SB Lid The Methodist Church
22/12 National Forest East Circuit Charity registration number: 1133460
TRUSTEES' REPORT and FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 AUGUST 2025
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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Administrative Information (current at the date of the signature on this report)
| Circuit Ministers | |
|---|---|
| Rev Louise Morrissey | (Co-Superintendent) |
| Rev Phil Snelson | (Co-Superintendent) |
| Rev Nikki Geeson | |
| Children’s & Family Worker | |
| Mrs Claire Claringbull | |
| Property Manager | |
| Mr Steve Rice | |
| Circuit Stewards | |
| Mr David Allsop | |
| Mrs JackieAllsop | |
| Mrs Julie Bromell | |
| Mrs Sarah Chadwick | |
| Mr Mark Dale | |
| Mr Mark Bennett | |
| Circuit Meeting Secretary | |
| Ms Sue Draper | |
| CircuitAdministrator | |
| Mrs Teresa Godwin | |
| Circuit Office | |
| c/o Marlborough Square Methodist Church | |
| Coalville | |
| Leicestershire | |
| LE67 3WD | |
| e-mail: nfe.circuit@btconnect.com |
|
| Telephone: 01530 830112 |
|
| Independent Examiner | |
| Mrs Christine Fox | |
| 5 WindsorAvenue | |
| Melbourne | |
| DerbyDE738FN |
Trustees’ Report
Governance and Management
The Circuit is governed by the Methodist Church Act 1976, the Deed of Union and the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church.
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The purposes of the Methodist Church are, and shall be deemed to have been since the date of union, the advancement of:
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a) the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church, and
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b) any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church, and
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Cc) any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution or subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.
The Circuit is a group of local churches. Circuits combine to form 24 districts in Great Britain. Although there is some autonomy all Methodist organisations in Great Britain are governed by statutes determined by the Methodist Conference and which are published in the Constitution,
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church (‘CPD’). Conference is the supreme body within the church: it delegates much of its authority to the Methodist Council. Both Conference and Council consist of lay and ordained members.
In setting objectives and planning activities, the Circuit Meeting, held three or four times each year, has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and, in particular, to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing our objectives as set out above.
During the year the Circuit Leadership Team (CLT) - the Circuit Ministerial Staff and Circuit Stewards - met regularly to keep the life of the Circuit under review and to take forward the decisions of the Circuit Meeting.
Activities
Our mission is to bring people into a relationship with God, through Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We want to encourage discipleship, enable gifts, and transform individuals, reaching out with God's love to the lost and hurting, whilst seeking to be relevant in our local communities.
We desire to support and be visible at local community activities. We recognise that individuals are at different points in their faith journey and need to encourage people of all ages to fully participate in the life of the church, enabling our people to reach their full potential in Christ.
Our policy on leadership and ministry is to work as a collaborative team, taking opportunities to work ecumenically. There are formal staff meetings each month, and leadership team meetings at least quarterly.
A five year Mission Plan, updated annually, is shown on the Circuit's website (www.nfecircuit.org)
Organisational Structure
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Overall contro! rests with the Methodist Conference 2. The Connexional Office implements decisions made by Conference and is also responsible for the stationing of Ministers in individual Circuits
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Connexional decisions are passed to the Chair of the District and the appropriate Officers of the District for regional implementation
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The Districts pass the control down to Circuit level for local implementation by the Superintendent Minister, Ministerial staff, Circuit Stewards and others. Authority can be delegated by the Connexion and District to the Circuit Meeting for certain matters
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The Circuit Meeting passes contro! down to Church Councils for local implementation by the Minister, the Church Stewards and other officers. The Church Councils act as Managing Trustees.
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The Co-Superintendents share responsibility for chairing meetings of the Circuit Leadership Team (CLT) and the Circuit Meeting, which trustees are expected to attend. Policy decisions are taken at the Circuit Meeting which is the supreme body for deciding matters at Circuit Level. Some powers are delegated by the Circuit Meeting to the CLT and other groups.
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Churches, Circuits and Districts are able to pass matters upwards for consideration, ultimately to the Conference, for consideration and implementation where appropriate.
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The Methodist Connexional year runs from 1 September to 31 August.
Charity Registration
The National Forest East Methodist Circuit was created on September 1st 2012 when the Castle Donington Circuit joined the Ashby & Coalville Circuit, which was already registered as a charity (registration number 1133460).
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty under the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. Specifically:
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many churches make their premises available to other organisations that need somewhere to meet
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some churches have long term tenants
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uniformed organisations (scouts, cubs, beavers, guides, brownies and rainbows) are affiliated to some of our churches and meet at church premises
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other outreach activities
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raising money for other charities
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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Trustees
| The following Trustees (some with dual roles) served during the course ofthe 2024-25 year. Records |
|---|
| are held oftheTrustees in post and attending meetings during the course ofthe year are maintained. “Name __[Sumame |
| Dawn |
| a tina ale |
| “Pan __ |
| Roe Hawwins Great erameraryiit |
| christine |
| a [Natale |
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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Safeguarding
The Church of England and the Methodist Church work in partnership with other Christian Churches and other agencies in delivering safeguarding. The Circuit supports the following statement of principles agreed by the denominations:
Commitment to:
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The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and all adults
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The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and all adults
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The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where victims of abuse can report or disclose abuse and where they can find support and best practice that contributes to the prevention of abuse
Each church in the Circuit is requested to appoint a safeguarding representative and the Circuit appoints a Safeguarding Officer to coordinate policies, practices and training which promotes safe practice amongst children and vulnerable adults.
Staff Responsibilities & Changes
Revds Louise Morrissey and Phil Snelson operate as Co-Superintendent Ministers of the Circuit.
Revd. Phil Snelson joined the Circuit on 1st September 2021 and continues in pastoral care of the following churches: Hugglescote, Hall Lane (Whitwick), Whitwick, and Marlborough Square (Coalville).
Revd. Louise Morrissey joined the Circuit in September 2022 and continues in pastoral responsibility for Ashby, Moira Centenary, Castle Donington, and the Measham Garden Fellowship.
Revd. Nikki Geeson, a Probationer Minister, joined the circuit on 1st September 2024 and has pastoral care of the churches at Melbourne, Weston, Sutton Bonington and New Sawley.
A number of retired (“supernumerary”) ministers live and worship within the Circuit and carry out varying activities on behalf of the Circuit from time to time.
Mrs Claire Claringbull joined the Circuit in February 2017, working 15 hours a week during term time as Worker With Children & Families.
Mrs Teresa Godwin continues to carry out the part-time paid role of Circuit Administrator based in an office rented from the Marlborough Square Church.
Mr Steve Rice was appointed in July 2022 to carry out the role of part-time Property Manager.
Risk Management
Risks faced by the Circuit have been considered by its leadership team. Where appropriate risks are insured — currently with the Methodist Insurance Company. The security and safety of our churches is largely for those churches to determine and to mitigate, taking advice from Circuit Officers and
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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Insurers as appropriate.
All churches and manses are the subject of quinquennial inspections and the reports on each are reviewed by the Circuit as well as the local trustees. Action is taken to reduce the risks of injury to all who havea legitimate purpose to be on those premises.
All Churches have been surveyed for the presence of asbestos, mainly by Insulation & Environmental Services Ltd of Wigston in 2013. Reports were sent to each church for consideration in November 2013.
We have considered the resilience of churches and the risk that they will not meet their assessments. We judge that there are sufficient resources to cover any possible shortfall in the following year. The Circuit operates within a statutory framework of regulation and seeks to ensure that it follows Methodist standing orders. It relies on the Connexional Office to provide guidance on changes that could affect the Circuit.
Trustees’ Expenses
With the exception of the ministerial staff and supernumerary ministers who can claim for travel and administrative expenses, and a very small number of claims for reimbursement of small-value administration costs, members of the Circuit Meeting received neither payment nor reimbursement of their expenses in connection with their function as trustees.
Trustees’ Responsibilities
The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the Circuit's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees have:
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selected suitable accounting policies and applied them consistently using the receipts and payments method
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made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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followed applicable accounting standards
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prepared the financial statements on a going concern basis.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Circuit and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Circuit and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Trustees have a right to advise the independent examiner of their concerns, but none has done so. The CLT concludes, therefore, that there are no issues to be advised to the independent examiner.
Financial Arrangements
The Circuit prepares receipts and payments accounts. They are not a consolidation of the accounts of churches in the Circuit. The Circuit budget is prepared by first anticipating the expenditure for the forthcoming year and then determining how that sum will be raised.
The Circuit adopted the following policy for reserves in the 2024-25 year:
Reserves policy for General Funds General funds will be used for the day-to-day running expenses of the Circuit and will be supplemented as required by transfers from the Model Trust Fund.
Policy for Restricted Funds
The Circuit Meeting has agreed that a request should be made to close all Trust Funds (other than the Model trust Fund) and transfer the proceeds into general funds. This will save administrative effort, and the original purposes of the trusts have largely been forgotten.
Terms relating to Endowment Funds & Model Trust Fund held
Transfers from the Model Trust Fund into the General Fund are required to maintain the current level of activity. The funds are also available to use for new projects or mission initiatives. The reserve level will therefore be maintained at the highest possible level to allow current activity to continue as appropriate for at least three more years. If total reserves fall below £200,000 a further review will be held.
National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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Capital Assets
The proceeds of sale of the premises of any Methodist Church or manse within the Circuit is generally credited to the Circuit. There is, however, a substantial levy paid to the Connexion (the Methodist Church in GB) so not all of the proceeds are received by the Circuit.
The Circuit continues to own a house in Castle Donington, formerly a manse, which is let out through letting agents.
The Circuit took over responsibility for the Castle Donington Church when the decision was made to stop using the buildings and the congregation moved to rented premises for Sunday worship. The Church buildings were subsequently sold in November 2024.
Funding of the Circuit’s Costs
This is achieved primarily by making an assessment on each church within the Circuit. If any church closes that church’s assessment ceases to be paid to the Circuit. The Circuit’s costs — principally the stipends and housing costs of the ministers — would continue and there would be a need to draw on reserves to meet the shortfall in income.
Annual costs
The Circuit believes that it should ensure that it has income and reserves sufficient to cover the stipends and manse costs of three ministers. The costs of other paid staff are currently met from reserves.
Approvals
The examiner signed the Financial Statements on 01 November 2025 to confirm she had completed the inspection satisfactorily. The Financial Statements of the Circuit were approved by the Circuit Meeting held on 19 November 2025, together with the written report.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
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RevdPyroPhil Snelson
fete fA sec
Matt Lee
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Co-Superintendent| | i! |Ministeras
217i 28
Treasurer (to 31 August 2025)
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National Forest East Methodist Circuit
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RESERVES POLICY of National Forest East Circuit Meeting
if General Funds held at Y/E 31/08/25 ee SS a oe a ane <<. as 2. Restricted Funds held é £791,741 3. Endowment Funds held - _£0 |
- Reserves policy for General Funds General funds will be maintained at a level that is sufficient to meet the day to day running costs of the circuit. Any additional costs will be financed by transferred from the Model Trust Fund as required.
meeeEee 5. Policy for Restricted Funds Model Trust Fund Material withdrawals of funds will be necessary in forthcoming years to | a Maintain current levels of activity within the circuit, b Support mission work within the circuit's churches by the granting of funds, where such work | _ is supported by a current mission plan. | Toc Supportthis end thethe workcircui of t hepoli cir c yuitis into themaintain deliveryfunds of its ownat £835k, missionreviewing plan. the level on an annual | basis. If funds fall below £200k there will be an immediate review. 6. Terms relating to Endowment Funds held
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Not applicable. , no such funds are held. area ay
This Reserves Policy has been approved by |ieNationalAEMForest East
Circuit MeetingA ee ce _ SES a ee
Full name ' Full Name ‘a
Signature Signature
SMA & BRON GOW - eee. oe pombibotatns pease
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CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH
STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
National Forest East Circuit
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025 Nottingham & Derby District Circuit number
Circuit number mie
Registered Charity - Charity Registration number
lf not a registered charity His Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number = (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242 )
Ministers:
Revd Louise Morrissey (Co-Superintendent) Revd Phil Snelson (Co-Superintendent) Revd Nikki Geeson
Circuit Stewards:
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|David|Allsop|
|Jackie|Allsop|
|Mark|Bennett|
|Julie|Bromell|
|Sarah|Chadwick|
|Mark|Dale|
|Treasurer:|
|Matthew|Lee|(to|31|August|2025)|
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National Forest East Circuit
| Summary ofthe Circuit accounts forthe yearended 31 August 2025 and Internal Organisations reporting to the | Summary ofthe Circuit accounts forthe yearended 31 August 2025 and Internal Organisations reporting to the | Summary ofthe Circuit accounts forthe yearended 31 August 2025 and Internal Organisations reporting to the | Circuit Meeting. Note | that the funds of |
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| an Internal Organisation would normaily be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be | used forany Methodist purpose. This | |||
| section must becompleted to arrive at the gross receiptsand payments totals ofthe Circuit. Ifgross income exceeds theAccruals threshold of | ||||
| £250,000, then theAccruals method ofaccounting AND ADIFFERENT FORM must be used to reporttheaccounts (see Methodistwebsite). Please | ||||
| refertotheguidance notes regarding transfers between the Circuitand connected Circuit Organisations. | ||||
| ORGANISATIONS p |
Pa | Adjustments | balances | Closing balances |
| ec ee Wess ee Aiea |
ee Se ee Sc GSEE |
oe | ee eaeA |
|
| Meee | ee | ee | ae | ee |
| Sub total of internal | ||||
| Organisations funds | ||||
| Circuit accounts (totals | ||||
| broughtforward from | ||||
| page 2 -totals column) | 998,128 | |||
| OTA! SH UNDS omevoevcrcur |
seoasz_ff__areses_] | _casigosy | ] Continue on a separate sheetifnecessaryandbring TOTALRECEIPTS maate |
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| eee | ||||
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES |
OPENING | CLOSING | ||
| CIRCUIT -CASHFUNDSHELDat31 August2025 SS |
BALANCES a sro] oa GEar |
BALANCES [6s ar |
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| TrusteesforMethodistChurch Purposes | 858,484 | |||
| Se balance totals above) (e12) |
safe | |||
| =TOTALCASH FUNDS HELD BYCIRCUIT er |
998,128*iF | |||
| SECTIONG | At | At | ||
| OTHERASSETSand LIABILITIES | 1 September 2024 |
31 August 2025 | ||
| eee 2+ |
Loan()- snow amountoutstanding atyearend em |
LoantoMoirare-paid March2025 | i |
4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board f5 Include only CFB Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trust accounts this is inserted in line f5)
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ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
National Forest East Circuit
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Un-|Circuit|
|restricted|Model|Trust|Restricted|Totals|this|Totals|last|
|SECTION A|Funds|Fund|Funds|year|year|
|lat |RECEIPTS|£|£|£|£|£|
|a2 |Assessment/Share||||ss0eeeK|||a30,046|137,481|
|Bank|and|CFB|interest|and|
|Investment|income|2,754|44,875|
|Pea6 [Other receipts|a=SESS Se|eeeSo|ees|Reeee|ee85,024|
|TOTAL RECEIPTS|168,692]|200,800)|||369,492|(a8)|]|441,895|
|SECTION|B|
|bt PAYMENTS|
|Stipends,|salaries,|NIC,|Pension|and|
|travel|costs|168,215|168,215|
|lb4[administrationetoSreeee|a|RS|18,577|16,028|
|b5 [District Assessment|ss|ee ~S| S427]Bee790]Se|58,768}9,217|||[54,924]|
|Ib6 |Grants & donations|eae|Cee|ee|46,436|128,358|
|Meee|
|b8 [Other payments|me|="|mae aes| |124,102|
|bo |TOTAL PAYMENTS|||«||347,487]|97,898]|=~|415,385](b9)]||497,538|
|SECTION|C|
|THE YEAR|a7-b9|102,902|
|Total funds|brought forward from|last|year|139,644]|958,484,||998,128](c6)|||1,053,770|
|Sub total|ci+c2)||(9,151)||961,386}|998,128|
|Transfers and adjustments|169,645}|(169,645 aes|Sas|
|TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR|(c3+c4)]|160,494]|791,744]|998,128|(c6)|
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|SECTION|D|
|p FORthese INFORMATION amounts|should ONLY:not be MONEYincluded RECEIVEDin|total ANDreceipts/payments PASSED ON TOabove)EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS|
|d1| Balance brought forward from|last|year|a|ee|
|d2| Offerings/Gifts|- received|for external organisations|2,372|
|Offerings/Gifts|-|passed|to|external|organisations|2,270|2,372|
|d4JBALANCE|STILL TO BE PAID|(d1|+ d2|- d3|oe|Ue|
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Name of Circuit National Forest East No. 22/12 Charity no. 1133460
Declarations and Scrutiny | confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 have been prepared from the Circuit's records and that they include all funds under the control of the Circuit meeting. Signature of treasurer oo.n. ATE neste Date...2.2:4:28........ Name and address of treasurer : Matthew Lee, 80 Derby Road, Melbourne, Derby, DE73 8FL Presentation to the Circuit meeting | confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 were/wittte* presented to the Circuit meeting held on ...21...Nov,[euber] 20257 Signature of the Chair of the meeting ..... MA nl EL SR nee . ; : = he .L.Ver vss2y Name of the Chair of the meeting Rey. PM... INECSON.... Date ....|7. 625. independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the Circuit
Responsibilities and basis of report
| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages 2 and 3. As the Circuit's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
| report in respect of my examination of the Circuit's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
| have completed my examination. | 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:
e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or e the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
| have/have not* obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. * delete or circle as appropriate 3 ee ee Signature of independent examiner Se 8 WudGuvenleees sets ack eevevaneuvissat ses LsuueeatuasdagascsAveers Nameof independent examiner ... CAHIQAS. TIE... ERA cece ccctee cette seeeeeeeeens
Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner RETIRED. At cownNTAl -....
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