1 # **Annual Report of the West Somerset Circuit (24/25)** _1[st] September 2020 – 31[st] August 2021_ ## **Reference and administrative details** - The West Somerset Circuit of the Methodist Church is a Registered Charity, No 1134273. - **Correspondence Addresses:** Circuit Office Alcombe Methodist Church Lower Meadow Road Alcombe TA24 6AN adm1n.mcws@gmail.com ## **Managing Trustees** Jean Armin Patrick Armin Philip Bartlett Andrew Branfield Jane Brookes Mollie Brooks Eileen Burley Rebecca Edwards Margaret Ellis Rodney Ettery Bridget Gliddon Paul Gliddon Peter Hamshere Tim Hedgecock Margaret Hill Constance Holmes Erica Holmes Rev Malcolm Hope Rev Nick Lakin Liz Lewis Lewis Lintern Margaret Lintern Ruth Mounfield Margaret Nevell Jeanette Perkins Sue Rose Joy Rownes Monica Sandy Jane Sefton Rev Jane Sperring Gill Tapp Valerie Ward Clive Wooldridge Lynne Wooldridge 2 ## **Churches and membership of the West Somerset Circuit** - Alcombe – 42 (including Bossington – 2 and Timberscombe – 4) - Brendon Hill – 9 - Minehead – 34 - Porlock – 18 - Watchet – 25 (including Roadwater – 3) - Williton – 13 _Acronyms used in this report are as follows:_ _**WSC** – West Somerset Circuit_ _**CLT** –Circuit Leadership Team_ _**CLPD** – Continuing Local Preacher Development_ _**LA** – Local Arrangement_ _**LP** – Local Preacher_ _**LWP** – Leaders of Worship and Preachers_ _**WL** – Worship Leader_ ## **Structure, governance and management** ## **Circuit Staf** _Presbyters_ Rev Nick Lakin Rev Tim Woods (Authorised to serve) _Administrator_ Jane Scott (Until Easter 2021) Kerry Rackham (From June 2021) _Lay pastoral and community worker_ Penny Williams Rose Woods (Until March 2021) _Children’s & Families Worker_ Rebecca Edwards ## **Circuit Stewards** Clive Wooldridge (Personnel) Clive Longhurst (Property) Lewis Lintern (Finance) Rev Jane Sperring Daphne West (Contact steward) ## **Leadership structure** ## **Circuit Meeting (Three meetings per year)** All presbyters All Supernumeraries All Circuit Lay Employees All Circuit Stewards All fully accredited Local Preachers All Circuit Officers For each church, as appointed by their Church Council: 1 Church Steward and the Church Treasurer, plus additional representatives: Alcombe 7 (including Bossington/2 and Timberscombe/2) Minehead 6 Watchet 5 (including Roadwater/2) Porlock 3 Williton 4 (including Washford/2) Brendon Hill 1 ## **CLT (Monthly)** All presbyters All Circuit Stewards All Circuit Lay Employees Circuit Meeting Secretary ## **Staf Meeting (Weekly)** All presbyters All Circuit Lay Pastoral Employees ## **Activities** ##  **The WSC Mission Statement** _‘We are committed to working together as a Circuit to enable personal growth and every church to be a place of welcome, love and acceptance in the name of Jesus Christ.’_ WSC is run according to the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church in Great Britain. (Registered Charity No. 1132208.) ## **WORSHIP** 1. WSC produces in each quarter a plan for the worship of the whole circuit. The plan is produced by the circuit superintendent, assisted by the circuit administrator _._ The circuit administrator is responsible for gathering plan dates from preachers and churches and for circulating the plan after it has been finalised. The circuit superintendent is responsible for planning all communion services and other ‘specials.’ 2. All preachers (and visiting preachers, if applicable) are asked how many services they wish to take on each plan. 3. The LPs meet four times a year.… a) In September - the Annual Rededication of LPs takes place at this meeting b) In November c) In March d) In June 4. All LP Meetings are chaired by the circuit superintendent. Other circuit officers include… a) Jean Armin as LP Secretary and Circuit Tutor b) Mentors are appointed for all LPs on note and on trial by the LP Meeting. 5. The Circuit seeks to encourage and foster links with ecumenical partners wherever possible. 6. Local church dedications (e.g. workers with children and young people, pastoral visitors etc) take place in each church at an appropriate time, decided by the respective Church Council. 7. On 23 March 2020, all circuit church buildings closed due to the national lockdown and remained closed for much of the 2020-2021 Connexional year. Worship was offered as a twice-weekly circuit zoom service at 10.30 am on Sunday mornings and at 7.30 pm on a Thursday evening. Weekly written devotions were circulated around the circuit electronically where possible, and in paper format if necessary. The church buildings at Minehead and Watchet opened for worship in December 2020, then closed again due the national lockdown that was called in January 2021. At Easter 2021, Minehead and Watchet Churches opened their buildings once again. At Pentecost 2021, Alcombe Church opened it’s building for worship. In July 2021, Brendon Hill, Williton and Porlock churches opened their buildings for worship. At the end of the Connexional Year, all church buildings were open for live worship, although a number of people in each church community decided not to attend live worship but preferred to continue watching our zoom worship or other online worship instead of returning to live worship whilst the threat of COVID remained. ## **PASTORAL CARE** The circuit superintendent minister has pastoral charge of all churches in the West Somerset Circuit. Pastoral care is carried out by the circuit Lay Pastoral and Community Worker assisted by the church pastoral group leaders. Circuit staff are kept informed of particular pastoral needs or requests by pastoral group leaders. Much of the pastoral support is undertaken by the pastoral group leaders in local churches. Meetings for the church pastoral group leaders takes place as and when required. The church pastoral committee meetings offer an opportunity for that church to identify its pastoral needs, offer training, share experiences and thereby to promote good practice. On 23 March 2020, all circuit church buildings closed due to the national lockdown and remained closed for the remainder of the Connexional year. Pastoral support was offered via phone calls during this period. ## **DISCIPLESHIP, NURTURE and LEARNING** Discipleship, Nurture and Learning in WSC covers a wide range of activities, which include… - a) A regular pattern of worship, prayer and bible study across the circuit, including rites of passage: baptisms, weddings and funerals - b) Annual Circuit Weekend Away - c) Circuit services - d) Circuit and church events for fellowship, fun and fundraising - e) Training for workers with children and young people - f) Messy Church, Summer ‘Holiday Club’, toddler groups and work with local schools - g) Safeguarding training, in person and on-line - h) Special worship occasions, including monthly ‘Alternative Worship’ - i) Courses which help people understand the Bible - j) Courses which help people relate their faith to current events and issues in our society. k) ‘Friendship Centre’ at Alcombe _As stated above, the church buildings were closed due to the COVID pandemic for most of this Connexional year. This meant that most of the above activities and events ceased to happen, or only happened very occasionally and in ‘reduced’ ways._ ## **EVANGELISM AND OUTREACH** WSC is committed to support, encourage and challenge the local churches in their life and mission. Evangelism and outreach is about having a presence in each neighbourhood as ambassadors for Christ; being salt and light in our communities. This involves making connections with the various groups who use our premises and moving outside the church buildings to make connections with the local community. The circuit also draws attention to other charitable agencies, such as Action for Children, MHA, All We Can etc. ## **PERSONNEL** This area of life within WSC is best considered using three distinct headings… ## 1. **Safeguarding** Rebecca Edwards is the Circuit Safeguarding Officer who liaises between District, Circuit and individual churches on matters relating to safeguarding, and keeps the Circuit Meeting and the individual church councils (via the church reps) up to date with any changes in legislation and procedures. Each church holds a copy of the current Methodist Safeguarding Policy document and is required to adopt a suitable policy regarding safeguarding which is reviewed annually. Each church appoints a person responsible for the implementation of the safeguarding regulations, and the individual church’s policy on safeguarding. WSC runs the Creating Safer Space Foundation Module as and when required so that all those who need to attend this training are able to do so. DBS checks are carried out for all those for whom they are required. ## 2. **Lay Employment** The Circuit Stewards oversee Lay Employment in WSC. They are responsible for ensuring that all matters relating to the employment of lay circuit staff and lay people employed by individual churches comply with current legislation. The District Lay Employment Secretary is informed of all proposed new employment and employee changes in WSC. ## 3. **Invitations/stationing** Margaret Lintern, as senior Circuit Steward, is responsible for organising and overseeing the invitation process, as and when required. The invitation committee is appointed by the Circuit Meeting annually in the spring and will usually include at least two Circuit Stewards. The invitation committee adheres to the current Connexional guidelines. ## **COMMUNICATIONS** The Circuit staff and LPs have a key role in communication as they travel around WSC. There is a Circuit magazine, ‘The Messenger’, published ten times per year. This magazine is a showcase for Circuit events. WSC produces a directory and a preacher’s handbook to disseminate information and to aid communication. WSC has developed its own website, www.westsomerset.2day.uk Chaz Hardiman is the webmaster. The Circuit Administrator has a key role in communicating with all the churches. Every circuit group and every church has a responsibility to aid communication and dissemination of information around the circuit. ## **PROPERTY** Patrick Armin is the Circuit Steward responsible for church properties and circuit manses, supported by Jane Scott as Circuit Property Coordinator. Jane keeps an overview of all property matters within the life of WSC. Church Property Stewards made regular visits to the circuit church buildings during the national lockdown to check security and respond to any maintenance issues that arose. ## **Achievements and performance** ##  **Main achievements of the year** The CLT produces a comprehensive Circuit Directory and Circuit Preacher’s Handbook, which are updated regularly. The Circuit Plan continues to be published quarterly. The CLT continues to oversee lay employment in the circuit. Jane Scott continued in her role of Circuit Administrator until Easter 2021. Kerry Rackham was appointed as the new Circuit Administrator in June 2021. The Lay Pastoral & Community Workers support the life of the circuit pastorally: Penny Williams and Rose Woods, who resigned her post in March 2021. Rebecca Edwards continues in her role as the circuit Children & Families Worker, although during the COVID pandemic, her work has changed significantly to more of a management role, as she assisted the churches in producing risk assessments and she completed the Connexional training for Line Managers. The circuit continues to support the district initiative ‘Christian Communities in Conversation’, led by Lynne Wooldridge. Most of these meetings took place on-line. ## **Aims and Objectives for SMC during the period 01 09 20 – 31 08 21** DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, OUR CHURCH BUILDINGS WHERE CLOSED FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR. HOWEVER, SOME PROGRESS WAS MADE TOWARDS FULFILLING THESE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. 1. To review the mission, purpose and structure of WSC 2. To review the circuit staff roles working as part of the WSC staff team 3. To continue to hold a regular study group for LPs and WLs throughout the year 4. To hold safeguarding training, including both foundation and advanced sessions on-line ## **Financial Review** _Audited accounts to be added here_ ## **Public benefit statement** The trustees of WSC have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the charity commission in exercising their responsibilities. This annual report has been approved by the West Somerset Circuit Meeting held on 17 03 22. Signed ……… _N P LAKIN_ …………………….. (Chair of the Circuit Meeting) ACCRUALS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS cl￿ FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Clr¢uft no 24r25 1134273 (The HMRC nunber i¥ equfvaent kn a ¢Xwity number In fAm6 of of ctrwllabte slatus and may be used to *J dcnorJ or grwrt fun*s *ishirvJ lo see evA*nce of ts organMiion'6 char#* rBglstratlon undw Sts￿ Ir*trumerrt 2014 No.242) Rev. N. Clrcuit Stewds: Mr ￿￿s LJn*m ned 24 June 21r21 Mr Patrtck Amiin ' r*d 24 June 2021 Amlln 24 ju￿ 2021 Mr& Péknka Mr Cfve hurst R*. Ja￿ S n12d 1 Feb Mrs hn¢ We tniEd 1 Febn Mr Cll¥e Wodd ' 29 June 2022 nted 29 ju￿ 21Y22 Statoment of FinanGlal &￿tlY1￿ (SOFA) for the year ￿ded 31 AugwJt 2021 Inc¢Mn• 127 14 374 211M1 211MI 11.4LK 11AOD 8 Totsl 21 IQT Expendltyrn 144rKI ¥1.1aO 10 Sglgrkns and 11794 15 121 11n 47•D 4) 24Tptalfmd5 lyoyhtf£thT 1.1133.557 7.1%1 1.099, CW No 24r Statwnent of Flnanclal Actlvltles (SOFA) for the yoar ended 31 August 2020 1 DDnaVnnsa￿ fBp 81.12D 01.124 6 Granlx 148BD 16,88D 101433 9 Grnnls or41 donaffjons $5D 12 ¢￿Tr￿￿n41 amessmnl & knNtknYJ7 14143 18 Other 746 12 11n.120 12 1J17 22 Qthorga1NID￿8) a191 28,191 24Totsl fvrtds brO*fty￿rf 1.IKMO53 1.070.450 West Sornerset Methothsl Cl1￿￿1 ClrcultNo 24125 Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2021 e•wThtFufAI tJ•BIBll Y¢)iakn 2D1W20 FuAd 2020r21 566.631 917.755 In¥eslm&it 2.237 2.261 910,QI• 1260 mintAss• LuansbythB Q 1.QZQ 123.$03 133.S gJ.EOO ¥8.D56 114.470 7,415 *inanr* C85hat h￿d bythvjotsiiov a7&16 8.056 115.847 237.179 1BD.861 CurrnfjtllAblW Creo*or4 Idutrin underi >**T) GrnMspAyaithi￿l￿lTr 2021-22 27.164 1.Q2D Z7,161 I37￿12 17KY2 7￿￿1 ioTrKterm Ilablfftles due aftermorethin one LoanslotheCr￿ 1.¢￿.198 228.272 7.U61 1.1n,384 1.099.950 dsolthB c￿ Fund IUnrt*DC uithfodel Trust ILknrns DwJlln*d Fund5lUntEthEtyyi 1,ow,890 1.059.898 22B.712 1,C33.556 59.340 228.Z12 1,￿B.170 7.051 1mZ.U7 7.QB1 FunoLK TatriFunds I.U5Y.898 228.272 7.061 I￿.231 1.095.958 SKJn rJn%Ot Tr8asur•r X Fund5 VAT TW￿er￿ed azets fry Welrythefjr￿I1 Total DDnatlon5 127 Le8aaes Tolal Trust Fund Manse fEntal Income arcultweekend IL400 Thist FuThl Proceeds on sale vf TNnbw5c¢Ynbe MC Proce￿5 on ￿le0f￿ll￿ton MC Tolal 96m4 115,847 Totsl Central HnarKe Fthrd TMCP 374 thear¢ult mee￿￿& Exptyise payments prfmority relmbursenwrttr tro¥*lJ stètknery TLtsI amowrtP3ld 570 570 570 GKthswaBE51 salariesarnl be￿ in koxl Ern￿￿e￿$ Natlonal Iwrarocos 3A81 37,749 1819 497D 6,757 47,325 YJ7.755 Is Fl 917,755 ThefthNlsttot SP¥￿￿￿￿01t￿tm￿￿Tt1tstFth7d andthe Marffj Fund a￿ hdd tyTMCP In T￿￿t¢eS1nterestFUnth￿ whlth Eumulated Funds Tr￿t prtyierty ts ￿ld*Or and (m tr￿lIf01&XaI who arn forthedayto d 1237 2361 I￿￿tr￿lrts held In comrnon In¥t5tsnerttf￿dS S￿￿rIllE5 not Ilsted on a recrylsed Stc£k Exha 1237 2261 Carrylrq{marketlvalueat beg1nn1￿ t*yeor Add:8ddltlonsto lTh¥E5ttr￿1t cost ie%5: dhp￿lS at¢arrythBvalue Iletoalnlll0551 ￿ ratyhJthn ma wéjueatendof 2261 2.250 12 1261 1237 Bank balan¢e hdd in Natwest eank balarKe held In CFB Bank balance held in TMCP Balance heid by the soliatÈ)rs 9556 93,6 133J03 I16￿67 7.415 114A70 353.526 179941 Tr•Je Crerfrtors Othercredttots Totsl Curnertilabllllles 1325 25A39 27.164 1,02 1.020 Attt* 3tstAw2021 the has no ca￿1 ulnmlln￿& No Contingent Ikbiltues were identified at 31st 202L West Somer5et Methodist Circult Charlty Number 11342n Respon¥ibili1108 and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examinats'on of the accounts of the West sC￿er5e1 Methc#Jisl Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2021 set out on pages 1 to 3. k the Circuiys trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wrth the requirements of the Charilies Act 2011 I'lhe Acfl. I report in res￿ of my examinotion of the Circu￿S accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in arrying out my examination, I have follry*ed all the applicable Directions gNen by the Charity Commission under $￿tion 145{5)Ibl of the Act. Independ•nt ExamIne￿5 Ststement Since the charitys gross income exceejjed £250.01)O ￿ur examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Ad. l ￿)nfim1 that l am qualffied to undertake the examination because l am a member of ICAEW, which 18 one of the listed todies. I have completed my examination. I conffirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examirbation which give me cause to believe that in. any material respec*. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act., or the &counts do not accord with the xcounting records. I have no eoncems and have come across no other matters in conneth.on vthh the examinalKJn lo which attention should be dI￿N in this repjrt in order to enab￿ a proper understsnding of the accounts lo be reached. I have not obtained independent verrficakn of all invesknents vlith the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Melhodisl Church which are indNidualty in excess of £10,000 Ilen thousand pjundsl at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiher. K H D Preston BSC. FCA TEP Relevant professional qualffication of independ&nt examiner. IG4EO1 Name of finn". AMhe￿t & Shapland Limited Addre5s'. 4 Imham Road, Mineheatj, Somerset P051 Code.. TA24 5DG Date.. 26 August 2022 West Somerset Methodist Circuit Charity Number 1134273 Rèspon8lbilitles and basis of report l ￿port to Ihe trustees on my examination of the accounts of the West s￿erset Methodist Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2021 set out on pages 1 10 3. As the Circuil's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2Ql 1 {'the ACYI I report in resFeCt of my exaTnination of the Circuit's accounts caffied out under section 145 of the Act and, in carysng OLrt my examination, I have followed 811 the applicable Direetions given by the Charity Commission under seetion 14515)(bl of the Act. Independent Examlnets Statement Since Ihfj charfvs gross income exceeded £250.000 your examiner must be s member of a body listed in seelion 145 of the Acl. I con)Irm that l am qualified to undert8ke the examination because l am a member of ICAEW, which Is one of the listed bodies. I have completed my examination. I confim that no rF*leiial matters have come lo my attention in connection with *he ex8rnination whlch give me cause to believe thèl in. any mateTI81 respect." the accounting re￿rdS were not kept In accordance wilh section 130 of the Act.. or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no coneems and h8ve come aerots no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attentioR should be drawn in Ihis report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. I have not obtained independent verification of all investments with the Tnjslees foT Methodist Church PuTposes or held in other Irusls, bank balances and fund8 at the Central Finance 808rd of the Methodist Church which are individually In ex¢ess of £10,000 Iten thous8nd pounds) al the balance sheet date_ Signature of independent examiner Name of independent ex8mirier: K H D Prestan BSC. FCA. TEP Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner". ICAEW Name of firm". Amherst & Shapland Limiled Addre88'. 4 Irnham R08d. Minehead. Somerset Post Code.. TA24 5DG Date.. 26 August 2022