CANNOCK CHASE METHODIST CIRCUIT Icharfty Reglstration No. 1136126) Clrcult No. 28108 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the Year ended 31 August 2024 CANNOCK CHASE MEfHODisf CIRCUIT TRusfEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST2024 Introduction Following the closure of two churches, Chase Terrace and Trinity Hednesford. in the year ended 31st August 2024, and at the start of this year two churches, Bourne. Heath Hayes and Trinity Norton Canes untied and became one at Norton Canes. The Circuit now consist5 of 16 churches on and around the geographical area in South Staffofdshire known as Cannock Chase. These churches are used primarily to provide places of Christian worship, education and fellowship for the people around those places. The buildings are also used to provide rooms for a varietv of cornmunitv activities. Aims and organlsatlon The Circuit exists to worship God, serve our communities and grow our churches. Review of the year During the year the ministers were Rev Samantha Hagerman {Superintendent), Rev Christopher Ambler, Deacon Susan Culver, and Rev Jacob Donkoh. The Rev Jacob Donkoh left the Circuit at 31st August 2024 and moved to work in another Methodist circuit, and he was replaced by Rev Elizabeth Dunning. There were also seven Supernumerary Ministers who assisted in the running of the Circuit and with the preaching. They are: John Bates, Helen Hoe, Christooher Parkes. Alan Jenkins. Deacon Janet Jenkins. Sheila Walker and Deacon Jan Sutton. To assist the ministers with their work the Circuit employed l Lay Pastoral Assistant (until 20th June 2024) and I Circuit Administrator. At the end of the year the Circuit had twenty eight fully accredited local preachers on the Plan of which seventeen are active and three local preachers on trial, none on note and there are thirteen worship leaders. During the year. across the Circuit. there were approximatety 210 Sunday services each quarter. These services are, in the main. conducted by the Ministerial Staff, Supernumerary Ministers, Local Preachers and some visiting preachers. On occasions when there are insufficient preacher5 available then local arrangements have to be made. To ease the difficulties of filling the preaching plan some churches are holding united services. In addition to Sunday Services several of the churches in the circuit hold midweek services which are seen as relaxed and informal and in many cases attract a wider congregation from across the denominations. Page I CANNOCK CHASE MEtHODIST aRcurr TRusfEES' ANNUAL REpoirr Many of our churches are on occasions using other fomis of service than the "traditional" Style, e.g. "Messy Church" Cafe Church". These alternatrve Styles attract people from a wider section of the local communities. Most of our churches have mid-week activtties such as Women's meetingsp Men's groups, Bible study groups, Prayer meetings or House groups. Youth work is maintained in some of our churches with Youth Clubs and unrfomied organisations such as Boys Brigades. Girts Brigade. Brownies. Guides. Income trends Circuit income Is primarily drawn from the assessments paid by the circuit churches. The Assessments for the year 2023124 had to be recalculated to take account of there being fewer churches in the Circuit and the new figures were agreed at a meeting of church treasurers and accepted by the Circuit Meetin8. The manse at Dundalk Lane continues to be let and provides ￿ftt3l Income to the clrcult. The manse at Chasetown, was also let until August 2024 when the Superintendent moved in. A decision has been made to sell the manse in Bideford Way, Cannock. Ex ndlture trends Stipends are increased each financlal year In line with increases approved by the Methodist Conference. Stipends, national insurance and pension contributions were 42% of all expenditure. £64,873 was Circuit's contribution to the District and Connexlon. of which a slEnificant part is used to fund the work of the wider Methodist Church. £27,582 was spent on repairs and maintenance of the six manses Fund balan￿$ As a result of selling churches the net current assets of the ￿rcUIt rose substantally and were £674,570. at 31st August 2024 Plans for 2024 At the end of August 2025 the Rev Chris Ambler retires and it is unlikely the Circuit will get a replacement minister and therefore plans are being put in place to reorganise the Circuit wlth fewer miftisters and churches. Page 2 CANNOCK CHASE MEfHODisf ClRcurr TRusfEE5' ANNUAL REPORT Many of ourchurches are on otcasions using otherfomis of seniice than the "traditional" style, e.g. "Messy Church" "Cafe Church". These alternatNe styles attract people from a wider section of the local communities. Most of our churches have mid-week activities such as Women's meetingsi Men's groups, Bible study groups, Prayer meetings or House groups. Youth work is maintained in some of our churches with Youth aubs and unifomied organisations such as Boys Brigades. Girls Brigade, Brownies, Guide5. Income trends Circult income Is primarily drawn from the assessments paid by the circuit churches. The Assessments for the year 2023/24 had to be recalculated to take account of there being fewer churches in the Circuit and the new figures were agreed at a meeting of church treasurers and accepted by the Circuit Meeting. The manse at Dundalk Lane contlnues to be let and provldes rental income to the clrcult. The manse at Chasetown, was also let until August 2024 when the Superintendent moved in. A decision has been made to sell the manse in Bideford Wayi Cannock. Ex ndlture trends Stipends are in¢￿ased each financial year in line with increases approved by the Methodist Conference. Stipends, national insurance and pension contributions were 42% of all expenditure. £64,873 was Circuit's contribution to the District and Connexion, of which a significant part is used to fund the work of the wider Methodist Church. £27,582 was spent on repairs and maintenance of the six manses Fund balances As a result of selling churches the net current assets of the Circuit rose substantalty and were £674,570. at 31st August 2024 Plans for 2024 At the end of August 2025 the Rev Chris Ambler retires and it is unlikely the Circuit will get a replacement minister and therefore plans are being put in place to reorganise the Circuit wlth fewer miftisters and churches. Page 2 CANNOCK CHASE MErHo￿ URcurr Trusteds Annual Report on FInan￿ and Governance Basis of preparatlon and legal framework The Charitys annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 have been p￿Pared In accordan￿ with the Charitles Act 2011 and the Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice 2015 as applicable to the Finanual Reporting Standard(FRSSE) 2015 Full Name of Charity: Cannock Chase Methodist UTCUit Registration Charity Number: 1136126 Date of registration: tst June 2010 Main communication address: Mr Keith Rothery. 64 Thorpe Street. Burntwood, Staffordshire. WS7 INJ The members of the Cannock Chase Methodist Clrcuit meeting are the Charity Trustees, membership being made up of circuit Offi￿ holders, ministers and representatives appolnted by the local Churches. ar¢ult Mlnlsters and offlcers Active Circuit Ministers Rev Samantha Ha8ernian Deacon Susan Culver Rev Jacob Donkoh (until 3tst August 20241 Rev Christopher Ambler Circuit Lay Workers Mr Mark fimothy (untll 20th June 2024) Clrcult stewards Mrs Barbara Brooks Mrs Elaine Croft Administrator Mrs Barbara Brooks Treasurer Mr Keith Rothery who atted as the principal officer overseeing the day to dav financial mana8ement and accountlng for the circuit during the year. Independent Examiner Elaine Glover A.C.M.A. Haywood Accounting Solutions Ltd 4 Coppenhall Mews Coppenhall Staffordshire. ST18 9BA Investment Bankers Central Finan￿ Board of the Methodist Church Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes Page 3 CANNOCX CHASE MEfHODW aRcurr Aims and organisatlon Charity objectNe is to art as a Resource provider within the area around the Cannock Chase for the Methodist Church: The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the Date of Union the advan￿ment of: al The Christian faith In accordan￿ with the doctrinal standards and discipline of The Methodist Church: bl Any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, Dtstrict, Circuit. local or other organisation of The Methodist Church; cl Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidlary or ancillary to The Methodist Church: dl Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church The organisation and resourcing of regular public acts of worship open to member5 of the church and non members alike. The teaching of Christianity through sermon5, courses and small groups. The resourcing of pastoral work including visitin8 the sick and be￿aved. Taking religious assemblies in local schools. Promotion of Christianity through the stsging of events and Servi￿$. Provision of chaplainoi service5 to the local university and other instltutions. Publlc Beneflt We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Chaflty Commlsslon's guidance on public benefit. Structure, Governance and Management The governln8 document for the clrcult Is the Oeed of Unlon {1932) and Methodlst Church Act (19761 Detailed governance arrangements are outlined wlthin the Constitutional Prartice and Discipline of the Methodist Church by order of the annual Conferen￿ {CPD). Day to day management of the clrcult Is undertaken by the Circult Leadership team along wlth the Local Preachers meetin& the Clrcuit Finance and Property Committee and the Circuit Policy Committee. Trustee Tralnlng A range of guidance produced by Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the circuit, specificalty the leaflet The Role of a Trustee in The Methodist Church, is 8iven to all new Circuit meetin8 members as induction to their role a5 trustees. Related Partles The Circuit is part of the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury Distrirt and is also accountable to the Methodist Confereno. The following 16 Methodist Churche5 a￿ linked to the circuit". Bethel, Bridgtown Brereton Cannock Wood Chadsmi)or Featherstone Great Wyrley Mill Street, Cannock Penkridge St Paul'5, Rugeley St Stephen's. Cannock Trinity and Bourne, Norton Canes Burntwood Chasetown Handsacre Salem, Cheslyn Hay Upper Landywood Page 4 CANNOCK CHASE METh￿￿5[ aRcurr Rlsk Management The major risk5 have been identified and recorded by the Orcuit Finan￿ and Property Committee with professional advice taken as required. There is a regular annual review proc￿ undertaken and recorded. Income and Expenditure is being monitored in total and is compared with the approved annual budget on a half yearly basis to detect trends as part of the risk management proce55 to avoid unforeseen ca115 on reserves. Safeguardln8 Every petson has a value and dignity which come5 direrttyfrom the creation of male ondftmale in God s own image and likeness. Chnstian5 See this potential asfvlfilled by God s re No Contin8ent liabilities were identified at 3tst August 2024. Page 14 i 111111 llllll IIH llllllll 111 111111 CANNOCK CHASE MEfHODisr aRCUIT DECLARATIONS Treasurer I confirm that these accrual based accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 have been prepared from the records of the Circutt and that they indude all funds under the control of the CircJJtt Meeting. Signature of Treasurer Date 25 March 2025 Name of T￿aSurer Keith Rfthery Address 84 Thorpe Street, Burnt￿. Staffordshire. WS7 1NJ Presentation to the Circult Meeting for approval. I confirm that the annud report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024, in draft form were presented to the Circuit Meeting at rts me8ting on 5th February 2025, and the final a¢counts were ematled to Circuit Meeting members on 20th February 2025 for ac￿ptsnCe by them. Signature of the Chair of the m88ting Name of the Chair of the meeting Date Revd Samarttha Hagernian 26.0£.25 Indepondent Examlnerfs Report to the Trustees of th• CANNOCK CHASE MEfHODIST CIRcurr This Report18 on the Circurt Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 R98POCtlve respon81bllftles of Trust•88 and Examlnor The cir￿11,8 trustees are responsible for ensuflng that the annual report and accounts for the year to 31st August 2024 present a true and falr vrew of the Cir￿1¥$ income and expendriure for the year and of its assets and liabilities at the balar￿ sheet date. The trustees consider that an audit is not necessary for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Acl) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibiltty to= examine accounts under seclion 145 of the Charities Art to follow the procedures laKI down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5){b} of the Charilies 8¢ and to stale whether particular matters have (wie to my attention. Page 17 CANNOCK CHASE MEfHODisf CIRCUIT Basls of Independent Examrnerfs Report My examination wa5 carr*d out in a(£ordance ￿1￿ th¢ gewal dKeclM)ns given by the Chanty Commission. examination indudes a review of the accounting records kept by Ihe thafity and a ¢ompartson of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes cons#Jeration of any unusual ttems, in nature or s¢ale. or disclosures in the accounts, seeking explanations from the Trustees concemin9 such mattern. The pr￿dureS undertaken do not provKle all the eVKIen￿ that woukl be wuirgj in an audit and. consequenty no opinion is given 8S to whether the a¢xounts present a tn￿ and fair view. My report is limited to th¢)se matters sel out in the statement below. Independent Examlnefs Ststement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention (other than as disclosed below (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements.. . to keep a¢c4wnling records in a¢¢ordanc8 wilh Section 130 of the Charities Act. . to prepare aCc￿Unts wt)ith accord Imth the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the CharTlies Act have not been met, or (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the atxounts to be reached. (3) I have obtained independent venfication 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. via sight of bank slatements and fund statements. Name of Independent examiner Elaine Glover Signature of Independent examiner Rèlevant Profe&8ional qualffication of inde dent examiner A.C.M.A Name of firm (where appro nate Haywwj A(xounting Solutions Ltd Address 4 Coppenhall Mevr6. Coppenhall. Staffordshire. ST18 9BA Date Elalné Glover A.C.MA 4 C1)ti￿nhall COpw￿l ST18 Pa8e 18