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2025-08-31-accounts

Cornerstone Methodist Church

Trustees’ Annual Report

For the Year Ended 31 August 2025

Ministers’ Report

Rev Tony Cavanagh & Deacon Sarah Pitkeathly

Dear Friends,

As we look back on this year in the life of Cornerstone Methodist Church, we do so not simply as a record of what has been, but as a moment of profound transition.

We began the second year of Cornerstone’s new identity with a celebratory concert with Philippa Hanna to mark our first birthday. We continue to build relationships and deepen our community bonds as a blended church.

However, this has been a year in which we have been invited—perhaps compelled—to see more clearly who we are, and to discern more courageously who God is calling us to become.

Through our Church Council meetings and the General Church Meeting in January, we have faced some difficult truths. We have experienced the sadness of losing members of our church family, and we have seen the continuing realities of declining numbers and increasing financial and property pressures.

Yet this has not been simply a year of challenge. It has been a year of awakening.

Again and again, in our conversations and our prayers, one truth has come into sharper focus: the Church is not defined by its buildings or its past, but by its calling . We are not here to preserve what has been—we are here to participate in what God is doing now.

That calling is clear. We are called to be a people of mission: to share the good news that all are loved by God, and to invite others into a life of faith, hope, and transformation.

We already see signs of this among us. In our cafés, in Messy Church, and in the many conversations that happen quietly and faithfully, we see lives being touched. We see glimpses of a church that is outward-looking, welcoming, and alive to the needs of its community.

But we also know that we cannot simply continue as we have been. The conversations we have had this year have made that unmistakably clear. Our current patterns of church life are no longer sufficient for the future to which God is calling us. And so, we stand at a threshold. We are being invited to reimagine what it means to be church in this place and at this time:

This vision is beginning to take shape through the three priorities we have identified together: growing the church, strengthening our financial sustainability, and reimagining how we use our buildings.

These are not separate challenges—they are deeply connected. And at the heart of them all is a single question: how can we best serve God’s mission in this place?

The decisions we will face in the coming year—particularly around our buildings—will not be easy. They will require us to let go of some things we have long held dear, in order to embrace the future God has prepared.

But we do not face this future alone.

We are sustained by the faithfulness of God, who has called the Church into being and continues to guide it. We are sustained by the gifts and dedication of this community—a community that has shown honesty, courage, and a willingness to engage with difficult questions.

And we are sustained by hope.

Not a vague or uncertain hope, but a living hope that God is not finished with Cornerstone. That there is still more to come. That new life, new people, and new opportunities are possible if we are willing to step forward in faith.

As your ministers, we want to thank you—for your commitment, your resilience, and your openness to this journey. The path ahead may not always be clear, but it is one we walk together. We understand that this is not an easy path, and for some there is much looking back and grief at what is left behind, and so we tread gently and seek to move forward in faith together.

Our prayer for the coming year is that we will continue to grow—not only in numbers, but in confidence, in faith, and in love. That we will become a community that reflects Christ more deeply and shares his love more boldly.

We commend this report to you, not just as an account of what has happened, but as an invitation—an invitation to be part of what God is doing next.

With every blessing,

Rev Tony & Deacon Sarah

[Please note that Rev Tony Cavanagh replaced Rev Gavin Hancocks as the Minister in pastoral charge of Cornerstone Methodist Church from 1 September 2025.]

1. Reference and Administrative Details

Charity name: Cornerstone Methodist Church Registered in England & Wales – registration number: 1134052 Governing document: Methodist Church governing documents and Standing Orders Structure: Local Methodist Church forming part of the Dorking & Horsham Circuit Trustees: Members of the Church Council Principal address: Cornerstone Methodist Church, Church Office, 41 London Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1AN

2. Structure, Governance and Management

The Church is governed by its Church Council (The Managing Trustees), which acts as the trustee body and has overall responsibility for governance, finance, safeguarding and strategic direction within the principles and practice of the Methodist Church of Great Britain and with legislation relating to charities. The church is structured around 5 forums to concentrate on specific areas of our Church life and strategy. These are, Caring, Learning & Worship, Mission & Service, Finance and Property.

3. Objectives and Activities

The purposes of the Church are to advance the Christian faith through worship, discipleship, pastoral care and community engagement.

Activities during the year included:

Trustees confirm that they have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

4. Achievements and Performance

Mission and Ministry

The Church continued its programme of outreach and mission activities and explored ways to broaden participation and engagement. A key theme during the year was strengthening mission to support future growth. There has also been a strong focus on deepening personal discipleship through continuing small group work, an annual Away Day and various courses offered.

Membership

Membership declined slightly over the year, largely due to deaths within the congregation. This reflects an ongoing trend that the trustees are actively addressing.

Property

Trustees considered the long-term sustainability of church buildings and commissioned work to explore future options for key sites.

Strategy

Work began on developing a strategy focused on church growth, financial sustainability and the future use of property. A Community Audit was done in the summer of 2025 to gather information to this end.

5. Financial Review

The Church continues to face financial pressures. There is an ongoing operating deficit arising from reduced income and increased costs, particularly relating to property and utilities.

Trustees have taken steps during the year to:

Overall we experienced a significant improvement on normal running costs compared to a budgeted deficit of around £34.7K and a small increase in the fund designated for Mission activities. However, significant property costs continued to drain our property reserves.

6. Reserves Policy

The reserves policy was reviewed during the year to ensure that sufficient funds are held to support ongoing operations and manage financial risks.

Trustees recognise the need to balance the use of reserves with long-term sustainability.

The reserves policy adopted was to hold a minimum sum in general reserves equivalent to three months’ average budgeted expenditure plus the balance in the Property Development Fund which is intended to meet unforeseen major expenditure on the Church buildings.

This policy produced a reserves requirement of £60.7K at the end of the financial period which is 196% covered by non-property balances in the general funds

7. Principal Risks and Uncertainties

The trustees have identified the following key risks:

Trustees are actively working to address these risks through ongoing planning and consultation.

8. Plans for Future Periods

Key priorities for the coming year include:

Church Accruals Accounts 2024-2025

THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS ACCRUALS BASIS

for the year ended 31 August 2025

Cornerstone Methodist Church

Registered Charity - Charity Registration number 1134052

Dorking & Horsham Circuit 36 / 10
Ministers:
Rev Gavin Hancocks
Deacon Sarah Pitkeathly
Church Stewards:
Mrs Teresa Thomson(senior)
Mr Peter Bramhill
Mrs Denise Sillett

Church Treasurer:

Mr Fred King

Name of Church

Circuit No 36 / 10

Cornerstone Methodist Church

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2025

Notes to
the
accounts
Income
1 Offerings
2 Donations and sundry income
12
3 Gift Aid
12
4 Interest and investment income
12
5 Income from investment properties
6 Internal organisations
13
7 Lettings
8Total income
Expenditure
9 Circuit assessment or share
10 Grants and donations
12
11 Property maintenance
12 Insurance, utilities etc
13 Depreciation
9
14 Office expenses
15 Other expenditure
16 Internal organisations
13
17Total charitable expenditure
18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments
19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties
20Net income/(expenditure)
21 Transfers between funds
12
22 Other gains/(losses)
9
23Net movement in funds
24 Total funds brought forward
25 Total funds carried forward

General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(Unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
£
£
£
£

General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(Unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
£
£
£
£

General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(Unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
£
£
£
£

General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(Unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
£
£
£
£
Total
2024-2025
£
98,709
24,091
22,817
7,234
0
6,688
33,514
193,054
98,709.34 - - -
6,572.18 10,413.26 7,105.39 -
20,469.57 1,334.53 1,012.61 -
1,975.90 2,433.39 1,713.60 1,111.52
- - - -
- - 6,688.15 -
33,514.19 - - -
161,241.18
14,181.18
16,519.75
1,111.52
98,463
11,460
43,102
27,007
3,918
7,832
31,466
5,084
228,331
98,462.50 - - -
3,481.70 - 7,978.38 -
26,545.13 16,556.91 - -
25,449.89 1,057.24 500.00 -
3,918.00 - - -
7,665.17 11.69 77.77 77.15
17,962.17 13,276.06 227.37 -
- - 5,083.92 -
183,484.56
30,901.90
13,867.44
77.15
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(22,243.38)
(16,720.72)
2,652.31
1,034.37
272,792.37
(6,981.40)
1,595.61
-
8,728,837.77
81,067.88
41,533.52
23,739.14
8,875,178
9,142,585
9,001,630.14
74,086.48
43,129.13
23,739.14

Name of Church

Circuit No 36 / 10

Cornerstone Methodist Church

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2024

Notes to the
previous
accounts
Income
1 Offerings
2 Donations and sundry income
3 Gift Aid
4 Interest and investment income
5 Income from investment properties
6 Internal organisations
7 Lettings
8Total income
Expenditure
9 Circuit assessment or share
10 Grants and donations
11 Property maintenance
12 Insurance, utilities etc
13 Depreciation
14 Office expenses
15 Other expenditure
16 Internal organisations
17Total charitable expenditure
18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments
19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties
20Net income/(expenditure)
21 Transfers between funds
22 Other gains/(losses)
24Net movement in funds
25 Total funds brought forward
26 Total funds carried forward
General Fund
(Unrestricted)
Designated
Funds
(Unrestricted)
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total
2023-2024
£
£
£
£
£
94,157 -
-
-
94,157
31,272
1,050
21,149
-
53,472
23,164
-
1,512
-
24,676
3,012
3,440
1,743
1,255
9,450
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
6,931
-
6,931
28,508
-
-
-
28,508
180,114
4,490
31,335
1,255
217,194
94,926
-
1,225
-
96,151
4,759
-
7,797
-
12,556
40,553
95,803
4,346
-
140,702
19,818
-
2,785
-
22,603
5,516
-
-
-
5,516
9,411
-
83
68
9,562
33,999
59
5,557
-
39,616
-
-
6,007
-
6,007
208,983
95,862
27,801
68
332,714
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(28,868)
(91,372)
3,534
1,187
(115,519)
9,836
(8,649)
-
(1,187)
-
261,828
-
-
-
261,828
242,796
(100,021)
3,534
-
146,309
8,486,041
181,089
38,000
23,739
8,728,869
8,728,838
81,068
41,534
23,739
8,875,178

Balancg Shgat as at 31 August 2025 956.fal ,657,￿5 •X6Nt 1.657 ¥C67 44S3 Lo&n5tytheChun 43.451 Fln4ThceB￿￿DU￿￿ 19.015 1.5 12.483 .957 47X ￿1) 6.ia4 1437 4112 .t29 iaT¥J •.141A15 4%12Y 141615 6A7&171 FLTh41M¢hw¢h 9.W¥A>J 74Kq5 74.OB6 m71T 43.125 23.ns 9.111585 Furtds 12• ZJ,T39 aÈ75.17E 41129

Cornerstone Methodist Church

Notes to the Accounts

1. Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the 2014 version of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102 – the Charities SORP (FRS102) and taking note of the Update Bulletin 1 issued in 2016.

2. Funds

The funds held constitute: General Funds held for any purpose of the Church which are Unrestricted; Designated Funds set aside for specific purposes but remaining under full control of the Trustees; Restricted Funds which are held for a narrower purpose.

There is one Endowment Fund.

Details of each material fund are disclosed in Note 12 to these accounts. Any funds may be represented by more than just cash.

3. Accounting policies

Basis

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year. The accruals basis has been used to show a true and fair view of the Church's financial position and activities.

Incoming Resources

Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the Church becomes entitled to the resources, and the Trustees are reasonably certain they will receive the resources; and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Resources Expended

This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, that results in the payment being unavoidable. Liabilities are recognised as soon as an outflow of economic benefit is considered more likely than not under the legal or constructive obligation committing the Church to pay out resources.

VAT

Since the Church is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers.

Tangible fixed assets for use by the Church

Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £1,000.

The freehold properties are shown in the accounts at 2025 insurance values (as proxies for the fair values calculated on a depreciated replacement cost basis) plus £682,000 for the total value of the land associated with each property.

Capitalised building expenditure incurred since the last full valuations is depreciated until its value is included in a full valuation. No other depreciation is provided on the buildings because the Trustees consider the current residual fair values of the buildings (on the assumption that they had reached the end of their useful economic lives by the yearend) to be not less than the current values. Any depreciation would not be material. The properties have been reviewed for impairment.

Investment properties

Investment properties - no property is currently deemed to not be held for the long term purposes of the charity.

Investments

Investments are valued in the Balance Sheet at market value at the year-end. Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable and any gains or losses on revaluation at the year-end are shown in the SOFA.

Debtors and Prepayments

The debtors and prepayments included in the accounts are in respect of lettings invoices, donations which had not been passed to the church, accrued Gift Aid, the Circuit Assessment and other payments in advance.

Creditors

Creditors include sundry expenses and bills outstanding at 31 August 2025, payments due to charities and accrued utility costs.

Prior year adjustments

The SOFA for 2023-2024 has been restated to correct the treatment of amounts transferred from the Endowment Fund to the General Fund which had previously been shown as expenditure from the Endowment Fund and income to the General Fund. A correction has also been made to the Analysis of Restricted, Designated and Endowment funds for 2023-2024 in Note 12 which had previously omitted the fund movements completely for the Endowment Fund.

Cornerstone Methodist Church

4. Payment to Trustees

Some Trustees incurred expenses on behalf of the Church which were reimbursed but there were no payments made to Trustees for services provided to the Church.

Trustee payments for services

Number of Trustees
Total Amount
2024/25
0
£0
2023/24
0 0
£0 £0

5. Fees for examination or audit of the accounts

es for examination or audit of the accounts
Other fees (eg: advice, accountancy services) paid to the
independent examiner or auditor
Independent examiner’s or auditors' fees for reporting on the
accounts
2024/25
£
650
0
2023/24
£
650 650
0 0

Previously a donation was made in the following year to a charity nominated by the Independent Examiner in lieu of any fees. From this year a fee is being paid as shown above and is included in the creditors.

6. Paid employees

There are four part time employees working at the Church but employed by the Circuit. The Church contributes money to the Circuit to meet some or all of their employment costs but their employments are reported in the Circuit Accounts.

The Presbyter with pastoral responsibility for the Church and the Deacon both receive a Stipend but this is paid by the Circuit using funds received from each Church in the Circuit through the Circuit Assessment.

7. Capital Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

At 31 August 2025 there are no capital commitments.

No Contingent liabilities were identified at 31 August 2025.

8. For information only Money received and passed on to External Organisations

Balance brought forward
Offering / Gifts - received for External Organisations
Offering / Gifts - passed to External Organisations
Balance carried forward
2024/25
£
0
820
820
0
2023/24
£
0 0
820 0
820 0
0 0

These items normally only comprise collections for charitable and other organisations that the church has decided to support. From 1 September 2023 such items have been included in the SOFA and Balance Sheet. Any other monies passing through the church bank accounts are shown here.

Cornerstone Methodist Church

9. Tangible fixed assets

Cost or valuation

or valuation
angible fixed assets
Church (non
investment)
Land &
Buildings
£
Other (non
investment)
Land &
Buildings
£
Other
buildings
£
Fixtures,
fittings and
equipment
£
Payments on
account and
assets under
construction
£
Total
£
Balance brought forward 8,664,628 0 0 55,483 0 8,720,111
Additions 0 0 0 0 0 0
Revaluations (+/-) 302,684 0 0 0 0 302,684
Disposals (-) 0
Transfers (+/-) 0
Balance carried forward 8,967,312 0 0 55,483 0 9,022,795
Accumulated depreciation
Balance brought forward 9,484 0 0 52,762 0 62,246
Depreciation charge for year (-) 1,897 0 0 2,021 0 3,918
Revaluations (+/-) 0
Disposals (-) 0
Transfers (+/-) 0
Balance carried forward 11,381 0 0 54,783 0 66,164
Net book value
Brought forward 8,655,144 0 0 2,721 0 8,657,865
Carried forward 8,955,931 0 0 700 0 8,956,631

10. Investment assets

The Church has no Investment properties.

The Church has no common investment fund holdings.

11. Loans

The Church currently has no loans.

Cornerstone Methodist Church

12. Analysis of Restricted, Designated and Endowment funds

2024-2025

Fund Name Opening
Balance
£
Incoming
Resources
£
Resources
Expended
£
Transfers
£
Closing
Balance
£
Purpose of the fund
Benevolent Fund
(Designated)
1,164 - (1,431) 399 132 Support for individuals in
specific need
Memorials Fund
(Designated)
325 - - - 325 Available for funding
member memorials
Church Mission Fund
(Designated)
58,021 14,181 (12,898) 1,057 60,361 Available for funding church
mission activities
Property Development Fund
(Designated)
21,342 - (16,557) 8,284 13,069 Available to help with long-
term church maintenance
Partridge Green Messy
Church
(Designated)
216 - (17) - 199 Available to support the
work of the Partridge Green
Messy Church
Warm Welcome Grant
(Restricted)
- 500 (500) - - Grant funding to support
community warm space
initiatives
Other Grant Funds
(Restricted)
1,357 - (227) (934) 196 Available to support various
community initiatives
Legacies
(Restricted)
34,959 3,714 (64) - 38,609 Available to use against
specific projects
Various charities
(Restricted)
342 5,618 (5,618) - 342 Established for all charity
donations in the year
Legacies
(Endowment)
23,739 1,112 (77) (1,034) 23,739 Income available for general
church use
Totals 141,465
25,124
(37,389)
7,771
136,972
141,465 25,124 (37,389) 7,771 136,972

Breakdown of transfers

Receivingfund Receivingfund Receivingfund Receivingfund
Transferring fund General
Fund
Property
Development
Fund
Benevolent
Fund
Church
Mission
Fund
Totals Reason
General Fund - 8,284 399 - 8,683 Lettings income and
benevolent support policies
Other Grant Funds - - - 934 934 Support for mission
activities
Legacies
(Endowment)
1,034 - - - 1,034 Support for mission
activities
Messy Church - - - 123 123 Support for mission
activities
Totals 1,034
8,284
399
1,057
1,034 8,284 399 1,057

Comparative Analysis of Restricted, Designated and Endowment funds

2023-2024

Fund Name Opening
Balance
£
Incoming
Resources
£
Resources
Expended
£
Transfers
£
Closing
Balance
£
Purpose of the fund
Benevolent Fund
(Designated)
965 - (25) 224 1,164 Support for individuals in
specific need
Memorials Fund
(Designated)
325 - - - 325 Available for funding
member memorials
Church Mission Fund
(Designated)
70,581 3,440 - (16,000) 58,021 Available for funding church
mission activities
Property Development Fund
(Designated)
109,217 800 (95,803) 7,127 21,342 Available to help with long-
term church maintenance
Partridge Green Messy
Church
(Designated)
- 250 (34) - 216 Available to support the
work of the Partridge Green
Messy Church
Community Organisations
Cost of Living Fund
(Restricted)
- 8,190 (8,190) - - Grant funding to support
community cost of living
initiatives
Other Grant Funds
(Restricted)
2,737 - (1,380) - 1,357 Available to support various
community initiatives
Legacies
(Restricted)
31,032 8,193 (4,265) - 34,959 Available to use against
specific projects
Various charities
(Restricted)
280 8,021 (7,959) - 342 Established for all charity
donations in the year
Legacies
(Endowment)
23,739 1,255 (68) (1,187) 23,739 Income available for general
church use
Totals 238,877
28,894
(117,656)
(8,649)
141,465
238,877 28,894 (117,656) (8,649) 141,465

13. Internal Organisations 2024-2025 Movements

Organisation Opening
Balance
£
Incoming
Resources
£
Resources
Expended
£
Adjust
£
Closing
Balance
£
Community Café 2,029 3,356 (4,069) - 1,316
The Open Door Club 1,204 680 (879) - 1,004
Wednesday Club 790 1,126 (977) - 939
Wesley Toddler Group 729 1,526 (1,532) - 723
Messy Church 123 - - (123) -
Totals
4,875 6,688 (7,458) (123) 3,982

The internal organisations of the Church report to Church Council and hold their own funds separately. These funds are independent of those held within the Church accounts except that the Community Café has deposited excess funds into the Church's deposit account.

The income and expenditure has been included under Restricted Funds in lines 6 and 16 respectively. The opening and closing balances are included in lines 24 and 25 as funds brought forward at 1 September 2024 and carried forward at 31 August 2025.

DECLARATIONS Treasurer I confirm thal I have prepared these a(xxuals-based a(￿￿nts fr(#n records of Ihe Churth ant1 Ihal t incltjde all funds under the ¢(mtrol of the Church Cwn Signature of Treasurer Date Name Mr F￿d Kuig Address 29 Beaver Close. Horsham yve￿ Sussex RH12 5G8 Presentation to the Church Coun¢il for approval. I confirm that the Accounts have been pre5errted to the c￿rCh Counc>l c and We￿ approved. Signature of the Cha¥ of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting Rov Tony Cavanagh Date Independent ExaMine￿S Report to the T￿￿tee5 of the Cornerstone Methodist Church The Church's Tnjstees a￿ responsible for ensuring that the annual rew)rt and ac(x)unls present a true and fair view of the Church's inujme and expenditure for thè year and of tts assets atMI liabilthes at th8 baL4nce sheet date. The Trustees consider that an aL￿rt is not necessary for this under Section 144 of Ihe Charities Acl 2011 and thal an independent examination is needed. 11 is my responsibilty to= èxamine the a￿}UnIS under se(*on 145 of the Charities Ad 2011: follow the procedures lad thywn in the general Dir￿￿nS gr￿ by the Chaiity comm￿￿ under Section 145(5){b) of the Chariiies Ad 2011" and stale whether parti￿lar matters have o)me to my attention.

Basis of Indep•ndent Examinerfs Report My examination was c3rried CNJI in accort1anee the weTal Directions gTven by the Charity Cornmission. An examinalian include5 a review of the accounting recLYds kept by Ihe chanly and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual iiems. in nature or scale, or disdosure$ ift thg 8¢countS. Seeking eyplanalion5 from the Trusl88s conceming any such matters. The procedurès undertaken tlo not provide all the evidence Ihat woukj be ￿qUIred In an audii and conse4uently no opinion 15 given as to whether th8 ac￿)untS present 8 true and fair view_ My rerx)rt is limited to ihosÈ matters set out in the statement bek)w. Ind8pendent Examlnèr's Statement In connection wth my exarnination, no matter has come lo my attention.. which gives me Teasonable cause lo bdieve that in any material respect the requirements.. , lo keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act 2011., and . to prepare accounts which accord Ihe accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act 2011 have not been mel., or 121 to which, in my opinion. attention shoukl be drawn in ord8r lo enable a proper underslandino of the aGGounls lo be reached. 131 I hovethave not" obtsined independent verification of all investments wlh the Trusteès for Melhodisl Church Purposès or hald in oiher twsts, bank balances and funds al the C8nlral Finance Board of the Melhodisl Church which aTe Individually in excess 01 £10,000 Ilen Ihousané pounds) al the balance sheet dale. Narne Signature Relevant Prole5sional qu8lilicalion bod Address 33, S{•￿T￿ Temc Date