**THE METHODIST CHURCH - PURLEY CIRCUIT TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 01/09/2023 TO 31/08/2024** Charity Name The Purley Circuit of the Methodist Church Registered Charity Number 1134261 ## **Introduction** The Purley Circuit of the Methodist Church (Purley Methodist Circuit) is largely a suburban circuit on the southern outer edge of the Greater London area, lying mainly in the London Borough of Croydon and Tandridge District in Surrey. The Circuit is mostly built up, extending from South Croydon with urban characteristics, through outer London suburbia to Surrey commuter territory, but including also areas of greenbelt. The area covered is largely affluent, though there are significant pockets of deprivation. The calling of the Purley Methodist Circuit is to respond to the gospel of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission. It does this through worship, learning and caring, service and evangelism. ## **Mission Policy** The Purley Methodist Circuit exists to: - share the good news of Jesus Christ in word and action - encourage people into a closer relationship with and deeper understanding of God - serve the communities within its geographical area - enable the Circuit churches to flourish and to carry out their mission - safeguard and protect all at risk – vulnerable children, young people and adults These purposes will be met by: - strongly encouraging each church to set itself a strategy to fulfil these purposes, and to report progress in fulfilling their strategy annually to the Circuit Meeting - using and developing a diverse mix of people, lay and ordained, paid and unpaid, as directed by the Circuit Meeting, in support of these strategies - using the physical and financial resources of the Circuit in support of the strategies - working collectively together as a team, to support one another and make best use of skills and knowledge - building relationships with other Circuits and with churches of other denominations to share resources and to facilitate mission and service At present the Circuit will: - encourage the churches to seek vocations to the roles of Local Preacher and Worship Leader, and offer appropriate training to those who come forward - ensure that each church has a recognised person as chief person giving pastoral care, and that that person is enabled to have sufficient time available to support that church - seek to ensure that there are reasonably frequent opportunities for the churches to come together, for worship, for joint study and for social contact - seek to ensure that young people are encouraged to meet with other young people from around the Circuit 1 ## **Objectives and activities** The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the date of Union the advancement of: - a) The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and 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 to The Methodist Church. The Purley Methodist Circuit had two Methodist ministers: Revd Graham Claydon-Knights, the Superintendent Minister, and Revd Sang Wook Han. Revd Martin Knight is a United Reformed Church (URC) minister, who gave 25% of his time to the South Croydon United Church, a Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP) with the URC, and the remaining time devoted to another local URC congregation. Revd Martin, however, left for a new appointment in the spring of 2024. The Circuit’s activities are supported by a part-time Administrator, Mrs Linda Lucking. There were three supernumerary ministers in the Circuit: Revd Ermal Kirby, Revd Jenni Kirby and Revd Stephen Mares. Revd Ermal was appointed to assist with South Croydon United Church from 1 June 2024 until 31 August 2025, to allow time to find a new minister for that appointment. The Revd Graham Claydon-Knights was appointed the Superintendent of the Purley Methodist Circuit for five years from 1 September 2023. The Purley Methodist Circuit comprised 189 members in six churches, including the LEP: The churches are located as follows: Caterham Methodist Church: Coulsdon Road, Caterham, CR3 5NJ Coulsdon Methodist Church: 83, Brighton Road, Coulsdon, CR5 2BE Sanderstead Methodist Church: Limpsfield Road, Sanderstead, CR2 9EF South Croydon United Church: Aberdeen Road, Croydon, CR0 1EQ Warlingham Methodist Church: Limpsfield Road, Warlingham, CR6 9LE Whitethorn Avenue Methodist Church: Whitethorn Avenue, Coulsdon, CR5 2PP The sale of Hurst Green Methodist Church completed on 16[th] July 2024. Prior to the exchange of contracts on 11th June 2024, to ensure good care of this Circuit asset, weekly meetings were held in the building and monthly services were included in the preaching plan. The main activities of the Circuit in relation to its objectives are: - The organisation and resourcing of regular public acts of worship open to all people without charge - The teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups - The resourcing of pastoral work including visiting the sick and bereaved - The promotion of Christianity through the staging of events, services and assemblies at local schools The Purley Methodist Circuit gives leadership, encouragement and support to its churches as they offer a Christian witness in their locality and develop their individual callings. The staff aim to work as a team and will give significant attention to enabling the mission of the Circuit – primarily through local church initiatives, recognising the gifts of laity, developing and supporting them, 2 appreciating that ultimately laity will do much of the reaching out. We have a number of Local Preachers and Worship Leaders. The Circuit offers shared activities to supplement what each church is able to offer, such as shared evening worship, groups studying theology etc. It encourages the spiritual life of local churches and urges them to engage with the local communities in service and evangelism. Ordained and lay staff are valued and one Circuit Steward has special responsibility for their pastoral care. We confirm that the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. ## **Achievements and performance** - a) The Circuit has continued to encourage the local churches to offer meetings for prayer and Bible study and to find suitable ways to engage with their local communities in service and evangelism while recognising that the pattern of such activities will differ from church to church. Many of these activities resumed face to face and some churches continued to enable people to participate in worship via Zoom. Some meetings take place via Zoom and Google Meet to enable greater participation. - b) The Circuit has continued to offer events which supplement what each local church is able to do by seeking to ensure that there are reasonably frequent opportunities for the churches to come together, for worship, for joint study and for social contact. Circuit services are planned once or twice quarterly. - c) “The Way Forward” is a Circuit initiative in which churches were encouraged to consider their situation and look to the future. Representatives from each of the circuit churches were invited to attend Whitethorn Avenue Methodist Church on Saturday, the 3rd of February 2024. Using the report to the circuit meeting written by the Revd. Ermal Kirby, “Proposals for re-shaping our ministry and mission”, we worked in our church groups to seek out the “diamonds”, the best points, from that report, and from the churches’ responses to that report. From this activity, a number of themes emerged: - working to include children and families in our church life - communicate better with our communities - intentional prayer as churches, and a circuit. We spoke about the Methodist Way of Life practices, mapping those to actions in each church and then looking across the circuit. This revealed that many of those activities are well established across all churches. However, there were some which were present in only a few: - Learn “We learn more about our faith” - Notice “We notice God in Scripture, and in the world" - Challenge “We challenge injustice” - Tell “We tell of the love of God” - Live “We live in a way that draws people to Jesus” These practices are present in the circuit but more help can be made available, or activity encouraged, across the congregations. Lastly, each group were asked to name the first steps forward for each church, and to name also any help that might be needed from grants or expertise in making those happen. In summary, the activities included use of technology in communication with their communities, restarting bible studies and house groups, carrying out Mission audits, improving hospitality, facilities and abilities, including more intentional, prayer, times and spaces, and increasing participative worship that included families. Requested help was for use of technology, leading biblical teaching, helping with families work, helping with hospitality facilities, and staffing, and funding accessible toilet facilities in some places. 3 We met again 22/6/24. Churches shared “One Good Thing” from the time since the last meeting. We heard about miraculous healing, new members, new staff and new engagements with a group that meets at a church. We also discussed what things made our hearts sink, such as paperwork, the loss of a valued minister, struggles with a friend’s secular funeral, the sadness of creating several children’s events that seemed to have no visible results. We also heard a lament on the lack of engagement with men in worship and mission. We asked what would make the difference for the churches, to enable them to overcome some of the difficult things and the struggles. We had also asked churches to think about the possibility of a five-year Deacon role in the circuit. This led to a discussion on a number of themes: - Transitory Lives Our fixed patterns of Sunday morning worship and other weekly/monthly activities connects poorly with the transitory lives lived by many of the population around our circuit. We don’t know if different forms of worship and different times, or online sermons for example, would be a better way to help people to worship and connect with God and find Christ. We need help in understanding and in making that change. Would this be part of a Deacon’s work? - Mission to men As noted about, we now realise that we need help to find ways to bring the Gospel to men, and to bring men into church life. - Connecting with the community and with people’s lives We wondered how a Deacon could encourage a visible presence within the community. One suggestion was to look for the “pinch points” in the current ministers’ lives. How could we connect better with the community? As a five-year role, surely it will need aims for those years, to make a lasting difference that continues when the role ends. What talents could be shared and encouraged in the churches in those years? We need training and encouragement, enabled in mission. - Technology How can we gain the insight and skills to make use of technology in worship and mission? We discussed how to find confidence in the areas that we struggled with, highlighting the need for encouragement in what the Methodist Church has to offer to our society (using the Methodist Way of Life as a starting point) and training in ways to approach outreach. We need also to publicise the regular bible studies and series that are going on in the circuit, and other things that build up our faith. Lastly, the need for regular and targeted prayer was emphasised. Focussing on the calling of the Methodist Church on Worship and Mission, we discussed our challenges of running 78 Sunday morning services every quarter. We noted that there is currently zoomed service available every Sunday from Warlingham methodist church, and that the access code can be made available to anyone wishing to join. Other circuit churches are considering installing facilities for this. There are also many good Local Arrangement teams in operation. Using recent suggestions from the Revd Ermal Kirby, we thought that a circuit Worship Development Team would be helpful in coordination and innovation, especially as we need to work out how worship could be “more attractive and informative” for the “transitory lives” mentioned earlier. Revd Ermal had also suggested that the circuit might appoint a “Mission Enabler” or “Church Related Community Worker”, looking at each church location in turn. Skills in technology were again mentioned. We agreed that the next step was to meet with Methodist Diaconal Order, recognising that this meeting may lead to our application for Diaconal role. Our next Way Forward meeting was planned for Saturday 16th November 2024. - d) The Circuit has continued to encourage the local churches to reach out and engage with children, young people and families. This work is focused on Sanderstead and Warlingham Methodist churches. Alongside teams of committed volunteers, these two churches each employ a family worker and Warlingham Methodist Church also employs a youth worker and wants to employ another. Young people were encouraged to meet with other young people from around the Circuit, such as at the Warlingham Methodist Church “Ignite” service which was advertised across the circuit churches. 4 - f) The Circuit has encouraged the spiritual development of church members by encouraging the churches to seek vocations to the roles of Local Preacher and Worship Leader, and offering appropriate training to those who come forward and making best use of the talents of members doing local arrangement services. - h) The Circuit has continued to encourage each church to have a recognised person responsible for pastoral oversight. - i) The Circuit has continued to ensure the implementation of the Connexional Safeguarding Policy, government legislation, guidance and safe practice in the Circuit and in the churches. To ensure that appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place in the Circuit each church has a designated Safeguarding Officer and their work is supported by the Circuit Safeguarding Officer. - j) Each church is being strongly encouraged and supported to develop a particular focus in improving links to their local community and attracting new church members. The following explains significant aspects of churches’ engagement with their local community: - i. **Caterham Methodist Church** is regularly used by a nursery school and a trampolining and gymnastics club. There is a small Junior Church. The church’s main outreach is a monthly coffee morning, well supported by the local community. - ii. **Coulsdon Methodist Church** has house groups, a small Junior Church, a weekly “Open Church” with coffee and prayers, a seasonal Bible study group, and a toddler group. The extensive premises are widely used by the local community. - iii. **Sanderstead Methodist Church** is regularly used by a local pre-school. A Bible study and prayer group meets monthly. A part-time family worker is employed, leading Junior Church, two thriving toddler groups (meeting weekly) supported by church volunteers and Brownies. A coffee club meets twice monthly for members of the congregation and the local community. The church has links with a local primary school, hosting visits and invitations to occasional services. Supports local and international charities including “Their Voice” for displaced people and the Douglas Murray home for the elderly in South Africa. - iv. **South Croydon United Church** has continued its work in the community during the year. “Open Door”, a venture providing a warm space and breakfast for an hour on Tuesday mornings during term time, continued until Easter 2024. Since then, it has operated twice a month on Tuesday mornings. The church has continued its work with the school. Children have visited the church for lessons and for their carol concerts as well as providing artwork for major Christian festivals, which has been displayed in the church. The Jack & Jill Club, which provides musical entertainment once a week for the retired, has continued. The church has again supported the charities Hestia and Croydon Night Watch, with the school joining it in providing food for the latter. A quiz night was held to raise money for the ‘White Eagle’ Ukraine Appeal and members of the community participated. - v. **Warlingham Methodist Church** has both children and young people each Sunday in the congregation and two part-time Youth/Family workers. The congregation is focused on mission through families and youth work. It runs two weekly community youth clubs and a toddler group and on Sundays provides both Kids Church and Youth Church. It also runs annual outreach events, e.g. fireworks and a summer holiday club. It provides a monthly daytime film club and weekly Bible study groups and occasional courses to explore Christian faith. A monthly contemporary worship service, “Ignite”, was run on Saturday evenings (although this is recently changed to a bi-monthly Sunday evening). It also has a monthly prayer meeting. 5 - vi. **Whitethorn Avenue Methodist Church** runs a monthly coffee morning and lunch. The lunch has over 15 coming regularly. This initiative is supported by Stutton Council. The local knit and natter group uses the premises regularly. There are links with the Parish church and other Coulsdon churches. - k) The Circuit completed a stationing process for one of the ministers, which resulted in the reinvitation of that minister. ## **Plans for the future** - a) Stationing application for a missional and ministerial Diaconal post (successfully completed in 2025). - b) Planning to use the recently acquired financial resources in support of the Circuit Mission Policy – this is underway in 2025 with the successful Diaconal stationing. - c) Holding regular “Way Forward” meeting with representatives from across the Circuit. ## **Financial review** The Circuit’s annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the 2014 version of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102 (and taking account of the Update Bulletin issued in 2016). ## **Financial position at the end of the reporting period** As at 31 August 2024, the net current assets of the Circuit were £938,294 (2023: £496,978) of which £132,892 (2023: £34,368) was held as a General Fund reserve, £13,212 (2023: £6,695) was held as a designated Manse Maintenance Fund reserve, £400 (2023: £450) was held as a designated Benevolence Fund, £791,790 (2023: £455,465) was held in a Circuit Model Trust Fund and nil (2023: £ nil) was held in a Restricted Fund. Of this, £4,848 (2023: £4,634) was held in a Central Finance Board Managed Model Trust Fund. The amounts for 2022/23 include (on an accruals basis) the net proceeds of £446,331 for the sale of the Selcroft Road manse for which contracts of sale had been exchanged in 2022/23 (with completion in September 2023). The amounts for 2023/24 include the net proceeds of £436,460 from the sale of the Hurst Green Methodist Church. The Circuit Model Trust Fund derives its income from sales of chapels and manses, and the application of the fund is restricted by the Methodist Conference. However, this restriction is an internal regulation, and the fund can be used for a variety of purposes, subject to approval from the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes. In the year ended 31 August 2024, a transfer of £126,000 was made from the Circuit Model Trust Fund (2023: £nil) in accordance with a resolution of the Circuit Trustees in March 2024. The amount approved comprised £14,000 to cover the projected General Fund deficit for 2023/24, £72,000 to ensure that the revised reserves policy would be met at 31[st] August 2024 and £40,000 to fund ad hoc funding requests from Circuit Churches. An amount of £5,000 (plus interest) was received from the Methodist Pensions Reserve Fund, being a refund of the contribution made by the Circuit to that fund in 2021/22. ## **Statement of the Circuit’s Policy on Reserves** The Circuit holds reserves in order to secure the viability of its future mission. The Reserves Policy takes into account the Circuit’s mission policy, and likely levels of future income and 6 expenditure, based on planned activity. The Reserves Policy is reviewed annually by the Circuit Meeting. The Reserves Policy of the Purley Circuit was revised at the Circuit Meeting in March 2024 to ensure that at the end of each financial year the General Fund should cover six months projected expenditure from that fund, excluding expenditure on manses, and in addition a Manse Maintenance Fund reserve to allow for the fluctuation in manse expenditure from year to year. The General Fund reserve was more than sufficient to meet the policy as at 31 August 2024 at 149% of six months realised expenditure. The Manse Maintenance Fund at the end of the financial year was £13,212 (on annual expenditure of £7,483). Expenditure in 2024/25 is expected to increase substantially as the Circuit carries out repairs to its Woodhatch Spinney manse as required by the Quinquennial Inspection carried out on that manse in April 2024. The Benevolence Fund is applied at the discretion of the Superintendent Minister and the Circuit Leadership Team and is designated for the relief of poverty and distress. A contribution of £50 was made in support of a fund-raising event organised by Sanderstead Methodist Church in support of the registered charity “Their Voice”. The Circuit presently has no Restricted Funds. ## **Details of any funds materially in deficit** As at 31 August 2024, no funds were in deficit. ## **Information on income and expenditure** In the year ended 31 August 2023, 79% (£124,609) of the Circuit’s income (other than capital receipts) was derived from assessments paid by each of the individual churches in the Circuit, and 13% (£21,105) was rental income from the letting of one manse. Total income was £157,329 (not including capital receipts and net income on the Circuit’s Model Trust Fund. (The corresponding figures for the year ending 31 August 2023 were 85% (£113,286) and 13% (£17,544) and £132,677 respectively.) As anticipated in the previous year’s accounts, the Circuit sold the Hurst Green Methodist Church to Tandridge District Council for £700,000. After the sale expenses of £12,569 and the payment of a Connexional Levy of £250,973 (37% of net proceeds) to the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes, the Circuit received a net amount of £436,460 into its Model Trust Funds. In the year ended 31 August 2024, Charitable Expenditure (excluding the cost of selling Selcroft Road) was £147,989 of which 54% (£96,001) of expenditure was on pay and related costs, 4% (£7,553) was on the maintenance of property, 7% (£11,772) was on other property costs, and 13% (£23,472) was the Circuit’s contribution to the District and Connexion to fund the work of the wider Methodist Church, including a levy on the Circuit Model Trust Fund. (The corresponding figures for 2023 were Charitable Expenditure of £147,756 of which 35% (£52,051) on pay and related costs, 17% (£25,806) on the maintenance of property, 9% (£14,048) on other property costs, and 18% (£26,021) contribution to the District and Connexion.) Grants totalling £21,340 were made to Coulsdon Methodist Church (£13,430) and Warlingham Methodist Church (£7,910) towards the replacement of their hall floors under the ad hoc funding request policy approved at the March 2024 Circuit Meeting. In 2023/24 the Circuit’s effective operating deficit was £21,237 (2022/23 £ 15,312) and an operating deficit is projected for 2024/25 also. The Circuit is expected to remain solvent for 7 2024/25 and 2025/26. It continues to be the case that the Circuit Trustees will need to agree a plan to eliminate the deficit in the longer term. A Deacon has been appointed to the Circuit, from 1[st] September 2025, and part of her role will be to assist the Circuit in working towards the renewal and rationalisation of the Circuit. ## **Investment policy and objectives** Through 2023/24 the Investment Policy of the Circuit has been, firstly, to maintain in aggregate cash balances at the Circuit’s current account with HSBC and at the Central Finance Board Deposit Account an amount sufficient to maintain the Reserve Policy. The Circuit’s investments in the Model Trust Funds have been maintained to meet unexpected costs. Property assets are held either to generate income to support the ongoing expenses of the Circuit (Bromford Close) or to provide manses for the Circuit’s ministers. ## **Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities** The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Purley Methodist Circuit and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Circuit and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **Trustee training** A range of guidance is produced by the Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the Circuit. In particular, the leaflet “The Role of a Trustee in The Methodist Church” is given to each trustee and trustees are asked to read the information provided online by The Methodist Church for Managing Trustees. ## **Risk Management** Major risks are considered by the Circuit Leadership Team with professional advice taken as required. A regular review process is carried out by the Leadership Team to ensure that the Charity is fulfilling its objectives. 8 ## **Safeguarding Statement of Safeguarding Principles** It is the Methodist Church’s intention to value every human being as part of God’s creation and the whole people of God. At the heart of the Methodist community is a deep sense of the place of welcome, hospitality and openness, which demonstrates the nature of God’s grace and love for all. Our church communities are called to be places where the transformational love of God is embodied and life in all its fullness is a gift, which is offered to all people. ## **Principles** 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. We are committed to: - the care and nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and adults - safeguarding and protecting all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable - establishing safe, caring communities, which provide a loving environment where there is informed vigilance as to the dangers of abuse. We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the church, in line with safer recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). We will respond without delay to every safeguarding concern, which suggests that a child, young person or adult may have been harmed, working in partnership with the police and social services in any investigation. We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care. We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust. Working with the Circuit Safeguarding Officer, we will support risk assessment of those who present a safeguarding risk within a church environment. We will ensure appropriate pastoral care is offered and measures are taken to address identified risks including referral to statutory agencies, suspension and the use of safeguarding contracts. In all these principles, we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice. The Purley Circuit commits itself to: 1. **RESPOND** without delay to any allegation or cause for concern that a child or vulnerable adult may have been harmed, whether in the Church or in another context. It commits itself to challenge the abuse of power of anyone in a position of trust. It commits itself to providing informed pastoral care to those in need, including the supervision of those who have committed criminal offences. 9 2. **IMPLEMENT** the Methodist Church Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Guidance, government legislation and guidance to achieve safe practice in the Circuit and in the churches. 3. The **PROVISION** of support, advice and training for lay and ordained people that will ensure people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults who may be vulnerable. 4. **AFFIRM** and give thanks for the work of those who are workers with children and vulnerable adults and acknowledge the shared responsibility of us all for safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults on our premises. ## **Reference and administrative details** Charity Name The Purley Circuit of the Methodist Church Registered Charity Number 1134261 Charity’s Principal Address Sanderstead Methodist Church, Limpsfield Road, Sanderstead, South Croydon, CR2 9EF Charity’s bankers HSBC UK Independent Examiner Mr R J E Bamford The Charity Trustees are the members of the Purley Circuit Meeting. This comprised during the year of this report: |**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates**
**acted if**
**not for**
**whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body)**
**entitled to appoint trustee (if**
**any)**| |---|---|---|---| |Revd. Graham Claydon
Knights *|Chair and
Superintendent
Minister||Methodist Conference| |Revd. Sang Wook Han*|||Methodist Conference| |Revd. Martin Knight *†|||Methodist Conference/Southern
Synod of the United Reformed
Church| |Revd. Stephen Mares|||Methodist Conference| |Revd. Ermal Kirby*|||Methodist Conference| |Revd. Nigel Cowgill|||Methodist Conference| |Dr. Robert Baston *|Circuit Treasurer
and Circuit
Steward||Trustees of the Purley Circuit
Meeting| |Mr Brian Brooks|Secretary of
Local Preachers’
Meeting||Local Preachers’ Meeting| |Mrs Elaine Burrows|||Coulsdon Methodist Church
Council| 10 |Mrs Maureen Cebreiro|||Coulsdon Methodist Church
Council| |---|---|---|---| |Mrs Eleanor Day|Methodist Homes
for the Aged
Circuit Officer
Church
representative||Trustees of the Purley Circuit
Meeting
South Croydon United Church
Meeting| |Mrs Marjorie Dear|||Sanderstead Methodist Church
Council| |Mrs Christina Dench|||Warlingham Methodist Church
Council| |Mr Peter Gammie|||Warlingham Methodist Church
Council| |Mrs Jill Gradon|||Warlingham Methodist Church
Council| |Mrs Gwenda Hand|Hurst Green
Methodist
Church
representative||Trustees of the Purley Circuit
Meeting| |Mrs M Isted-Osborn|||South Croydon United Church
Meeting| |Mr Curtis Juman|Local Preacher
representative||Trustees of the Purley Circuit
Meeting| |Mrs Heather Juman|||Warlingham Methodist Church
Council| |Miss Doris Nicholls|||Caterham Methodist Church
Council| |Mr Enock Nyongesa|||Whitethorn Avenue Methodist
Church Council| |Mrs Pamela Osborne|||Coulsdon Methodist Church
Council| |Mr David Poore|||Caterham Methodist Church
Council| |Mrs Helen Rankin|Secretary of the
Circuit Meeting||Trustees of the Purley Circuit
Meeting| |Mrs Jeanne Revnell|Methodist
Women in Britain
Circuit
representative||Purley Circuit Methodist Women
in Britain Meeting| |Miss Susan Stevens|||Whitethorn Avenue Methodist
Church| |Mr Eddie Taylor|||Sanderstead Methodist Church
Council| |Mrs Ann Wagstaff *|Circuit Steward
Circuit
Safeguarding
Officer
Church
representative||Trustees of the Purley Circuit
Meeting
Trustees of the Purley Circuit
Meeting
South Croydon United Church
Meeting| |Mr A B Wallbank|||Sanderstead Methodist Church
Council| 11 |Mrs T E Wallbank *|Circuit Steward
Synod
Representative||Trustees of the Purley Circuit
Meeting
Trustees of the Purley Circuit
Meeting| |---|---|---|---| |Mrs Doreen Wright|||South Croydon United Church
Meeting| ## **Changes to Trustee appointments from 1 September 2024** |**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**||**Name of person (or body)**
**entitled to appoint trustee (if**
**any)**| |---|---|---|---| |Anne Downey|Church
representative||Whitethorn Avenue Church
Council| ||||| * = Member of the Circuit Leadership Team † = Until 30[th] April 2024 ## **Custodian trustees** The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes Manchester are custodian trustees holding title to property belonging to the Circuit. ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** No funds are held by the Circuit as custodian trustees on behalf of others. ## **Declarations** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees ## **Signature(s)** **Full name(s)** Revd. Graham Claydon-Knights Mrs Helen Rankin **Position** Chair Superintendent Minister Secretary **Date** 12 ## **Purley Circuit of the Methodist Church Circuit No. 35/40** ## **Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2024** |**Notes to the**
**accounts**
**Income**
Donations and legacies
13.1
Income from monetaryinvestments
Income from investmentproperties
Assessments on churches|**Notes to the**
**accounts**
**Income**
Donations and legacies
13.1
Income from monetaryinvestments
Income from investmentproperties
Assessments on churches|
**General Funds**
**(Unrestricted)**|**Circuit Model**
**Trust Funds**
**(Unrestricted)**|**Restricted**
**Funds**|**Total**
**2023-24**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||£
£
£
£|||| |Donations and legacies||1,000|-|-|**1,000**| |Income from monetaryinvestments||3,557|20,745|-|**24,302**| |Income from investmentproperties||-|-|-|**-**| |Assessments on churches||124,609|-|-|**124,609**| |Capital receipts||-|-|-|**-**| |Grants received|13.2, 13.3
7
12.3.1
12.5
12
12.3|-|-|-|**-**| |Rental income||21,105|-|-|**21,105**| |Other charitable income||7,058|5,000|-|**12,058**| |Transfer from Hurst Green accounts||-|-|-|**-**| |**Total income**||**157,329**|**25,745**|**-**|**183,074**| |**Expenditure**|||||| |Grants and donations||21,340|-|-|**21,340**| |Salaries and associated costs||96,001|-|-|**96,001**| |Ministers' expenses||3,428|-|-|**3,428**| |Insurance, utilities etc||11,772|-|-|**11,772**| |Propertymaintenance||7,553|-|-|**7,553**| |Connex'l assessment & model trust levy||23,246|228|-|**23,475**| |District assessment & connexional levy||3,318|250,973|-|**254,291**| |Depreciation||-|-|-|**-**| |Office expenses||1,505|-|-|**1,505**| |Other outgoings||10,177|12,567|-|**22,743**| |**Total charitable expenditure**||**178,338**|**263,768**|**-**|**442,107**| |Gains/(losses)on monetaryinvestments||-|348||**348**| |Gains/(losses)on investmentproperties||-|-||**-**| |**Net income/(expenditure)**||**(21,009)**|**(237,675)**|**-**|**(258,684)**| |Transfers between funds||(574,000)|574,000||**-**| |Othergains/(losses)|||||**-**| |**Net movement in funds**||**(595,009)**|**336,325**|**-**|**(258,684)**| |Total funds brought forward||1,971,513|455,465|-|**2,426,978**| |**Total funds carried forward**||**1,376,503.98**|**791,790**|**-**|**2,168,294**| F-1 ## **Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2024** |**Notes to**
**the**
**accounts**
**Fixed Assets**
Circuit manses & equipment
12.1, 12.2
Investmentproperties
12.1
Investments
14
**Total fixed assets**
**Current Assets**
Debtors andprepayments
8
Loans bythe Circuit
Investments with TMCP
14
Central Finance Board deposits
Other deposits
Cash at bank and in hand
**Total current assets**
**Current liabilities**
Creditors(due in under oneyear)
9
Grantspayable within oneyear
**Total current liabilities**
**Net current assets/liabilities**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Long term liabilities (due**
**after more than oneyear)**
Grantspayable after oneyear
Other long-term liabilities
**Total long-term liabilities**
**Net assets**
**Funds of the Circuit**
General Funds(Unrestricted)
Circuit Model Trust Funds(Unrestricted)
**Total Unrestricted Funds**
Restricted Funds
**Total Funds**|**General Funds**
**(Unrestricted)**|**Circuit Model**
**Trust Funds**
**(Unrestricted)**|**Restricted**
**Funds**|**Totals at**
**31 August**
**2024]**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||£|£|£|£| ||1,230,000|||**1,230,000**| ||0|||**0**| |||4,848||**4,848**| ||**1,230,000**|**4,848**|**0**|**1,234,848**| |||||| ||16,910|||**16,910**| |||||**0**| |||786,942||**786,942**| ||127,971|||**127,971**| |||||**0**| ||14,418|||**14,418**| ||**159,299**|**786,942**|**0**|**946,241**| |||||| ||12,795|||**12,795**| |||||**0**| ||**12,795**|**0**|**0**|**12,795**| |||||| ||**146,504**|**786,942**|**0**|**933,446**| |||||| ||**1,376,504**|**791,790**|**0**|**2,168,294**| |||||| |||||**0**| |||||**0**| ||**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**| |||||**0**| ||**1,376,504**|**791,790**|**0**|**2,168,294**| |||||| |General Funds(Unrestricted)|1,376,504|||**1,376,504**| |Circuit Model Trust Funds(Unrestricted)||791,790||**791,790**| |**Total Unrestricted Funds**||||**2,168,294**| |Restricted Funds|||0|**0**| |**Total Funds**|**1,376,503.84**|**791,790**|**0**|**2,168,294**| Signed by Dr R J Baston Circuit Treasurer Date Rev[d] Graham Claydon-Knights Chair of Circuit Meeting Date F-2 ## **Notes to the Accounts** ## **1 Basis of accounting** The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Charities Act 2011. ## **2 Funds** The funds held constitute: a General Expenditure Fund held for any purpose of the Circuit and a number of Designated Funds held for specific purposes determined by the Circuit, all of which are Unrestricted; the Circuit Model Trust Fund which has wide purposes defined in Standing Orders and is categorised as Unrestricted. The Circuit has no Endowment Funds and no Restricted Funds (held for narrower purposes). Details of each material fund are disclosed in the final note to these accounts. Any funds may be represented by more than just cash. ## **3 Accounting policies** ## **Basis** These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost except that investments are shown at their market 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. ## **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 the payment. ## **VAT** Since the Circuit is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers. ## **Tangible fixed assets for use by the Circuit** Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £1,000. The freehold property is shown in the accounts at 2015 deemed values. No depreciation is provided on the buildings because the trustees consider the current residual fair value of the manse buildings (on the assumption that it had reached the end of its useful economic life by the year-end) to be not less than its current value. Any depreciation would not be material. The properties are reviewed quinquennially and appropriate repairs effected so no impairments are recognised. ## **Investment properties** Hurst Green Methodist Church which was held for sale as an investment property as at the end of the last financial year has been sold to Tandridge District Council. Contracts for the sale of the Selcroft Road manse were exchanged in August 2023 (and the sale accounted for in the last financial year); completion occurred as expected in September 2023. ## **Investments** Investments are valued in the balance sheet at market value at the year end. Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable and any gains or losses on revaluation at the year-end are shown in the SOFA. ## **Debtors and prepayments** Debtors and prepayments include the payment of the September stipend in August and other sundry debtors and prepayments. ## **Creditors** Creditors include assessments received in August for the following month, rental income received in advance and sundry accrued expenses. F-3 ## **4 Comparative figures for the previous year** ## **4.1 Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 August 2023** |**Notes to**
**the**
**accounts**
**Income**
Donations and legacies
Income from monetaryinvestments
Income from investmentproperties
Assessments on churches
Capital receipts
Grants received
Rental income
Other charitable income
Transfer from Hurst Green accounts
**Total income**
**Expenditure**
Grants and donations
Salaries and associated costs
7
Ministers' expenses
Insurance,utilities etc
Propertymaintenance
Connex'l assessment & model trust levy
District assessment & connectional levy
12
Depreciation
Office expenses
Other outgoings
12
**Total charitable expenditure**
Gains/(losses)on monetaryinvestments
Gains/(losses)on investmentproperties
12
**Net income/(expenditure)**
Transfers between funds
12
Othergains/(losses)
**Net movement in funds**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**General Funds**
**(Unrestricted)**|**Circuit Model**
**Trust Funds**
**(Unrestricted)**|**Restricted**
**Funds**|**Total**
**2022-23**| |---|---|---|---|---| |Donations and legacies|-|-|-|**-**| |Income from monetaryinvestments|1,865|255|-|**2,119**| |Income from investmentproperties|-|-|-|**-**| |Assessments on churches|113,268|-|-|**113,268**| |Capital receipts|-|-|-|**-**| |Grants received|-|-|-|**-**| |Rental income|17,544|-|-|**17,544**| |Other charitable income|-|-|-|**-**| |Transfer from Hurst Green accounts|-|-|-|**-**| |**Total income**|**132,677**|**255**|**-**|**132,931**| |**Expenditure**||||| |Grants and donations|-|-|-|**-**| |Salaries and associated costs|52,051|-|-|**52,051**| |Ministers' expenses|2,880|-|-|**2,880**| |Insurance,utilities etc|14,048|-|-|**14,048**| |Propertymaintenance|25,806|-|-|**25,806**| |Connex'l assessment & model trust levy|22,567|233|-|**22,800**| |District assessment & connectional levy|3,221|257,554|-|**260,775**| |Depreciation|-|-|-|**-**| |Office expenses|2,169|-|-|**2,169**| |Other outgoings|25,015|16,115|-|**41,131**| |**Total charitable expenditure**|**147,756**|**273,902**|**-**|**421,658**| |Gains/(losses)on monetaryinvestments||(200)||**(200)**| |Gains/(losses)on investmentproperties|(30,000)|||**(30,000)**| |**Net income/(expenditure)**|**(45,079)**|**(273,847)**|**-**|**(318,926)**| |Transfers between funds|(720,000)|720,000||**-**| |Othergains/(losses)||||**-**| |**Net movement in funds**|**(765,079)**|**446,153**|**-**|**(318,926)**| |Total funds brought forward|2,736,592|9,312|-|**2,745,904**| |**Total funds carried forward**|**1,971,513**|**455,465**|**-**|**2,426,978**| F-4 ## **4.2 Balance sheet as at 31 August 2023** |**Notes to**
**the**
**accounts**
**Fixed Assets**
Circuit manses & equipment
12
Investmentproperties
12
Investments
13
**Total fixed assets**
**Current Assets**
Debtors andprepayments
8
Loans bythe Circuit
Investments with TMCP
13
Central Finance Board deposits
Other deposits
Cash at bank and in hand
**Total current assets**
**Current liabilities**
Creditors(due in under oneyear)
9
Grantspayable within oneyear
**Total current liabilities**
**Net current assets/liabilities**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Long term liabilities (due**
**after more than oneyear)**
Grantspayable after oneyear
Other long-term liabilities
**Total long-term liabilities**
**Net assets**
**Funds of the Circuit**
General Funds(Unrestricted)
Circuit Model Trust Funds(Unrestricted)
**Total Unrestricted Funds**
Restricted Funds
**Total Funds**|
**General**
**Funds**
**(Unrestricted)**|**Circuit Model**
**Trust Funds**
**(Unrestricted**|**Restricted**
**Funds**|**Totals at**
**31 August**
**2023**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||**1,971,513**|**455,465**|**0**|**2,426,978**| |||||| |General Funds(Unrestricted)|1,971,513|455,465
0||**1,971,513**| |Circuit Model Trust Funds(Unrestricted)||455,465||**455,465**| |**Total Unrestricted Funds**||||**2,426,978**| |Restricted Funds|||0|**0**| |**Total Funds**|**1,971,513**|**455,465**|**0**|**2,426,978**| F-5 ## **5 Payments to trustees** |**ments to trustees**||| |---|---|---| |Payments made to trustees for additional services provided to the
Circuit by agreement with the Circuit Meeting
£
Number of trustees who were paid expenses
Total amount of expenses paid to trustees
£|2023/24
0
2023/24
7
5,908|2022/23| |||0| |||2022/23| ||7|5| ||5,908|21,202| Expense payments primarily relate to reimbursement for travel and other costs. In 2022/23, the Treasurer was reimbursed £20,507 against his personal direct payment of expenses incurred by the Circuit. The Independent Examiner has verified that each payment so made was duly authorised by two of the Circuit’s bank account signatories and appropriate records thereof are held by the Circuit. The Treasurer was reimbursed £1,741.62 in 2023/24 for expenses in the normal course of his duties, with very limited exceptions (where tradesmen will not accept cheques or urgent prepayment in advance of services was required). ## **6 Fees for examination or audit of the accounts** |Independent examiner’s or auditors' fees for reporting on the
accounts
£
Other fees (e.g.: advice, accountancy services) paid to the
independent examiner or auditor
£
**7 Paid employees**
**Staff Costs paid during the year were:**
Gross wages, salaries and benefits in kind
£
Employer’s National Insurance costs
£
Pension costs
£
Apprenticeship levy
£
**Total staff costs1**
**£**
Average number of full-time equivalent employees in the year2:
**8 Analysis of debtors and prepayments**
Stipends and associated costs paid in advance
£
Other debtors and prepayments3
£
**Total debtors and prepayments**
**£**|2023/24
0
0
2023/24
73,792
6,217
15,625
368
**96,001 **
2.35
2024
7,549
9,361
**16,910**|2022/23| |---|---|---| |||0| |||0| |||2022/23| |||41,908| |||2,689| |||7,244| |||211| |||**52,051**| |||| |||1.25| |||2023| ||7,549|6,901| ||9,361|300| ||**16,910**|**7,201**| > 1 Up to rounding. > 2 Full time: Rev. Graham Claydon-Knights and Sang Wook Han; part time: Rev. Ermal Kirby for one quarter (at 25%) & Linda Lucking (Administrator) (at 25%). > 3 For 2024 the full amount relates to a deposit paid in advance of the installation of new windows at a manse F-6 ## **9 Analysis of creditors (due in under one year)** |**alysis of creditors (due in under one year)**||| |---|---|---| |Assessments received in advance
£
Rental payments received in advance
£
Accrued costs4
£
**Total creditors (due in under one year)**
**£**|2024
11,422
1,373
0
**12,795**|2023| ||11,422|9,439| ||1,373|1,050| ||0|292| ||**12,795**|**10,781**| ## **10 Loans** The Circuit currently has no loans. ## **11 Capital Commitments and Contingent Liabilities** At 31 August 2024 there were no capital commitments (2023: nil). No contingent liabilities were identified at 31 August 2024(2023: nil). ## **12 Tangible Fixed Assets** ## **12.1 Disposition of Circuit’s Properties** The following table displays the disposition of the Circuit’s properties over the course of the financial year, recording the effect of the disposal Hurst Green Methodist Church during the course of the year. ||Land
£|Manses
£|Other buildings
£|Fixtures,
fittings and
equipment
£|Payments on
account and
assets under
construction
£|Total
£| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Balance brought forward||1,230,000|700,000|||1,930,000| |Additions||||||| |Revaluations(+/-)||||||| |Disposals(-)||0|(700,000)|||| |Transfers *(+/-)||||||| |Balance carried forward||1,230,000|0|||1,930,000| |Accumulated depreciation||||||| |Balance brought forward||0||||0| |Depreciation charge for year
(-)||||||| |Revaluations(+/-)||||||| |Disposals(-)||||||| |Transfers*(+/-)||||||| |Balance carried forward||0||||0| |Net book value||||||| |Brought forward||1,230,000|700,000|||1,930,000| |Carried forward||1,230,000|0|||1,230,000| > 4 Relates only to accrued costs due to the URC in respect of Martin Knight, until his resignation in 2024. F-7 ## **12.2 Manse valuations** Until considered for sale, the manses have been held at their historic book value (as at 31[st] August 2015) as follows: |**Property**|**£**| |---|---| |27, Woodhatch Spinney|360,000| |11, Cranleigh Gardens|410,000| |1, Bromford Close|460,000| |**Total**|**1,230,000**| ## **12.3 Transfers between funds** ## **12.3.1 Sale of Hurst Green Methodist Church** As anticipated in last year’s accounts, the Circuit sold Hurst Green Methodist Church to Tandridge District Council at the anticipated gross price of £700,000 and accordingly the property has been derecognised from this year’s accounts. This is represented as a transfer out of General Funds (sale of the property) to the Circuit’s Model Trust Fund (receipt of the gross proceeds). The Connexional Levy on the sale of Hurst Green was £250,973 paid directly from the Circuit’s Model Trust Fund. ## **12.3.1 Transfer from Model Trust Fund to General Fund** At its meeting on 14[th] March 2024, the Circuit resolved to transfer £126,000 from the Circuit’s Model Trust Fund to its General Fund comprising (a) £14,000 to cover the projected deficit for 2023/24; (b) £72,000 to ensure that the General Fund met the Circuit’s revised reserves policy (agreed at the same meeting); and (c) to establish an amount of £40,000 to enable the circuit to cover ad hoc funding requests from individual Churches ## **12.4 Gain/(loss) on investment properties.** There was no gain nor loss in the financial year 2023/24. F-8 ## **12.5 Other Outgoings** In addition to the disposal charges arising from the sale of Hurst Green Methodist Church, of £12,567, other expenses were incurred as follows: ||£| |---|---| |Payments to the United Reformed Church|7,625| |PreachingFees|900| |Miscellaneous Costs (purchase of local arrangement service aids,
connexional publications and an updated appraisal of the sale price of
Selcroft Road)|1,601| |Benevolent Fund disbursement|50| |**Total5**|**10,177**| ## **13 Other Income** ## **13.1 Donations and Legacies** An unrestricted legacy of £1,000 was received by the Circuit from the estate of a member of Hurst Green Methodist Church (in its capacity as the successor to the Church) ## **13.2 Other Charitable Income** Other income of £7,058, comprising the recovery of expenses incurred in prior years in relation to the sale of Hurst Green Methodist Church, was received from the sale proceeds of the Church. ## **13.3 Refund from the Pension Reserve Fund** The Circuit contributed £5,000 to the Methodist Pension Reserve Fund following Conference’s 2021 appeal for contributions towards reversing the Pension Scheme’s funding deficit (following its Triennial Valuation in 2020). The 2023 Triennial Valuation showed the Fund to be in surplus and the 2024 Conference resolved to return such contributions to the Circuits (with accrued interest). ## **14 Investment assets** The funds that support the Circuit Model Trust Fund are held by TMCP, mainly in the Trustees Interest Fund, on which interest is credited each month, with a smaller amount held in CFB Managed Mixed Fund units, as analysed below. These are regarded as medium- and long-term investments. TMCP is the legal owner and Custodian Trustee of all Methodist Model Trust property, including Legacies, Endowments and Accumulated Funds. Trust property is held for and on behalf of local Managing Trustees who are responsible for the day-to-day management of trust property. TMCP ensure that, through providing > 5 Numbers may not add up due to rounding F-9 guidance and acting under their direction, the Managing Trustees comply with charity law and Methodist law and polity as determined by the Methodist Conference. |**Analysis of investments**
Investments listed on a recognised Stock Exchange
£
Investments held in common investment funds6
£
Securities not listed on a recognised Stock Exchange
£
Trustees Interest Fund (see note below)7
£
**Total investments**
**£**
**Change in common investment fund valuations**
Carrying (market) value at start of year
£
Plus: additions to investments at cost
£
Less: disposals at carrying value
£
Net gain/(loss) on revaluation
£
**Carrying (market) value at end of year**
**£**|2024
4,848
786,942
**791,790**
2023/24
4,500
348
**4,848**|2023| |---|---|---| |||| |||4,500| |||| |||450,965| |||**455,465**| |||2022/23| ||4,500|4,700| |||| |||| ||348|(200)| ||**4,848**|**4,500**| The Circuit Trustees Interest Fund increased by an amount of £436,460 in July 2024 that being the proceeds to the Circuit of the sale of the Hurst Green Methodist Church net of (a) sale expenses of £12,567 and (b) a transfer to the Connexional Fund (CPF) of £250,973 as required under the Standing Orders of the Methodist Church. ## **16 Summary of fund movements for the year ended 31 August 2024** |**Fund Name**|**Opening**
**Balance**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**Transfers**|
**Gains/**
**(losses)**|**Closing**
**Balance**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||£|£|£|£|£|£| |**Unrestricted Funds**||||||| |General Expenditure Fund|34,368|157,329|163,465|104,660||132,892| |Manse Maintenance Fund|6,695|
-|7,483|14,000||13,212| |Benevolence Fund|450|
-|50|
-||400| |Circuit Model Trust Fund|455,465|462,231|254|(126,000)|348|791,790| |**Total Unrestricted Funds**
**(excluding land and buildings)**|**496,978**|**619,561**|**171,253**|**(7,340) **|**348**|**938,294**| |||||||| |**Restricted Funds**||||||| |Covid-19 Grants for Circuit Fund||||||0| |**Total Restricted Funds**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**| There were no endowment funds and no restricted funds in the year ending 31 August 2024. > 6 Recognised as an Investment under Fixed Assets > 7 Recognised as an Investment with TMCP under Current Assets F-10 The Manse Maintenance Fund is designated by the Circuit for repairs to and maintenance of manses. The Benevolence Fund is designated by the Circuit for financial support for those in poverty or distress. At its meeting on 14th March 2024, the Circuit passed a Resolution to transfer £126,000 from the Circuit’s Model Trust Fund to its General Fund comprising - a) £14,000 to cover the projected deficit for 2023/24; - b) £72,000 to ensure that the General Fund met the Circuit’s revised reserves policy (agreed at the same meeting); and - c) £40,000 to constitute general funds to enable the circuit to cover ad hoc funding requests from individual Churches to be made in accordance with a Circuit Grants Policy also resolved at that meeting. The following transfers were made between the funds or to the Circuit Churches during the year: - a transfer of £14,000 from the General Expenditure Fund to the Manse Maintenance Fund for repairs and maintenance (accounted for as an expenditure by the General Fund); - a transfer of £126,00 from the Circuit Model Trust Fund to the General Expenditure Fund in accordance with the Resolution; and - grants to two Churches for building maintenance (under the Circuit Grants Policy) of £21,340. The net proceeds to the Circuit from the sale of Hurst Green Church are accounted for in the above table as Circuit Model Trust Fund income. ## **14.2 Comparative figures for the year ended 31 August 2023** |**Fund Name**|**Opening**
**Balance**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**Transfers**|
**Gains/**
**(losses)**|**Closing**
**Balance**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||£|£|£|£|£|£| |**Unrestricted Funds**||||||| |General Expenditure Fund|42,668|132,677|126,976|(14,000)||34,368| |Manse Maintenance Fund|13,474||20,780|14,000||6,695| |Benevolence Fund|450|||||450| |Circuit Model Trust Fund|9,312|446,612|259|
-|(200)|455,465| |**Total Unrestricted Funds**
**(excluding land and buildings)**|**65,904**|**579,289**|**148,015**|
**-**|**(200) **|**496,978**| There were no endowment funds and no restricted funds in the year ending 31 August 2023. During the year £14,000 was transferred from the General Expenditure Fund to the Manse Maintenance Fund for repairs and maintenance. F-11 ## **Declarations and Scrutiny** I confirm that these accruals-based accounts for the year to 31 August 2024 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: Dr R J Baston 57 Westhall Road, Warlingham, CR6 9BG F-12 ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the Purley Circuit of the Methodist Church (No 35/40)** ## **Charity Number 1134261** ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Purley Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages F-1 to F-12. 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. ## **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 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; or - the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts - set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination - the trustees’ annual report is not consistent with the accounts _._ 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 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 R J E Bamford Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ICAEW Name of firm (where appropriate) N/a Address 9 Peter Avenue, Oxted RH8 9LG Date ……………………………………… F-13 ## **Presentation to the Circuit meeting** I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 were presented to the Circuit ## 26th March 2025 meeting held on: ………………………………………………………….. Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting: Rev[d] Graham Claydon-Knights Date 26th March 2025 F-14