**Charity Commission – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period September 2022 - August 2023** _Section C – Objectives and activities: 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)._ Hinde Street Methodist Church is a city centre church based in the heart of Marylebone, London, which seeks to be welcoming and hospitable to everyone. We have an open ethos and a tradition of questioning debate, primarily, although not exclusively, from a liberal perspective. We are a diverse and multi-racial community. The age profile is distinctive with a small number of children and young people of school age but with a larger than average group of young adults. The remainder of the congregation are over the age of 40 and there is a large group of retirees. A considerable number of our members are professionals with a range of intellectual and academic backgrounds. They offer a wide range of gifts and skills to the community through service in different areas. At the same time, we are an inclusive church which welcomes people regardless of ability, gender, sexual orientation or age, and seeks to create a warm, caring and nurturing community for all. In April 2015 the Church Council voted to sign up for the ‘Inclusive Church’ movement, and we continue to work towards inclusivity in all that we do, particularly with regards the LGBT+ community. We have recently approved a motion to allow the church to conduct same-sex marriages, after the national Methodist Church conference gave churches this option. Members of the church attended the Pride March in June 2023. Our ministers include Rev Peter Cornick and Deacon Belinda Letby (to 31 August 2023). From September 2023 Deacon Ruth Yorke will be working at Hinde Street. The church has three Sunday services, each with its own distinct congregation, with limited cross-over between them. - The 9:30am service (formerly at 10:00) is short and uses an adapted version of the 1936 Methodist Communion Service. Attendance is between 6 and 10 and this service happens twice a month. - The 11:00 am service is every week and is consciously traditional Methodist worship. A high value is placed on preaching, hymn singing, liturgy (the Methodist Worship Book is used frequently but not exclusively), and communion is held twice a month. The congregation is also open to less traditional music and innovative liturgical ideas. Average attendance varies between 30 to 60 adults and a small Junior Church sometimes meets at the same time. The Church has a strong musical tradition and there is a director of music who is responsible for the occasional choir rehearsal and presentation. The church possesses a fine organ and Steinway grand piano. Since Covid, the 11am service has also operated online, and continues to offer ‘hybrid worship’ in ~~person~~ church and on Zoom. The 6.30 pm service, which is twice a month, has an attendance of around 10 people, and often takes a more creative, interactive and meditative approach. It alternates between being in church and on Zoom (hybrid), and on Zoom only. Hinde Street Methodist Church has long-established and well-run classes (small groups of members and non-members), following the Wesleyan tradition, which meet regularly. We have 6 classes, with four classes meeting monthly, one weekly and one (the class for young people) meeting occasionally. Alongside these, there are the following activities: - a weekly lunchtime meditation group led by the ministers, the community worker and other participants and open to members of the church, anonymous groups, local residents and workers. (Attendance is on average between 5 and 10). - social activities - monthly church lunches and an annual family picnic. - 2 weekly open drop-ins in the main church hall on Wednesdays from 4-7pm and Thursdays from 3-6pm, which offer food and support to approximately 30-50 people experiencing homelessness, or who are vulnerably housed within our neighbourhood. The church committees, many of which are chaired by lay members of the church, oversee the various activities including property and financial issues. Hinde Street Methodist Church has two established residential communities living in flats adjacent to the main church building; one has five members, and one has six members of young adults. These communities share a Christian ethos and make a commitment to contribute to the life of the church and circuit – including volunteering in our social projects, and an agreed amount of time covering reception duties when our caretaker is on leave. The premises (church, church hall and adjacent rooms) are used by various groups during the week. - There are almost 35 “12 step” groups - self-help groups for people with addiction issues who have used these premises for many years. Up to 100 people per day use the premises in this way. - Church members are encouraged to participate in the wider activities of the West London Mission Circuit, which has a significant programme of professional Housing and Community Services located in several areas of London. Hinde Street Methodist Church is committed to offering a sense of belonging to young people studying, living and working in London. Until March 2023 the church had a Community Worker whose work concentrated on helping 18-30 year olds become part of the church family by offering them pastoral care, open spaces for asking questions about faith and creative forms of worship. The young adults continue to meet regularly for friendship and exploring issues of faith. We have a covenant with **St Marylebone Parish Church** . Three times a year we organise a pulpit swap, including during the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity, and on Aldersgate Sunday. _Section D - Achievements and performance: summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year._ Our growth plan which was created in 2021 had several arms to deal with the dwindling funds and membership, which were significantly exacerbated by the pandemic and the resulting loss of any income from lettings in the building. The church was given a grant by the London Methodist District, some of which it has spent on an online rebrand and a refreshing of the website to capture online traffic. We have a Digital and Communications Officer to capitalise on our online presence, including Zoom services ~~.~~ The church has recovered some income from lettings and many groups have returned. However, the church still faces economic challenges and – working with the assistance of Methodist Central Hall Westminster - is currently considering a ‘New Business Plan’ with the aim of increasing our income from lettings considerably. The church has remained faithful in its fellowship and welcoming to new members, and has offered pastoral support through our class (small group) network and keeping in touch with more vulnerable members of the congregation. Ak Church Accruals Accounts 2022-2023 THE METHODIST CHURCH TEMPLATE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS (ACCRUALS BASIS) for the year ended 31 August 2023 Hinde Street Methodist Church R•gl8t•f•d Charfty- R•glstratloft numb•r (If •ppllcatA•) 1134023 West London Misslon Clrcuil No 35102 Mlnl8t•vs Church Stewards Josèph Glys•J M8rgar81 Rut*and Cathy Slatèr Church Troasurnr HINDE STREET METHOOIST CHURCH Church No SLitement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2023 th• G•n•rnl Fund Funds R•strlc¢ed Endown*nt Totsl 2022-23 Income l Offertngs 2 Oonaticffi¥ 3 Gift awj 4 Interesland InVests￿nt inwrn8 5 Incm If¢m ￿¥•S￿￿nI wor*lO&s 6 Intemal org•*alons PJA Lettin98 7 othor tharitablo Inctmg 8 Total In¢om• 3.7fAJ 16.516 3.780 16.516 7.329 228.812 228.812 24,000 363.023 358J03 Expendlture 9 Gi￿1t as¥gs¥menl ¢x shartr 10 Grants aThJ donalkns 11 Prop￿ Ma*it￿ance 12 knSurar￿.uti1th5 ete 13 Depreciality) 14 Cieantng and rAretsking 15 Othèr •xp•ndth 16 Int6m21 oryanisations 17 Total ¢hartable expondliuro 18 G8lnsllk)ssosl on rTrJnotary ww8strnBnts 19 GainslUoss￿I on Investm8nl piowbes 20 N•t Incom•l(•xp•ndKLThI 21 Tran¥ts￿ èets¥gen funds 22 Other gab)sl(Ixs¢$l 23 Ngt movgmant In fund¥ 24Total funds brougm forward 25Totsl furtdsn. I confirm Ihat no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examinatton (other than that disclosed below") wh￿h give me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with sectbon 130 of the Act; or the accounts do not acc￿1 with the accounting records: or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements o)n(xrning the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Chariiies (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue arKI fairf view. which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination the trustees, annual report is not constsknt with the acc(yJnts I have no concems and have come across rK• other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drahyn in this report in Order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave not. obtained iTrJeperKlent verificalion of all investments 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 thousarKI pounds) at the balan￿ sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner ...... Relevant professional qualification of indeperrfjent examiner pccrf Name of firni (where apprwiate) . ￿éTT￿l •4•7TMewS Address Posl Code ! HG Date ddete or cirde as appropriate Ak Church Accruals Accounts 2022-2023 THE METHODIST CHURCH TEMPLATE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS (ACCRUALS BASIS) for the year ended 31 August 2023 Hinde Street Methodist Church R•gl8t•f•d Charfty- R•glstratloft numb•r (If •ppllcatA•) 1134023 West London Misslon Clrcuil No 35102 Mlnl8t•vs Church Stewards Josèph Glys•J M8rgar81 Rut*and Cathy Slatèr Church Troasurnr HINDE STREET METHOOIST CHURCH Church No SLitement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2023 th• G•n•rnl Fund Funds R•strlc¢ed Endown*nt Totsl 2022-23 Income l Offertngs 2 Oonaticffi¥ 3 Gift awj 4 Interesland InVests￿nt inwrn8 5 Incm If¢m ￿¥•S￿￿nI wor*lO&s 6 Intemal org•*alons PJA Lettin98 7 othor tharitablo Inctmg 8 Total In¢om• 3.7fAJ 16.516 3.780 16.516 7.329 228.812 228.812 24,000 363.023 358J03 Expendlture 9 Gi￿1t as¥gs¥menl ¢x shartr 10 Grants aThJ donalkns 11 Prop￿ Ma*it￿ance 12 knSurar￿.uti1th5 ete 13 Depreciality) 14 Cieantng and rAretsking 15 Othèr •xp•ndth 16 Int6m21 oryanisations 17 Total ¢hartable expondliuro 18 G8lnsllk)ssosl on rTrJnotary ww8strnBnts 19 GainslUoss￿I on Investm8nl piowbes 20 N•t Incom•l(•xp•ndKLThI 21 Tran¥ts￿ èets¥gen funds 22 Other gab)sl(Ixs¢$l 23 Ngt movgmant In fund¥ 24Total funds brougm forward 25Totsl furtdsn. I confirm Ihat no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examinatton (other than that disclosed below") wh￿h give me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with sectbon 130 of the Act; or the accounts do not acc￿1 with the accounting records: or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements o)n(xrning the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Chariiies (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue arKI fairf view. which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination the trustees, annual report is not constsknt with the acc(yJnts I have no concems and have come across rK• other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drahyn in this report in Order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave not. obtained iTrJeperKlent verificalion of all investments 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 thousarKI pounds) at the balan￿ sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner ...... Relevant professional qualification of indeperrfjent examiner pccrf Name of firni (where apprwiate) . ￿éTT￿l •4•7TMewS Address Posl Code ! HG Date ddete or cirde as appropriate