2024-08-31-accounts - Rustington Methodist Church

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Rustington Methodist Church

Trustees Report for the year ending 31[st] August 2024

1.0 Aims and Purposes

Our mission is to affirm God’s presence, proclaim God’s love and demonstrate God’s action.

We aim to achieve this by developing worship, social outreach activities that currently exist, and by seeking new ways to extend the fellowship of the Church family.

We endorse the understanding of the Methodist Church in Great Britain that the church exists for:

Worship: to increase awareness of God’s presence and to celebrate God’s love.
Learning and Caring : to help people to learn and grow as Christians, through mutual support and care.
Service : to be a good neighbour to people in need and challenge injustice.
Evangelism : to make more followers of Jesus Christ.

2.0 Objectives and activities

In partnership with others wherever possible, Rustington Methodist Church will concentrate its prayers, resources, imagination and commitments on this priority: To proclaim and affirm its conviction of God’s love in Christ, for us and for all the world; and renew confidence in God’s presence and action in the world and in the Church.

In setting our objectives and planning our activities the Church Council meets at least four times a year under the leadership of the presbyter in pastoral charge. The work of the Church Council is delegated to a variety of teams and working parties including the Church Stewards, Resources (Property and Finance) Committee, Pastoral Committee and Safeguarding .

3.0 Achievements and performance

The Church funds and grants made to other bodies are all detailed in the Church accounts.

In the course of the year Rustington Methodist Church has provided regular acts of public worship on Sundays and other significant days of the Christian year, and joined with Rustington Churches Together to celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Lent and a walk of witness on Good Friday. It has joined with other churches in the West Sussex (Coast and Downs) Circuit to bid farewell to ministers, and to celebrate other Christian festivals. The Church makes its premises available to the wider community, and community groups meet on the premises on a weekly basis.

Worship services have been held at 9.30 and 10.45. On most Sundays one of the services was live streamed/available as a recording online. The Church Preschool has continued to operate throughout.

The church has a system of Pastoral Care based on a team of volunteer Pastoral Visitors, and both formal and informal pastoral networks operate effectively.

The Link magazine has been published at intervals throughout the year.

3.1 Plans for future years

Rustington Methodist Church is part of the West Sussex (Coast and Downs) Circuit.

The Church Council -

Encourages initiatives for mission in the community

Supports Churches Together in Rustington

Ensures that all those required to do so attend appropriate safeguarding and EDI training.

4.0 Financial Review

Please see the accompanying accounts.

There were no significant events.

The Managing Trustees have every reason to believe that the Church is a going concern. Trustees do not foresee any factors that will significantly affect the financial performance or position in the next year or two.

The church holds no freehold property.

The church’s principal sources of funds are from the free-will gifts of the members of the congregation, lettings and donations from groups and from fund-raising events.

4.1 Investment policy and performance

To comply with Methodist Standing Orders, monies for long-term investment are lodged with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP). These sums are invested in unitised investments or held on deposit. The investment returns are close to tracking the movements on the FTSE100 index. The deposit mirrors the deposit rates available elsewhere. The Managing Trustees’ investment policy is aligned with that of the CFB and TMCP because these organisations take into consideration the social, environmental and ethical considerations, both negatively and positively, that make investments suitable for the Methodist Church.

Short term deposits are lodged directly with the Central Finance Board (CFB) and attract the normal current rate of interest.

4.2 Reserves Level and policy

Please see the accompanying Reserves level and policy agreed by the Church Council.

5.0 Trustees’ Responsibilities

For each financial year ending on 31st August the Managing Trustees are required to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the Church’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements the Managing Trustees must:

Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently

Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

Follow applicable accounting standards

Prepare accounts to Charity Commission standards using The Methodist Church Standard Form of Accounts

The Managing Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the church and enables them to ensure that financial statements comply with the law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Church and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

5.1 Risk

The Church is largely risk averse.

6.0 Structure, governance and management

The Church is governed by the Methodist Church Act 1976, the Deed of Union and the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church.

6.1 Structure

Rustington Methodist Church is part of the West Sussex (Coast and Downs) Circuit. As such it is represented on the Circuit Meeting which meets four times a year. The Methodist Conference meets once each year as the supreme denominational body for all Methodist Churches.

Overall regulatory authority rests with the Methodist Conference.
The Connexional Office implements decisions made by the Conference and is responsible for the stationing of presbyters and deacons (collectively known as ministers) in individual Circuits within the District.
Connexional decisions are passed to the Chair of the District and the appropriate officers of the District for implementation.
The District passes these down to the Circuit Meeting for implementation by the Superintendent Minister, ministerial staff and Circuit Stewards, and authority is delegated to Circuit Meeting for certain matters.
The Circuit Meeting passes regulatory control down to Church Councils for local implementation by the presbyter, the Church Stewards, and other officers, and this regulatory control is then exercised by the Church Councils as Managing Trustees of their charity.
6.2 Purpose of the Church

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 the discipline of the Methodist Church, and b) Any charitable purposes for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church, and, c) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society, or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church, and d) Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a subsidiary or ancillary of the Methodist Church.

The primary purpose of Rustington Methodist Church is to advance the Christian faith by providing opportunities for worship, Christian nurture and fellowship within the wider Rustington Community.

6.3 Governance

The Church operates within a statutory framework of regulation and seeks to ensure that it follows Methodist Standing Orders. It relies on the Connexional Office at 25 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SF to provide guidance on changes that could affect the Church.

The members of the Church Council are appointed under the terms of S.O. 610(2). The Superintendent is ex officio chair of the Church Council but may delegate this task to other presbyters in the Circuit. The Church Council normally meets four times per year and deals with routine and exceptional matters. It oversees the work of other groups within the life of the Church.

6.4 Responsibilities of the Church Council

The responsibilities of the Church Council and other committees are set out in Standing Orders 603 – 604 of the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church.

7.0 Reference and Administrative Details

7.1 Name of the Church: Rustington Methodist Church
7.2 Charity Registration number: Our charity registration number is 1134885
7.3 Superintendent Minister The Revd Rosemarie E G Clarke

Presbyter in Pastoral Charge The Revd Rosemarie E G Clarke

7.4 Names of Managing Trustees (in y/e 31/8/24)

Mrs Brigette Alexander Mrs Dorothy Benison Mrs Sue Bingham Revd D Carn (from 13/9/23) Mr Philip Carr (from 27/11/23) Mrs Marian Clacher Mrs Christine Clarke. Revd Rosemarie E G Clarke Miss Hilary Colbourn (from 13/3/24) Mrs Sue Cooper Revd Steven Donnison (from 1/9/24) Mr Colin Fraser Mrs Mary Lax Mr Ken Marshall

Revd Frank Okai-Sam (resigned 31/8/24) Dr Rebecca Richards Mr Simon Richards Mrs Joan Salmon Mrs Karen Scrivens

Mr Robert Slatter Mrs Elizabeth Slatter Mrs Verena Thrift Mrs Paula Trahern Mrs Ann Waters

7 . 5 Independent Examiner Mr Steven R Trigg ACMA, CGMA of Trigg Accountancy

February 2025

CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Rustington Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 West Sussex (Coast & Downs) Circuit Circuit no. 3618 Registered Charity - Charity Registration number 11348885 If not a registered charity His Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisatlon's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) Minister: Rev Rosem8ri8 Elaine Ga e Clarke Church Stewards.. Mrs Elizabeth Slatter Mrs Susan Bingham Mrs Christine Clarke Mrs Susan Cooper Mrs VLrcna Thrift MT Pilllip Carr Treasurer., Mr Robcrt Slatter SQFA final signed 2023-24 lof5

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Rustington Church Unr¢stricted Restricted Totals th1$ Funds Funds year Totals last year SECTION A RECEIPTS Note Offerin s and Tax recovered Benk and CFB interest and Investment income 74,699 74.699 68,762 9,212 8,116 54,849 146,876 9,212 8,116 54.849 146,876 5,359 6,953 30,594 111,668 L8ttiri as Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS a6 (a7) SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 72,356 2,800 13,696 72,356 2,800 13,696 74.685 b3 Donations 2,650 b4 Re airs and Maintenance utilities (Insurances, water charges, heating & lighting 16,334 b5 9,037 9.037 8,855 b7 oth81 payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 31,632 129.521 31,632 129,521 30,721 133,245 b8 Ib9) SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR a64)8 17,355 17,35S 21,577 Total funds brought fOard from last year c2 188,429 188,429 c8 c3 Sub total c1+c2 205,784 205 784 c4 Transfers ancl ad. ustments c7 c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR {c3+c4) 205,784 205,784 (c8) (21,577) Ic6) SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY.. MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (these amounts are not to be included in total receiptslpayments figures above d1 Balance brou ht forward from la8t ear d2 Offerin sIGifts - received for exlernal or anisations 737 1,982 d3 OfferingslGifts - passed to extemal organisalions 737 1,982 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1*d2-d3) 2of5 8Ql.4 filial sigi¢d 2111.3-24

Ruslin ton Church SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTER S REPQRTIMQ RCHC UNCI SECTION E ease follow Guidance N te to corn ete this Summary oflhe ChurEh accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 and Intèrnal Oruanisatlons ropwting to the Church C¢uncltlChurch Mgoting. Nots ttialthe fvnds Df an llliernal Organisetton YUlj nDmally be Restticted funds unless it could be cleady shown that they could be used lor any Methodist purpo39. This seGtion must be ¢ompl?tsd b arrive at the gros5 Iome 8rt4 expendiknre tota15 of the Church. If gros5 iome exceeds the Accruals threshald, then theAGrruals ntsthod of aecountyng AND A ThFFERENT FORM must b& used to ieportthe g¢counts (se¢ Methodist websit¢) Please rofor to th guidance n¢)tes reqordinq tran5fvfs been tho Distrlct and Connect Distri Orpanlsath"ons. INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Nel Recebpt Paymerrt5 Oponlng balanc4S Recei Pa ments Closln b•lan¢es Ra8¢al¥ Pr4¢htsol Orou 98,3 102.404 69,258 MDd Mum5 1,836 687 1.149 1,484 Ste StonÈ8 3,327 3.100 227 2.19S Z,422 ntorna 8ni5qtionsfvnd3 103518 1Cfj,191 ,fj73 72 937 •12 ¢hur¢h a¢¢ouni$ Ilotali broughl forward frorn pagè 2- total8 column) 146,676 147 IZg,621 Ibgl 17,35S Ic71 188,429 Ic81 205,784 e81 ¢1() BY ¢4UR¢ 260,$94 236,712 14,682 261,386 276,048 Condnu¢ ¢n a war8tè shèèt if n•cossary and bring tho tct81s forward TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL PAYMENTS SECTION F STA TEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OPENINO BALANCES CLOSING LAKES CHURCH-CASH FUNDS HELDa131 Au u¥t 2024 Ca9h in hand 110 110 B8nk Current Accpltnt f.1 Bank De ositAcc)unt 4.782 f4 Centril FinAnC• Bo•rd 458 t5 TFu¥te¢s f?r Mgthodist Church Purposos 171,409 183.272 Othot fvnds 17 SV8 TOTAL- Church accountg 188,429 Ic61 205,784 (¢81 Total lund$ held by Inl•mal Orgoni981ions lthe closing balancg totsl from abovo) le121 72,937 e11 70,284 TOT AL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 261.366 278,048 SECTION G At 1 s•Ptb•r 2023 31 August 2024 OTHER ASSETS End LIABILITIES Inwskn•nts Includo EndowThgnts Land & Buildlngs15ee note5 Te Insurance 29613 30D2 167 erA8s&1$ Loan - Show amount (yjtslandln ai erKI other Liabililie5 14 Inolud9 tsnty Fundg ld atthe Central FIare Boord 15 Imludè only Funds hold at Tiusto¢s for Moth}51 Church Purwses q1 Includ? any gthgr inv85trnents thot the Gash tlernent of TMCP trusts a¢¢ounts th1* is in¢luded in line f5 SOFA £aal W20fjJ-24 3of5

Name of Church . RUSTINGTON METHODIST CHURCH 3618 Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2024 have been prepared from ihe records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees. Slgnature of treasurer . Name and address of li asurer ....... Mr Robert H Slatter 14 Jervis Avenue , Rustington Littlehampton Sussex BN16 2AU prèsentatlon to the Church Irustees I confimi that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 werel*iIk. presented to the meeting of the Church Irust88S hald on ..464k Ato.YefnEw 2Q21F Signature of the Chair of the meeting Sen1L£.G.cl0.rgL............................. Name of th& Chair of the meeting . Rev Rosemarie E G Clarke Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of the Rustington Methodist Charity Number . 11348885 Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Rustington Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages 1 to 5 As the Church's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of Ihe accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Church's aGCOUflts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Diiections given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. delete or circle as appropriate SOFA rtn81 sign8d 202>24 4of5

Name of Church ................ RUSTINGTON METHODIST CHURCH 3618 Independent Examinerfs Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below"} which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act. or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave not. obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and fLJnds 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 indèpendent examiner , MT Sleven R Trigg Relevant professional qualification of independent examin8r . ACMA, CGMA Name of firm (where appropriate) Trigg Accountancy Address . 75 Windroos Drive Littlehampton BN17 8FA Date 0611212024 delete or circle as appropriate Form Reijlved Aug-24 SOFA final signed 2023-24 5of5