## **Vale of Glamorgan Methodist Circuit Annual Report** ## **1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021** ## **Charity Number 1133044** ## _**The Church exists to increase awareness of God's presence and to celebrate God's love.**_ **Our aim is to support the churches in our circuit in our calling of The Methodist Church to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission through Worship, Learning and Caring, Service and Evangelism.** ## _**The Principal Officer of the Charity during this period was Revd Carole Challis.**_ ## _**Number of ministers employed at 31 August 2021 is 3. All volunteers are either trustees of the Circuit or local churches within the Circuit.**_ ## _**Date report approved: 16 Feb 2022**_ The Trustees, responsible for all decisions made including appointments, were as follows at 31 August 2021:- |Carole Challis (Chair)|Janet Davies|Barry Hawkins|Alan Redpath| |---|---|---|---| |Angela Armstrong|Angela Davison|John Hexter|Ian Severn| |Bryan Ashmead
Jon Barry|Derek Dowdeswell|Graham IIlingworth|Cathie Steele| |Andrew Bennett|Stephen Evans|Tim Jeans|Alan Thomas| |Carole Braggins|Tony Farmer|John Jevons|Vida Thomas| |Chris Braggins|Christine Foster|Rhiannon Lloyd|Heather Tucker| |Catherine Brobbey|Roy Gibson||Jennifer Ware| |John Brobbey|Loraine Gittins|Pat Norman|Roy Wright| |Phil Challis|Anne Hamber|Janet Pedwell|| |Jenny Corbett|Ian Doble||| *Revs Phil Challis and Carole Challis ceased to be Trustees in August 2021 ## **Staffing and Appointments** Changes were made to the Ministerial Staff Team during the year with Rev Phil Challis and Rev Carole Challis retiring in August 2021. The circuit prepared to welcome Rev Cath Lewis as its new Supt minister w.e.f 1 Sept 2021. Rev Catherine Brobbey and Deacon John Brobbey gave notice that they would not be seeking an extension of their initial appointments here when these expire in August 2022. Preparations commenced during the year to seek a replacement presbyter in place of Rev Catherine Brobbey through the Methodist Church stationing process. The Circuit Meeting decided not to seek a successor to John Brobbey as Deacon but instead to use those resources to appoint further lay workers. Heather Bailey was appointed as Circuit Administrator in Jan 2021to assist the Supt Ministers with administration of circuit matters. Jon Barry joined the team of 5 Circuit Stewards. **The Work of God in the Circuit** Circuit life has again been dominated by the effects of the Covid pandemic and its consequent restrictions on meeting and activity. While for most of the year some churches re-opened their doors for worship others were unable to do so. Some churches continued to offer worship to people in their own homes through electronic services. All churches were affected by restrictions on use of their premises by community organisations. These restrictions have affected pastoral care of members, service to the local communities and the finances of individual churches as income from letting space in church premise largely dried up. By the end of this period all churches were able to re-open their doors so that members may gather for physical worship under restricted conditions to safeguard the health of those attending. The work and organisation of the Circuit continued despite Covid restrictions. The Circuit Leadership team, the Circuit Meeting and Circuit staff have all continued to meet through a combination of physical and electronic meetings. Following the closure of Albert Rd church in July 2020 the 2 congregations of Albert Rd and Trinity churches combined to form the newly named Penarth Methodist church, growing together in worship and service and based from the Trinity premises. Monies were successfully raised to permit the construction of a new church and community centre building in the Waterfront area of Barry. Building works were completed during this period and the new premises named The Bridge Between opened in July 2021. Work continued to develop links with other community groups so that this centre may serve the local area . Preparations continued to empty the former Albert Rd church prior to marketing it for sale. Similarly the Barry manse which became surplus to requirements in July 2021 was marketed for sale. The Circuit Meeting had earlier agreed to use proceeds from these sales to fund lay work appointments within the Circuit. Recruitment started in August 2021 for the appointment of a Children &Family Worker based form Penarth Church. Discussion continued over the role of lay workers to be based from Hope Cadoxton and Barry Uniting Churches. Circuit representatives participated in discussions within the Wales Synod on the recommendations of report of a Methodist Church task group on Marriage and Relationships, prior to its adoption by the Methodist Conference. The Circuit Meeting decided with regret to discontinues its membership of Citizens Cymru Wales. The Methodist Church updated the Creating Safer Space Foundation Module during 2020 and the circuit safeguarding trainers underwent two separate training sessions early in 2021: one on the updated content of the module and one to be able to run the on line version of the Foundation Module developed in response to the pandemic. Subsequent Safeguarding courses were then conducted online and coordinated centrally by the National Learning and Development Officer of the Wales Synod, with trained safeguarding trainers volunteering to run the sessions for any participants across Wales.This replaced face to face training within the Circuit. The local preachers and worship leaders’ meetings continued to take place though a combination of physical and electronic meeting, giving support to those leading worship. During the year a number of local preachers continued to lead acts of worship via Zoom while churches were closed for physical services ,thus enabling members to continue to worship together. 2 individuals on trial successfully completed their studies and were recognised fully as local preachers At 31 Aug 2021 there were 13 active accredited local preachers plus 13 worship leaders. The Circuit recognises the great contribution the members of this group make to Circuit worship. The Methodist Church standard form of accounts for the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales Year End 31st August 2021 PROFIT AND L055 ACCOUNT Income Albert Road Barry Uniting Church Cadoxton Crossway Dinas Powys Eastbrook St Athan St Davids St Johns Trinity £0.00 £26,982.00 £16,905.96 £17,424.00 £20,151.00 £0.00 £5,891.22 £15,204.00 £7,140.00 £59,085.96 £168,784.14 Manse Income Bank Interest & Dividends Circuit Grants & Donations Property Sale Other Income Circuit Project Donations for other organisation5 £4,948.03 £1,245.91 £7,000.00 £0.00 £17,983.15 £0.00 £0.00 £31,177.09 TOTAL INCOME £199,961.23 Expenditure Stripends, Nl. Pension Apprenticeship Levy Travel Methodist Church District Wale5 Synod Manses - Water/Council Tax Manses- Insurance Manses- Repair/M3intenance Manses - Misc Lay Worker Telephone & Website Printing & Office Youth Work Preaching Fees Bookkeeping Bank Fees & Charges District Levy Removal & Relocation Costs URC Mission & Ministry Fund Auxiliary Fund Misc Circuit Project £114,337.33 £481.54 £962.74 £30,284.24 El,216.42 £5,905.50 £2,145.43 £70,794.20 £969.98 £220.00 £1,468.28 £2,082.98 £0.00 £1,116.28 E2,095.31 £176.28 £2,203.51 £1,800.00 £4,587.32 £0.00 £6,803.67 £913.30 Donations to other organisations Connexional Levy £1,500.00 £4,829.66 £256.893.97 TOTAL EXPENDITURE £256,893.97 PROFITIILOSSI FOR THE YEAR -£56,932.74 I have examined the accounts of the Vale of Glamorgan Circuit for the year ended 31, August 2021, together with the books and supporting records and can confirm that in my opinion. they are in accordance therewith. Elizabeth Thomas MAAT 22 Llys Corrwg Rhydyfelin Pontypridd CF37 SEI 9th january 2022 The Methodist Church standard form of accounts for the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales Year End 31st August 2021 PROFIT AND L055 ACCOUNT Income Albert Road Barry Uniting Church Cadoxton Crossway Dinas Powys Eastbrook St Athan St Davids St Johns Trinity £0.00 £26,982.00 £16,905.96 £17,424.00 £20,151.00 £0.00 £5,891.22 £15,204.00 £7,140.00 £59,085.96 £168,784.14 Manse Income Bank Interest & Dividends Circuit Grants & Donations Property Sale Other Income Circuit Project Donations for other organisation5 £4,948.03 £1,245.91 £7,000.00 £0.00 £17,983.15 £0.00 £0.00 £31,177.09 TOTAL INCOME £199,961.23 Expenditure Stripends, Nl. Pension Apprenticeship Levy Travel Methodist Church District Wale5 Synod Manses - Water/Council Tax Manses- Insurance Manses- Repair/M3intenance Manses - Misc Lay Worker Telephone & Website Printing & Office Youth Work Preaching Fees Bookkeeping Bank Fees & Charges District Levy Removal & Relocation Costs URC Mission & Ministry Fund Auxiliary Fund Misc Circuit Project £114,337.33 £481.54 £962.74 £30,284.24 El,216.42 £5,905.50 £2,145.43 £70,794.20 £969.98 £220.00 £1,468.28 £2,082.98 £0.00 £1,116.28 E2,095.31 £176.28 £2,203.51 £1,800.00 £4,587.32 £0.00 £6,803.67 £913.30 Donations to other organisations Connexional Levy £1,500.00 £4,829.66 £256.893.97 TOTAL EXPENDITURE £256,893.97 PROFITIILOSSI FOR THE YEAR -£56,932.74 I have examined the accounts of the Vale of Glamorgan Circuit for the year ended 31, August 2021, together with the books and supporting records and can confirm that in my opinion. they are in accordance therewith. Elizabeth Thomas MAAT 22 Llys Corrwg Rhydyfelin Pontypridd CF37 SEI 9th january 2022