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2021-08-31-accounts

BRIGHTON and HOVE METHODIST CIRCUIT Registered Charity 1134137

Trustees’ Annual Report

For the Connexional Year 2020-2021

The Trustees of the Brighton and Hove Methodist Circuit welcome readers of their Annual Report covering the Financial Year ended 31 August 2021.

  1. Aim and Purpose

  2. a) All our churches are committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in word and action. We aim to increase awareness of God’s presence and celebrate God’s love; be good neighbours to people in need and to challenge injustice; make more followers of Christ; and help people to learn and grow in faith. We offer safe and caring communities of nurture and respect that are committed to the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and vulnerable adults.

  3. b) The Circuit is the primary unit in which local churches express and experience their interconnexion as the body of Christ, for purposes of mission, mutual encouragement and help.

  4. c) It is to the Circuit that presbyters and probationers are stationed and in which local preachers are trained, admitted and exercise their calling.

  5. d) The purposes of the Circuit include the effective deployment of the resources for ministry which include people, property and finance.

  6. Objectives and Activities

  7. a) In planning its activities, the Circuit has considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion together with the ‘Our Calling’ framework as defined by the Methodist Church of Great Britain. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament as we try to enable people to live out their faith as part of the wider community

  8. Achievements and Performance

  9. a) Worship

  10. Worship

    • (i)The ongoing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic resulted in a flexible stance on worship throughout the year and relevant to national restrictions and local impact.

    • (ii) Whilst the weekly Circuit online services continued, from September 2020 a physical service was held at one church every Sunday on a rotational basis. The service was limited to 45 minutes and included communion but no singing.

    • (iii) The period included some notable online services including a Harvest Festival led by District Chair Revd David Hinchliffe at the beginning of October. On 1[st] November Jonathan Gravestock was recognised as a fully accredited Local Preacher and a previous Superintendent Minister of this Circuit, Revd Kathleen Allen was able to join this as well as some friends from the USA.

    • (iv) By the end of November regional restrictions were being reintroduced and in line with recommendations all public acts of congregational worship were once more suspended and by Christmas 2020 a full national lockdown was in force, which lasted until Spring 2021.

    • (v) As before online worship enabled many to join who would otherwise not have been able to be there in person and we were grateful for who shared their time, talent and technical expertise to enable these services to take place.

    • (vi) From May 2021, plans were made to start to reintroduce physical services, albeit with the congregation wearing masks, socially distanced and no singing. Each church reopened when they were ready, and much effort was made on ensuring a safe and secure environment. There was much joy and rejoicing by congregations being able to connect together again.

    • (vii) For those unable or unwilling to join a physical service online services have continued.

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b) Service

During this year every effort was made to provide pastoral care and engage both with the family of faith and the wider community in whatever way was possible. Many will have experienced enhanced social isolation and anxiety and every safe method of communication and contact was utilised to support and reassure.

d) Mission and Evangelism

University Chaplaincy .

The Brighton & Hove Methodist Circuit continues to support Chaplaincy work at The University of Sussex and the University of Brighton and is part of the Student Christian Movement (SCM). The work is very different in the two locations because Sussex University is campus-based locally at Falmer, whereas Brighton University is spread, not only across the city, but also has campuses farther afield such as in Eastbourne, so we work very much as a team with colleagues to cover as much of the university as we can between us.

Historically much of what has been offered has been based around hospitality and the absence of students on site and COVID restrictions have paused these, however, a Christmas carol service (jointly hosted between the two universities) was held online. Chaplaincy activities are advertised on the University websites and on their Facebook groups contacts have been maintained in whatever ways possible including online one to one support. Thanks to the Methodist team led by Student Development Worker Sue Harrington and supported by Revd Cynthia Park and the Revd Dan Woodhouse in these difficult times.

4. Financial Review

a) Income Trends

b) Expenditure Trends

The Reserves Policy is attached in the appendices.

  1. Structure, Governance and Management

  2. a) The Circuit Meeting

    • (i) The Circuit Meeting of the Brighton and Hove Circuit is the body of Managing Trustees and is responsible for the affairs of the Circuit and the development of Circuit Policy. The Circuit Meeting together with the Superintendent Minister and the Circuit Leadership team exercises that combination of spiritual leadership and administrative efficiency which enables the Circuit to fulfil its purposes as set out in the Standing Orders of the Methodist Church. The Circuit Meeting acts as the focal point of the working fellowship of the churches in the Circuit, overseeing their pastoral, training and evangelistic work.

    • (ii) The Circuit Meeting met on four occasions, on 17[th] September and 26[th] November 2020 and 18[th] March and 16[th] June 2021 all via online meetings:

    • (iii) At 16 Jun. 2021 there were 35 members of the Circuit Meeting

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b) Churches

Brighton and Hove Methodist Circuit www.brightonhovemethodistcircuit.org.uk There are five churches in the Circuit: Dorset Gardens Methodist Church www.dgmc.org.uk Hove Methodist Church www.hovemethodistchurch.co.uk Patcham Methodist Church www.patchammethodistchurch.co.uk Stanford Avenue Methodist Church www.stanfordavenuemeth.co.uk Woodingdean Methodist Church www.woodingdeanmethodistchurch.co.uk At 1 Nov. 2020 the Circuit had 305 members

c) Staffing Revd. Andrew Lowe, Circuit Superintendent, Revd. Deborah Cornish, Revd. Dan Woodhouse

6. Administrative Information

a) Appointments

At the March 2021 Circuit Meeting Steve Preston was appointed as Circuit Steward with immediate effect and Richard Fletcher announced his retirement as Circuit Steward at the end of the Connexional year. Thanks were expressed to Richard, particularly as this was his second period in this office.

b) Safeguarding

The Circuit Meeting was very aware that it had no Safeguarding Officer and that all the Safeguarding matters in the Circuit were being conducted by the Safeguarding Officer in each Church. No Safeguarding issues were reported during the period.

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BRIGHTON & HOVE CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

Circuit

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021

South East District Circuit no 36/12

Registered Charity - Charity Registration number 1134137

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 )

Ministers:

Reverend Andrew Lowe (Superintendent) Reverend Deborah Cornish Reverend Daniel Woodhouse Reverend Heather Leake-Date

Circuit Stewards: Ann Collins (Snr Steward) Stella Goddard Richard Fletcher John Patching Treasurer:

Stella Goddard

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20ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021

Brighton ?& Hove

Circuit

SECTION A £
£
£
Restricted
Funds
Un -
restricted
Funds
Circuit Model
Trust Fund		 £
£
£
Restricted
Funds
Un -
restricted
Funds
Circuit Model
Trust Fund		 £
£
£
Restricted
Funds
Un -
restricted
Funds
Circuit Model
Trust Fund		 £
173,504
212
13,860
57
Totals this year		 £
173,504
212
13,860
57
Totals this year		 £
172,529
1,272
13,269
187,070
131,583
26,299
7,154
42,135
2,839
321
210,331
(23,261)
236,108
212,847
Totals last
year		 £
172,529
1,272
13,269
187,070
131,583
26,299
7,154
42,135
2,839
321
210,331
(23,261)
236,108
212,847
Totals last
year
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Assessment/Share 173,504 173,504 172,529
a3 Capital receipts
a4 Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income		 76 136 212 1,272
a5 Grants 13,860 13,860 13,269
a6 Other receipts 57 57
a7 TOTAL RECEIPTS 187,497 136 **187,633 ** (a8) 187,070
SECTION B 122,174
21,317
8,757
40,329
2,731
1,474
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and
travel costs		 122,174 122,174 131,583
b3 Manse Costs 21,317 21,317 26,299
b4 Administration etc 8,757 8,757 7,154
b5 District Assessment 40,329 40,329 42,135
b6 Grants & donations
TMCP levy		 2,731 2,731 2,839
b7
b8 Otherpayments 1,474 1,474 321
b9 TOTAL PAYMENTS 194,051 2,731 **196,782 ** (b9) 210,331
(9,149)
SECTION C
c1 NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR
THE YEAR		 (a7-b9) (6,554) (2,595) (9,149)
c2 Total funds broughtforwardfrom last year 110,187 104,626 (1,966) 212,847 (c6) 236,108
203,698
c3 Sub total
(c1+c2)		 103,633 102,031 (1,966) 203,698
c4 Transfers and adjustments (1,966) 1,966 (c7)
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR
(c3+c4)		 101,667 102,031 **203,698 ** (c8) **212,847 ** (c6)
SECTION D
d FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
8
9,946
1,401
8,553
Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations
BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1 + d2 - d3)
Offerings/Gifts- receivedforexternalorganisations
Balance broughtforwardfrom last year
(these amounts should not be included intotal receipts/payments above)
d1 Balance broughtforwardfrom last year
d2 Offerings/Gifts- receivedforexternalorganisations 12,873
d3 Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations 12,865
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1 + d2 - d3) 8

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Circuit

SUMMARY OF CIRCUIT ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATION REPORTING TO THE CIRCUIT MEETING

SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page Summary of the Circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Circuit 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 receipts and payments totals of the Circuit. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold of £250,000, 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 Circuit and connected Circuit Organisations.

SECTION E SECTION E SECTION E SECTION E SECTION E SECTION E SECTION E SECTION E SECTION E SECTION E SECTION E SECTION E SECTION E
Summary of the Circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Circuit 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 receipts and payments totals of the Circuit. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold of £250,000, 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 Circuit
and connected Circuit Organisations.
INTERNAL
ORGANISATIONS		 Receipts Payments Adjustments Opening
balances		 Closing balances
e1
e2
e3
e4
e5
e6
e7
e8 Sub total of Internal
Organisations funds		 (e11) (e12)
e9 Circuit accounts (totals
brought forward from page
2 - totals column)		 **187,633 ** (a8) **196,782 ** (b9) (c7) 212,847 (c6) 203,698 (c8)
e10 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD
BY CIRCUIT		 187,633 196,782 **212,847 ** (x) **203,698 ** (y)
TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL PAYMENTS
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES		 SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
CIRCUIT -CASH FUNDS HELDat 31 August 2021 OPENING
BALANCES		 CLOSING
BALANCES
f1 Cash in hand
f2 Bank Current Account 53,010 65,132
f3 Bank Deposit Account
f4 Central Finance Board 56,680 30,279
f5 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 112,879 110,292
f6 Other funds (9,722) (2,005)
f7 SUB TOTAL **212,847 ** (c6) 203,698 (c8)
f8 Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing
balance totals above) (e12)		 (e11) (e12)
f9 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT 212,847 (x) 203,698 (y)
SECTION G At At
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES
Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end
Land and Buildings(see notes re Insurance value)
Other Assets
Other Liabilities
Investments(include Endowments)		 1 September 2020
2,100,000
19,829		 31 August 2021
2,100,000
13,020
g1 Investments(include Endowments)
g2 Land and Buildings(see notes re Insurance value) 2,100,000 2,100,000
g3 Other Assets
g4 Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end
g5 Other Liabilities 19,829 13,020

f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board

f5 Include only CFB Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trust accounts this is inserted in line f5)

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Name of Circuit …………………………………………………………… No………..

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 Circuit and that they include all funds under the control of the Circuit meeting.

Signature of treasurer ……………………………………………………… Date… 28th March 2022

Name and address of treasurer ………………………………………………………………………….

28 Crest Way, Portslade BRIGHTON. BN41 2EY

Presentation to the Circuit meeting

I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 were

presented to the Circuit meeting held on …………22nd March 2022

Signature of the Chair of the meeting …………………………………………………………………… Name of the Chair of the meeting …… Rev Andrew Lowe 28th March 2022

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

Brighton & Hove Methodist Circuit

Charity Number … 1134137

Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the …… Brighton & Hove Methodist Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2021 set out on pages 1 to 4. As the Circuit’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 Circuit’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.

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Name of Circuit …… Brighton and Hove Methodist Circuit

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 (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/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 ………Stuart J Neate

Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ……… FMAAT Retired

Name of firm (where appropriate) ………………………………………………………………………

Address ……………23 Surrenden Lodge Surrenden Road Brighton

……………………………………………………………………………….. Post Code …………BN1 6QB

Date …… 15th February 2022

Sep-21

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