## **Annual report 1 September 2023 – 31 August 2024** ## **ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** This report relates to Bath Methodist Church to 31.8.2024, registered with the Charity Commission under Charity Number 1134062. All correspondence for the church should be addressed to: Mrs Sharon Keevill – Church Administrator Bath Methodist Church Walcot Methodist Chapel Nelson Place East Bath BA1 5DA Telephone: 01225 461509 Email: admin@bathmethodists.org.uk Further and latest information is available on our website: bathmethodists.org.uk The membership of Bath Methodist Church stood at **151** members as of August 31st 2024: ## **The Managing Trustees for the year 2023 - 24 were** : **Ministers:** Revd Simon Topping (Superintendent Minister), Revd Jan Tate, Deacon Annie Trembling **Church Council Secretary:** Jane Stanfield **Treasurer:** Trevor Purches **Administrator:** Sharon Keevill **Stewards:** Gareth James (Senior Steward), Allan Bain, Julia Barratt, Gwen Essam, Elizabeth Kenyon, Tricia Mills, David Pendle. **Safeguarding Officer:** Steven Barratt **Congregational reps:** Anne Allen, Steven Barratt, Greville Mills, Claire Phillips, Hazel Roch, Ben Sykes. **Interfaith rep:** Revd David Musgrave **Chapel House rep:** Peter Keevill **Circuit Steward:** Ian Sims Decisions concerning the activities of Bath Methodist Church and the appointment of its Trustees are made at Church Council meetings of which there are a minimum of three each year. Bath Methodist Church was launched on 1st September 2022 when the existing Methodist Societies of Beechen Cliff, Horizon, Nexus and Weston were merged to form a single society. The church buildings - Walcot Chapel (the former Nexus site), Beechen Cliff and Weston - were retained for church and community use and Southdown Methodist Church Centre (managed by Trustees appointed by the North East Somerset & Bath Methodist Circuit) is also used for worship. 1 ## **Aims And Organisation** The aims of Bath Methodist Church are as defined in the Methodist Church Act 1976 namely: The advancement of - a) the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the 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 of the Methodist church. This is achieved by: - a) Holding regular acts of public worship open to members and public alike. - b) providing pastoral care for members of our community visiting sick and bereaved. - c) teaching Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups – both in person and online. - d) Promoting Christianity through events and services. - e) Provision of activities and clubs to support need in the community such as lunch clubs /foodcycle for elderly and homeless. - f) Letting premises for community organisations - for example local choirs , pre-schools, health and wellbeing classes. - g) Supporting other charities with finance and prayer in accordance with Christian values to promote Christian mission and by addressing poverty and social need in both UK and the World. ## **Review of activities, progress and achievements (September 2023 – August 2024)** The mission of the Bath Methodist Society is to promote and practise ‘A Methodist Way of Life’. We will seek to live out this mission by sustaining and nurturing both our Christian journey inwards and our Christian journey outwards. The ‘Inner Journey’: - daily prayer - keeping connected to each other through prayer groups and prayer times - worshipping together – Sundays and during the week - pastoral care of members and adherents - small groups – for fellowship, prayer and bible study/learning - discipleship formation – stepping stones to discipleship - from enquirers’ events to fully committed participation in the Methodist Way of Life - building up our fellowship through social activities The ‘Journey Outwards’: - outreach to the local community (hospitality and generosity) - commitment to social justice - care for creation - practising an inclusive welcome to all - outreach to University students/Chapel House Community - commitment to the Southdown Church and Community Project - sharing the faith – actively seeking ways to tell the Christian story 2 ## **‘Inner Journey’** ## **Sunday Worship:** Sunday morning worship is held at Walcot Chapel and Southdown Methodist Church Centre on the 1[st] , 2[nd] and 3[rd] Sundays of the month. On the 4[th] and 5[th] Sundays, there is a joint service alternating between the two sites. On the 1[st] Sunday of the month, there is also a short service of Morning Prayer at Walcot, followed by breakfast. We offer paper worship resource for those unable to attend in-person services. ## **Worship for all ages** - ‘Muddy Church’ monthly at Bath City Farm. Outdoor interactive worship for families with children of all ages – in partnership with St Barnabas Church - ‘Creative Worship’ – quarterly at Walcot and Southdown as part of morning worship. This is a new initiative to provide worship accessible for all ages. ## **Midweek Devotions:** - Weekly prayer meeting via Zoom. Each week we hear and reflect on a passage from scripture. Our prayers focus on one local topic, our church, a step from A Methodist Way of Life, a national or international topic and prayers from the Methodist Prayer Handbook. - Weekly Celtic Prayers at Southdown - following liturgy from the Northumbria Community ## **Bible Study & Fellowship** Study groups are held during Advent, Lent and Bible Month (June). There are several fellowship groups meeting in-person or online. ## **Pastoral Care** Our pastoral visitors have remained in contact with those on their lists and have continued to support members of the congregation. ## **Church-run groups** - ‘Tea & Cake’ meets weekly at Walcot in the Concourse (and church garden weather-permitting). This is both an opportunity for people to meet socially and for the main church doors to be open to anyone passing by. - ‘Coffee Plus’ is a monthly evening event at Walcot with talks on a range of topics by local speakers. - ‘Tigerlilies’ Parent and Toddler group meets weekly in term time at Weston. It is run by church members for families in the local community. 3 ## **Journey Outwards** ## **EcoChurch** This scheme encourages churches to commit to care for the environment in worship and teaching, management of church buildings and land, community and global engagement and the lifestyle of church members. - ‘No-fly Holidays’ – an open day with representatives from local organisations and information on alternatives to flying. - ‘No-Mow May’ – we took part in this national initiative to encourage wildflowers in the lawn at Walcot and continue to develop the garden to encourage biodiversity - A Rocha ‘EcoChurch’ Award Scheme – we have previously qualified for the Bronze Level Award at both our Walcot and Southdown buildings and are working towards the Silver Award. - ‘CreationTide’ services at both worship centres in September 2023. ## **Social justice** The Methodist Church is committed to challenge injustice in our local communities and throughout the world. As Bath Methodist Church we do this by supporting local, national and global initiatives, campaigning and informing. - Visit from ‘Christians Against Poverty’ at our morning worship in October 2023 - Regular updates on social justice issues (eg Israel/Palestine) in our monthly magazine - Supporting Christian Aid Week with a special service and lunch and other fundraising initiatives - Charity Collections – eg for All We Can, Action for Children. - Supporting the Southdown Whiteway Church & Community Partnership through volunteering and Harvest and Christmas Appeals. - Volunteering and financial support for the Southdown Food Pantry - Supporting our twinned church in Rwanda ## **Interfaith** - Methodist representative on the Bath Interfaith Group - Interfaith conversation with the Imam of Bath Mosque - Taking part in events organised by the Bath Interfaith Group ## **Community use:** Our church buildings have rooms available for hire and are used by several community groups: ## Walcot: - FoodCycle – using surplus food from supermarkets to provide free meals and a place to meet. - Bath Child Contact Centre – a safe place for children from separated families to meet their absent parent. - ‘Pixies’ Steiner Playgroup - 57[th] Bathampton Guides - Choirs – Horizons Choir, Bath Minerva Choir and CWM Male Choir - Exercise classes – Pilates - Events - A venue for Bath Festivals ‘Party in the City’ event - Fundraising concerts 4 ## Beechen Cliff: - Korean Methodist Community weekly Sunday worship and Bible study - Bear Flat Association – monthly Community Tea and Community Market - Bath Share & Repair Café - monthly - Green Shoots Pre-School – 4 days per week in school term time. - Choirs - City of Bath Male Choir and Birch Tree Choir - Exercise classes – Yoga and Pilates - Children’s birthday parties ## Weston: - PeterPan Pre-School continues to meet on the premises for 4 days per week during school term time. This is an OFSTED and Local Authority approved provision. - Uniformed organisations (Rainbows, Brownies, Beaver Scouts) - Several physical and mental health activities including Yoga and Pilates - Newbridge Arts Trail: This is an annual event, for a weekend, involving local artists who exhibits from their homes and public places. - Space for Consultation with the public about local issues such as proposals for parking permits or road closures. - Children’s birthday parties - The New Testament Church of God – weekly Sunday worship ## **Southdown Church and Community Partnership** This is a project of the North East Somerset and Bath Methodist Circuit and is based at Southdown Methodist Chruch Centre. Many of our church members are involved as volunteers for the activities organised and supported by the Partnership: - Lunch Club - Community Charity Shop - Toddler group - Warm Spaces - Roundhill Food Pantry (in partnership with Oasis Bath). ## **Chapel House** Chapel House is a student residence next to Walcot Methodist Chapel, run by Bath Methodist Church. The Chapel House Community is made up of 2 parts: the resident students who live in Chapel House, and an extended, non-residential community made up of others who have committed to follow the same way of life and to pray for those who live in the house. The Chapel House Community meets together for monthly meals in the hall at Walcot. 5 ## **Administration and Compliance** ## **Church Administrator:** The church administrator is responsible for producing the weekly notice sheets and monthly magazines, updating the website, dealing with telephone and email enquiries, updating the membership list, ensuring compliance with GDPR, producing publicity material for church events and activities and dealing with room hire enquiries. The administrator keeps church members informed via weekly emails or by distributing printed resources to those without internet access _._ ## **Stewards** The team of Stewards are responsible for the smooth running of the church, ensuring services and other events are organised properly plus keeping an oversight over the various committees/church groups and indeed the overall life of the church. ## **Safeguarding** As part of the Methodist Church we are committed to safeguarding as an integral part of our life and ministry. Safeguarding is about the action the Church takes to promote a safer culture. This means we will: - promote the welfare of children, young people and adults - work to prevent abuse from occurring - seek to protect and respond well to those that have been abused. All those who hold roles and responsibilities within the church are required to undertake safeguarding training and DBS checks in line with the policies and procedures of the national Methodist Church. The Church Safeguarding Policy is reviewed annually and made accessible to all users of our buildings. ## **Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)** As part of The Methodist Church commitment to Justice, Dignity and Solidarity, people in certain roles are now required to undertake EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) training. EDI training is mandatory for Church Stewards, Circuit Stewards and Local Preachers but others, such as members of the Church Council, are encouraged to undertake the training. ## **General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)** The Data Protection Checklist is submitted annually to ensure that all personal data held by the church complies with GDPR. ## **Property** Bath Methodist Church are Managing Trustees for : - Walcot Chapel – BMC worship space and community rooms - Beechen Cliff – worship space used by Korean Methodist Community and community rooms - Weston – worship space used by New Testament Church of God and community rooms - Chapel House – Christian Student residential community All are maintained to be fit for purpose according to the recommendations of the 5-year independent inspections. Southdown Methodist Church Centre is managed by the North East Somerset and Bath Methodist Circuit, which appoints its trustees. It is used by Bath Methodist Church for worship and meetings and to support community activities. 6 **Future Plans** ## **Feasibility Study for the future use of Church buildings** With the creation of Bath Methodist Church in September 2022 and the coming together of 4 church societies, it was recognised that the existing set of church buildings were not appropriate for its needs. A Property & Mission group was set up to examine the future of the buildings, which carried out various consultations with church members to try to discern the best future form for each of the three main church buildings: - Walcot Chapel - Beechen Cliff Church - Weston Church As a result of these consultations, it was concluded in the autumn of 2023 that professional help was required to better understand the potential future uses of these buildings and in particular to consider whether these buildings could, at least in part, be developed to provide social/affordable housing. There was also a desire to consider whether the Walcot Chapel building could be adapted to provide accommodation for an intentional Methodist community, which could support the work of Bath Methodist Church in the future. To this the end, the Property & Mission Group developed a consultants’ brief for a feasibility study to examine the future of all three buildings. In early 2024, suitably experienced consultants were invited to provide technical and financial proposals for undertaking the feasibility study. Following a review of the proposals a team led by Futureground in conjunction with architects BiBO were appointed to undertake this work in April 2024. External funding for the study was obtained from three main sources: - Methodist Church – centrally (Connexional Funding) - Methodist Church – regionally (District Funding) - Methodist Church – locally (Circuit Funding) In addition, Bath Methodist Church provided approximately 25% of the funding from its own finances. The study was divided into 3 phases – the first phase which involved information gathering and some community consultation was completed in July 2024 and the second phase involved with the development of design options for modifying is now underway at the time of reporting (August 2024). It is anticipated that this Phase 2 work will be completed in September 2024 and that there will then be a break in the study to give Bath Methodist Church an opportunity to review the findings of Phase 2 and select their preferred options for each building to be taken through into Phase 3 of the study, which will provide: - How the building modifications might be funded, - Business models to illustrate how the modified buildings could be operated financially - Details of partners who might be used to help deliver the new buildings, - A programme for delivering the work It is anticipated that this work will be complete by the end of 2024 Once the study is complete, Bath Methodist Church will need to consider how it wishes to proceed based on all the information which it has gained through the feasibility study and the recommendations from the consultants. 7 ## **Finance** ## **THE CHURCH’S BANKERS** The Church has accounts with the following banks: ## **Central Finance Board** 9 Bonhill Street London EC2A 4PE ## **CAF Bank** 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ ## **Treasurer’s Report 2023 - 24 financial year** Headlines 1. With a turnover of £231,000, the operating account shows a small surplus of £800 and our cash assets have increased by a modest £1500 to £204,000. Those headline figures suggest a quiet stable year with a healthy financial position with substantial cash assets. However we have £130,000 on running the church and £100,000 on maintaining and operating the buildings. 2. Since the accounts were submitted for audited we have been notified that our TMCP bequest funds increased by nearly £11,000. As well as more positive interest rate the Pension reserve fund has repaid with interest the loads that our former churches made to in in 2021 when pension fund was struggling due to low interest rates. 3. The small surplus is due to £20,000 of grants still in the income column while £30000 are still to be paid on the building consultation study. Also payment of the Chapel house window repairs £13,000 fell into the new year with another £10,000 still to be paid. 4. There is a large deficit between our church operating costs £12,000 compared with £5,000 in previous year. and this will increase this year with 7% increase in our assessment pledge and salary. The agreement to pay a contribution of £4000 pa to the With You project and costs of University Chaplain has been implemented through monthly instalments 5. There will be several major projects progressed during the year. First 2 are likely to attract grant contributions. - a. Walcot Accessibility ramp installation guestimate £15,000. - b. Walcot stair lift £5,000 - c. Next stage of our building repurposing - d. Sound and projection equipment was surveyed with recommendation for upgrades proposed. As yet these have still to be taken forward. 6. The accounts have been easier to manage and balance this year with a solid starting position as Bath MC and most of the historic bank accounts closed. _Trevor Purches: treasurer_ 8 CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS BATH METHODIST Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 NE Somerset and Bath Circuit Circuit no. 7113 Registered Charity - Charity Registration number If not a registered charity Her Majestys Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in temis 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 nol registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) 1134062 Minister: Revd Simon Topping Rev Jan Tate Deacon Annie Trembling Church Stewards: Julia Barratt Gareth James Gwen Essam David Pendle Patricia Mills Alan Bain Eli72beth Kenyon Mike Priscott Treasurer" Trevor Purches Assts Steve BarratL Rogcr Chapman, Paul Udey Church R and P 2015.xls 1ofS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 BATH METHODIST Church Unrestricted Restricted Totals this Funds Funds year Totals last year SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note a2 Offerings and Tax recovered Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 102932.46 102,932 107,460 a3 4,984 96,960 4,984 96,960 2,537 Lettings 88,684 Inc Ing movement a5 Other re￿iptS TOTAL RECEIPTS 27,151 232.028 27.151 232.028 28,086 226,767 a6 (a7) SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 113,400 113,400 108,000 b3 Donations 6,085 6,085 8,332 18,457 b4 Repairs 8nd Maintenance utilities (Insurances, water charges, heating & lighting) 42.539 42,539 b5 57,563 57,563 52.270 b6 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 10843.16 10,843 230.431 11.152 198,211 b8 230,431 (b9) SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 (a6-b8) 1,598 1,598 28,556 Total funds brought foDNard from last year c2 91,175 111,453 202,628 (c6) 174,072 c3 Sub total {c1+c2) 92,773 111,453 204.226 202,628 Transfers and adjustrnents (c7 c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR {c3+c4) 92,773 111.453 204.226 (c8) 202,628 (c6) SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (these amounts ara not to be Included In total reeeiptslpayments flgurns above) d1 Balance brought forward from last year (93) 227 d2 OfferingslGifts - received for exiemal organisakn'ons 1,767 2,376 d3 OfferingslGifts - passed to extemal organisations 1,674 2,696 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1 +d2-d3} (93) Church R and P 2015.xls 2of5 BATH METHODIST Church SUMMARY OF CHU ACC Tr￿S AND INTE ONS GTOTHE CH COUNCIL SECTION E Pleas• follow Surnrnary of the Church accounts ￿lhe yearendej 31 August 2022 IntemJ Org8ni%*w)ns reFthirvJ to Ihe Churth Cwnryvchurch Meeb"ng. Nots that the funds of an Intetn81 Org8ntsation wjuld nomialty te ReslFKtsS lunds unkss rt ￿Uld LE deaty slkxn that wjkl be uwl for any Methcxyist purpN)s•. Thi8 sectron must be ox)mpleted to allive at the gross inrA)rne and expeThath totsLs oflhe Churth. ff grrtss exceeds theA￿￿OIS IhresFk)Id. I1￿ the AOx￿15 meth&a of a￿Unti￿j AND A OIFFERENT FORM must te Ltsed to Ihe IAettKMtstTrAebsrfel. P*e to Ihe gl￿￿ar￿ EM)tes fegardiThJ trarthts between thè District and Connect￿ District OpJant38tions. INTERNAL ORGANISAnONS Net Raxr o￿nIng baLanca R￿￿pts Closing balan ¢1 e7 erna Organi58llons lunds 10111 Church account• Itotsl• brought forward from page 2- totals columrhl ¢9 232,028 la71 230.431 1,598 Ic7) 202,628 204,226 elo BY CHURCH 232.028 230,431 1,698 202.628 Ixl 204,226 Contsnu? on 8 separ8to sh•8t If necessary and ￿1va th¢ totsla lon¥ard TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL PAYMENTS SECTION F OPEP41NG BALANCES CLOSING BALANCES CHURCH- CASH FUND8 HELD •t 31 Au u•t 2024 Cash in Mand 8ank CurrentAcJJJunt HS8C. L 12.309 9.470 Bank Current AcceuTht CAF 45.139 51,394 C•ntr81 Firt•n￿ Board 91,517 88.722 Tru¥ts•9 for Methodi$t Churth Purposes 53.663 54,640 oth•rfvnd• SU8 TOTAL- Church K¢ount• Total funds hdd by Intèmal Organisalkjns lfv ￿r￿d baL4n￿ total from atrThel1&12 202.628 {cfjl 204,226 le111 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 202.628 Ixl 204,226 At 31 AuguBt 2024 SECTION G At OTHER ASSETS and LIA￿LITIEs Investments lindu(Je EndI)￿*nts} Land & Buildings Iw noteB re Insurance v¥h*l 13,047,685 Other Assets 256,839 B4 Loanl51- show anK)unt ouLytsnding atyearsnd Olher Lia￿l￿"e3 f4 Include only Funds hdd atthe C￿1 FU￿n￿ Bogr 15 Indude only Funds held at for Meth(xlk%t Chwth Purp)ses g1 Indude any othw irNeslTNts thè cash e*t ￿T￿Cp busts is in f5 20I5CbwcbR¥44P 3d5 1•121 Ic81 Ic81 le121 lyl 2015 (￿[￿R￿lIp 3rf5 Name of Church BATH METHODIST No 7113 Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that these Re￿Ipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2023 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...... o3￿ep-24 Name and address oftreasurer TREVOR PURCHES 6 Christchurch Road, Bradford-on-Avon finance bathmetho .uk Post Code BA15 1TB Presentstlon to the Church trustees I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 will be presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on 16 Oc ber 2024 Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting Revd Jan Ta Date 16-Oct-24 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the BATH METHODIST CHURCH Charity Number 1162034 Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the BATH METHODIST Church for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages 1 to 3 As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan￿ 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. 2015 ¢hurth R and P.￿$ 4ofS Name of Church BATH METHODIST CHURCH No 7113 Independent Examiner's Statement I have completed my examination. I confimi 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: 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 . Alexander M du Pré Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner Chartered Engineer Name of fim {where appropriate) NIA Address . 15 Mitchell Walk, Bridgeyate, Bristol POST CODE BS305XY Date 29-Sep-24 2015 ¢hurd) R and P Sofs