BRIGHTON and HOVE METHODIST CIRCUIT Registered Charity 1134137
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the Connexional Year 2024 – 2025
The Trustees of the Brighton and Hove Methodist Circuit welcome readers of their Annual Report covering the Financial Year ended 31 August 2025.
1. Aim and Purpose
-
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.
-
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.
-
c) It is to the Circuit that presbyters and probationers are stationed and in which local preachers are trained, admitted and exercise their calling.
-
d) The purposes of the Circuit include the effective deployment of the resources for ministry which include people, property and finance.
2. Objectives and Activities
- 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.
3. Achievements and Performance
a) Worship
-
i. Throughout the year all churches offered an onsite Sunday morning service.
-
ii. All churches held a full range of special services marking the key Christian festivals of Easter and Christmas.
-
iii. A Circuit online service called Thinking Aloud with a progressive focus is held monthly.
-
iv. A Circuit Together Service is held quarterly, each time hosted by one of the five churches with all members from across the circuit meeting together for unified worship and fellowship.
-
v. An evening Healing Service is now held monthly at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, r. This quiet, meditative service includes communion and the opportunity for the laying on of hands.
-
vi. An annual All-Saints Day service is held on 1[st] November at Stanford Avenue Methodist Church, In 2024 family members and friends remembered 18 people who died over the previous twelve months.
b) Service
-
i. Every effort is made by all our churches to provide pastoral care and engage both with the family of faith and the wider community. This has included lunch clubs, coffee groups, arts and crafts, a range of children’s activities and facilitating in person contact with all members.
-
ii. University Chaplaincy
The Circuit is part of the Student Christian Movement (SCM) and supports the Chaplaincy work at The University of Sussex via volunteer Sue Harrington. She
Page 1 of 4
maintains contact with the Chaplaincy Hub at the University of Sussex. Where, among other work, she shares responsibility for the food pantry.
c) Mission and Evangelism
i. Circuit Refugee Project
Vision
Launched on 1 January 2022, the Circuit Refugee Project was established from a shared vision:
To make our Circuit a Sanctuary for All — a place where everyone feels safe and welcomed, including those fleeing violence, conflict, and persecution.
Through this initiative, we seek to live out God’s mission by offering hospitality, kindness, compassion, and sanctuary to all. We are committed to fostering a culture of outreach and service, responding to the needs of individuals and families experiencing
displacement and relocation. Working alongside our churches, community organisations, and people with lived experience of displacement, we continue to support and advocate for refugees and sanctuary seekers across our communities.
Highlights from the Past Twelve Months:
Over the past year, the Circuit Refugee Project has continued to develop partnerships, provide practical support, and raise awareness through a range of activities, including:
-
Donating clothing and toiletries to Care4Calais.
-
Providing food donations to the Voices in Exile foodbank, via harvest donations helping support more than 160 people through food parcels.
-
Supporting the University of Sussex (University of Sanctuary) foodbank with additional food donations.
-
Attending a vigil at the Peace Statue on Hove Seafront, organised by Care4Calais, to remember those who tragically lost their lives crossing the English Channel, including six children and a pregnant woman.
-
Participating in an event linked to the Liberal Democrat Conference, featuring speakers from Safe Passage UK, a charity supporting unaccompanied refugee children and separated families.
-
Supporting the work of the Network of International Women (NiW), which offers activities such as cooking and sewing classes, Cost of Living workshops, and opportunities that foster welcome, purpose, and community.
-
Attending the District’s twice-yearly “Sustaining Hope Gathering” at Redhill Methodist Church.
-
Hosting community evenings by Jollof Café which includes a shared meal and specialist speakers.
-
Maintaining links with the Methodist Connexion’s national online Priority Collaboration Group on Seeking Justice for Refugees, including its Iranian Ministry work.
-
Contributing to an appeal by Refugee Radio Brighton for the All Saints Sanctuary Afternoon, alongside the matched “Double Your Donation” campaign led by City of Sanctuary.
-
Continuing to stay informed about local initiatives and developments through the Brighton & Hove Refugee & Migrant Forum fortnightly Zoom meetings, chaired by Sanctuary on Sea.
-
Supporting Their Voice, a charity working with survivors of modern slavery in South East England.
-
Attending “We Are The Tree”, a Refugees Lived Experience Workshop held in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council, centred on the theme “Work With Us, Not For Us.”
-
We Are The Tree provided a singer Vivi Mugunga from Rwanda who sang about Peace for all and welcoming children into our world at the Hove Church Street Pary.
-
For annual refugee week a prayer wall was launched at Dorset Gardens (DG) Church and artwork from a local young artist was displayed at Hove Church and a copy at DG.
Page 2 of 4
- Fundraising tables were included at events around the Circuit to enable us to make financial donations to appeals.
Through these activities, the Circuit Refugee Project continues to strengthen relationships, encourage understanding, and offer practical and compassionate support to those seeking sanctuary.
Our thanks to our project co-leads Sue Harrington & Ruth Sumar and all church reps for their inspirational work in this space.
4. Financial Review
The accounts show a surplus at the year-end of just over £5000. The manse refurbishment projects were completed on time and within budget.
a) Income & Expenditure
No significant variances reported
b) Balance Sheet
Net assets were reported as £43,585.
c) Reserves Policy
The Reserves Policy was reviewed and updated. It was noted that the level of reserves was less than the six months operating costs recommended by the Charities Commission, the Church Treasurers had agreed a recovery plan which will be included in the 2025/26 Budget.
5. Structure, Governance and Management
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) Circuit Archive set up at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church This Archive is of material relating to the history of all branches of Methodism in Brighton and Hove that has been collected over the years. Much of it was used for writing histories of the Circuit and various Methodist Churches in the city. Researchers are most welcome.
https://brightonhovemethodistcircuit.org.uk/methodist-archive/
(iii) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- We strive to ensure that our circuit and each of our churches and particularly all managing trustees complete their Annual GDPR Checklist to be compliant with the requirement from the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP).
-
(iv) The Circuit Meeting met on four occasions, on 17[th] September and 28[th] November 2024 and 18[th] March and 25[th] June 2025
-
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 Stanford Avenue Methodist Church www.stanfordavenuemeth.co.uk Woodingdean Methodist Church www.woodingdeanmethodistchurch.co.uk On 1 Nov. 2024, the Circuit had 271 members.
c) Staffing Revd Andrew Lowe, Circuit Superintendent
Revd Karen Bell Steve Preston, Circuit Operations Manager
Page 3 of 4
6. Administrative Information
a) Safeguarding
Everyone who holds a post in the five Circuit churches (stewards, local preachers, pastoral visitors, particularly anyone working with children or vulnerable adults is required to complete the Methodist Creating Safer Space Foundation training or depending on role the Advanced Training.
Delivery of the Advanced Module training took place on 28th September 2024 at Hove Church, delivered by District experts via a live online stream to local venues across the South-east.
Rosemary Cuthbert is the Circuit Safeguarding Officer and oversees incident reporting in our circuit churches and adherence to all procedures and policies.
Page 4 of 4
CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
Brighton & Hove
Circuit
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
| South East District |
Circuit no | 36/12 |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Charity - Charity Registration number | ||
| 1134137 |
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 )
Ministers:
Rev Andy Lowe
Rev Karen Bell
Rev Heather Leake Date
Circuit Stewards:
Jonathon Gravestock
Ann Collins
Stella Goddard
Treasurer:
Stella Goddard
1 of 5
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
Brighton & Hove Circuit
| SECTION A | £ £ £ 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 Restricted Funds |
£ £ £ Un - restricted Funds Circuit Model Trust Fund Restricted Funds |
£ 165,973 0 1,186 0 46,613 Totals this year |
£ 165,973 0 1,186 0 46,613 Totals this year |
£ Totals last year |
£ Totals last year |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a1 | RECEIPTS | Note | |||||||||
| a2 | Assessment/Share | 165,973 | 165,973 | 172,742 | |||||||
| a3 | Capital receipts | 0 | |||||||||
| a4 | Bank and CFB interest and Investment income |
88 | 1,098 | 1,186 | 2,697 | ||||||
| a5 | Grants | 0 | |||||||||
| a6 | Other receipts Rent/Pension Refund | 46,613 | 46,613 | 34,250 | |||||||
| a7 | TOTAL RECEIPTS | 212,674 | 1,098 | 0 | 213,772 | (a8) | 209,689 | ||||
| SECTION B | 80,321 41,952 33,409 41,511 598 0 3,076 |
||||||||||
| b1 | PAYMENTS | ||||||||||
| b2 | Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and travel costs |
80,321 | 80,321 | 84,530 | |||||||
| b3 | Manse Costs | 41,952 | 41,952 | 36,444 | |||||||
| b4 | Administration etc | 33,409 | # | 33,409 | 31,052 | ||||||
| b5 | District Assessment | 41,511 | # | 41,511 | 42,233 | ||||||
| b6 | Grants & donations | 598 | # | 598 | 1,549 | ||||||
| b7 | Refurbishment | # | 0 | 40,117 | |||||||
| b8 | Otherpayments | 3,076 | # | 3,076 | 3,350 | ||||||
| b9 | TOTAL PAYMENTS | 200,269 | 598 | 0 | 200,867 | (b9) | 239,275 | ||||
| 12,905 | |||||||||||
| SECTION C | |||||||||||
| c1 | NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR |
(a7-b9) | 12,405 | 500 | 0 | 12,905 | |||||
| c2 | Total funds brought forward from lastyear | 4,634 | 23,924 | 28,558 | (c6) | 58,144 | |||||
| 41,463 | |||||||||||
| c3 | Sub total (c1+c2) |
17,039 | 24,424 | 0 | 41,463 | ||||||
| c4 | Transfers and adjustments | 0 | (c7) | ||||||||
| c5 | TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4 |
) | 17,039 | 24,424 | 0 | 41,463 | (c8) | 28,558 | (c6) |
| SECTION D | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| d | FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (these amounts should not be included in total receipts/payments above) Balance brought forward from lastyear 2,066 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 1,076 Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations 1,020 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID(d1 + d2 - d3) 2,122 |
||
| d1 | Balance brought forward from lastyear | 3,037 | |
| d2 | Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations | 3,036 | |
| d3 | Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations | 4,007 | |
| d4 | BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID(d1 + d2 - d3) | 2,066 |
2 of 5
Brighton & Hove
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 2025 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 | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary of the Circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 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 |
Net Receipts/ Payments |
Adjustments | Opening balances |
Closingbalances | ||||||
| e1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e2 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e4 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e6 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e7 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e8 | Sub total of Internal Organisations funds |
0 | 0 | **0 ** | (e11) | **0 ** | (e12) | |||
| e9 | Circuit accounts (totals brought forward from page 2 - totals column) |
12,905 | **0 ** | (c7) | **28,558 ** | (c6) | **41,463 ** | (c8) | ||
| e10 | TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT |
12,905 | 0 | **28,558 ** | (x) | **41,463 ** | (y) | |||
SECTION F STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
| SECTION F STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES |
SECTION F STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIRCUIT - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025 | OPENING BALANCES |
CLOSING BALANCES |
||||
| f1 | Cash in hand | |||||
| f2 | Bank Current Account | 29,775 | 25,545 | |||
| f3 | Bank Deposit Account | |||||
| f4 | Central Finance Board | 10,098 | 9,929 | |||
| f5 | Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes | 23,924 | 24,424 | |||
| f6 | Other funds | (35,239) | (18,435) | |||
| f7 | SUB TOTAL | **28,558 ** | (c6) | **41,463 ** | (c8) | |
| f8 | Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing balance totals above) (e12) |
0 | (e11) | 0 | (e12) | |
| f9 | TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT | 28,558 | (x) | 41,463 | (y) | |
| At | At | |||||
| SECTION G | ||||||
| OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES Investments(include Endowments) Land and Buildings(see notes re Insurance value) Other Assets Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end Other Liabilities |
1 September 2024 | 31 August 2025 | ||||
| g1 | Investments(include Endowments) | |||||
| g2 | Land and Buildings(see notes re Insurance value) | |||||
| g3 | Other Assets | |||||
| g4 | Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end | |||||
| g5 | Other Liabilities |
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)
3 of 5
Name of Cir Brighton & Hove
Declarations and Scrutiny
I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 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……………………..
Name and address of treasurer …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………. Post Code………………
Presentation to the Circuit meeting
I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 were/will be* presented to the Circuit meeting held on ……………..
Signature of the Chair of the meeting ……………………………………………………………………
Name of the Chair of the meeting …………………………………………… Date ……………………
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the
………… Brighton & Hove
Charity Number …………..
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the …………………………………. Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages … to …. 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.
- delete or circle as appropriate
4 of 5
Name of Cir Brighton & Hove
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:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
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.
Name of independent exa S J Neate
Relevant professional qualification of independent FMATT
Name of firm (where app N/A
Address 23 Surrenden Lodge , Surrenden Road Brighton
……………………………………………………………………………….. Post Code BN1 6QB
Date …………………………………………
- delete or circle as appropriate
5 of 5