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2025-08-31-accounts

June 2026 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 Avenue Church exists to glorify God, share the gospel and to help people become disciples of Jesus Christ. We aim to achieve this by being a Christ-centred, Caring, Connected Community:

Caring: We aspire to be Christ-centred in our approach to individuals within and without the church - welcoming, nurturing, valuing differences and upholding each other in prayer.

Connected: We seek to deepen our connection with God and to support one another in our spiritual journeys through worship, prayer, Bible study and wider opportunities.

Community: We strive to serve God by serving the community - actively engaging with local churches, charities and lay groups; promoting social justice and developing our stewardship of the earth.

The Church and Its Services

The Avenue Church is a Local Ecumenical Partnership 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, a pipe organ and a coffee area. For the hard of hearing, an effective sound amplification/loop system is in place. A computer is used to project the words of hymns, readings, and other PowerPoint presentations onto two large ‘TV’ screens, but hymn books and songbooks are still available for those members of the congregation who prefer to use them. For those who are unable to attend Sunday Worship in person, the service is available through YouTube streaming and recordings. For the housebound or those without technology, District ‘Worship at home’ service sheets, Ministers’ ‘Thoughts’ and the most recent weekly diary is distributed fortnightly.

Worship

The Avenue is a friendly church and covers a wide range of worship styles. The weekly Sunday Morning Service at 10:30am has an average attendance of 50-75 adults. On the first Sunday of the month, there is a 9.30 am Worship and Discussion service, with an average attendance of 20 people. On the second Sunday, those under 18 attend Sunday Club, with a typical attendance of 3-10 children. On the fourth Sunday there is usually an All-Age Worship service, usually accompanied by the Worship Band.

Children and young people are welcome to all our services. There are generally art and craft activities available at the back of the Sanctuary, along with suitable books.

Holy Communion is shared approximately once per month; all are welcome to partake. The bread and wine are brought to the congregation to allow all to share equally. For hygiene purposes, individual glasses are used. Gluten free wafers are available, and the wine is non-alcoholic.

Other Worship opportunities include WhatsApp prayer, Sunday morning pre-service prayer, Prayer tree, Prayer and Praise via Zoom on Wednesday mornings and a range of Bible studies/ Housegroups. The Avenue also conducts a number of baptisms, marriages, and funerals. We are authorised for both heterosexual and same-sex marriages.

Children and Family Support

The Avenue Church Family Worker was appointed Sept 2024. The role supports children and families through pastoral contact, Tea & Tots Group, Mini Messy Church, Kidz & Coffee, Youth Nights (joint with Abbotsbury) and engagement through local schools. Safeguarding policies are fully in place.

Safeguarding

The Avenue takes the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously.

The Avenue has policies in place tied in with good practice. Our members are safely recruited for roles working with children and vulnerable adults. DBS checks and Safeguarding Training are up to date. Our events/activities are safely undertaken with appropriate risk assessments.

Other activities

The Avenue Church actively supports Christian Aid (e.g. hosting the ‘Big Brekkie’, Homeless in Teignbridge Support (HITS), and “Our Pavilion” café in Forde Park which provides employment opportunities for adults with different needs. The Avenue Church participates fully in Christians Together in Newton Abbot and Circuit activities.

The Avenue has established a sharing agreement with a local health and well-being charity called KingsCare which uses the church facilities several times a week for some of its activities.

The Avenue Church hosted a pantomime again in Feb 2025 & 2026 after a couple of years break. It was directed by and starred many members of the church and friends.

As a Church, we are committed to World Justice issues and promote Fairtrade. We are also actively reducing use and recycling of plastic, aiming for zero plastic status.

Rooms are offered externally for lettings.

Church Groups and Regular Events

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 Coordinators. 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 Avenue Church. Many of the church’s activities benefit not only its members but others, giving the church an opportunity to deliver the Christian message.

Financial Review

The financial accounts for the year September 2024 to August 2025 showed a net income of £129,468 (receipts being £273,280 including a significant legacy of £162,366, while payments were £143,811).

General accounts, representing the day-to-day management of the church excluding one off receipts and payments, showed a net expenditure of £6,881 (general receipts being £ 103,674, while general payments were £ 110,556).

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 maintained this target throughout the year and at August 2025 had funds of £ 273,539. The church funds which are not reserved are designated for either missional projects, such as future funding of the Church Family Worker, or refurbishment projects, such as the refurbishment of the sanctuary windows and the boiler.

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 2023/24 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: office@theavenuechurch.co.uk

Website: www.theavenuechurch.co.uk.

Trustees

Ex-ofcio/ Co-opted members

Rev. Gill Daniel - Chairperson/Methodist Minister

Sarah Wood – Church Family Worker

Elected Trustees

Sheila Bendall –Hospitality

Kay Fice – Property (Kay is also employed by The Avenue and Teignbridge Methodist Circuit as Office Administrator)

Margaret Fisher – Meetings Secretary

Jean Francis – Worship, Children and Families, and Communication trustee

Kathryn Garnett – Joint Pastoral Co-ordinator

Duncan Knight- Treasurer

Linda Ranjit - Welcome

Gill Sinden – Joint Pastoral Co-ordinator

CHURCH ACCRUED ACCOUNTS THE IAETHOtXST CHURCH The Avenuo Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 A￿uSt 2025 Tdgnbrldgo Clr¢ult Ck¢uft no. 37128 Reglslered Clwrlty. Charlty Reglstrakn n￿nber If not a rwstwed charity HI8 ma1￿8 R•vMu• and Cu$t¢Jm¥ Grft Aid numbèr crhe HMRC number is equNalent to a registered charity nvmb8r terms of evidence of charitakAe Status and may b8 used to give to or grant fvnders to see evidertt of the organisabon's charitable status. Methodist charities in EwlaTrJ and Wales that are not registered charities are exce&rted fr(￿ regstrati(￿ Stslutory Instrument 2014 No.242) 1137080 Ministgr. Rev Gillian Daniel Churth Trustees Sheila Bendall Kay FIL Margaret Fithr Jean Francis Kathryn Gamett Linda Ranjit Gillian Sinden Treasuyer Duncan Knight Th? Avenuo Church-8of8-baan(¥ 8h•Ot-•¢Xn￿202s v2.2 exdlthw Buldkng Ir￿￿l￿Al$X

TheA¥erwe<hurth T• OFknn Donattonsandlrants Fundraisi￿leVe￿5 ftak1 lettinp IThtre￿ and InwstMentthKllffti $5576 7&18 73 55.S76 337a 11901 9.W3 11759 9￿3 6.910 IL035 CrthErtharfialdE Ir￿￿¢ Pa5Sthrwhwlethc 43 l143 L461 2T4￿) 31,495 1.461 4Jll I￿212 lcu￿¥s8¢S$meBt•rth¥rt Gfantsa￿jdOTh1tIOrs ProputymiiTrtrD•rie• surance.u￿11fluaC n? Li .ni 1.160 10254 IX302 IL 110 12.8 fi<texperses Clhereynditure P¥operty proJects trlldrM iTrdfarrdI￿w0 MIssH)n 4ts6 8.156 149.466 616 4.9 IS￿7 4254 2￿3¢ IA61 I43￿11 1034 Pasithrow coHe£iiorL% IIQ5S6 13.774 19.482 239.1?1 GI1￿511￿$$1lt1n nv)nwtlMstmRnts 1fft$l(kn5sesl￿ ITr￿$1￿￿ kWFQrtfjE5 129.468 1107.59LI Tr•nsler$bÈt•n lunds other￿n$/(loSseSj 247n 143.5 167.747 1541691 I￿.168 1107.5911 49345 20511 $3 I￿•,10￿ 26978 24¢OJI 140.409 T•tlfwth¢￿I1dtsr￿wd

TheA¥wue Chu T•nbrfdy C¢ult371 laThr•Sho•lasat 31Aups12025 Oublthr4satVaknthin at Ins￿r•￿e Flthlre5￿d Fllb 2ts1057 Obthrs and Loans thethurthes In¥tstmentswhth TMCP Cenrr•l FSrnance Board D Cash ai Bankand ID hand nts 5.248 81 160,789 91911 14.591 43.599 7&412 1$399 45.911 14J23 IL116 268 CWVert￿ts4lt 3.156 1661 Grants ¥￿e￿ith￿￿ X12>26 3.156 sJo2 3,661 2IL755 479241 Grants ableafter 1025.26 Loansttsthechwch 471241 General FuDd UDre51rfded ated Funds VnrtstrlctÈd Z81.755 28L755 185,102 466JS6 174,677 20,511 195.1 149.279 ,102 RestrlctdFunds Effid¢)wm*nt FLthds I5/￿12é KJCW kThJi&rfr

Name ofChurch......TheAvenue Church................................................... No...1137080 Declarations and Scrutiny confirm thal these accruals-based accounts for th8 year to 31 August 2025 have been piepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds urmler the control of tre Church trustees. s￿nature oftreasurer............... ... ... /¥./2< Name and address of treasurer ...thmcan Knight,.... ..518vr&ston Road. Newlon Abl>)t...... PostCode...TQ12 1HN...... Presenlation to th• Church tnMteo8 I confinn that the amual report and accounts for the year end￿1 31 Augu3t 2025 presented to the meeting ofth8 Church trustees held on ...41h June 2026.............. Signature of the Chair of the meeting: ......... N8m8 of the Chair of the meettrKJ:...Rev Gill Daniel................... .. .... 11&12 Indèpendent Examlnerfs Report to the Trustees of the . Avenue.. Church G￿lIty Numb•r...1137080 ... Rpsponslblllt188 and basls of report I report to the trustees on my examination of Ihe accounts of the ...Avenue.... Church for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages ... . AS the Church'8 trustees, you are responsib￿ for the preparation of the a(xounts in accordar￿ with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe ACV). I report in respect of my examinatr>n of the Churth's accounts caff*d out urKler section 145 of the Act and. in carrylng out my examinalion. I have foll0y￿d all the appllcable Directrons given by Ihe Charity C(Thmi&8ion under secii)n lw5)￿) of the A( ' delete or circle as approprlate

Name ofChurch......TheAvenue ChiJr¢h............... ..... . No...1137080 Independent Examinerf$ Ststement The Church's gross income exceded £250.000 and l an qualffEd to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of I have compd my examination. l o)nfim that no mateTial matters have come to my attention in Connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in. any material r8SPeCt'. the accounting records were not kept in accordan￿ with sectson 130 of the Art or the acCO￿ts do not accord ith the accounting r8¢0rd8' or the accounts do not CA)mply with ts applicable requIr￿nts conceming the fomi aThJ content of accounts set out in the char￿e$ (Ac£ounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts gNe a Inje and falrf vlew, whlch is not a matter considered a8 part of an independent examinatK•n the trus￿, annual feport 18 not consistent with the acrAMJnts I have no concems a￿j have a(XU￿ iiu other matter5 in (x)nrcbon with ￿ examination to which attention shoubj be drml in this report in order to enable a proper u￿lerstandIng of the account8 to b8 reach￿. I have not obtained independenl verification crf all investrnents with the Trustee5 for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts. bank baJanc88 and funds at tha Central Flnance Board of th& Meth(*Jist Churth which are I(￿NIdUallY in excess of £10.000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independerrt examiner Name of independentexaminer ................................................. ................................ Rebvant professKJnal qualification of indepetht •xamin•r ............................................. Name of finn (where appropriats> Address ..... Post Code Date ' delete or circle as approprlate