Farnworth & Worsley Methodist Circuit (Registered Charity No. 1135135)
ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25
Introduction by the Superintendent Minister, the Rev. Nutan Suray
Introduction and Our Calling
It is my pleasure to write this Annual Report for 2024–25 for the Farnworth and Worsley Circuit. As God’s people, we continue to seek to live out the core values of Our Calling within the Methodist Church: worship, learning and caring, service, and evangelism. Across our churches and communities, these values are seen not only in our Sunday worship, but also in the quiet, faithful work of pastoral care, prayer, outreach, fellowship, and practical service that shapes the life of our circuit week by week.
A Season of transition
Since the last report, we have continued to experience a season of transition. Revd Stuart Smith’s retirement marks an important moment in the life of the circuit, and we give thanks for his ministry, friendship, and faithful service. At the same time, we look ahead with hope as Revd Ruth Jackson prepares to join us in September 2026. This period between endings and new beginnings has invited us to reflect carefully on who we are, what God is asking of us, and how we can continue to serve with courage and imagination.
Circuit life and community witness
During the past year, as I have travelled around the Farnworth and Worsley Circuit, I have been encouraged by the faithfulness, resilience, and generosity of our people. Each church has its own story, gifts, challenges, and opportunities, yet together we form one circuit family. In our different contexts, we continue to offer places of welcome, worship, friendship, and hope. Whether through regular services, Bible study, prayer groups, pastoral visiting, children’s and family work, community activities, warm spaces, coffee mornings, fundraising events, or partnerships with local organisations, the life of the circuit continues to make a real difference.
Giving thanks for volunteers and lay leadership
It remains a well-known truth that without our committed volunteers, the work of our churches could not continue. Stewards/elders, treasurers, property teams, pastoral visitors, worship leaders, local preachers, musicians, secretaries, safeguarding officers, children’s and youth volunteers, and many others give their time and gifts with great dedication. Much of this service is often unseen, but it is deeply valued. Their commitment reflects the heart of Methodist discipleship: practical love, shared responsibility, and service offered in Christ’s name.
The wider Methodist context
This has also been a year of adjustment within the wider life of the church. Not only did I come to a new circuit, but we have also found ourselves part of the new, larger Northwest England District, bringing together five former districts. A year on, we are still learning what this new structure means in practice. There are questions to
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explore, relationships to build, and new ways of working to discover. Yet I believe that, by God’s grace, this wider adventure will help us think more deeply about what it means to be a Methodist presence in changing times.
Looking ahead in faith
As we look ahead, my prayer is that the Farnworth and Worsley Circuit will continue to grow in confidence, compassion, and faith, trusting that the God who has called us is still leading us. In this season of change, may we be a people rooted in prayer, shaped by worship, strengthened by fellowship, and sent out in service. May our churches continue to be places where the weary find rest, the lonely find welcome, the questioning find space, and all people encounter something of the grace and love of Christ. As ministers, lay leaders, volunteers, and congregations, may we listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit and respond with courage, humility, and hope. In worship, learning and caring, service, and evangelism, may the life of this circuit continue to bear faithful witness to the kingdom of God in every community we are called to serve.
God bless you,
Revd Nutan Suray June 2026
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Aims and Organisation
The charity objective is to act as a resource provider within the Farnworth & Worsley area for the Methodist Church.
The aim of The Methodist Church in Great Britain is expressed in its “Our Calling” statement:
“The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.”
Activities
The Circuit produces a quarterly preaching plan to ensure regular acts of worship take place at each of the eight churches in the Circuit’s geographical area. These were led by the Circuit’s ordained ministers, including a supernumerary presbyter, local preachers or visiting ministers from other Circuits and denominations. On occasions, churches held “own arrangements” services, led by members of their congregations. Certain churches also held joint services which took place in each other’s premises.
All the Circuit’s ministers are involved in community work, including community cohesion and inter-faith groups and Churches Together groups relevant to the Circuit’s various geographical areas.
Ministers are involved in schools work, including leading assemblies and being governors/chaplains. There are two Methodist primary schools located in the Circuit with which the Circuit has close links.
We employ a part-time Circuit Administrator who manages the Circuit’s administration, including the website and electronic newsletters as well as keeping minutes of meetings.
During the year, Circuit Stewards held a number of conversations with the Bolton and Bolton Mission (Victoria Hall) Circuits to discuss possible opportunities for cooperation, which were facilitated by one of the Mission Area Leads of the North West England District.
27 adults and 10 children from the Circuit took part in a very enjoyable Circuit Weekend in St. Anne’s in March 2026, which was arranged jointly with the Bolton Methodist Mission.
As indicated in last year’s Annual Report, the Rev. Stuart Smith was appointed by Methodist Conference in June 2024 to serve in the Circuit for two years. We were delighted to welcome Stuart into the Circuit at the start of the year.
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Our Superintendent Minister, the Rev. Darren Garfield was scheduled to leave us at the end of 2024/25, and so we again entered into stationing to seek his successor. We were offered a possible match early in the stationing process and were pleased to be able to receive the Rev. Nutan Suray as our Superintendent from September 2025. Darren himself was successfully matched with the North Liverpool and South Sefton Circuit and we held a joyful service to bid him farewell after 13 years with us. A number of people from our Circuit travelled to Liverpool in late August to share in his welcome service there.
Public Benefit
We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
This guidance sets out two key principles:
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The organisation must have an identifiable benefit.
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The benefit must be to the public or a section of the public.
The Church exists, inter alia, to:
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increase awareness of God’s presence and to celebrate God’s love;
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help people learn and grow as Christians, through mutual support and care; and
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be a good neighbour to people in need and challenge injustice.
The trustees consider that for these reasons the charity meets these public benefit requirements.
Financial
Circuit income is primarily drawn from the assessment paid by the Circuit churches, totalling £166,727 out of a total income of £191,705.
Proposed assessments figures are prepared in consultation with the treasurers of the Circuit churches prior to approval by the Circuit Meeting.
Expenditure comprised principally stipends and expenses for the Circuit staff (two Presbyters) and their accommodation and running costs, together with the salary and expenses of the part-time administrator. The Circuit provides and maintains manses for the Presbyters.
£40,241 (20%) of the total expenditure of £196,337 was the Circuit’s contribution to the District and Connexion, which helps fund the work of the wider Methodist Church.
Expenditure on stipends increases annually in line with changes approved by the Methodist Conference. Other budget elements are adjusted to take account of anticipated expenditure needs and cost increases.
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Overall, there was a deficit of £4,633 in the year, compared with a surplus of £7,952 in 2023/24.
Balances, including Restricted Funds, totalled £145,077 at year end. The Circuit’s policy is to hold a minimum of six months normal expenditure in reserve to meet any unforeseen items of necessary expenditure or the inability to raise the full assessment from the churches.
Safeguarding
Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of all in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s recreation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.
Methodist Connexional practice outlines commitment to the following principles:
• The care and nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and adults
• The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable
• The establishing of 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 disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes.
• We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and local authority 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.
• We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.
• In all these principles we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice
The Farnworth & Worsley Circuit commits itself to ensuring the implementation of Connexional Safeguarding Policy; government legislation, guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches.
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The Farnworth & Worsley Circuit commits itself to 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.
Structure, Governance and Management
The governing document for the circuit is the Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976).
Detailed governance arrangements are outlined within the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church by order of the annual conference (CPD).
Day to day management of the activities of the circuit is undertaken by the Circuit Leadership team along with the Local Preachers meeting and property and finance meetings with representatives of the Circuit churches.
The Circuit is one of the Circuits of the North West England District of the Methodist Church, which came into existence on 1[st] September 2024 as a result of the amalgamation of the five constituent Districts. The Circuit has representation on the District Synod, which meets twice a year.
The following churches are linked to the Circuit:-
Boothstown Methodist Church Christ Church, Little Lever (Methodist URC/LEP) Kearsley Mount Methodist Church St. Catherine’s, Highfield (Anglican/Methodist LEP) Trinity Church, Farnworth Walkden Methodist Church Wharton & Clegg’s Lane Church and Community Centre, Little Hulton (Methodist/URC LEP) Worsley Road North Methodist Church, Walkden
Basis of preparation and legal framework
The Charity’s annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice 2015 as applicable to the Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 102. Accounts are submitted using the Methodist Church’s Standard Form of Accounts.
Full Name of Charity: Farnworth & Worsley Methodist Circuit
Registration Charity Number: 1135135
Date of registration: 24 March 2010
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Main communication address: 16 Arkholme, Worsley, Manchester M28 1ZJ
The members of the Farnworth & Worsley Methodist Circuit meeting are the Charity Trustees, membership being made up of circuit office holders, ministers and representatives appointed by the local churches.
Full membership is shown as Appendix A to this report.
Circuit Ministers and officers
Active Circuit Ministers Rev Darren Garfield (to August 2025) Rev Stuart Smith (from September 2024) Circuit Stewards Peter Irwin Gillian Dascombe (to December 2024) Sharon Smith Ian Lord Alan Hartley (from April 2025) Paul Hassall (from January 2025) Administrator: Ruth Dawson (to January 2025)
Name of treasurer acted as the principal officer overseeing the day-to-day financial management and accounting for the circuit during the year: Ian Lord
Independent examiner: Keith Higson FCA Investment Bankers Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church Trustees for Methodist Church purposes Day-to-day banking Royal Bank of Scotland
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Appendix A
Names of Trustees of the Charity
| Rev Darren Garfield | Superintendent Minister |
|---|---|
| Rev Stuart Smith | Presbyter Minister |
| Rev Neville Markham | Chaplain Bolton Royal |
| Rev Pat Brown | Supernumerary Minister |
| Peter Irwin | Circuit Steward / Property Steward |
| Ian Lord | Circuit Steward / Circuit Treasurer |
| Sharon Smith | Circuit Steward |
| Paul Hassall | Circuit Steward |
| Graham Bone | Local Preachers Secretary |
| Alan Nuttall | Local Preachers Rep |
| Joan Marshall | Circuit Rep to Connexion Funds |
| Lee O’Neill | JMA Secretary |
| Rosemary Young | MWiB Rep |
| Edna Sate | Boothstown MC Church Steward |
| Joe Sate | Boothstown MC Church Steward |
| Wynn Nuttall | Christ Church Elder |
| Alan Hartley | Christ Church Treasurer |
| Susan Beswick | Christ Church Rep |
| Dorothy Holland | Christ Church Rep |
| Ann Stephenson | Christ Church Rep |
| Sheila Briggs | KMMC Steward |
| Wendy Witts | KMMC Rep |
| Andrew Gibbons | St Catherine’s Church Warden / Treasurer |
| Joy Fairbrother | St Catherine’s Rep |
| Christine Hotchkiss | Trinity MC Treasurer |
| David Coucill | Trinity MC Rep |
| Lorraine Price | Walkden MC Steward |
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| Margaret O’Neill | Walkden MC Treasurer |
|---|---|
| Anne Bennett | Walkden MC Rep |
| Val Hancox | Walkden MC Rep |
| Keith Mann | W&CL Treasurer |
| Joan Adams | W&CL Steward |
| Margaret Rothwell | W&CL Rep |
| Susan Taylor | Worsley Road North Steward |
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| AC | COUNTS FOR TH | E YEAR | ENDED 3 | 1 August | 2025 | Farnwo | rth & Worsle | Circuit | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit | ||||||||||
| restricted | Model Trust | Restricted | Totals this | Totals last | ||||||
| SECTION A | Funds | Fund | Funds | year | year | |||||
| RECEIPTS | Note | |||||||||
| a2 | Assessment/Share | 166,727 | 166,727 | 160,012 | ||||||
| a3 | Ca ital recei ts |
|||||||||
| a4 | Bank and CFB interest and | |||||||||
| Investment income | 3,057 | 826 | 3,883 | 4,121 | ||||||
| a5 | Grants | 13,201 | ||||||||
| a6 | Other receipts | 21 ,095 | 21 ,095 | 10,584 | ||||||
| a7 | TOTALRECEIPTS | 190,879 | 826 | 191,705 | (a8) | 187,918 | ||||
| SECTION B |
||||||||||
| PAYMENTS | ||||||||||
| b2 | Stipends, salaries, | NIC, Pension and | ||||||||
| travel costs | 90,521 | 90,521 | 96,055 | |||||||
| b3 | Manse Costs | 34,969 | 34,969 | 15,676 | ||||||
| b4 | Administration etc | 10,518 | 10,518 | 18,529 | ||||||
| b5 | District Assessment | 40,241 | 40,241 | 39,336 | ||||||
| b6 | Grants & donations | 1 ,250 | 1,250 | 1 ,258 | ||||||
| b8 | Other payments | 18,060 | 500 | 279 | 18,839 | 9,112 | ||||
| b9 | TOTAL PAYMENTS | 195,558 | 500 | 279 | 196,337 | (09) | 179,966 | |||
| SECTION C | ||||||||||
| NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS | FOR | |||||||||
| THE YEAR | a7-b9 | 4,679 | 325 | (279 | 4,633) | 7,952 | ||||
| c2 | Total funds brou ht forward |
from last | ear | 121,092 | 17,710 | 10,907 | ||||
| c3 | Sub total | cl+C2) | 116,413 | 18,036 | 10,629 | |||||
| c4 | Transfers and ad'ustments |
| SECTION D | ||
|---|---|---|
| FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND | PASSEDON TO EXTERNALORGANISATIONS | |
| d | these amounts should not be included in total recei |
ts/payments above) |
| dl | Balance brou ht forward from last ear |
|
| d2 | Offerin s/Gifts - received for external or anisations |
233 |
| d3 | Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations |
233 |
| d4 | BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (dl +d2 - d3) |
| SECTION F STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LI |
ABI | LIT | IES | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPENING | CLOSING | |||||||||
| CIRCUIT - CASH FUNDS HELD at |
31 | August 2025 | BALANCES | BALANCES | ||||||
| fl | Cash in hand |
|||||||||
| 12 | Bank Current Account | 56,243 | 58,440 | |||||||
| Bank De osit Account | ||||||||||
| f4 | Central Finance Board | 23 173 | 13 681 | |||||||
| f5 | Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes | 70,294 | 72,956 | |||||||
| [6 | Other funds | |||||||||
| SUB TOTAL | 149,710 | 145,077 | (c8) | |||||||
| Total funds held by Internal Organisations | (the | |||||||||
| fB | closing balance totals above) (e 12) | (ell) | e12 | |||||||
| TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT | 149,710 | (x) | 145,077 | (y) | ||||||
| SECTION G | ||||||||||
| OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES | 1 Se | tember 2024 | 31 Au | ust 2025 | ||||||
| Investments include Endowments |
||||||||||
| 2 | Land and Buildin s see notes re Insurance value |
1 061 548 | 1 | 376 509 | ||||||
| Other Assets | ||||||||||
| 4 | Loan s - show amount outstandin |
at | ear end | |||||||
| 5 | Other Liabilities |
Name of Circuit ……Farnworth & Worsley…. No…1/12..
Declarations and Scrutiny
I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 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 ……I.C.Lord………………………… Date……4.2.26……..
Name and address of treasurer …………Ian Lord
…………………. Post Code………
Presentation to the Circuit meeting
I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 were/ ~~will be*~~
presented to the Circuit meeting held on 18 February 2026
Signature of the Chair of the meeting ……Rev. Nutan Suray…………………………
Name of the Chair of the meeting ……Rev. Nutan Suray…… Date …1.3.26……
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the
Farnworth & Worsley Circuit
Charity Number 1135135
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Farnworth & Worsley Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages 1 to 3 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.
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F&W circuit signed SFA 24_25 for CC.xlsx
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Name of Circuit ………Farnworth & Worsley No …1/12….
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:
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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/have 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.
Signature of independent examiner ………K.Higson…………………………………….
Name of independent examiner ………Keith Higson………………………………….
Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ……FCA-ICAEW…………
Name of firm (where appropriate) ………………………………………………………………………
Address …………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………….. Post Code ……………… Date ………26.5.26……………
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F&W circuit signed SFA 24_25 for CC.xlsx
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