**VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL** 1A Whiteladies Rd, Bristol BS8 1NU Registered Charity number 1135776 ## Trustees Annual Report _Reporting Period: 1[st] September 2021 to 31[st] August 2022_ ## **Members of the Council** |Minister|REV RICHARD SHARPLES| |---|---| |Circuit Minister|Rev Patrick Stonehewer| |Church Secretary|MARY HILL| ||| |Co-ordinators|| |Worship|DAVID PLEASANTS,JOY MORISON| |Learning|HUGH LLOYD JONES,CHRISTINE STONES| |Outreach|JANE STACEY,TIM MELLING| |Faith in the Future|JOHN BARNETT| |Property|KEVIN CORNELIUS| |Events|HELEN HARRISON| |Safeguarding|JANET GEORGE,Jill James(YP)| |Communication|SHINGAI MANYIWA| |Church Treasurer|ONKHOPOTSE MOENG| |Circuit Steward|Mike Culshaw| ||| |Other Representatives to
Church Council|Dora Alderson
David Ball (Property)
Sarah Ball
Ian Campion Smith
Diana Casey
Helen Davies
James Gibbs
Robert Harrison
Sheelagh Hiley
Ruth Hudson (Pastoral Secretary)
Chris Morison| **CAPITALS denotes member of Leadership Team (Also listed as Church Stewards)** Version 1.1 Page **1** of **4** **VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL** 1A Whiteladies Rd, Bristol BS8 1NU Registered Charity number 1135776 ## **Objectives and Activities** 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. ## **Mission** The **Mission** of Victoria Methodist Church is to respond to God's Love in Christ and to live out that love in God's world. As a Methodist Church, members and non-members alike are welcome to attend worship and activities. The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance for charities for the advancement of religion. In pursuit of its mission, the church has adopted a statement of its **Vision** to be ‘a Methodist Church which seeks to share the Gospel through encouraging lifelong learning and engaging with and through media and the creative arts’. ## **Overview of the year** At the 2021 General Church Meeting, arising out of a Church Review, the Church agreed some priorities for our life as a Church under the four headings of Congregation, Compassion, Culture and Commerce. ## Congregation: 1. Develop ‘All Together’ worship and replace the current All Age Worship with a mixture of All Together and Café style Worship. _One such All Together service has been planned each quarter; each one involving a large team of people._ 2. Continue to provide a wide variety of music and worship, morning and evening. _The repertoire on the Vic Methodist Multimedia YouTube channel continues to grow, although more slowly, and we have gradually got back to live music. Taize worship, led by an occasional choir and musicians, is offered once a month._ 3. Be more intentional about supporting and resourcing work with Students (and Young Adults). _A small Student Outreach group has been formed. A partnership with Cotham St Paul’s has enabled a ‘Vic-Pauls 18-25 inclusive’ group to form._ 4. Sustain and develop a weekly midweek ‘virtual’ act of worship. _This we have done, enabled by a group of half a dozen worship leaders, and attended by 15-20 people._ Version 1.1 Page **2** of **4** **VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL** 1A Whiteladies Rd, Bristol BS8 1NU Registered Charity number 1135776 5. Implement a programme to empower and engage the young people in the life of the Church. _We have engaged our young people in the Eco and Inclusive Church initiatives; with their involvement in the Eco Fair and in a Church Council meeting._ 6. Continue to be a welcoming, inclusive congregation seeking to grow in faith and understanding. _Our programme of monthly Learn and Share Lunches continues to be a helpful vehicle to engage with such issues. Following the conversation at last year’s GCM, the Church Council voted overwhelmingly to register for same-sex weddings, and the first such wedding is booked for later this year. A series of meetings was convened for a small number of folk who wished to explore difficult questions and obstacles to faith. A larger number of people have engaged in a ‘Luke for Lent’ bible reading and study programme. Groups and individuals have been encouraged and enabled, through the excellent Connexional resources, to engage with the Methodist Way of Life._ ## Compassion: 1. Take forward – in all dimensions - our work to become an Eco Church. _We gained a Silver Eco Church Award, just in time for an Eco Fair in July. The church was full and busy from morning to evening with a wide range of activities. An Eco Champions group has continued to work towards further reducing our carbon footprint, and an Energy Audit was commissioned with this in mind._ 2. Sustain our commitment to a range of ministries addressing issues of poverty and social inclusion, many of them in partnership with other churches (eg Soup Run, Giving Tree, Methodist Centre, Tyndale Circle, Mental Health Drop-in, Prisons Ministry, Street Pastors). _The Soup Run will not start again; the Methodist Centre is undergoing an urgent review and is in need of our ongoing support; Christmas gifts for prisoners were once again packed and sent; the Thursday group were very glad to get back to in-person meetings. Lastly – and crossing the boundary between Compassion and Culture – the ‘Calm, Create, Community’ open church initiative resumed its weekly pattern, and has recently started offering a 30 minute period of mindfulness led by Stephen George. We have been encouraged both by the loyalty of the small number who attend, and by the occasional new face._ ## Culture: 1. Deliver a wide-ranging creative arts programme (music, drama and exhibitions) with the aim of engaging people with the call to ‘act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God’. _Once again, some of our plans had to be cancelled due to Covid, but with Chris Morison and Lyn Lloyd Jones’ leadership, we are now working towards an evening of drama/music for Holy Week, ‘Were you there?’_ 2. Continue to build partnerships with the RWA (Royal Western Academy of Art), Bristol School of Art, Bristol University Music School and the Methodist Modern Art Collection, but ensure that any material changes to Victoria have the broad support of the congregation. _We hosted an exhibition of the RWA’s permanent collection in Oct/Nov, and have witnessed the refurbishment programme progressing next door over the past few months. University Music concerts are thankfully once again underway, and we have continued to share space with the Art School next door._ Version 1.1 Page **3** of **4** **VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL** 1A Whiteladies Rd, Bristol BS8 1NU Registered Charity number 1135776 3. Broaden Learning opportunities to encompass subjects beyond the arts. _Other than publicising the Lenten Conversations and Christians in Science Meetings, we have done little in this regard._ ## Commerce: 1. Increase the Letting of the Church, supported by appointing a Centre Manager. After dropping off during the worst of the lockdown, Lettings have been returning. _The plan to appoint a Centre Manager has been dropped, partly because so much has gone online, and the market for conference/meeting space has shrunk._ 2. Take forward our Faith in the Future Programme, in Phase B1 improving the acoustics in the sanctuary and all the remaining areas at ground floor level. _Whilst an acoustic survey was completed, we have yet to clarify and commission work in the Church. The Church embarked on an exploration of what would be entailed in giving the Methodist Modern Art Collection a permanent home, and how this might affect our plans for Phase B2 of Faith in the Future (the refurbishment of the downstairs)._ Version 1.1 Page **4** of **4** CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2022 Circult Circuit no. 0702 Registered Charity - Charity Registration number If not a registered charity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Ald number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable ststus and may be used to gNe to donors or grant funders wishing to see ewdence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered chariiies are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) 1135776 Minister. Richard Sharples Church Stewards.. John Barnett Shingai Manyiwa lan CampioTFSmth Tim Melling Kevin Comelius Joy Morison Janet George Dots North Helen Harrison David Pleasants Hugh Lloyd-Jones Jane Stacey Treasurer. Onkhopotse Moeng CA (SA) hwrh R and P 2015.xls 1of5 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022 Church Unrestrictsd Restricted Totals thi Funds Fun Tots18 latt SECTION A year a1 RECEIPTS Note a2 Offerings and Tax recovered Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 197.583 197.583 272,360 a3 1.092 30.543 1,092 30.543 7.247 236.465 579 a4 Lettings Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 17.855 35 7.247 236.465 a6 la71 295.756 SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 54.429 54A29 52.486 b3 Donations 25.000 25,000 28.193 2.500 Repairs and Mainlenanee Utilities {Insurances, water charges, heating & lighting) 28,193 292,566 b5 35.628 35.628 17,398 b6 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 21.769 165.019 21.769 165,019 17,622 382,573 b8 Ib91 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 {a&b8) 71.446 71,446 186,817) Total funds brought forward from last year ¢2 285,505 286,506 Ic61 372,322 c3 Sub totsl Ic1+c2) 356,951 356,951 285.505 Transfers and adjustments 2,977 2.977 Ic71 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c41 359.928 359.928 Ic81 285,505 Ic6) SECTION D NOT APPLICABLE FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (these amounts are not to be Included In totsl recelptslp ents figures abovo) d1 Balance brought forward from last year d2 OfferingslGifts- received for extemal orwisations d3 OfferingslGifts - passed to extemal Or9￿￿atiOnS BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d31 Chu¥¢h R•nd P 2Q15¥Js 2rf5 ￿￿toria Methodist Church Chlllrh URCH ¢(￿N¢￿ SECIION E Please Mr*Wthe Guid•r** Notr#t e ihis nd ￿nnected 114TERNAL ORGANISATIOIIS Owiroj <2 t7 gaTh￿b]n511Th ¢huYch a¢counts (toial brovghtforwardfyom prye 2-totslg ¢olurnnl 185th9 46 2,977 {cTJ 285,505 359,928 BYCHUReH 236.465 1W19 71,4¢6 2,977 285.505 359,928 lyl on•eqp¥ate TOTIL RECEVTS TOTAL toialyfop*4rd SECI1011 F TATE*Mr CHURCH.CASH FUIIDS HELO at 31 AuwMt1022 B￿CEs Cash In hArKI B*k curr•*Aco￿t IB210 B￿k DeFtytAtthwl Central Finance Bow 249.091 TwyteejforM*￿dJt¢trrt￿th F4Jrpc 65251 65.243 Otherfunds 12.9771 SUB TOTAL-Clwr¢h •Eeo¥nls Total lunds held ty Intem4 ck baWnc• b*lfrOM4*r￿) le11 2BS.505 359.928 TOTAL CASH FiINDS HELD BY CHVRCH (x) 359,928 (y) SECTr)N G OTHER A$￿TS •Tht U4BILnES Lo￿[&). •tyw*¥J f4 orty F￿￿$ Watth• C•rt￿ FIMrKe Bo• IS hc4udo M&4tTnJthe•forlA•trts*stChwth F4JrpNe• Name of Church.. Victoria Methodist Church No: 07102 Declarations and Scrutiny confimi Ihat these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2022 have been prepared from the records of the Churth and that they indude all funds under the control of the Church trustees. Signature of treasurer .... Date: 26 March 2023 Name and address of treasurer. Onkhijpotse Moeng CA (SA) Address.. 29 Clark Drive, Yate, South Gloucestershire. Post Code. BS37 7EH Presentation to the Church trustees I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 were presented to th8 meeting of the Church trustees held on the of 16th February 2023. Signature of the Chair of the meeting kv£Q Name of the Chair of the meeting.. Richard Sharples Date ... Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Victoria Methodist Church Charity Number 1135776 Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Victoria Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2022 set out on pages 2 to 3. As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance Y￿th the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). 2015 ¢twrth R PJ 4015 I report in respect of my examination of the Churd)'s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in Carr￿ng out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act 2015 thJrch R P)J6 4015 Name of Church: Victoria Methodist Church No 07102 Independent Examinerfs Statement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to belEve that in. any material respe¢L' 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 funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which a￿ individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner: Nompumelelo Tabudi CA(SA) Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner:Chartered Accountant CA(SA) Name of firm (where appropriate)". NIA Address .' 25 Carvel House 1 Regalia Close. Lodnon Post Code: E16 2TA Date: 26 March 2023 2015 thwchft*￿ PMS 5d5