the Bible month material.

Sadly three preachers resigned as a result of the Methodist Conference 2021 decision to allow same-sex marriages to take place on Methodist premises. One other preacher retired. This has meant that we have had an increased number of ‘Local arrangement’ services in the circuit and churches have responded to the challenge. A training session on ‘local arrangement’ services, was organised by the District Learning Network and held at Skewen church on 11[th] June 2022 and those who attended found it helpful. Neath Church has held café church services every 6 months and these have provided an opportunity for people to talk with each other about their faith and explore Scripture in a relaxed atmosphere.

The circuit held a Gymanfa Ganu service in Skewen church on 3[rd] July 2022 which was truly inspiring. Various people from the churches introduced the hymns and there was a mixture of English/Welsh singing. It was great to see members of the Nebo congregation present. The service was also livestreamed.

On 17[th] October 2022, we held a service in Skewen to mark Peter Swindale’s 40 years’ service as a local preacher and to present Clem Raymond and Robin Sherwood with their authorisation certificates to preside at the Lord’s Supper. The service also provided an opportunity for the circuit to show its appreciation for the preachers and worship leaders in our circuit.

An online monthly Sunday evening service on the last Sunday of the month began in January 2022 as an experiment to see if there was a need given the fact that since Covid -19 struck, churches have only been having morning or afternoon worship.

9. Local Church news Cymmer

The Charity Shop run by a small band of volunteers opened again for business.

Glyncorrwg

The arrangement of meeting with the Nebo congregation at the Centre on Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m. continues to be successful. During the year a few of the regulars have become frail and this has had an impact. The Nebo congregation organise the last Sunday in each month when all the hymns are sung in Welsh. On other Sundays, it is customary to sing one Welsh hymn per week.

Glynneath

Numbers attending worship continue to be small. The celebration of the 130[th] anniversary of the church was postponed due to the illness of a key member of the congregation. It was decided to hold the celebration in March 2023.

Jersey Marine

It has been exciting to see the development of ‘Friends of Jersey Marine’ which is a group made up of residents who use the church premises for events. The chair of the group is a committed member of Jersey Marine church and this has enabled the relationship between the church and village to be strengthened. The outdoors Carol service was the first big event and attracted over 80 people to join in singing of carols and to hear the Christmas story. The local primary school has used the church to hold carol services, Easter and Harvest services and in June 2022. Revd Rosemary Davies led a ’mock’ wedding in which the children took part with their teddies being the bride, groom and guests. The church was used as a polling station for local elections in May 2022

Neath

The Queen’s Jubilee in June 2022 was marked by holding a teaparty in the Wesley room and hosting an art exhibition. Live music was provided by a band of 5 musicians who meet regularly on church premises. It was great to see so many people from the community coming to the event. In July 2022 a coffee afternoon was held in the gardens of a church member and in August 2022, the church held another teaparty which was much appreciated. Neath church is blessed with a good catering team! The display of flowers outside the entrances to the church have been much appreciated by the community. Robert Davies, Jean and Trevor Bond continue to work hard to provide these colourful displays. It was a joy to have an adult baptism and welcome 4 new members into the church, both services being led by Revd. Rosemary Davies.

North Cornelly

Groups using the premises slowly began to get going again. The Bereavement group set up by church member Mr Larry Pearce attracts small numbers but is greatly appreciated by those who attend.

Sandfields

User groups started to make enquiries about booking the hall which was very pleasing. The Church craft group started back and they have been busy making things. The Women’s league and Bible study began to make plans to re-start their programme.

The ill health and frailty of some stalwart members of Women’s League has had a major impact. Revd Rosemary Davies led a baptism service on 3[rd] July 2022.

Skewen

The church has played a key role in the livestreaming of worship in the circuit. We’re grateful to the technical team at Skewen for managing this. The Women’s Fellowship held a meeting in September 2021 to decide on the future patter of their meetings. As people are now older, it was decided to hold the meetings on a Thursday afternoon rather than on a Thursday evening. There was also discussion about re-commencing the Saturday coffee morning which is a good outreach into the community.

Taibach

The midweek Friendship group began their weekly meetings again with a varied programme of in-house speakers. It was a great joy for church members to celebrate the wedding of Hilary Lawson and Lyn Sullivan in their church. The service was conducted by the minister, Revd Rosemary Davies on 1[st] May 2022. The church continues to enjoy good ecumenical relationships and the Methodist Church hosted a Pentecost service on 5[th] June 2022 which was led by Revd Rosemary Davies.

Emerging from the pandemic

As Covid-19 restrictions eased during the year, the churches began to resume some of their group activities but it is still early days. More people in the churches have become frail and there is still a nervousness on the part of some, to return to worship.

The churches are trying to negotiate a new landscape and to re-imagine what it means to engage in mission and outreach. In some places maintenance of the buildings and concerns about finances are more pressing. The Superintendent Minister, Revd Rosemary Davies continued to produce a weekly circuit bulletin to keep people informed and the weekly ‘Vine at Home’ worship resource published by ‘Twelve Baskets organisation’ has been appreciated. Revd Rosemary Davies announced in August 2022 that she will be retiring next year and so this circuit will go into stationing to find a new Superintendent minister for September 2023.

We give thanks that God has been faithful to our circuit in the past year and we trust Him to lead and guide us into the future as we journey on in a post-pandemic world.

Neath Port Talbot Methodist Circuit 1st September 2021 - 31st August 2022

Income Expenditure
balance b/f £ £
CFB 113,745.34 Stipends 28,507.60
Lloyds 21,115.31 Super Ann 6,971.43
Coed Darcy - Lloyds 77.20 NI 2,824.51
Lloyds Bond 25,000.00 Apprenticeship Levy 143.46
Computer Allowance 171.00
Pastoral Work 4,450.26
Assessment Assessment Jersey Marine 1,721.07
Cymmer 1,177.64 Assessment Neath 639.90
Glyncorrwg 2,081.56 Assessment Sandfields 13,098.54
Glynneath 1,900.00 Assessment Skewen 8,388.96
Jersey Marine 3,425.04
Neath 10,480.02 Travel 1,689.46
North Cornelly 3,595.95 Postage 501.36
Sandfields 29,939.52 Telephone/Broadband 426.65
Skewen 19,174.80 Wales Synod Fund 1,846.92
Taibach 8,709.75 Methodist Central Fund 13,477.72
Supernumeraries 2,984.05
Prayer Books 146.50 Local Preachers 1,195.75
Circuit Services Manse Expenses 291.12
Staff Telephone 105.50 Manse Insurance 1,765.66
NPTCBC 2,017.91
Supernumeraries 782.10 Dwr Cymru 280.00
NPTCBC 150.00 Circuit Assistant 421.96
Circuit Service / Expenses 40.83
Donation 50.00 Printing 571.88
Donation - Postage 40.00 M.P.H. 66.60
Photocopier 46.26
Rent ( Sandfields Manse) Peter Alan 2,931.38 Stationery 31.97
Rent (Taibach Manse) Peter Alan 2,881.55 Resources 213.11
Rent ( Sandfields Manse) CLF 3,636.00 Auxillary Fund 700.00
Rent (Taibach Manse) CLF 4,098.00 Property Fund 800.00
Audit Fee 50.00
Prayer Handbooks 237.25
Resources 117.60 Y Cyngor - Bible Month Material ( Duplicate Payment ) 58.80
CCLI (Streaming Plus Licence) 236.00
Zoom Licence 143.88
Easy FundRaising 114.41 Lloyds Bond 25,000.00
Amazon Smile 68.01 NPT Website 68.98
Vine @ Home 100.00
Lloyds Bond 25,000.00
Donation - The Small Things 1,255.00
Donation - The Small Things 755.00 Donation - Route 16 1,275.00
Donation - Route 16 755.00 Pension Reserve Fund - Circuit & Churches 3,670.00
Pension Reserve Fund - Churches 2,170.00 The Gambia Nursery 120.00
CFB Interest 498.46 SUB TOTAL 128,500.85
Lloyds Bond Interest 275.00
CFB 125,702.74
Lloyds 5,715.85
Coed Darcy - Lloyds 77.20
Lloyds Bond 25,000.00
TOTAL 284,996.64 TOTAL 284,996.64

CIRCU RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS N•ath Port Tlbot Mothodlst CrGuit FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022 Wales Dlstrfct Clr¢uFi no 02118 R•git•r•d eharfty- Chaflty R••istration nuM￿V 113177e If not a registèrèd charity H•r R•v•nu• and Customs Glft Ald numb•r (The HMRC numb8r Is equivalentto a regislornd charity number In t￿8 of evldènc4 of charilable status aThJ may b¢ used to giv8 to donor5 or grant funders wishino to 588 gvKJence gf the organisation's ¢harilable stabJ5. Moth¢dist charfties in England and Wales Ihat are not registared charit8 ar8 exceptsd ftom registration under Statutory Instnjmgnt 2014 No.2421 Ilni8tars: Rev Ros8ma .J.Davles Rev GontDn SoUis:S_uL8mum•rar¥.---___-__.--..._.- Rev Rachol Whggler- m￿lSter ￿lthOu1 A Clwn Ra￿n.ond- SUp￿rt Worker Rolx"n Sh8Thsvod- Pastoral Worker Cwcult Stewards: G.￿￿ Aubre￿.. Senitir SteW8rd &Prope..rty...-...---.-..--.-. helle Amgsburx.- Brian Curtis Le￿0￿.Hary_---.._...---. Claire Rob¢rts Robln Sh0Th￿0d Poter Davies Jan Grfffths- Secrgta Karnn sheTh￿0d se￿R•¥jPA

20ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022 Ngath Port Talbot M•thodlst Circurt Circult I￿115C￿ Model Twu5t R￿t￿Cted Funds Fund Funds SECTION A Totahthts Tota15 last a1 RECEIPTS a2 Assessmenvshare 80,484 78,527 a3 a4 Ca ital recai Bafjk and CFB intewt and Investmant incom• 773 153 927 541 85 Grants other rgcoios TOTAL RECEIPTS 17,291 17,291 13.488 98,549 153 98.702 la8) 92,SS7 SECTION B b1 b2 PAYMENTS stipends, 541ari8s, NIC, Pension and travel ctssts 44,443 41,639 b3 Manse C05ts 4355 4.182 Adrninistration et 95 1096 tlistriciAss?Ssn￿nt 15,325 14,280 Grants & donations b7 Other payThents TOTAL PAYMENTS 34,728 100.851 34.728 101.784 19,008 b9 933 {b91 82.352 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 a7-b9 1302 1082 10.205 Total funds brou ht fO￿ard from105t ar 160.818 33.505 194,123 183 918 Sub totsl 1+c2 158.316 725 194.123 Transfers and ad ustrnents CS TOTAL FUN05 AT END OF YEAR Ic3+c4) 154316 32,725 191.041 1¥123 {e61 SECTION D OR tNFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGAMSAT](h118 th•sè amounts Jhould not be iFbcludod In tolal r•¢•i ymgnts abovè) Balan¢e brou t fgJw8ril from last d1 rin Gifts - rv¢8ived lor *xtemal 8nisations OfferingslGifts- passed to extemal organisalions LANCE STILL TO BE PAID d1+d2-d3 2,950 d3 2,650 d4 2015 R Ind p.>J¢ l of1

Neath PortTalbot M8thc4llst MIAARYC cNieLIT AcceiNrnANDWEIlll￿a10AN￿Tlc•1xEpoRTlwTOT￿È ¢IRCiMT ME SECTIOIIE rnmay olthB Clrcllt f0rthDyear￿d￿3l W2DL ond Intern￿ ckgan￿￿raPortngt0kn￿ C1￿¥t Mfrgtng NDts trwtthB ofin Irrternal organlsttti0nwr￿d nLYm8Uybtr Re5Mdts(lfirth Lnless itcudd be laty6h￿thattheY ¢ould be ustsd for ory method￿tpWP¢￿. Thlssecbvn mu5tbtr cofflplatsdto Kfrh&attre gross receipt6 and paYrnentsty￿ ofthe ¢￿¢11t Ifgw ￿cOrne exaets th&knnlhr8shokl of£250,000 then tho mBthod ￿ ￿¢￿th￿AND A DIFFERENT FORM bo usedto rèportthB (see MottKthtWoLthI Pleatse rtfer tothe guidarrA notes reoqrding tr8rthrs bptween Crcuh dconnted NG ofhtttsrml Orgonwin fur￿5 utta¢¢tyJth 91.7U2 lQf,714 3.082 194,123 191041 HELD BY¢WCU 9¥,702 191,7B4 3,0821 191,041 ToT￿RE¢E￿T$ TOTIL PAVMeNTS SECYINIF OPEWPIG BALANCE8 CLO%NO BALANCES ¢•th InhNp¥J 21 115 5716 25.OC(I i)00 Ciral F￿￿￿e&ja[￿ 113745 32.725 CthTfvnd5 8UB TOTAL 193,3q6 T¢lalfund5 W iylrlTd 189,144 12 TOTAL CASH FIINDSIIELD8Y¢IRcurr 193J66 Ix) 189.144 OThERAS8ETS•r UABIU 1 S• bw2t121 f4 FuntrddAtlliB Cgrtr• ec17￿CFB FurKts WAI Tru8t4$•ftyNkth￿1ChL￿¢h Pwpya•A 91 1SCWtR4ndP

Nameof Circuit. .Neath PortTalbot...................................... .......................... No......02118..... Declarations and Scrutiny I confimi that these Receipt and Payment based accounts fi)r the year to 31 August 2022 have been prepared frorn the records of the Circuit and that they inctude all funds under the control of the Circuit meeting. Signature of treasurer.............. Nameand addressoftreasurer......Karen Sherwood..................................................................... 14 Parlrfield. Tonna, Neath, Neath Port Talbot, SA114JN Presontatjon to th& Circult meetlng I confirrn that the annual report and accounts for the year end8d 31 August 2022 we p￿sented to the Circuit meeting held on . .13th September 2022.. Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting ..Rev Rosemary Davies............ Independent Examinerfs Roport to the Trustoes of the Neath Port Talbot Methodist..... Circuit Charlty Numbor...1131776 R08pon8iblllties and ba818 of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Neath Port Talbot Methodist Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2022 set out on pages 1 to 3. As the Circutt's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of th8 accounts in a￿rdance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the Circuit's accounts carried out under sectlon 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. ' delete or ¢irde as appropriate X)15 ond P.>ls 1 of1

Name of Circuit . . Neath Port Talbot Methodist Circuit ... No ......02118 Independent Examinor'8 Ststemant I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below") which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordan￿ with section 130 of the Act,. or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I h8ve no concems and have come across no other matters in connection With the examination to which attention shoukl be dravm in this report in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave not" obtsined ind6pendent verification of all invesknents with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finan￿ Board of the Methodist Church which ar8 individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balan sheet date. Signature of independent examir Name of independent examiner £oG.EL 6yeLS Relevant professlonal qu￿1￿catiOn of independent examiner Name of firm (where appropriats) Address lofre 6yEKS 4 LO LTIJ Ci4. ufl.c ￿ ..e.LAcÉ IE ATA Post Code S￿1( 3LP Date J2 februar delete or circle as appropriate Sei>22 2015 Cwait R 4nd P)1&