## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 01/09/2021 – 31/08/22 Temple Methodist Church, Taunton** ## **1134048** ## **Objectives and activities** The purposes of the Methodist Church are the advancement of: - a) The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and 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 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. ## 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. At the General Church Meeting of 2021, the strapline ‘Intentional Hospitality’ was added to our mission statement. We assess our work and mission through the aspects of Our Calling: Worship, Learning and Caring, Service and Evangelism. The Church fulfils its 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 events to encourage the spiritual development of the congregation. Members support each other by the offering of mutual pastoral care, including home Communions for members who are house-bound or in care. Temple Methodist Church has an informal partnership with the local United Reformed Church, and St John the Evangelist, and holds united services and opportunities for spiritual development. In August 2022, it registered for same-sex marriages in accordance with the majority vote of the Church Council, following a wider consultation among its members. ## **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, there has been a gradual and steady rebuilding of attendance at services and events following the pandemic, and bookings for use of the premises have increased. The provision of online services, fellowship and worship continues, and provides a connection for those who are no longer able to attend in-person worship. - 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. - The church continued to nurture its relationship with its partner churches, and maintain its profile among the wider town church networks. - Pastoral care continued through the distribution of notices, letters from the minister and treasurer, and distribution of the monthly magazine through email, and delivery by members of the congregation. A sense of care and fellowship was maintained through phone calls, visits, and home Communion. - Opportunities for social interaction for elderly and vulnerable people are held, including Pop-In and Work-Wise. - Our Church and Community Worker has worked to rebuild the lettings of the premises in line with our commitment to an inclusive hospitality and welcome, thus generating important income. Music exams, book launches, and concerts have been held throughout the year. Interest groups, such as U3A groups, SLN and 2BU are regular weekly events. - The congregation has continued to support various charitable activities through envelope collections and events. - The church has hosted summer activity days for Ukrainian families as well as seasonal activities for families connected to church and Circuit. During 2022, the Trustees began the planning and funding-raising for a significant repair to part of the roof, incorporating the installation of solar panels which will improve the carbon footprint and allow a certain amount of eco energy to be generated. The congregation has committed to raising the necessary amount, alongside the application of available grant funding. ## **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 £131k (2020-21: £96k) and dispersed £113k (201920 £92k). 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 trustees of the Church oversee the income and expenditure of the church and monitor the contribution made to the Circuit budget. 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: - Offerings of the Congregation – either via the collection plate or by Standing order - Rents from groups making use of the premises - A regular gift day - Interest on investments These sums are used to pay the Circuit assessment, to maintain the large historical building, employ a Church and Community Worker, and a Cleaner, and engage organists for Sunday services, weddings, and funerals. ## **Reserves policies** General Funds (currently £25k) 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 £44k) Restricted funds are expended on the objectives for which the money was donated as soon as is practical. This includes a project to repair the roof, improve insulation and install solar panels and the work is planned to be carried out in 2023. Endowment funds (currently £167k) The annual income from our older endowments is £4 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 £48,460 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| ||Colin Robertson| ||Kevin Rigg| 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|29.06.23|29.06.23| 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 Tem le Methodist FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2022 Church Taunton D•ane and South Sed Clrcult Clrcult no. 24115 Regl8tered Charlty . Charlty Rogl8tratlon numbor If not a registered charity H•r M8J08ty8 R•venu• and Customs Glft Ald number (rhe HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may te used to give to donors or grant funders ￿shIng to see evidence of the organisalion's chanlabFe stabjs. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charits.es are excepted Irom registrats'on under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.2421 1134048 Minister. Rev Deborah Kirk Church SteKards". Paul Turner Anne Jordan Diana Atkinson Liz Haruey Hazel Jordan Treasurer. Graham Di¢kinson Church R aThJ P >)15.yJs I￿5 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022 Temple Methodist Church SECTION A Unr¥strlctod R•#trlthd Ttstsb this Fund• Funds Totals last ye¥ a1 RECEIPTS Offerin s and Tax recovered Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 46.430 49,734 '83 150 150 51 Lettin 18,633 14.497 79.710 18.633 66.279 131A92 2,311 43,442 95.538 Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 51,782 51.782 la71 SECTION b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circurt Assessrnent or Share Donations 46.667 46,667 49,995 S,041 b3 6.692 irs and Maintenance Utilrties Ilnsurances, water cha es, healin & lighlin 5,542 2.113 bs 13.338 14,385 b6 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 35.146 100,693 5,583 12.275 40,729 112,968 20.863 92.397 b8 Ib9} SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMEp¥rs FOR THE YEAR 20,983 39.507 18.S24 Total funds brought fonvard from last year 26,222 6,241 32,463 c6 29,322 Sub totsl 1+c2 5.239 45,748 Transfers and ad. vstments 20.000 c7 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR le3+¢41 26.239 45,748 70.987 Ic8) 32.463 Ic61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO ExfERNAL ORGANISATIONS {thase amounts are not to be Included In total rncelptslpayments ures above Balance brou ht forward from kgst 20 Offerin sIGifts- received for extemal o nisations 3,894 13 Offerin951Gffts - passed to exlemal organwt*Jns 3.SC6 3.874 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID Id1+d2-d31 20 Chwrth R P2015.x15 2of5 Tem le Methodist UMMARYOF SEclloN E SummaryoftheChur¢th aruuntsfor the 31 A￿9￿1 Z022 an Intem* ￿Uld I￿rTrAI￿ ￿ Re*Ji*dfvnds it￿￿1 t* L*edfur•rykkthcA*s1 kxtym ￿tiOn rn￿81 and (￿r￿cted Disthct ￿ganIsatiOnS OROAFISAT]ONS Thurn Gmu ¢2 e3 ubl0ts1 Inlerna isa0￿alUnaB 343 Chur¢h *¢count•lt)15.yJs I￿5 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022 Temple Methodist Church SECTION A Unr¥strlctod R•#trlthd Ttstsb this Fund• Funds Totals last ye¥ a1 RECEIPTS Offerin s and Tax recovered Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 46.430 49,734 '83 150 150 51 Lettin 18,633 14.497 79.710 18.633 66.279 131A92 2,311 43,442 95.538 Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 51,782 51.782 la71 SECTION b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circurt Assessrnent or Share Donations 46.667 46,667 49,995 S,041 b3 6.692 irs and Maintenance Utilrties Ilnsurances, water cha es, healin & lighlin 5,542 2.113 bs 13.338 14,385 b6 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 35.146 100,693 5,583 12.275 40,729 112,968 20.863 92.397 b8 Ib9} SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMEp¥rs FOR THE YEAR 20,983 39.507 18.S24 Total funds brought fonvard from last year 26,222 6,241 32,463 c6 29,322 Sub totsl 1+c2 5.239 45,748 Transfers and ad. vstments 20.000 c7 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR le3+¢41 26.239 45,748 70.987 Ic8) 32.463 Ic61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO ExfERNAL ORGANISATIONS {thase amounts are not to be Included In total rncelptslpayments ures above Balance brou ht forward from kgst 20 Offerin sIGifts- received for extemal o nisations 3,894 13 Offerin951Gffts - passed to exlemal organwt*Jns 3.SC6 3.874 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID Id1+d2-d31 20 Chwrth R P2015.x15 2of5 Tem le Methodist UMMARYOF SEclloN E SummaryoftheChur¢th aruuntsfor the 31 A￿9￿1 Z022 an Intem* ￿Uld I￿rTrAI￿ ￿ Re*Ji*dfvnds it￿￿1 t* L*edfur•rykkthcA*s1 kxtym ￿tiOn rn￿81 and (￿r￿cted Disthct ￿ganIsatiOnS OROAFISAT]ONS Thurn Gmu ¢2 e3 ubl0ts1 Inlerna isa0￿alUnaB 343 Chur¢h *¢count•lt