The Poulton le Fylde Methodist Church Council (Council) had throughout the year ending 31[st] August 2022 the responsibility of working with its minister the Reverend Will Hunter in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, social and ecumenical.
Our aims in Poulton-le-Fylde Methodist Church are that, as a church we will learn of and proclaim the love of God through our worship and fellowship, nurturing his disciples and making new followers; and through our work, witness and giving serve God in His mission for those in our community and wider world.
Worship and prayer
The year commencing 1[st] Sep 2021 saw a return to normal worship post Covid. However it took time for many people to regain confidence in attending Church activities and it was not until Easter 2022 that a full return to “normal” was demonstrated. There was however a new “normal”. All Sunday 10.30am services were streamed onto our Facebook page, and positively received by members and non-members alike. The streamed services and the successful return to normal of the Church coffee shop (Coffee Plus) have both encouraged new people to join our Church. People often comment on the warmth of our welcome and this has undoubtedly been enhanced by the time we spend chatting together over tea and biscuits after every service.
Due to a decrease in the number of Circuit staff the Sunday evening and monthly Sunday 8am Communion services have not restarted after the pandemic, but a Thursday morning service has commenced once a month. We continued to be much indebted to the valuable contributions of our lay preachers and worship leaders.
Our Messy Church for families with young children meets on the fourth Saturday of the month followed by a family All Age Worship service the next day which involves a puppet show.
The church has an active prayer group which confidentially shares prayer requests with one another by email and meets twice a month. The Flower Ministry has restarted and is much appreciated.
Spiritual and recreational fellowship groups
Illumin8 our young people’s group (School Year 6 and above) visited “3Generate” , (the national children's and youth assembly of the Methodist Church) at the NEC in October and contributed in a large way to a super service in February in which they told us of their experiences.
The Bible Study group returned to meeting every 2 weeks. Pleasingly numbers have steadily grown. The number attending the monthly Tuesday afternoon Minister’s Class unfortunately did not recover to a viable number after Covid, so the group closed. An extra fortnightly Bible study group was initiated to replace this.
The CAMEO and FOCUS groups have started meeting again.
Pastoral Care in the Church
Each church member has a pastoral visitor to provide a listening ear and support in them in times of need. This activity continues to be a much appreciated valuable aspect of our Church life.
Our church in Our Community
Whilst following the pandemic if took some time for confidence to return to normal by the end of the year our buildings were busier than ever before. Three choirs now practice in our Sanctuary each week and community groups of all ages and backgrounds use our buildings from a Children’s Preschool group to a youth theatre group, to the Alzheimer’s Support group “Singing for the Brain” We seek to share our news through our Facebook page and hold a stall at the Christmas Market, though the event was curtailed this year to one day because of “wild weather.” Our coffee shop reopened at the end of the year, clearly it will take time to return to normal activity and profitability. Our celebrations for the Queen’s Jubilee were successful as an outreach into the community. An unintended sum of £150 was raised and donated to Action for Children.
The Wider Church
Illumin8 our young people’s group (School Yr 6 and above) visited “3Generate” , (the national children's and youth assembly of the Methodist Church) at the NEC in October and contributed in a large way to a super service in February in which they told us of their experiences.
Poulton Churches Together activities have restarted. We are part of “The North Fylde Circuit of the Methodist Church” along with another five churches. This brings its challenges but also provides opportunities for sharing and mutual support. We all share 3 minsters and a Children’s and Families Lay Worker.
Engagement with and support of mission in the wider world and local and national charities
We have had an enduring relationship for over 25 years with Maua Methodist Hospital, Kenya and our support continued. The Leprosy Mission, All We Can and the Methodist World Mission Fund were once again supported. Our Christmas Appeal for the Family Safeguarding service raised almost £500. Overall donations from the Church to various charities and good causes totalled £4,042
Safeguarding and GDPR
Full compliance with safeguarding training and certification was addressed throughout the period. Similarly adherence to GDPR regulations was maintained to keep all data secure, with particular reference to new data providers and data holders.
Looking forward
We continue to actively seek ways to evolve, and be relevant in our community whilst staying loyal to our fundamental calling.
Perhaps our biggest challenge is maintaining our children’s activities and the involvement of families in our church life.
Such was the response to our streaming of services that we are exploring developing our AV facilities to enhance the experience of those who are unable to join us in person and join us on-line live and throughout the week.
Since our weekly footfall is approximately 1000 people per week there are many opportunities share His good news. Through our website and Facebook page we have a means of communicating to the wider community. At the end of the year our biannual Church Council approved the formation of a Communications Group to look at and develop more effective means of communication both within the church and out into the wider community. Much remains to be done
Finance
Symbolically, the financial review again is last. The Financial Statements show a surplus of £32,550 for the year. A Gift Day was held during the year, which raised £17,717 so a large surplus was budgeted to counter balance the previous year’s deficit of £10,517. Our financial position consequently remains resilient.
The Church’s Finance and Property Committee is fully aware of the ongoing financial challenges and continues to actively manage the implementation of its rolling five year budget.
The Church complies with The Methodist Church capital reserves policy.
It is our policy to invest funds with the Trustees for Methodist Purposes (TMCP) and the Methodist Central Finance Board (CFB).
Signed on their behalf of the Church Council by Ron Rhodes (Senior Church Steward) and John Brooke (Church Treasurer)
Ron Rhodes
John Brooke
Dated
June 2023
RR110523
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The Methodist Chureh Poulton le Fylde Independent Examinerll Report to the members of Polllton 1¢ Fyld¢ Methodist Chureh Couneil I rep)rt on th¢ acwunts for th¢ year ended 31° August 2022 which are set out above. R¢$peetfve respoD8ibilitiu of th¢ eopneil members and examiner The ¢l)arity's COUDCII consider that audit is not required for this year (und¢r se¢tion 43(2) of the Charitics Act 1993 (th¢ Ad} and thal lnthpent examination is ned. It is my r¢5ponsibility to: examine the accounts (under section 43 of the Act). to follow the pmcedures latd down in the G¢nernJ Directions given by th¢ Clwity Commisston (under section 43(7) of the ACL and to state whether pHrticular m8U¢rs hav¢ c(xDe to my atttiOn. Basts ofiMdeptndeDI eumlner's report My examination w&5 Carri out in arAord with Gen1 Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting retords kept by the charity and a wmparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includ¢s rA)nsideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounL% and se¢kin8 ¢xplanations from you as Council members ¢on¢¢rning any such matters. Thc procedures undertaken do not provide all evidence that would k required in In audi( and consequently no opinion is given as to wh¢th¢r the accounts wesent a 'true and fair, vi¢w and th¢ T¢rt is limited to thosc matt¢rs set out below. Indep¢ndent exAmlneF# slteme•¢ In the course of my examination, no matter ho8 rAm)e to my attention: l. Whi¢h giv¢s m¢ reanable Cause to believe that any mat¢ri41 r¢spert th¢ rnquirements: To keep lting recordq in with 5e¢tion 41 of the Ac¢ and prepare accou compty with the acc4)untin8 ryuirements of the 1993 ACL have not ien nKL or 2. To whA¢ty in my opiniofy attention should be drawm in to ¢Dabl¢ a propcr understandin8 of the accounts to be [h. Yf ¢ Keith Bleazard Chartered Aecollntt 44 [l¢k Drlve Poulton Re Fylde 22 February 2023
The Methodist Church Poulton le Fylde
Independent Examiner’s Report to the members of Poulton le Fylde Methodist Church Council
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] August 2022 which are set out above.
Respective responsibilities of the council members and examiner
The charity’s council consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts (under section 43 of the Act),
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7) of the Act, and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as Council members concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
To keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and prepare accounts and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act; have not been met; or
- To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Keith Bleazard Chartered Accountant 44 Lowick Drive Poulton le Fylde 22 February 2023