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← Bath Methodist Church

2025-08-31-accounts

Annual report 1 September 2024 – 31 August 2025

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

This report relates to Bath Methodist Church to 31.8.2025, 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 134 members as of August 31st 2025:

The Managing Trustees for the year 2024 - 25 were :

Ministers: Revd Simon Topping (Superintendent Minister), Revd Jan Tate, Deacon Elizabeth Harfleet Church Council Secretary: Jane Stanfield

Treasurer: Trevor Purches

Administrator: Sharon Keevill

Stewards: , Allan Bain, Julia Barratt (Joint Senior Steward), Gwen Essam, Gareth James, Elizabeth Kenyon (Joint Senior Steward), Tricia Mills, David Pendle.

Safeguarding Officer: Steven Barratt

Congregational reps: Anne Allen, Steven Barratt, Greville Mills, Claire Phillips, Michael Priscott, Hazel Roch, Ben Sykes.

Interfaith rep: Revd David Musgrave (2024), Rupert Kaye (2025)

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.

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Aims And Organisation

The aims of Bath Methodist Church are as defined in the Methodist Church Act 1976 namely: The advancement of

This is achieved by:

Review of activities, progress and achievements (September 2024 – August 2025)

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’:

The ‘Journey Outwards’:

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‘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

Midweek Devotions:

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

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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.

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.

Interfaith

Community use:

Our church buildings have rooms available for hire and are used by several community groups:

Walcot:

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Beechen Cliff:

Weston:

Southdown Church and Community Partnership

This is a project of the North East Somerset and Bath Methodist Circuit and is based at Southdown Methodist Church Centre. Many of our church members are involved as volunteers for the activities organised and supported by the Partnership:

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.

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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:

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 :

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.

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Future Plans

Feasibility Study for the future use of Church buildings

As reported in the 2023-2024 annual report, Bath Methodist Church is undertaking a feasibility study to examine the potential future use of its church buildings at Walcot, Beechen Cliff and Weston.

A team led by Futureground in conjunction with architects BiBO were appointed to undertake this work in April 2024.

The study was divided into 3 phases:

Phase 1: Information gathering and some community consultation.

Phase 2: Development of design options for modifying the buildings (three options for each of the three buildings).

Following Phase 2, the options were presented to the church by the Property and Mission Group both via the Church Consultation meeting on 29 September 2024 and summarised in a document which was distributed as widely as possible amongst the church community. Feedback and preferences were then invited on these proposals via feedback forms to the Property and Mission Group.

The Property and Mission Group then brought a proposal for each of the three sites to the Church Council on 16 October 2024. This proposal sought to reflect the preferences expressed within the feedback in the light of our church mission priorities (within our Mission Statement). This proposal was approved by the Church Council with no votes against and with one abstention. So here is a summary of the proposal that was approved:

Walcot Chapel

Weston

Beechen Cliff

The proposals were then taken back to the consultants for Phase 3 of the feasibility study:

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The final report was presented to Church Council in March 2025 and followed up in detail by the Property and Mission Group. This involved meeting with potential partners and also the Methodist Connexional Property Team whose approval is essential for progessing any building plans.

The Property and Mission Group brought the following proposal to Church Council in June 2025:

To commence a Methodist Property Project and Development Scheme to develop detailed plans and raise funds to adapt Walcot Chapel for use by a resident Intentional Community and replace the community spaces, lost in the process, through changes to the concourse and worship area.

The proposal was agreed (by secret ballot - 15 for the proposal, 6 against). The proposals were shared with the congregation at the Annual Church Meeting in late June 2025.

At the time of this report, discussions with potential partners for Beechen Cliff and Weston are still ongoing and will be taken to future Church Council meetings.

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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 2024 - 25 financial year

Summary

In the year 2024-25 we received £220,000 of income and spent £311,000. This shortfall has been ameliorated by £22,000 of grants, bequest and refund of utility deposit and TMCP loans. The actual deficit was £69,000. We now have £34,000 of restricted reserves and £100,000 of unrestricted reserves.

The key points have been significant expenditure on:

More detail

There has been a positive response to the request for members to consider their giving year on year with increases from many, typically in order of 5 to 10%. We have lost several members over the year several who were significant contributors. It is difficult to predict the effect over a full year but last year donation income was down £5000. There is continued inflationary pressure on expenditure. Despite spending more than usual on repairs Chapel House is the only building that operates at a surplus. The mission and property plan is that the retained buildings will each provide a surplus and support the finances of the church. Only then can we access future finance strategy for our budget, particularly concerning membership donation and operational costs. I.E how to balance the books.

We have reduced the pledge for 25-26 by £6000 which will ease the deficit. We are currently contributing a £4000 grant towards the Student Outreach Chaplain. This will be raised to £5000 in line with the initial SOC budget.

Trevor Purches: treasurer

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CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

BATH METHODIST

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Church
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FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025

Registered Charity - Charity Registration number

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1134062
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If not a registered charity His 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:

Revd Simon Topping, Revd Jan Tate (restationed Aug2025), Deacon Elizabeth Harfleet

Church Stewards:

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Julia Barratt Elizabeth Kenyon
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Treasurer:
Trevor Purches
Assts Steve Barratt, Roger Chapman, Paul Udey
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BathMC SFoA 2024-25

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BATH Church METHODIST

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

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||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |SECTION|A|Funds|Funds|year|year| |secnona,|Unrestricted|Restricted|Totals this|Totals last| |7| |RECEIPTS|ee|||ee| |Offerings and Tax recovered|P|99,942||99,942|||402,932|| |Bank|and|CFB|interest|and| |a3||Investment|income|3,109|4,984| |Lettings|le|106,648po|106,648|96,960| |including|fund| |a5||Other|receipts|movement|10797.50|10,798|27,151| |SECTION|B| |PAYMENTS| |Circuit Assessment or Share|fF|121,320| ||424,320|113,400| |iba|DonatinsTT]||| 8|6,085| |Repairs and Maintenance|rf|106,078|p|106,078|42,539| |Utilities|(Insurances,|water| |b5||charges,|heating|&|lighting)|59,957|59,957|57,563| |bs|Fund Movement|FT|etos0)|[||][tos)]|9 || |Other payments|es|es||10,843| |lbs |TOTAL PAYMENTS|[89,840]|||_289,840]|(9)|||230,434|| |SECTION|C| |NET|RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS| |c1||FOR THE YEAR|(a6-b8)|(69,343)|1,598| |Total|funds|brought forward|from| |oo|[|'ast][ year]|92,773]|111,453|202,628| |Sub total|(c1+c2)|23,430}|111,453|134,883| |TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR|(e3+c4)|||23,430[|111,453]||134,883] (c8)|| |SECTION|D| |FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO|EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS| |(these amounts are|not to be|included|in|total|receipts/payments figures above)|£|£| |Balance brought forward from last year|||(93)| |Offerings/Gifts|- received|for external|organisations|1,520|1,767| |Offerings/Gifts|- passed|to|external|organisations|1,600|1,674| |BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID|(d1+d2-d3)|an|S||

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BathMC SFoA 2024-25

BATH METHODIST SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL

Church

SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 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 DIF FERENT 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
aE TCMECSsSCSCdC/'s Sd] Fd EE
Fs |fe GO Oo ss
of EMTCUd]) DCT] EE EL
OR |fsfr OO Gs Cs
BE CUECSdCOS rd) LL
el IL
ub total of Internal | EC _ | JE Ed
Churchbrought forwardaccounts from(totals page C ¢)
2 - totals column) 220,497| (a7) 289,840] (b9) (c7) 134,883
OTA ASH UND A » \ ")
Continue on a separate sheet TOTAL
if necessary and bring the TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
totals forward
ee
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
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OPENING CLOSING
CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025 BALANCES BALANCES
Bank Current Account CAF 51,394 21,751
Bank Deposit Account Lloyds 9,470
Central Finance Board 88,722 71744.67
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 54,640 41,127
fe [omerninde | | <g
f7 |SUB TOTAL - Church accounts (c6) 134,883
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing e )
balance total from above) (e12) (e11)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH | a0nzan| ip 134,883 )
i == Zl
SECTION G At At
4 September 2024 31 August 2025
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OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES

Investments (include Endowments)

Land & Buildings (see notes re Insurance value)

Other Assets Loan(s) - show amount outstanding at year end Other Liabilities

f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board

f5 Include only Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes g/l Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trusts accounts this is included in line f5

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BathMC SFoA 2024-25

Name of Church . BATH METHODIST CHURCH

No. 7/13

Declarations and Scrutiny

| confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 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 ......../.0.......T Kon0. StooeSe irsttesersesseseseeeee Datt@.......3,Sep,2025

Name and address of treasurer TREVOR PURCHES

6 Christchurch Road, Bradford-on-Avon

BA15 1TB

Presentation to the Church trustees

| confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 were presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on 15th October 2025 ; ; ; &¢ \sg Signature of the Chair of the meeting ...........22. “ten... AO Hits paccoms sore carom smn sone Name of the Chair of the meeting ..Revd Simon Topping 15-Oct-25

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

BATH METHODIST CHURCH

Charity Number 1134062

Responsibilities and basis of report

| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the BATH METHODIST Church for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages 1 to 3 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’).

| 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, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

BathMC SFoA 2024-25

40f5

Name of Church ... BATH METHODIST CHURCH

NO 7/13

Independent Examiner’s Statement

| have completed my examination. | confirm 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:

| 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.

| have/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 cece

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Ne 1 duCUA PioNV Me
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Name of independent examiner ...... ALEX DU PRE

Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner

.... Chartered Engineer

Name of firm (where appropriate) ....N/A

Address .............15 Mitchell Walk, Bridgeyate, Bristol

bocce tea taeeee tee seeeeeteeseesesseetseeetssterstetesteistititttststesssseeees POSt Code ..BS305XY

Date ... 12/10/2025

* delete or circle as appropriate

BathMC SFoA 2024-25

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