TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 01/09/2020 – 31/08/21 Temple Methodist Church, Taunton
1134048
Objectives and activities
The purposes of the Methodist Church are the advancement of:
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a) The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and discipline of The Methodist Church;
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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;
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c) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church;
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d) Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.
Our aims:
To be a church that welcomes all, celebrates God’s love, offers opportunities to explore the Christian faith, seeks to serve in the world and to challenge injustice.
The Church fulfils these objectives by offering worship every Sunday morning, every Wednesday lunch-time and monthly on Sunday evenings. On other Sunday evenings, worship is offered elsewhere in the Circuit, the grouping of which we are a part. The Church offers a wide range of groups, offering both social activities and things to encourage the spiritual development of the congregation. Members support each other by the offering of mutual pastoral care.
Achievements and Performance
The trustees have taken note of the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and in particular their guidance on charities for the advancement of religion, when planning their activities. The actions taken by the church meet the requirement for there to be an identifiable public benefit or benefits and that such benefit is to the public or a section of the public.
During the period of this report, the range and style of church activities was greatly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, provision had been made earlier in 2020 to offer online services, and further opportunities for fellowship and worship through zoom. A telephone pastoral system had also been set up to keep contact with our members and attenders, and this was maintained throughout the period of the report.
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Worship has continued to be offered through a weekly Circuit Service uploaded to the Youtube page of one of our Circuit churches. There has also been a weekly Circuit zoom worship offered. When permitted the church was initially opened for private prayer once a week, and Sunday gathered worship services were held for a short while (when permitted) during the autumn of 2020, and from Easter 2021, adhering to government Covid guidelines.
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The church continued to nurture its relationship with neighbouring churches through shared printed resources distributed to the congregations, to mark festivals and anniversaries.
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Pastoral care continued through the distribution of notices, letters from the minister, and distribution of the monthly magazine by members of the congregation. A sense of care and fellowship was maintained as far as possible through phone calls, ‘doorstep calls’ and visits when they were permitted.
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Most of the social events and lettings of the property were paused after March 2020, including Pop-In, Work-Wise, choirs and the numerous U3A groups. Some permitted groups met, such as 2BU, and the number of other groups slowly increased during 2021 as restrictions eased.
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Our Church and Community Worker was on partial furlough during this time, but she was able to maintain contact with our hirers. The number of bookings gradually increased during the latter part of 2021.
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The congregation continued to support charitable appeals, and contributed financially towards activity days for children at a local school, during their school holidays.
Mitigation of Risks
These are considered by the Resources Committee who oversee the day to day running of the charity and report to the Church Council. Professional advice is taken as required.
There is a regular review process carried out by the Church Council to ensure that the Charity is fulfilling its objectives.
The Circuit, the umbrella body which oversees the Church, has adopted a Safeguarding Policy – covering both children and vulnerable adults – and has taken a lead in ensuring that all its local Churches adopt similar policies.
A local Church Safeguarding policy is in place overseen by a local Safeguarding Officer, and reviewed annually.
Financial review
During the year the Church had total receipts of £97k (2019-20: £96k) and dispersed £92k (2019-20 £113k).
The employment of a worker at the Church has produced substantial additional income from the letting income of the premises though through the effects of Covid these were greatly reduced. The worker was placed on partial furlough for most of the year and government support was use of the furlough support scheme.
The trustees of the Church have every reason to believe that the Church is a going concern, with income from the congregation sufficient to meet regular out-goings and some lettings income returning.
Trustees do not foresee any factors that will significantly affect the financial performance or position in the next year or two.
The Church has the following principal sources of funds:
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Offerings of the Congregation – either via the collection plate or by Standing order
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Rents from groups making use of the premises
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A gift day
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Interest on investments
These sums are used to pay the Circuit assessment, to maintain an old and large building and to employ a cleaner, organists arranged on a rota, and a Church and Community worker.
Reserves policies
General Funds (currently £26k)
The long term aim is to hold a General Reserve of 50% of annual expenditure as a contingency fund to meet the unexpected demands of a 200 year old Listed building.
Restricted funds (currently £5k)
Restricted funds are expended on the objectives for which the money was donated as soon as is practical.
Endowment funds (currently £187k)
The annual income from our older endowments is £5 per year and is credited to the General Fund. Recent legacies received and held by the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes have the annual income accumulated with the Trust. Endowments totalling £45883.23 have been designated for support of the Church and Community worker. Other endowments are held against the possibility of major expenditure on the building.
Structure governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document
Methodist Church Deed Of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976)
How the charity is constituted Act of Parliament
Trustee selection methods
Elected by the annual meeting of Church members.
Ministers are automatically trustees
Additional governance issues
None
Induction/Training
Range of guidance produced by Methodist Connexion. Leaflet ‘The Role of a Trustee in The Methodist Church’ is given to each trustee.
Structure
Temple Methodist Church is part of the Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Methodist Circuit, which is itself part of the Plymouth and Exeter Methodist District. Accountable to the Methodist Conference.
Related Parties None
Reference and administration details
Charity Name Temple Methodist Church Registered Charity Number 1134048 Charity’s Principal Address Temple Methodist Church, Upper High Street, Taunton TA1 3PY
Names of the Charity Trustees who manage the charity .
The Charity Trustees are the members of the Church Council of the Temple Methodist Church. This comprised during the year of this report.
| Chair: | Revd Deborah Kirk |
|---|---|
| Church Stewards: | Liz Hartley |
| Lynda Kazer | |
| Diana Atkinson | |
| Paul Turner | |
| Anne Jordan | |
| Hazel Jordan | |
| Sheila Robertson | |
| Treasurer: | Graham Dickinson |
| Pastoral Secretary: | Anne Jordan |
| Circuit Steward: | Carol Stowe |
| Church Council Secretary: | Diana Atkinson |
| Representatives from | |
| Church Life: | Lynda Kazer |
| Resourcing: | Margaret Sweet |
| Property: | George Adams |
| Safeguarding officer: | Kathryn Turner |
| Representatives appointed | by General Church Meeting: |
| Joanna Rossiter, Church and Community Worker | |
| Ian Rossiter | |
| Anne Broadley | |
| Ron Jordan | |
| Tony Bell | |
| Chris Mitchell | |
| Doreen Marks | |
| Conrad Marks |
Custodian trustees Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes Manchester
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name(s) | Deborah Kirk |
Diana Atkinson |
| Position | Chair | Secretary |
| Date | 29.06.22 | 29.06.22 |
Appended to this report is the Statement of Financial Activity for the year concerned together with the Balance Sheet at year end.
CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
Temple Methodist Church
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 August 2021
| Taunton Deane and South Sedgemoor Circuit | Circuit no | 24/15 |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Charity - Charity Registration number | ||
| 1134048 |
If not a registered charity Her 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)
Minister:
Rev Deborah Kirk
Church Stewards: Elizabeth Hartley Lynda Kazer Diana Atkinson Sheila Robertson Anne Jordan Paul Turner Treasurer: Graham Dickinson
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Temple Methodist
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Church
Church
Unrestricted Restricted Totals this Totals last
SECTION A Funds Funds year year
£ £ £ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings and Tax recovered 49,734 49,734 48,835
Bank and CFB interest and
a3 Investment income 51 51 255
a4 Lettings 2,311 2,311 21,043
a5 Other receipts 38,307 5,135 43,442 26,853
a6 [TOTAL RECEIPTS] 90,403 5,135 95,538 (a7) 96,986
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 49,995 49,995 53,458
b3 Donations 5,041 5,041 1,384
b4 Repairs and Maintenance 2,113 2,113 8,052
Utilities (Insurances, water
b5 charges, heating & lighting) 14,385 14,385 15,106
b6
b7 Other payments 20,786 77 20,863 35,070
b8 [TOTAL PAYMENTS ] 87,279 5,118 92,397 (b9) 113,070
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS
c1 FOR THE YEAR (a6-b8) 3,124 17 3,141 (16,084)
Total funds brought forward from
last year
c2 23,118 6,204 29,322 (c6)
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) 26,242 6,221 32,463 (16,084)
c4 Transfers and adjustments (20) 20 (c7)
c5 [TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR ] (c3+c4) 26,222 6,241 32,463 (c8) (16,084) (c6)
SECTION D
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
d (these amounts are not to be included in total receipts/payments figures £ £
d1 Balance brought forward from last year
d2 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 3,894 4,187
d3 Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations 3,874 4,187
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) 20
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Temple Methodist Church
Church
SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL
SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the District and connected District Organisations.
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INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances Closing balances
e1 Vivary Group 596 596
e2 Mens Forum 471 471
e3
e4
e5
e6
e7
Sub total of Internal
e8 Organisations funds 1,067 (e11) 1,067 (e12)
Church accounts (totals
brought forward from
e9 page 2 - totals column) 95,538 (a7) 92,397 (b9) 3,141 (c7) 29,322 (c6) 32,463 (c8)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD
e10 BY CHURCH 95,538 92,397 3,141 30,389 (x) 33,530 (y)
Continue on a separate sheet
TOTAL
if necessary and bring the TOTAL RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
totals forward
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SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
| OPENING | CLOSING | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2021 | BALANCES | BALANCES | |||||
| f1 | Cash in hand | (10) | (1,872) | ||||
| f2 | Bank Current Account | 6,249 | 6,573 | ||||
| f3 | Bank Deposit Account | ||||||
| f4 | Central Finance Board | 23,083 | 27,762 | ||||
| f5 | Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes | ||||||
| f6 | Other funds | ||||||
| f7 | SUB TOTAL - Church accounts | 29,322 | (c6) | 32,463 | (c8) | ||
| Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the | |||||||
| f8 | closing balance total from above) (e12) | 1,067 | (e11) | 1,067 | (e12) | ||
| f9 | TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH | 30,389 | (x) | 33,530 | (y) | ||
| SECTION G | At | At | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES | 1 September 2020 | 31 August 2021 | ||||
| g1 | Investments(include Endowments) | 187,287 | 187,539 | |||
| g2 | Land & Buildings (see notes re Insurance value) |
6,472,170 | 7,354,960 | |||
| g3 | Other Assets | |||||
| g4 | Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end | |||||
| g5 | Other Liabilities |
f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board
f5 Include only Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trusts accounts this is included in line f5
Name of Church … Temple Methodist Church
Declarations and Scrutiny
I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2021 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees.
Signature of treasurer ……………………………………………………… Date……………………..
Name and address of treasurer …… Graham Dickinson
……………………13 Parkfield Drive, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5BX
Presentation to the Church trustees
I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 were presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on 4th November 2021 ……………..
Signature of the Chair of the meeting ……………………………………………………………………
Name of the Chair of the meeting … Rev Deborah Kirk
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the
Temple Methodist Church
Charity Number 24/15
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the trustees on my examinationof the accounts of the Temple Methodist Church
for the year ended 31 August 2021 set out attached. As the Church's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act).
I report in respect of my examination of the Church’s accounts carried out under section 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.
Name of Church …Temple Methodist 24/15
Independent Examiner’s Statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I 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.
I 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.
Signature of independent examiner ………………………………………………………………….
Name of independent examiner ……Mr Roy Vautier
Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ………………………………………
Name of firm (where appropriate) ………………………………………………………………………
Address 6 Highgrove, Taunton, TA1 3RG
Date …………………………………………