Teignbridge Methodist Circuit 

Charity Number 1134246 

The Avenue Church, The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2BY 




**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
ASHBURTON<br>TEIGNBRIDGE<br>METHODIST<br>CIRCUIT<br>Annual<br>Report<br>2022/23<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


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Teignbridge Methodist Circuit 

Charity Number 1134246 

The Avenue Church, The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2BY 

## _**Teignbridge Methodist Circuit – 2022/23**_ 


The Teignbridge Methodist Circuit comprises twelve Church Council, of which Ashburton and Buckfast/leigh cover include more than one location, arranged in four sections as follows: 

- **Moorland:** Ashburton, Bovey Tracey and Ipplepen Methodist Churches 

- **Newton Abbot:** The Avenue Church (Methodist with United Reformed) and Shaldon Road Methodist Church. 

- **Coastal:** Bishopsteignton, Dawlish, Shaldon and Teignmouth Methodist Churches. 

- **Buckfastleigh:** Buckfast/leigh, South Brent and Totnes Methodist Churches 

## **Circuit Leadership Team:** 

Paid ministers (ordained and lay), with pastoral responsibility/charge 

 Rev. Kevin Hooke 

 Rev. Gill Daniel 

- Rev. Verity Phillips 

- Ms. Sharon Hurlow 

Circuit Stewards 

 Mr. John Harrison 

 Mr. Andrew Parsons 

- Ms Carol Hughes 

- Rev Paul Weir 

**Circuit Pastoral Worker:** Mrs Sharon Canning 

## **Circuit Administrator:** Ms Kay Fice 

**Supernumerary Ministers:** In total there are six supernumerary (retired) ministers in the Teignbridge Methodist Circuit, four of whom regularly preach in the circuit's churches. 

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Teignbridge Methodist Circuit 

Charity Number 1134246 

The Avenue Church, The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2BY 

## Trustees —2022/23 


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Maria  Alsop<br>Peter Leigh  Alsop<br>Denys  Bament<br>Marianne  Barrett Rogers<br>Michael  Barrett Rogers<br>Sheila Margaret<br>Bendall<br>Appointed 21/03/2023<br>Malcolm John  Benton<br>Anne  Berridge<br>Jennifer  Bonner<br>Christian  Canning<br>Sharon  Canning<br>Vincent  Canning<br>Gill  Daniel<br>Rosemarie  Dungey<br>Jill  Elliott<br>Kay  Fice<br>Jean  Francis<br>Robert George  Francis<br>Monica  Gfeller-Harwood<br>Selwyn  Green<br>Gillian  Hardy<br>Stephen John  Harris<br>John<br>Harrison<br>Appointed 20/06/2023<br>Wendy  Hartley<br>Jane  Holmes<br>Kevin Peter  Hooke<br>Carol  Hughes<br>Sharon Ann  Hurlow<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>



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Alan Johnston<br>Duncan Knight<br>Stephen Paul Major<br>Agnes McFeat<br>Alexander Wright McFeat<br>Carol Ann Morgan<br>Andrew Russell Parsons<br>Verity Phillips<br>Nicola  Quaintance<br>Rosemary<br>Quin<br>Appointed 01/09/2022<br>Alison Frances<br>Rowe<br>Appointed 21/03/2023<br>Margaret Dawn  Renshaw<br>Jean  Sabine<br>Andrew David  Sinden<br>Edward Stephenson<br>Patricia  Stephenson<br>Michael Strickland<br>Patsy Tidball<br>Margaret Vosper<br>Serena Walcot<br>John  Walton<br>Paul Weir<br>Anne-Marie Whiting<br>Frederick William Woodland<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


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Teignbridge Methodist Circuit 

Charity Number 1134246 

The Avenue Church, The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2BY 

## Objectives and Activities 

We understand that we are not engaging in our mission, but rather participating in God’s mission to all people, in partnership with others and empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

We also understand that mission is all that we are sent to do by Christ. It includes not only evangelism but also service to our communities, pursuit of social justice and concern for the environment. We are to be signs of and sharers in the Kingdom of God and its values. 

We understand that we live with the tensions of being both an inherited church and a 'discipleship movement shaped for mission' and that we need to work creatively with the opportunities and challenges this brings. 

As a Circuit we believe that it is therefore our responsibility: 

- To manage our resources strategically and prayerfully, to maximise their effectiveness; 

- To support the churches in fulfilling their own mission strategies and objectives. 

To do so we will: 

- Conduct periodic Circuit Reviews to determine the greatest opportunities for growth and outreach 

- Maintain appropriate levels of ordained and lay staffing, seeking grant funding as necessary, and deploying them in line with the identified opportunities for growth 

- Maintain a balanced Circuit Budget 

- Develop appropriate strategic ecumenical partnerships at Circuit level 

- Foster Circuit identity and cohesion through Circuit Services and the sharing of information 

- Work in partnership with neighbouring Circuits to use resources and expertise efficiently and effectively 

- Encourage and support differing expressions of worship alongside traditional forms 

- Group churches in ways which encourage the most effective partnerships between them for mission 

- Encourage churches to work closely with their own ecumenical partners 

- Provide Circuit opportunities for growth in discipleship and missional understanding 

- Develop and maintain relationships with other services and organisations serving the wellbeing of our communities 

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Teignbridge Methodist Circuit 

Charity Number 1134246 

The Avenue Church, The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2BY 

## Achievements and Performance —2022/23 

During the year 2022-23 Teignbridge Methodist Circuit continued to provide ministerial leadership to its churches, as well as supporting those which were struggling to pay their Circuit assessment in full. In addition it gave two significant grants: one to become a partner in the ROC project at Dawlish and one to enable adaptations to the premises at the Avenue. A smaller grant was made to support Ivybridge YFC. 

During the course of the year Scoriton Chapel was sold, and in line with Circuit policy, the monies from it were allocated to the continuing mission of its Church Council and will be used to provide much needed disabled access to Buckfast Chapel. It is hoped that Buckfastleigh Church will be sold in the coming year, with the windfall also to be committed to local mission. 

The Circuit Leadership Team looked at the accounts of the individual churches over the winter of 2022-23, which confirmed that although the Circuit was maintaining a balanced budget, this was putting an increasing pressure on local Church finances. The Circuit meeting, however, decided not to cut staffing immediately, but to request that each church also review its own mission statement for submission during the course of the year, so that the Circuit’s own strategy for mission, and the use of its resources, could be made more effective. 

There was news of a significant staff change later in the year, with Rev Verity Phillips being withdrawn from the Circuit by Conference, to take effect from August 2023. This prompted an urgent reassessment of the shaping of ministry by the Circuit Leadership Team, supported by a Circuit prayer day held at Buckfast. One of the outcomes was that the Circuit sought to employ a part-time Local Lay Pastor from September 2023, to work in Ipplepen and Totnes. The Circuit Leadership Team then looked to bring further proposals about ministerial staffing to the Circuit Meeting in Autumn 2023. 

During the year, the Circuit maintained the weekly Sunday Zoom service, which has become embedded as part of the Circuit’s life and witness, enabling a number of people to attend worship at times when they cannot get to a church building. It also maintained its Circuit plan, allocating Local Arrangement services as equitably as possible across the churches (recognising that some already take responsibility for parts of their worshipping life), and encouraging the skills of local church members in organising and taking part in Local Arrangements. The Circuit is also encouraged by the positive and developing ecumenical connections in many places, but particularly at Ashburton, (where the Methodist and Anglican Churches continue to support both a family mission development worker and an admin/IT post) and at Bishopsteignton and Ipplepen (where there is shared worship with the Anglicans at least monthly) . 

The Circuit has also managed its properties, both those used for Manses and one that is rented out. It continues to use the revenue from the latter to support its ongoing activities. The Circuit continued to take seriously its responsibilities in safeguarding and GDPR matters and to support its Churches to do the same. The Circuit continues to review its Safeguarding policy annually in line with the changing requirements and guidance of the Methodist 

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Teignbridge Methodist Circuit 

Charity Number 1134246 

The Avenue Church, The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2BY 

Church, engages in an annual Safeguarding audit, and supports its local Churches in several ways: 

- providing templates for their own policies, 

- overseeing DBS and training records, 

- offering templates for role descriptions, 

- the availability of the Circuit Safeguarding Officer for advice. 

In line with Methodist requirements, all those leading worship on the Circuit plan (worship leaders and preachers) have undertaken advanced safeguarding training (either through the Methodist Church or at an equivalent level in the case of some of our regular visitors from our partner denominations). 

## Public Benefit 

Throughout the year 2022/23 the Trustees of the Teignbridge Methodist Circuit have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and have acted accordingly. They are committed to continue to do so in the future. 

## Plans for the Future 

The Circuit will need to embed its new team of Circuit Stewards and Staff. It will seek to support those churches as they develop projects for which capital reserve money has been earmarked —such as the building works at the Avenue and at Buckfast Chapel. A new Presbyter will join the Circuit next year focusing on the life of the Church in our Coastal Section. It will continue with its missional planning for the future and will review with the Churches the assessment levels in the light of changing memberships and circumstances. It will continue to encourage Churches to engage with their local communities and keep an overview of the needs of the area. 

## Reserves Policy 

Our Reserves Policy is to hold at least six month's expenditure in hand: 

- We hold a reserve for the maintenance of our team of presbyteral ministers of £80,000 to pay for the stipends of two such presbyters, including on-costs. 

- We hold a reserve for our property maintenance programme of £ 50,000 to maintain each of the four manses and a fifth residential property owned by the Circuit. 

- We hold a reserve of 50% of our other costs, which in the year to 31[st] August 2023 amounted to £ 45,920 

As at 31[st] August the funds available in the General Fund were £259,657 against a reserve policy requirement of £ 175,920 


Kevin P. Hooke, Superintendent Minister 15'" March 2024 

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Tei8nbridy Methodist Qwcuit Owity NumbEr 1134246
Address.. The A¥enue Ch￿￿h. Th• A¥enue. IlewtonAbboL Oevon. TQ12 ZOY
T•l4nbrhli• Methodht ami
Clrtuit Nts24128
Statement ol Flnanci•l A¢thitiVs1SOFAI fort￿V••r￿dQ￿ JI Aw5t 2023
Gener41 FvTrd Modd R•5trk
iUnr•stw*t•dl
Trust
Funds
(Unn￿lItt•d￿
Tot•1
k021-23
Total
2011-12
Doh4tlons and It¢•¢les
Incomelrom moThetary lTr¥estments
Incomefrom Invtstmtnt pr•Mrti*s
A55e5srnent5 Qn thurche5
Relund on purchase of 4 J•Eks Ck75e
Grifit5 recelved
Other charitable Income
Sile of Scoriton Chwch
MIKell•n¢oys In¢om•
Tot•1 Inwm¢
1.664
15.945
10.170
230.659
549
706
2.SS7
9,880
231.072
10.170
230.699
29)
4.014
4.014
ISS.487
77.128
706
)33.312
250.189
Exp•ndl¢ur•
Grants and donitlons
S•laries and •sso(i•t¢d c￿ts
Propertv expenses
Connexionèl lunds & mt*l trusi le¥v
DlSlri¢t Asstssm•ht &
7MCP Levy
Ollitt expensts
Orher outioln¢5
Independent Examlner's Fee
T¢tal charitable expenditur¢
Galnslllosse51 on monetary Inve5tmenrs
Galnslllossesl on lTrveStment proptrt*s
Ntl Ih¢omelltxoÈndrturtl
Tran5fer5 tse￿eeTh lunds
Other 84in511los5e51
Net rno¥ement In fund5
42.710
17S.297
24.891
3.950
44.426
42.740
175.297
23.891
10.349
44.426
10,116
5.403
6.057
6W
119.679
6J.8SO
IS9.408
45.736
23.2$8
45,089
399
10.116
507
4.896
6.857
5.180
301,657
341.961
25.1)X)
122.1701
29,1
38.643
15,0fy)
.106
706
122.1701
60.ic*
706
3B.643
Total funds brou8ht forward
Total funds carried lorward
1.610.522
1.588.352
177.978
2MIX4
21.194
12.9
1,810.694
1.819.337
1.884.466
1.810.694


John Harrison 

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## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Telgnbrldge Methodist Circuit Charity number 1134246** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Teignbridge Methodist Circuit for the year ended 31"August 2023, as set out on pages 9—13. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) 

As the charity 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 Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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. 

## **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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 

- (1) Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 

- (2) The accounts do not accord with those 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. 


Clare Lillington FMAAT Raddon Station Hill Chudleigh Newton Abbot TQ13 OEE 

Dated: 30[th] May 2024 

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Teignbridge Methodist Circuit 

Charity Number 1134246 

The Avenue Church, The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2BY 

## **Teignbridge Methodist Circuit Circuit No 24/28** 

## **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31st August 2023** 

## **1 Basis of accounting** 

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the 2015 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) (2019). 

## **2 Funds** 

The funds held constitute: General Funds held for any purpose of the Circuit which are Unrestricted; the Circuit Model Trust Fund, which has wide purposes defined in Standing Orders and is categorised as Unrestricted and Restricted Funds which are held for a narrower purpose. There are no Endowment Funds. 

## **3 Accounting policies** 

## **Basis** 

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost except that investments are shown at fair value at the end of the year, on the accruals basis, to show a true and fair view of the Circuit's financial position and activities. The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis. 

## **Incoming Resources** 

Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the Circuit 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 Circuit to pay out resources 

## **Grants** 

Grants made by the Circuit from its own funds are recognised in full at the time of agreement or when the Circuit accepts that there is a legal or operational obligation to make payment. 

## **VAT** 

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

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Teignbridge Methodist Circuit 

Charity Number 1134246 

The Avenue Church, The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2BY 

|**4     Donations & Legacies**<br>Donations including gift aid<br>Gift for repairs to Church<br>Collection<br>Gift Aid Claimed From HMRC<br>**5     Income from investment properties**<br>46 Kingsdown Crescent<br>Ilsington Graveyard<br>**6     Other charitable income**<br>Publications<br>Connexional Funds<br>Money return from Methodist Guild Holidays<br>**7    Grants & Donations**<br>ROC Dawlish Project<br>Ipplepen Church renewal for the “Hub”<br>Buckfastleigh Chapel Lintels<br>Shaldon Church Oriel Window<br>Benovelent Fund donation by Rev Hooke<br>The Avenue Church - Disabled Toilet Project<br>Plymouth & Exeter District benevolent fund<br>Ivybridge Youth For Christ bus<br>Bude & Holsworthy market Chaplain<br>**8     Paid employees**<br>Staff costs incurred during the year were:<br>Gross salaries and benefits in kind - Ministers<br>- Others<br>Travelling Expenses|**2023**<br>**_2022_**<br>1,414<br>_1,540_<br>0.00<br>_0_<br>0.00<br>_0_<br>250<br>_0_|
|---|---|
||**1,664**<br>_4,540_|
||**2023**<br>**_2022_**<br>9,600<br>_8,078_<br>570<br>_630_|
||**10,170**<br>_8,708_|
||**2023**<br>**_2022_**<br>64<br>_300_<br>3,950<br>_4,540_<br>0<br>_281_|
||**4,014**<br>_5,121_|
||**2023**<br>**_2022_**<br>12,000<br>_12000_<br>0<br>_45000_<br>0<br>_1020_<br>0<br>_4000_<br>0<br>_100_<br>30,000<br>_0_<br>140<br>_130_<br>600<br>_600_<br>0<br>_1,000_|
||**42,740**<br>_63,850_|
||**2023**<br>**_2022_**<br>113,745<br>_109,498_<br>49,951<br>_45,237_<br>11,601<br>_6,427_|
||**175,297**<br>_161,162_|



No employee was paid at a rate of more than £ 60,000 per annum 

||**2023**|**_2022_**|
|---|---|---|
|Average number of full time equivalent employees|5|_6_|



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Teignbridge Methodist Circuit 

Charity Number 1134246 

The Avenue Church, The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2BY 

|**9   Property Expenses**<br>Water rates<br>Council Tax<br>Manses<br>Insurance<br>Building surveys<br>Church repairs<br>Let properties<br>**10  Office Expenses**<br>Telephone<br>Printing<br>Publications<br>Wages charges<br>TMCP Charges<br>**11  Other outgoings**<br>Supernumerary fees<br>Non Employee travel expenses<br>Training<br>Ilsington graveyard<br>Miscellaneous<br>Corbyn fund<br>Apprentice levy<br>Scoriton Church Sale Expenditure<br>**12  Tangible Fixed Assets   Cost**<br>**Manses**<br>35 Valley Close<br>135 Churchfields Drive<br>12 Moorlands Close<br>4 Jacks Close|**2023**<br>**_2022_**<br>1,785<br>_1,527_<br>8,838<br>_8,639_<br>7,887<br>_27,623_<br>3,920<br>_3,555_<br>0<br>_2,125_<br>0<br>_0_<br>1,460<br>_963_<br>**23,891**<br>_44,432_<br>**2023**<br>**_2022_**<br>2,936<br>_2,864_<br>584<br>_584_<br>896<br>_867_<br>480<br>_0_<br>507<br>_1044_<br>**5,403**<br>_5,359_<br>**2023**<br>**_2022_**<br>2,575<br>_1825_<br>1,237<br>695<br>_330_<br>450<br>_540_<br>1,474<br>_1,680_<br>0<br>_0_<br>637<br>_616_<br>0<br>_316_<br>**7,068**<br>_5,307_<br>**_31/08/2022_**<br>**Add/Disp**<br>**_31/08/2023_**<br>_130,000_<br>_130,000_<br>_325,000_<br>_325,000_<br>_75,000_<br>_75,000_<br>_478,296_<br>_478,296_<br>_1,008,296_<br>_1,008,296_|
|---|---|



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Teignbridge Methodist Circuit 

Charity Number 1134246 

The Avenue Church, The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2BY 

|**13  Investment Property**<br>Investments<br>Dawlish|**Fair Value**<br>**31/8/2021**<br>**Fair Value**<br>**31/8/2022**<br>**Revaluation**<br>**_Fair Value_**<br>**_31/8/2023_**<br>275,000<br>300,000<br>_325,000_<br>275,000<br>300,000<br>0<br>_325,000_|
|---|---|



## **14   Restricted Funds** 

The only restricted fund is the Corbyn Fund. 

||**As at**|**Interest**|**Funds**|**As at**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**31/08/2022**|**allocated**|**expended**|**31/08/2023**|
|Corbyn Fund|26,121|706|0|26,827|



## **15  Payments to Trustees** 

All of the paid employees are also trustees. There are 3 Presbyters, 1 lay minister, 1 lay pastoral assistant (part time), and 1 administrator (part time) whose cost is shared with a Circuit Church. Some supernumerary Ministers are also trustees who receive fees for taking services. No trustee is paid for services rendered in the capacity of a trustee. Expenses payments are made to trustees to re-imburse expenditure incurred on behalf of the circuit. 

|Supernumerary fees<br>Travel<br>Other|**2023**<br>**2023**<br>**Number**<br>**of**<br>**£**<br>**Trustees**<br>1,250<br>3<br>14,234<br>10<br>772<br>5<br>16,256|**2022**<br>**_2022_**|
|---|---|---|
|||<br>**_Number_**<br>**_of_**|
|||**£**<br>**_Trustees_**|
|||1825<br>_1_|
|||6,427<br>_9_|
|||1,680<br>_9_|
|||9,932|



## **16 Capital commitments and contingent liabilities** 

|**Capital commitments and contingent liabilities**||
|---|---|
|At 31st August 2023 there are no capital commitments.|(Nil)|
|No contingent liabilities were identified at 31st August 2023.|(Nil)|



## **17   Fees for Examination of Accounts** 

|**17   Fees for Examination of Accounts**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2023**|**_2022_**|
|Fees for accountancy or examination.|600|_600_|



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