June 2023 Annual Report of the Avenue Church (Registered Charity 1137080)
The Avenue Church, The Avenue, Newton Abbot TQ12 2BY Minister: Rev. Gill Daniel
Mission Statement:
“The purpose of the Charity is to advance the Christian faith in the Area of Benefit in accordance with the principles and practices of the Participating Churches.”
The Church and Its Services
The Avenue Church is a Local Ecumenical Project made up of people from the Methodist and United Reformed churches, but people from various Christian traditions are regular worshippers with us. The LEP came into being in the year 2000, following an informal sharing agreement which ran for over 15 years. The Avenue Church is the largest of 14 churches in the Teignbridge Methodist Circuit.
The church building was erected in 1966, on the site of the Queen Street Methodist Church, when people from that church and Courtenay Street Methodist Church joined together to form the new congregation. The accommodation is designed on simple, straightforward lines, airy and centrally heated. In the sanctuary there is a gallery and a good, recently refurbished, pipe organ. For the hard of hearing, an effective sound amplification/loop system is in place. A laptop is used to project the words of hymns, readings, and other PowerPoint presentations, but hymnbooks and songbooks are still available for those members of the congregation who prefer to use them. During Covid for safety reasons worship moved to an online, Zoom based approach. As the threat of Covid recedes communal worship is returning albeit with some opportunity for change and to try new ideas. These include continuation of the online availability through YouTube streaming and recorded services.
Worship
The Avenue is a friendly church and the worship covers a wide range. On the first Sunday there is a monthly 9.30 am All Age Praise service with an average attendance of 20 people. The weekly Sunday Morning Service at 10:30am has an average attendance of 50-75 adults. On the second Sunday those under 18 attend Sunday Club. On the fourth Sunday there is an All Age Worship service.
The children and family worker role is currently vacant and a suitable candidate will hopefully become available soon. The role supports children and families through pastoral contact, Tea & Tots Group, Catalyst Youth Group and engagement through local schools. Safeguarding policies are fully in place. Jigsaw is an outreach group who are studying the relevance of the Christian faith in the current world.
Other activities
The Avenue Church actively supports Christian Aid (e.g. hosting the Lent Lunches), Action for Children, Homeless in Teignbridge Support (HITS), Rowcroft Hospice (Torquay), and participates fully in Christians Together in Newton Abbot and District. As a Church, we are committed to World Justice Issues, promoting Fair Trade. Newton Abbot is a Fair Trade town. We are also actively reducing use of plastic and targeting zero plastic status.
The Avenue has established a sharing agreement with a local health and wellbeing charity called KingsCare which uses the church facilities several times a week for some of its activities.
Church Groups and Events
-
Women's Monday Club
-
Tea & Tots Group
-
Coffee Mornings
-
Prayer Meetings
-
House groups
-
Bible Study
-
Badminton Club
-
Lydia’s Link friendship and fellowship group for women
-
Church Walking Group
-
Creative Crafters
Financial Review
The accounts for the year Sep 2021 to Aug 2022 showed an overall surplus of receipts versus payments of £37,141 (Receipts being £160,547 while payments were £123,407). The surplus was due to a very generous legacy of £40,116.
Reserves Policy
The current Reserves policy of the Church aims to have available general funds which equate to six months of revenue expenditure. The Church achieved this target throughout the year and at Aug 2022 had funds of £ 192,748. The funds which are not already designated to projects or held by Internal Organisations are kept for the maintenance and replacement of Church buildings and assets.
Pastoral Care and Outreach
All members of the church family come under the care of the ministerial team and the dedicated team of pastoral visitors under the leadership of the Pastoral Care Coordinator. Most members and some adherents now have an allocated
Pastoral Friend, but many groups within the Church also look after each other in that group.
Outreach is very important to the Church and in addition to the impact that the Child/Family support worker is making, many of the Church’s activities give benefits to other than Church members and gives the Church an opportunity to deliver the Christian message.
Structure, Governance and Management
In 2010 a new ecumenical constitution was agreed. The church was granted charity status, registration number 1137080. The church trustees, formerly the church council, are responsible for the day to day running of the charity. They must report to the congregational meeting concerning their activities twice a year. The church manages its affairs through the Trustees, most of whom are responsible for an identified area of church life. The trustees meet regularly under the chairmanship of the minister and report to the wider church meeting. There were no serious incidents during 2020/21 financial year.
Administrative Information
The Avenue Church is situated in the centre of Newton Abbot. The correspondence address is:
Address: The Avenue, Newton Abbot,TQ12 2BY
Telephone: 01626 360 400 E-mail: ofce@theavenuechurch.co.uk
Website: www.theavenuechurch.co.uk.
Trustees
EX-ofcio members
Rev. Gill Daniel - Chairperson/Methodist Minister
Elected members Jean Francis - Worship & Communication Gill Sinden – Pastoral Vacant - Children and Youth Duncan Knight- Treasurer Margaret Fisher - Secretary Sara Crouch Sheila Bendall – Hospitality
Kathryn Garnett
Kay Fice – Property (Kay is also employed by the Methodist Circuit as Office Administrator)
| UnrestrictedRestricted | UnrestrictedRestricted | Totalsthis | Totals last | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SECTIONA | Funds | Funds | yEdl | year | |||
| E | t | E | t | ||||
| at | RECEIPTS | Note | |||||
| a2 | Offerinqs andTaxrecovered | 72,804 | 72,800 | 74,676 | |||
| Bank andCFBinterestand | |||||||
| lnvestment income | 5,667 | 5,667 | 5.700 | ||||
| ^/ d1 |
Lettings | 11,950 | 11,950 | ||||
| ^E OJ |
Otherreceipts | 10,607 | 57900 | 68,507 | 10,014 | ||
| aG | TOTALRECEIPTS | 101,025 | 57,900 | 158,924 | (a7) | 90,390 | |
| SECTIONB | |||||||
| b1 | PAYMENTS | ||||||
| b2 | CircuitAssessmentor Share | 70,402 | 70,402 | 53083 | |||
| Donations | 11 | 11 | |||||
| b4 | Repairs and Maintenance | 12.083 | 12,083 | 4,397 | |||
| Utiliiies (lnsurances, water | |||||||
| t,tr | charqes, heatinq & liqhting) | 4443 | 6,445 | 7ARA | |||
| b6 | |||||||
| b7 | Other payments | 14.415 | 14,375 | 28,790 | 29.817 | ||
| b8 | TOTALPAYMENTS | 103,357 | 14,375 | 117,732 | (be) | 94,785 | |
| a) ^) |
Totalfundsbrought forward from lastyear NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS Subtotal |
(c1+c2) | 126,617 124,285 |
)/.1)) 67.647 |
150"7391 | {c6 | t-;[il t-.*=t |
| c4 | Transfersand adiustments | 55.2-32 | c | ||||
| c5 | TOTALFUNDSATEND OFYEAR | (c3+c4) | 89,0531102,879 | 191,931!(c8) | 150,7391 (c6) |
| FORINFORMATION ONLY: MONEYREGEIVEDANDPASSED ONTOEXTERNALORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| eseamountsarenottobeincludedintotalrece |
| to external orqanisations |
| NCESTILL TO BEPAID d1+r1)-d |
| INTERNAL | Net Rece ptsl | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORGANISATIONS | Rec€ | Payments | Pavments | Closinq balances | ||||
| I | Flower Fund | 425 | 517 | Ie2) | 455 | |||
| 2 | Network | 136 | ||||||
| 3 | lvlondayClub | 1.523 | (675 | 225 | ||||
| :"1 | Parents andTodlers | 1 | 9E3 | 1983) | ||||
| :5 | JuniorChurch | 1,302 | 1302) | |||||
| :6 | ||||||||
| ,1 | ||||||||
| Sub totalofiniernai | ||||||||
| r8 | Organisationsfunds | Iaz: | 5,675 | 816 | (e12| | |||
| Church accounts (totals | ||||||||
| brought forward frompage | ||||||||
| i9 | 2-totals column) | 158,924 (a7) | 117.732 | 41,192 | 191,931 | (c8) | ||
| IU IAL UAiH TUI\UJ | ||||||||
| rl1:) | BY CHURCH | 1 | 60,547 | 123,407 | 37,141 | 192,748 | (v) | |
| ContlnLreon aseparatesheet if necessaryandbrlng the totalsfonvard |
TOTAL | RECEIPTS | rOTAL )AYMENTS |
| STATEMENTOF ASSETSAND LIABILITIES | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPENING | CLOSING | ||||
| CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at31August2022 | BALANCES | BALANCES | |||
| ll | Cashin hand | 10'1 | 66 | ||
| 12 | a-nL a ..^^+ A^^^LL^t | lz,JIa | 2?.612 | ||
| fi | BankDeoostAccoLrnt | '110,859 | 1?-2387 | ||
| t1 | CentraL FnanceBoard | 17,403 | 6,710 | ||
| fi | Trustees forl\,4ethocistChurchPurposes | 40.297 | |||
| t6 | Other funds | (142) | |||
| fi | SUB TOTAL-Church accounts | 150,739 | (c6) | 191,931 | (c8) |
| Total fundsheldby lnterna Organisations lthecloslng | |||||
| a | balancetotafron-rabove)(e12) | 4,868 | (el1) | 816 | (e12| |
| t! | TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELDBYCHURCH | 155,607 | (x) | 192,748 | (v) |
| OTHER | |
|---|---|
| I | lnvestments(includeEndowments) |
| sl | Land &Buildlnqs(seenotesrelnsurancevalue) |
| e3 | OtherAssets |
| s4 | Loan(s)-show arnount outstand nq at vear end |
| ci | OtherLiabii ties |
| UnrestrictedRestricted | UnrestrictedRestricted | Totalsthis | Totals last | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SECTIONA | Funds | Funds | yEdl | year | |||
| E | t | E | t | ||||
| at | RECEIPTS | Note | |||||
| a2 | Offerinqs andTaxrecovered | 72,804 | 72,800 | 74,676 | |||
| Bank andCFBinterestand | |||||||
| lnvestment income | 5,667 | 5,667 | 5.700 | ||||
| ^/ d1 |
Lettings | 11,950 | 11,950 | ||||
| ^E OJ |
Otherreceipts | 10,607 | 57900 | 68,507 | 10,014 | ||
| aG | TOTALRECEIPTS | 101,025 | 57,900 | 158,924 | (a7) | 90,390 | |
| SECTIONB | |||||||
| b1 | PAYMENTS | ||||||
| b2 | CircuitAssessmentor Share | 70,402 | 70,402 | 53083 | |||
| Donations | 11 | 11 | |||||
| b4 | Repairs and Maintenance | 12.083 | 12,083 | 4,397 | |||
| Utiliiies (lnsurances, water | |||||||
| t,tr | charqes, heatinq & liqhting) | 4443 | 6,445 | 7ARA | |||
| b6 | |||||||
| b7 | Other payments | 14.415 | 14,375 | 28,790 | 29.817 | ||
| b8 | TOTALPAYMENTS | 103,357 | 14,375 | 117,732 | (be) | 94,785 | |
| a) ^) |
Totalfundsbrought forward from lastyear NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS Subtotal |
(c1+c2) | 126,617 124,285 |
)/.1)) 67.647 |
150"7391 | {c6 | t-;[il t-.*=t |
| c4 | Transfersand adiustments | 55.2-32 | c | ||||
| c5 | TOTALFUNDSATEND OFYEAR | (c3+c4) | 89,0531102,879 | 191,931!(c8) | 150,7391 (c6) |
| FORINFORMATION ONLY: MONEYREGEIVEDANDPASSED ONTOEXTERNALORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| eseamountsarenottobeincludedintotalrece |
| to external orqanisations |
| NCESTILL TO BEPAID d1+r1)-d |
| INTERNAL | Net Rece ptsl | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORGANISATIONS | Rec€ | Payments | Pavments | Closinq balances | ||||
| I | Flower Fund | 425 | 517 | Ie2) | 455 | |||
| 2 | Network | 136 | ||||||
| 3 | lvlondayClub | 1.523 | (675 | 225 | ||||
| :"1 | Parents andTodlers | 1 | 9E3 | 1983) | ||||
| :5 | JuniorChurch | 1,302 | 1302) | |||||
| :6 | ||||||||
| ,1 | ||||||||
| Sub totalofiniernai | ||||||||
| r8 | Organisationsfunds | Iaz: | 5,675 | 816 | (e12| | |||
| Church accounts (totals | ||||||||
| brought forward frompage | ||||||||
| i9 | 2-totals column) | 158,924 (a7) | 117.732 | 41,192 | 191,931 | (c8) | ||
| IU IAL UAiH TUI\UJ | ||||||||
| rl1:) | BY CHURCH | 1 | 60,547 | 123,407 | 37,141 | 192,748 | (v) | |
| ContlnLreon aseparatesheet if necessaryandbrlng the totalsfonvard |
TOTAL | RECEIPTS | rOTAL )AYMENTS |
| STATEMENTOF ASSETSAND LIABILITIES | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPENING | CLOSING | ||||
| CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at31August2022 | BALANCES | BALANCES | |||
| ll | Cashin hand | 10'1 | 66 | ||
| 12 | a-nL a ..^^+ A^^^LL^t | lz,JIa | 2?.612 | ||
| fi | BankDeoostAccoLrnt | '110,859 | 1?-2387 | ||
| t1 | CentraL FnanceBoard | 17,403 | 6,710 | ||
| fi | Trustees forl\,4ethocistChurchPurposes | 40.297 | |||
| t6 | Other funds | (142) | |||
| fi | SUB TOTAL-Church accounts | 150,739 | (c6) | 191,931 | (c8) |
| Total fundsheldby lnterna Organisations lthecloslng | |||||
| a | balancetotafron-rabove)(e12) | 4,868 | (el1) | 816 | (e12| |
| t! | TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELDBYCHURCH | 155,607 | (x) | 192,748 | (v) |
| OTHER | |
|---|---|
| I | lnvestments(includeEndowments) |
| sl | Land &Buildlnqs(seenotesrelnsurancevalue) |
| e3 | OtherAssets |
| s4 | Loan(s)-show arnount outstand nq at vear end |
| ci | OtherLiabii ties |