Trustees' Annual Report for the period 1st September 2024 to 31st August 2025
Charity Name: North Norfolk Methodist Circuit Charity Registration Number: 1134993
Structure, governance, and management:
Governing document: Deed Of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976)
How charity is constituted: Act of Parliament
Trustee selection methods: Appointed by local churches and existing trustees.
Ministers are automatically trustees.
Additional Governance Issues:
Induction/training: Range of guidance produced by Methodist Connexion. Leaflet ‘The Role of a Trustee in The Methodist Church’ given to each trustee.
Structure: Part of the East Anglia District of the Methodist Church. Accountable to the Methodist Conference.
Related Parties: The Circuit is represented at District Synod by
representatives from the list of trustees.
Risks: Considered by the Circuit Leadership Team who take professional advice as required. There is a regular review process. The Circuit has adopted the Connexional Safeguarding Policy and ensured it is rolled out to the churches.
Objectives and activities:
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document: 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.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objectives:
The Circuit produces a quarterly preaching plan to ensure regular acts of worship take place at each of the Methodist Churches in its geographical area. These are open to all people, without charge.
The Circuit continues to provide weekly worship materials for use at home. This includes a weekly printed service, telephone worship and links to online worship both live streamed and recorded. The information is sent by email and included on the Circuit website. For those without internet connection the service is sent by post. Regular pastoral letters of support are also shared.
We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Additional details of objectives and activities:
Policy on grant-making: Besides its general funds the Circuit has a Model Trust Fund which derives from sales of chapels and/or manses that are no longer required and is restricted by the Conference. This restriction is an internal regulation though the fund can be used for a variety of purposes. The Circuit leadership team has drawn up a set of ground rules, which have been accepted by the Circuit Meeting, to ensure grants made from the Circuit Model Trust Fund are used effectively for mission and capital works. Circuit policy permits individual churches to apply for grants of up to 20% of the cost of improvements or major repairs. In addition, the Circuit leadership team also considers funding missional projects in the churches throughout the Circuit.
Achievements and performance:
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year:
a) Circuit Safeguarding Policy Document – This is reviewed annually (at the March Circuit Meeting) and updated as required to reflect current legislation and the activities of the Circuit.
b) The Circuit Safeguarding Officer ensures that people in all churches receive the relevant safeguarding training for their role and training sessions are held on a regular basis.
c) The Circuit continues to grow its work among the homeless, impoverished, and lonely. Support is offered through Community Cafes in several of the churches in the Circuit.
d) We continue to seek new ways to relate the Christian faith to modern family life through All Age Worship in some churches.
e) The Circuit acts as an umbrella organisation for the work of the Methodist Church in North Norfolk. It provides financial and property resources for the ministerial team and fees to retired ministers for church services that they continue to undertake.
f) The Circuit continues to fund Lay Employees who promote the work of the Methodist Church in North Norfolk.
g) Grants continue to be made to churches in respect of approved repair and investment works that they wish to undertake.
h) The aims of the Methodist Church have been reinforced and will continue to underpin all that we do to promote the work of the Circuit as a charitable body concerned for the needs of others.
Financial Review:
The Reserves Policy for the North Norfolk Circuit is to hold a sum equivalent to 3 months' average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure on manses and/or be able to continue, in the short term, funding planned activities in the event of the closure of a large church or an inability to raise the full Circuit Assessment from churches. It is necessary to hold sufficient working capital to enable the monthly payment of stipends and business expenses for ministers and salaries for the part time Lay Employees plus contributions to the District. There are no funds materially in deficit.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.
Signature Colin C Telfer
Full name Colin Campbell Telfer Position: Chair of Trustees Date: 17 June 2026
CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
North Norfolk Methodist
Circuit
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| District East Anglia Registered Charity - Charity Registration number |
Circuit no 14/13 1134993 |
|---|---|
If not a registered charity Her 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 organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242 )
Ministers: Rev Colin Telfer Rev Diane Grice Rev Deborah Humphries
Circuit Stewards: Janet Johnson Alan Frost Alan Skeates Gordon Partridge Wendy Allen Treasurer:
Alan Skeates
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ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 North Norfolk Methodist Circuit
Un - Circuit
restricted Model Trust Restricted Totals this Totals last
SECTION A Funds Fund Funds year year
a1 RECEIPTS Note £ £ £ £ £
a2 Assessment/Share 191,100 191,100 121,825
a3 Capital receipts
a4 Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income
1,656 3,759 5,415 11,514
a5 Grants
a6 Other receipts 1 20,423 22,000 42,423 12,440
a7 TOTAL RECEIPTS 213,179 25,759 238,938 (a8) 145,779
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and
travel costs 2 169,451 169,451 96,623
b3 Manse Costs 3 31,924 31,924 22,855
b4 Administration etc 4 8,663 8,663 6,420
b5 District Assessment 39,150 39,150 42,097
b6 Grants & donations 5 2,841 175 3,016 110,103
b7
b8 Other payments 6 18,233 2,485 20,718 44,488
b9 TOTAL PAYMENTS 270,262 2,660 272,922 (b9) 322,586
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) FOR
c1 THE YEAR (a7-b9) (57,083) 23,099 (33,984) (176,807)
c2 Total funds brought forward from last year 63,990 97,844 161,834 (c6) 338,641
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) 6,907 120,943 127,850 161,834
c4 Transfers and adjustments 67,386 (67,386) (c7)
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) 74,293 53,557 127,850 (c8) 161,834 (c6)
SECTION D
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
d (these amounts should not be included in total receipts/payments above)
d1 Balance brought forward from last year
d2 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 1,835 2,050
d3 Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations 1,835 2,050
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1 + d2 - d3)
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North Norfolk Methodist
Circuit
SUMMARY OF CIRCUIT ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CIRCUIT MEETING
SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page
Summary of the Circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Circuit Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross receipts and payments totals of the Circuit. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold of £250,000, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the Circuit and connected Circuit Organisations.
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INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances Closing balances
e1
e2
e3
e4
e5
e6
e7
Sub total of Internal
e8 Organisations funds (e11) (e12)
Circuit accounts (totals
brought forward from
e9 page 2 - totals column) 238,938 (a8) 272,922 (b9) (33,984) (c7) 161,834 (c6) 127,850 (c8)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS
e10 HELD BY CIRCUIT 238,938 272,922 (33,984) 161,834 (x) 127,850 (y)
Continue on a separate TOTAL
sheet if necessary and TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
bring the totals forward
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
OPENING CLOSING
CIRCUIT - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025 BALANCES BALANCES
f1 Cash in hand
f2 Bank Current Account 27,092 28,100
f3 Bank Deposit Account
f4 Central Finance Board 36,898 46,193
f5 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 97,844 53,557
f6 Other funds
f7 SUB TOTAL 161,834 (c6) 127,850 (c8)
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the
f8 closing balance totals above) (e12) (e11) (e12)
f9 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT 161,834 (x) 127,850 (y)
SECTION G At At
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES 1 September 2024 31 August 2025
g1 Investments (include Endowments) 254,024 325,144
g2 Land and Buildings (see notes re Insurance value) 1,396,733 1,787,783
g3 Other Assets
g4 Loan(s) - show amount outstanding at year end
g5 Other Liabilities
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f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board
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f5 Include only CFB Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
-
g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trust accounts this is inserted in line f5)
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North Norfolk Methodist Circuit (No 14/13) Receipts and Payments 2024/2025 Notes to the accounts
| Note Description 1 Other receipts Rent - Hickling Manse Payment from churches for offering envelopes and prayer handbooks Council tax refund (Sheringham manse) East Runton licence fee Refund of electricity and water costs re Weybourne Chapel Donation received for Mundesley Wavestation Weybourne Methodist Church CFB and bank balances on closure Donations towards lay worker leaving gifts Wedding fees received Insurance refund Gas and electricity refund (Aylsham manse) Office broadband refund Sundry 2 Stipends etc Minister stipends, pension, NIC, Apprenticeship levy and travel Salaries and expenses for Lay Employees Salary and expenses circuit administrator 3 Manse costs Manse overheads - council tax, water rates etc Manses upkeep Insurance 4 Administration etc Office and administration Minister telephones 5 Grants and donations Aylsham hall lighting Aylsham heater Aylsham cottages Cromer wall repairs Reepham fire doors & schoolroom redecoration Lessingham external work Lessingham car park From general funds Sheringham sanctuary refurbishment Cromer roof repairs Trunch roof (part loan) Aylsham cottages Hickling kitchen From Circuit Model Trust Fund |
£ 8,976.00 159.68 627.83 5,000.00 280.44 100.00 4,959.94 170.00 - 149.30 - - - 20,423.19 £ 125,663.18 23,843.52 19,944.28 169,450.98 £ 10,859.21 18,755.94 2,308.72 31,923.87 £ 5,830.27 2,832.94 8,663.21 £ 180.00 372.00 743.00 374.40 1,171.44 - - 2,840.84 - 175.00 - - - 175.00 3,015.84 £ |
2023/24 £ 7,669.20 509.42 - 4,000.00 - - - - 200.00 - 47.66 13.23 - |
|---|---|---|
| 12,439.51 £ |
||
| 51,329.90 29,705.49 15,587.78 |
||
| 96,623.17 £ |
||
| 7,853.81 12,670.81 2,329.97 |
||
| 22,854.59 £ |
||
| 4,555.89 1,864.08 |
||
| 6,419.97 £ |
||
| - - - - - 285.00 561.00 |
||
| 846.00 | ||
| 50,000.00 - 10,000.00 4,257.00 45,000.00 |
||
| 109,257.00 | ||
| 110,103.00 £ |
North Norfolk Methodist Circuit (No 14/13) Receipts and Payments 2024/2025 Notes to the accounts
| Note Description 6 Other payments Preaching fees General travel Removals East Runton insurance, property repairs and utilities Mundesley property repairs and fees Training Quinquennial inspections Supernumeraries meal and gifts Stationing visits Weybourne insurance, property repairs, fees and utilities Job adverts for circuit lay worker Roof insulation for circuit office Decoration and electrical work in circuit office Lay worker and circuit stewards leaving gifts Laptops for lay workers and circuit administrator Sundry From general funds Other payments CMTF District Annual levy TMCP administration charge Total Transfers and adjustments - Funds withdrawn from CMTF Transfer to fund work on manses Transfer to fund Mundesley Wavestation Transfer to fund advance re Hickling kitchen Transfer to fund removal costs Lay Employee salaries 2024-25 Salary circuit administrator 2025-26 Salary circuit administrator 2024-25 Connexional and Charity Funds LWPT (Local Preachers and Worship Leaders Trust) World Mission Mission In Britain Fund for Property Fund for the Support of Presbyters and Deacons Methodist Ministers Housing Society MHA (Methodist Homes for the Aged) District Benevolent Fund Methodist Church Fund All We Can Designated Funds Manses maintenance Removals reserve Training budget |
£ 2,700.00 2,513.29 - 3,968.27 636.00 1,566.50 3,024.00 216.37 - 1,604.54 - - 1,784.31 220.00 - - 18,233.28 £ 2,167.05 318.00 2,485.05 £ 20,718.33 £ 20,000.00 22,000.00 - - - 25,386.00 - 67,386.00 £ 70.00 342.50 342.50 245.00 245.00 145.00 145.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 1,835.00 £ - 1,000.00 735.28 1,735.28 £ |
2023/24 £ 3,130.00 4,951.90 13,170.00 4,860.61 - 861.00 2,893.20 - 871.28 1,315.55 291.58 990.00 - - 477.95 - |
|---|---|---|
| 33,813.07 £ |
||
| 9,934.02 740.55 |
||
| 10,674.57 £ |
||
| 44,487.64 £ |
||
| - - 5,000.00 6,170.00 22,097.00 - 18,463.00 |
||
| 51,730.00 £ |
||
| 150.00 350.00 350.00 250.00 250.00 150.00 150.00 200.00 100.00 100.00 |
||
| 2,050.00 £ |
||
| - - 2,301.78 |
||
| 2,301.78 £ |
Circuit: North Norfolk No. 14/13
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the North Norfolk Methodist Circuit
For the year ended 31 August 2025
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the North Norfolk Methodist Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages 1 to 2 plus notes showing total cash funds held at the balance sheet date of £127,850. 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 ~~(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
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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 ~~have/h~~ ave not* 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.
David Wright FCA
Wright Accountancy 83 Cromwell Road, Norwich NR7 8XJ
26 June 2026