## **WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 1137321**
## **CITY ROAD CIRCUIT IN THE LONDON DISTRICT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH Circuit No. 35/1**
**TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
||**Page**|
|Trustees’ Report|2 - 15|
|Auditors’ Report|16 - 19|
|Statement of Financial Activities|20|
|Balance Sheet|21|
|Statement of Cash Flows|22|
|Notes to the Accounts|23 – 40|
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**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
**TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
The Trustees present their report and audited accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025, which comply with the Charities Act 2011 and have been prepared in accordance with Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
The name of the Charity is Wesley’s Chapel & Leysian Mission. It is the City Road Circuit in the London District of the Methodist Church; Circuit number 35/1.
## **Background**
Wesley’s Chapel & Leysian Mission is a thriving Methodist congregation and charity in the heart of London with a full programme of services and events throughout the week. The site is a complex of Georgian and Victorian buildings located in a fine Georgian courtyard near the financial district of London. John Wesley’s chapel, his house and the Museum of Methodism are all on site for visitors to see.
The charity was registered as a charity on the 6[th] August 2010; registered charity number 1137321.
**Registered address** 47,47a & 49 City Road, London EC1Y 1AU
## **Trustees**
The following are the Trustees of the registered charity who served during the year and were the legally named Trustees at the date that this report was approved: -
## **Ex-officio/Clergy**
Jennifer Smith - Chair Claire Potter – Minister Faith Nyota (appointed September 2025) Stephen Poxon (September 2024 to August 2025) Myrtle Poxon (September 2024 to August 2025) Jongikaya Zihle (curtailed March 2025)
## **Property Trustees**
Jerry Abankwah Joel Akazarah (appointed October 2024) Samuel Appiah-Anderson Louis Colley Doug Godfrey-Swanney (Appointed June 2025) Kingsley Kissi (resigned November 2024)
## **Finance Trustees**
Mothen Amuaku (appointed October 2024) Ebenezer Jojo Annan Stella Eastwood Peter Forward - Treasurer/Gift Aid Secretary Stephen Ludlow Sylvester Mbeah Ruth Lythe (resigned January 2025)
## **Mission Trustees**
Josh Snape – Senior Circuit Steward Gillian Brady (appointed October 2024) Sagan Daniels Louise Harding-Murray Clara Nartey (Appointed October 2025) Gavin Sutter Barnabas Masukume (resigned October 2025)
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**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
**TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
## **Reference and administrative details**
|_District Chair_|The Revd Faith Nyota (from September 2025)|
|---|---|
||The Revd Dr Jongikaya Zihle (to March 2025)|
|_Ministers_|The Revd Canon Dr Jennifer Smith (Superintendent)|
||The Revd Dr Claire Potter (from September 2025)|
||The Revd Stephen Poxon (September 2024 to August 2025)|
|_Deacon:_|Mrs Myrtle Poxon (from September 2024 to August 2025)|
|_Associate ministers_|The Revd John Cooke (Supernumerary)|
||The Revd Paul Hulme (Supernumerary)|
||The Revd Dr John Lampard (Supernumerary)|
||The Revd Stephen Penrose (Supernumerary)|
||The Revd Ian Yates (Supernumerary)|
|_Lay workers_|Thomas Smith (Leysian Missioner)|
||Jessy Mhone (Global Mission Fellow) – to June 2025|
||Tamira Nunez (Global Mission Fellow) – from September 2025|
|_Museum_|Christian Dettlaff (Curator)|
||Charlotte Hay-Campbell (Learning & Community Engagement|
||Officer)|
|_Office & administration_|
Tracey Smith (Manager)|
||Daphne Johnson (Finance Officer)|
||Beatrice Omane (Administration Assistant)|
|_Banking_|HSBC Bank|
||1-3 Bishopsgate|
||London EC2N 3AQ|
||Lloyds Bank|
||60-64 Moorgate|
||London EC2R 6EJ|
|_Solicitors_|Pothecary Witham Weld|
||84 Eccleston Square, Pimlico,|
||London SW1V 1PX|
|_Investment management_|Greenbank Investments Limited|
||30 Gresham Street|
||London|
||EC2V 7QN|
|_Auditors_|Clay Ratnage Strevens & Hills|
||Suite D, The Business Centre|
||Faringdon Avenue|
||Romford, Essex|
||RM3 8EN|
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**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
## **Structure, governance and management**
City Road is a Circuit of the Methodist Church in Great Britain and its constitution and policy are determined by that body’s Model Trust and Standing Orders. The Circuit has only one Church, Wesley’s Chapel, having merged with The Leysian Mission in 1989. As a result, the same Trustees are members of both the Church Council and Circuit Meeting and always meet as one body in their capacity as Managing Trustees. Mission, Finance and Property matters are delegated to separate Committees of Trustees, which each report to the meetings of the Church Council/Circuit for any decision making. All major decisions of the charity are proposed to Trustees for consideration and advice. Responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Charity lies with the Superintendent Minister.
The appointment of Trustees is governed by the Standing Orders of the Methodist Church. New Trustees are appointed by the existing body of Trustees and the Circuit Meeting. Trustees are chosen from the congregation, and other known associates through recommendations. All Trustees perform their roles as volunteers. No Trustees receive any benefits in service to the Charity. All Trustees are inducted and referred to Charity Commission guidance on their roles and responsibilities. It is the policy of the charity to undertake a yearly training session for all Trustees.
Trustees plan to meet six times per year. Agendas and papers are circulated in advance of meetings, with formal minutes being circulated after each meeting.
## **Key management remuneration**
The charity undertakes yearly benchmarking of key management personnel remuneration compared to other circuits, churches and similar roles in the Greater London area. An annual appraisal process is undertaken of each staff member to provide feedback and assess their roles and performance. This is in line with Methodist Church operations, policies and practices, with the Board authorising final pay rates.
## **Risk management**
Although the full Trustee Board is responsible for managing risks they request the Property and Finance Committees, which have the most appropriate skills and experience, and the Superintendent Minister, who is also experienced in this area, to advise them.
A short to medium term risk identified arises as a result of the potential loss or delays in weekly cash income or donations. To mitigate this risk, the Charity is moving to encourage members and supporters to donate regularly by bank transfer and introducing other forms of giving.
A longer term risk identified is the potential of reduced investment income. The charity has worked with Greenbank Investment to minimise this risk.
At present, there are no other risks identified which are considered to be material, based on the combination of likelihood of occurrence and seriousness of impact were they to occur. However, the key risks noted include:
1. Damage to reputation: Incidents or events may damage or negatively impact the charity's reputation or operations (e.g. fraud, security, major incidents) Mitigation:
- Preventative policies and procedures in place —notably safeguarding and supervision policies of the Methodist Church, and risk assessments for church activity.
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**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
- Incidents, complaints and trends monitored by Trustees —in line with the complaints process of the Methodist Church.
- Support available from Methodist Connexional team —notably the media office for engagement advice with media in a crisis, help in preparing press statements and other comments
2. Loss of key members of staff or ministers: Failure to recruit and retain required skills and talent to deliver our services and strategy. Mitigation:
- Staff strategy and planning
- Regular staff and volunteer meetings
- Benchmarking of salaries and benefits
- Policies and procedures
- Specialist support from Methodist Connexional Team.
3. Reduction in congregation participation and attendance: The charity's income, activities and outreach may be impacted by falling congregational numbers or participation. Mitigation:
- Specialist Trustees roles defined to ensure each activity and trends monitored
- Financial reserves enable services and outreach to be maintained even if attendance fluctuates.
- A full and active focus of every part of the church in evangelism and church growth, numerical and otherwise.
4. Receiving less funding or fewer public donations and offerings: The charity is reliant on voluntary income to support its activities, a reduction to which may negatively impact its activities.
Mitigation:
- Annual budget is maintained and regularly reviewed.
- Regular reviews of trends in giving are undertaken by Trustees.
- Finance Trustees undertake financial awareness campaign to membership.
- Financial reserves enable services to be maintained even if donations fluctuate.
5. Losing money through inappropriate investments: The charity holds various investment assets to ensure the long-term security of the Chapel premises, as well as to provide annual investment income to assist it in meeting its annual outgoings. Losing money through inappropriate investments would both affect its long-term security and the income generated from the assets.
- Mitigation:
- Trustees have identified and agreed an investment policy which ensures that investment risk is widely spread and investments are readily realisable.
- A professional firm of investment managers has been appointed to carry out the policy.
- Reviews of investment performance are received and reviewed by the Finance Trustees.
- Annual face to face presentation is made by the Investment Manager.
6. Variability of income from investments: The charity relies on receiving income from its investment assets to balance its budget. An unexpected variance in the level of this income could impact the charity's finances adversely. Mitigation:
- Annual budget including identification of annual investment income targets.
- Discussions held with Investment Managers to identify the relevant policy to achieve the targeted ‘Total Return’ year-on-year in line with identified risk appetites.
- Annual budgets are approved by the Board of Trustees.
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**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
7. Major damage to Chapel, Manse, Museum, an investment property or site: The charity's ability to operate effectively adversely and/or its income may be diminished. Mitigation:
- Trustees undertake regular review of key risk issues relating to each type of property.
- Compulsory independent quinquennial property inspections undertaken
- All properties are fully insured and revaluations regularly reviewed.
- Financial reserves sufficient to enable services to be maintained even in severe stress situations.
8. Theft of items or cash: The charity's income may be affected adversely, its assets damaged or its ability to display heritage items diminished. Mitigation:
- Unbanked cash is maintained at a minimum and stored securely.
- Excess bank balances are banked promptly.
- Insurance cover is maintained for both cash and other contents, including heritage assets.
- Insurance cover is reviewed annually.
- Surplus heritage items available to be displayed in place of lost items.
- Financial reserves sufficient to enable services to be maintained despite losses.
Each of the risks are assessed on an annual basis by the Trustees, and are regularly monitored to ensure controls are in place and an effective risk plan is up-to-date. Policies and procedures are implemented and monitored against each risk. Any financial risks are reduced by regular review of the charity’s financial position and performance by the Trustees, monthly cash flow review, and by appointing designated Trustees with finance experience or interests to ensure the most efficient use of resources.
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the land, buildings, theft and investments, and are satisfied that systems are in place to control and mitigate their exposure to these risks.
## **Objectives and activities**
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. Inspired by the calling, the aims are:
- To increase awareness of God’s presence and to celebrate God’s love (worship)
- To help people to grow and learn as Christians through mutual support and care (learning and care)
- To be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice (service)
- • To make more followers of Jesus Christ (evangelism)
The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and have taken it into account when reviewing the Charity’s aims and objectives and in planning for its future activities. In this respect, their objective is to advance the Christian religion in the City Road Circuit of the London District of the Methodist Church and in the wider world for the benefit of the public. The Trustees are satisfied that the aims of the Charity are carried out wholly in pursuit of its charitable aims for the public benefit.
The Circuit’s more particular (and local) objectives are to promote and preserve Wesley’s Chapel as well as to develop and support ministry among those experiencing deprivation in Inner London and elsewhere.
In pursuit of these aims and objectives, the Circuit’s weekly programme is given on page 7. In addition, the Chapel and other buildings on the 49 City Road campus are an historic heritage site and the Circuit maintains a registered museum, consisting of the Museum of Methodism in the Crypt and John Wesley’s House, both of which are open Tuesday to Saturday. Note 11b to the accounts gives details of the
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**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
contribution made to these activities by volunteers. The Museum has secured full accreditation through the Arts Council England.
Wesley's Chapel serves its near neighbourhood in a large variety of ways. The Stay and Play group serves young families, child minders and carers in the immediate neighbourhood, as do our uniformed organisation - Boys' Brigade and Girls' Association.
Wesley's Chapel is situated in an area with a huge number of voluntary sector organisations and many of them use our facilities. We also host a Carol Service for these organisations at Christmas and keep them in touch with activities at the Chapel through a regular email update. Wesley’s Chapel also serves as the 'sanctuary' for a number of the local offices, when they have their fire evacuation alerts.
The charity relies on the generosity of local volunteers in order to carry out its mission and contribute to the running of activities, including providing tours, working in the museum or by devoting time to weekly services.
## _Weekly Programme_
|Sunday|9:45am|Holy Communion (except first Sunday in the month)|
|---|---|---|
||11:00am|Morning Service & Sunday School|
||12.30pm|Wesley’s Chapel Ghana Fellowship (last Sunday in the month)|
|||Methodist Women in Britain (first Sunday in the month)|
||5:00pm|Zoom Fellowship|
||5:15pm|Zoom Bible Study|
||6:00pm|Zoom Evening Prayer|
||7:00pm|Taizé Style Service (first Sunday in the month)|
|Monday|10:00am|Morning Prayer|
||2:00pm|Sisterhood|
|Tuesday|10:00am|Morning Prayer|
||1:05pm|Lunchtime Recital (except July, August, December)|
||6:30pm|Boys’ Brigade & Girls’ Association|
|Wednesday|10:00am|Morning Prayer|
||10:15am|Stay & Play (under 5’s term-time only)|
||12:45pm|Service of Holy Communion (30 mins)|
|Thursday|10:00am|Morning Prayer|
|Friday|10:00am|Morning Prayer|
|Saturday|10:00am|Morning Prayer|
||5:00pm|Choir practice (except Saturday following singing in morning service)|
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**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
|**Achievements and performance**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**No.**|**No.**|
|Church membership – in October falling within the accounting year|457|460|
|Museum visitors – total during the accounting year (excluding groups)
|16,600|14,376|
Set on the edge of the City of London, **Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission** continues two and half centuries of Methodist commitment to this local neighbourhood, alongside a global welcome. People from all over the world gather in the congregation to worship God, learn, and grow together.
Over twenty thousand will visit the Museum of Methodism and John Wesley’s House in person this year with an additional ca. 1200 per week joining our online and learning programmes. For pilgrims visiting their ‘Mother Church,’ international Methodist church leaders, theologians, school groups, or just locals looking for prayer and quiet, the doors at City Road are open.
## **Our Offer: to God, to the City**
_“The Gospel of Christ knows no religion but social; no holiness, but social holiness_ .” John Wesley
## **Worship and Welcome**
In worship we praise God, read the scriptures, consider God’s purposes, and pray for the world. With song, words, and silence we seek forgiveness, offer lament, give thanks, and encourage one another. Over a thousand people regularly worship at Wesley’s Chapel each week online and in person, including up to 200 each Sunday morning. We are a **growing, justice-seeking, evangelistic, and inclusive church** , and to hand on the Methodist traditions we bring from around the world as we inhabit the Wesleyan heritage of this place.
Every week in **Holy Communion** , we join the global church to be fed by God: we practice an open table with a welcome to all ages and people. Children (and their noises) are always welcome in worship, and a regular **Sunday School** is supplemented by in-worship activities and a ‘ **Creche Corner** ’ play area in the sanctuary. Recently we have piloted free ‘fidget’ toys and other age appropriate activities for children and adults with neuro-diverse presentations in worship. A group attended the national **3Generate Conference** this year and we also hosted a District Youth event ‘ **Don’t do life alone** ’ for ages 8-23 at which 81 young people participated.
Up to 150 join for livestreamed **Morning Prayer** at 10am Monday to Saturday, and others participate in more intimate midweek services and monthly **International Prayer in the style of the Taizé community** . This is complemented by special occasional services, discipleship, and ecumenically shared study: we have received 41 new members by confession and transfer in 2024-25, nearly double the growth in membership from the previous year. Further years will see if this is a one off or represents a trend: we are seeking to be more intentional inducting new members into the life of the church, and expanding lay involvement in leading worship, welcome and other activities on a Sunday, and in support of our pastoral care.
Alongside **Superintendent Minister the Revd Canon Dr Jennifer Smith, the Revd Dr Claire Potter** was stationed to City Road in September 2025. She has pastoral charge as Minister of the Chapel, and leads for pastoral care; all ministers share worship and work collaboratively to develop mission priorities. We have continued to develop the worship life of the Chapel: the first Sunday we have Communion, second ‘This Time Tomorrow’ (testimony), third a chance to come for congregational conversation, and fourth a special focus on the Sunday School with the aspiration of ministers going out to the children.
A team of lay preachers and retired ministers works alongside the pastoral staff to offer a rich diet of worship and discipleship, including a midweek **Communion, Sunday Evening Zoom Fellowship** , with **Bible study** and **Evening Prayer** . We delight too to see new vocations for **lay and ordained ministry** and **pastoral work** flourish in the life of the Chapel, and to be a regular venue for student placements.
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**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
This year we are seeking to develop children and young people’s musical participation in the life of the Chapel and community, whether with steel drums or song: several children sing in the choir and we seek to have enough for a children’s choir. **Choir Director Mikyung Kim** and **Organist Elvis Pratt** continue to lead the music for weekly worship: the choir sings monthly and for special events. Our Worship is enriched by visiting choirs and other musicians who join us from all over the world.
From 2022 Wesley’s Chapel has solemnised both weddings between a man and a woman, and those between two people of the same sex; God has made our community diverse in opinion about this, and we honour that diversity with this change. **We continue to have weddings and blessings on and off site** .
## **Wesley Day Celebrations**
On 24th May, 2024 we commemorated John Wesley’s conversion, walking in the footsteps of John Wesley to St Paul’s Cathedral via Aldersgate Street. We paused for prayer at Bunhill Fields burial ground, and at the ‘Aldersgate Flame’ sculpture by the Museum of London.
## **Global Welcome at Wesley’s Chapel**
This year saw the expansion of international groups visiting City Road, including global political leaders from several nations. We were also pleased to welcome **global Methodist leaders** attending the Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain. Our own 2024-25 **British President of Conference the Revd Richard Andrew** and **Vice President Matt Forsyth** launched their connexional year from the Chapel in September 2025.
## **Our Journey: with God, with each other**
## **Pastoral Care**
**Over 30 pastoral leaders** serve Wesley’s Chapel, each one (or two) looking after a small group and working with staff to offer care in times of **crisis or change** , in addition to offering regular chances for **growth, service, and discipleship** . We have recently re-named and re-defined this role, and since been able to recruit further members: nevertheless, we need more and seek to have every member or adherent have a named pastoral leader whom they know and with whom they develop rapport. The Minister has recently pruned our membership list, removing those who have ceased to meet or have requested it: although we have lists with higher figures, we are in regular membership contact now with 412 people and this figure is growing. Our ‘Community Role’ is over 700. **This is an area of development for us and a focus of the year as Dr Potter begins her ministry.**
_“I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”_ Psalm 27:14
## **Work with Younger Adults**
In Autumn 2024, a diverse group of 18-35 year olds have gathered to plan social and other events, convened by a member of the congregation and supported by staff. **Global Mission Fellow Tamira Nunez from Belize** joined us in September 2025; she replaced **Jessy Mhone from Malawi** . This placement is supported both by the **World Mission Fund** of the British Methodist Conference, and the **Global Board of Discipleship** of the United Methodist Church. A further grant from the **London District Advance Fund** allows the payment of the Living wage. Tamira supports hospitality to **Asylum Seekers and Refugees** , facilitating weekly drop in on site in partnership with **Union Chapel, Islington** . She also works with young adult pastoral care, social media, and the children and youth.
The whole church has also this year continued in membership of **London Citizens** , involving Wesley’s Chapel in unified community work for justice, political advocacy and action, and offering training for community development skills.
## **Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association**
Up to twenty-five boys and girls from the age of 5 now meet in person every Tuesday night, led by **Captain Matthew Smith** and supported by 7 Officers drawn from the Church congregation. The girls and boys together develop leadership skills and experience, balancing weekly games and faith sharing with regular outings and trips. This year included kayaking, paddleboarding, and paintballing: the
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**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
BB/GA is open to all aged 5-18, and is supported by a large network of former members. We give thanks for the Brigade’s continuing presence at City Road. A major bequest has secured the financial position of the Brigade, but the recruitment of new Officers and adult helpers remains a priority.
## **‘Stay and Play’ offers community support**
Hosted by **Leysian Missioner Thomas Smith** , over 20 households meet on Wednesday mornings during school terms to offer support for parents and carers, and safe play for under-fives.
## **Wesley’s Chapel Recitals**
Each Tuesday at 1:05pm, the Chapel hosts a **short free recital** , featuring musicians of many different kinds. We are glad to see this oasis in the midst of a busy working day draw new audiences and make culture accessible to everyone in our community.
## **‘Take one, leave one,’ and the Benevolent Fund**
**Leysian Missioner Thomas Smith** and a group of volunteers have offered a **‘Take one, leave one’ warm coat exchange** outside the Chapel, where people can help themselves and help others without needing to draw attention to their need. There are two benevolent funds which allow small grants for immediate need: for residents of the EC1 post code, the Jordan Trust can help; for others (access via a minister) small grants are made from a church benevolent fund. In general grants normally not more than 200 pounds are made where they will transform a situation as when someone is waiting for benefits or a first pay check, or needs to replace stolen goods or purchase school uniform; grants are not generally made to subsidise monthly expenses. Where there is need, we refer those with financial for help with budgeting or benefits.
_“God looked over all that he had made, and saw that it was very good.’”_ Genesis 1:31
## **Our Offer: Heritage and Learning**
## **The Museum of Methodism and John Wesley’s House**
**Curator Christian Dettlaff** continues to expand the virtual tour and online collections. Christian coordinates over **50 volunteer heritage stewards** to greet visitors from all over the world to City Road and has successfully recruited a new **Learning and Community Engagement Officer Charlotte HayCampbell. We have seen an increase of schools visits on site and the groundwork to take our offer live with Methodist learning environments overseas** . This year we plan a major upgrade to the Museum AV and learning suite to allow remote visits and learning – and give a platform for collaboration more easily between on site and remote groups. We will seek to install a fully interactive system in place of the static video in the central learning area in the present lay out.
In preparation for the 250th anniversary of the Chapel in 2028, the learning programme is seeking participation in an online exhibition from students in a variety of overseas Methodist schools: this seeks to build heritage as mission awareness globally in the Methodist family, and also to build a network of support and awareness of the offer at City Road.
The Museum and House continue to be open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30am-4pm, and offer heritage material in 11 languages, with video resource in Korean and Portuguese in addition to English. Increasing numbers of large pilgrim groups mean that we are evaluating our visitor experience, with as many as 600 arriving together in one planned group.
## **Exhibition with the Leys School, Cambridge**
The Museum nurtured its long-standing relationship with the **Leys School** through a student art display. This was exhibited in Wesley’s Chapel and John Wesley’s House through summer 2024 on the theme ‘Lux’. Each painting was inspired by Methodist heritage and a unique response to the Methodist faith and ethos. We hope to accession the best pieces in future exhibitions into the Museum’s Collection, celebrating contemporary Methodism and young talent.
We are very pleased that our Trustee Stephen Ludlow will also serve as **President of the Old Leysians Society** in the 150th anniversary year of the school, and Jennifer Smith was the guest
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**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
preacher at the Leys 150th service, in the Chapel of King’s College Cambridge. Members of the OLS continue to support the Circuit in its financial and mission objectives.
## **Redeeming our past: Wesley’s Chapel’s Memorials and global links**
In 2022-23 we agreed the return of one ‘Gilbert’ font to the **Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas** , and the retention of one font in the Chapel itself. Arrangements for this return are ongoing as part of our connexional reparations agenda, moving towards a connexional visit in June 2026 to make the return.
## **Physic Garden Trail and Signage**
Inspired by **John Wesley’s ‘Primitive Physic’** , a garden trail of healing herbs and flowers was planted in the public gardens at City Road in March 2019; this has been maintained and marketed this year. This was done in partnership with **St Luke’s Community Centre** and volunteers from **CMS Law** . The trail is now available to guide visitors around the site, and to use our heritage to help with our mission today of well-being for all.
## **Our Thanksgiving: What God is doing**
This church balances global welcome with local service, giving our members a chance to serve each other and the neighbourhood. In this we join our ecumenical partners, **St Giles’ Cripplegate, Jewin Welsh Church** , and **St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church** , with whom we share two month-long small group study series, and occasional service and social events.
## **Church Fellowship and Groups**
This year saw the strengthening of **The Wesley’s Chapel Ghana Fellowship** and **Methodist Women in Britain** and the weekly **Sisterhood** for retired women, meeting on a Monday afternoon. The **Wesley’s Men’s Fellowship** has re-gathered and hosted a monthly men’s breakfast drawing up to 20 each month from all walks of life for prayer, fellowship, and food.
Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission is a large church, and these groups help people get to know one another: they deliver a vital mission as part of our faith development.
## **Board of Trustees and Staff**
We give thanks for our lay leadership, the **Board of Trustees** who guide the Finance, Property, and Mission of this church and for the continued support and advice of the **Old Leysian Society** . The Trustees focus the mission and help different parts of the organisation work together, as well as supporting the Superintendent in leadership, and the lay preachers and other staff.
In the Office, we give thanks for the continued leadership of **Tracey Smith** , our Manager, along with **Daphne Thompson** in Finance and **Beatrice Omane** on administration.
## **Property and Finance**
Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission is a registered UK Charity (no. 1137321) and undertakes a full audit of its accounts each year, available on request. (Full accounts available from the Charity Commission website.) We are working to find new sustainable income streams and to increase giving, including through estate giving.
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**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
**TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
## **Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements.
## **Investment policy, objectives and performance**
The objective is to support the mission of the Methodist Church in the City Road Circuit London and to achieve that by producing real growth of income and preserving real value of capital.
Quarterly reports are received from the appointed Investment Managers giving assessments of the investment performance of the Charity's investment assets. These reports are made available to all the Finance Trustees which report in turn to the Church Council/Circuit Meeting. In addition, the Investment Managers meet with the Finance Trustees at least once annually.
The Charity operates an ethical investment policy in line with that of the Methodist Church nationally. The Investment Manager provides regular reports as to its voting record at company meetings, and also as to how it adheres to the stated ethical investment policy. The investment policy is to provide income which increases with inflation, while maintaining the real value of the portfolio.
Greenbank Investments, a subsidiary of Rathbones Group, one of the largest of the City fund managers is the Charity’s appointed Fund Manager. The performance of the investment portfolio for the year to 31 August 2025 was in line with our expectations. The Charity will continue to monitor the ethical position of our portfolio where we expect the current exclusions to be maintained. Like many other charities, we are now putting increased emphasis on total investment return rather than income return, and thus have the ability to utilise some of the additional potential return to supplement our operating budget.
12
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
**TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
## **Finance review**
Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission has two distinct activities, the day to day running of the chapel and its wider Christian ministry and the operation of the Museum. In addition it maintains a number of restricted and endowed funds to support specific parts of its ministry and works.
Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission is a registered UK Charity (no. 1137321) and undertakes a full audit of its accounts each year, available on request. These accounts give an overview of income and expenditure for 2024-25, with year-end 31 August.
The accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 show a deficit of £431,527 (2024: £435,778 surplus) before investment losses of £121,245 (2024: £375,774 gain). Unrestricted income of £533,590 (2024: £528,062) was slightly higher compared to the prior year but unrestricted expenditure was much higher than prior year at £1,073,802 (2024: £717,896) mainly as a result of exceptional spend of £235,927 on improvement works to the City Road site. This resulted in an overall net deficit for the year of £552,772 (2024: £1,138,603 surplus including a one-off £327,051 gain on the transfer of the Linton Street Manse to the Methodist Connexion). Total funds at 31 August 2025 were £11,197,560 (2024: £11,750,334).
The support of members and friends continues to be highly appreciated by all involved. The Trustees would like to thank all of the supporters of the charity, especially during another extremely difficult year. Regular donors, the church congregation, the Old Leysian’s, alumni of the Leys School, and supporters of the museum are all part of our wider family, and we thank them for enabling the charity to fulfil its mission and remain financially stable to continue its works.
13
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
## **Reserves policy**
Reserves are held to ensure that the Charity can continue to meet its commitments, mission and objectives in the event of short-term income shortfalls or unforeseen expenditure requirements.
- **(a)** The Circuit has three categories of reserves (funds):
|1.**General and Designated Funds**
2.**Restricted Funds**
3.**Endowment Funds**||**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
9,984,108
10,464,715
822,180
821,774
391,272
463,845|
|---|---|---|
|||**11,197,560**
**11,750,334**|
## **(b) Reserves policy for General Funds**
These are available for any purpose of the Methodist Church and comprise:
||**2025**
**£**|**2024**
**£**|
|---|---|---|
|Those representing the carrying value of land, buildings and other fixed
assets|4,520,701|3,026,396|
|Those designated for Property Endowment, House & Museum, Leysian
Mission purposes (as laid down by Conference), & Funds committed to
the purchase of a replacement Manse.|4,571,814|6,327,088|
|Those invested, mainly unconditional legacies, to provide ongoing
income, thereby perpetuating the effect ofthe benefactors’generosity|735,960|749,102|
|Liquid funds, readily available for day-to-day expenditure. The
Trustees’ policy is to build these funds until they reach approximately
six months’expenditure, or currently about £375,000.|155,633|362,129|
||**9,984,108**|**10,464,715**|
## **(c) Policy for Restricted Funds**
These funds must be used only for special purposes of the Circuit or for specific purposes for which money was donated or bequeathed. They include Circuit Advance Fund (CAF) (Trusts 18787 & 18787A) which is restricted by standing orders of the Methodist Church.
|which is restricted by standing orders of the Methodist Church.|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**
**£**|**2024**
**£**|
|Circuit Advance Funds(18787)|659|11,492|
|Gibbs Fund – a donation from the Gibbs Trust to the House & Museum|130,561|129,112|
|Various other funds includinglegacies,clubs & societies|655,758|647,160|
|Kinnear Education Funds|35,202|34,010|
||**822,180**|**821,774**|
## **(d) Terms relating to Endowment Funds held**
The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes act as a Custodian Trustee for the permanent endowment funds, the management of which is undertaken by the Investment Manager. The capital cannot be spent, but the income is available for the following purposes:
|_Capital_|**2025**
**£**|**2024**
**£**|
|---|---|---|
|Youth Council - Trust 22317 - Gabriel,Grosvenor & Cooper|10,479|10,359|
|General Fund – Various Trusts|380,793|453,486|
||**391,272**|**463,845**|
|_Income_|||
|Youth Council - Trust 22317 - Gabriel,Grosvenor & Cooper|252|205|
|General Fund – Various Trusts|10,101|14,659|
||**10,353**|
**14,864**|
14
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (continued)**
## **Plans for the future**
We will continue with strong financial planning and accountability, to resource ongoing projects:
- Maintenance and improvement of property portfolio including manses, in a major ‘Refresh’ programme improving mission opportunities and financed by strategic fund raising and release of reserves;
- Improving the maintenance and strategic improvement of the site, including toilets, lighting, signage, decoration, infrastructure, and digital platform.
- Further developing the Wesley Chapel intentional community (3 bedsits, subsidised rent for community benefit);
- Develop administrative team and lay leadership, recruitment of new trustees and leaders;
- Nurture and pastoral care of our congregation and continued congregational growth, including increased giving and vocations for service;
- Continued evolution of social media and virtual presence of the Chapel and its mission;
- Enhanced heritage and museum programme and collection, alongside appropriate chances for international academic engagement;
- Planned strategic employed and lay staff development, and investment in our people
- Development of space across our site for improved welcome, worship, learning and gallery areas (longer term); and
- To seek outside funding and service partners, for income and discipline of purpose.
This future we commit to the creativity of the people in this place, inspired by the grace of God.
## **Giving at Wesley’s**
All who worship regularly or visit here can support the work of the church and Museum: see the website www.wesleyschapel.org.uk or type **give.net/20115542** into your internet browser and follow the instructions to make a one-off or recurring gift. Please remember to Gift-Aid if you are a UK tax payer.
Even a small recurring gift is of great help: if you would like to speak about other ways to give, including through estate planning, please be in touch with the office.
The charity received no fundraising complaints during the year (2024: none).
The trustees of the charity can confirm that, as far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity’s auditors is unaware, and they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity’s auditors are aware of that information.
## **Approval**
This report was approved by the Trustees on 19 March 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Jennifer Smith Peter Forward Trustee Trustee
15
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**_
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF WESLEY'S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 August 2025 which comprise Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, Statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 August 2025, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis of opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
16
## **WESLEY'S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF WESLEY'S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the trustees' annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
**·** the information given in the trustees’ report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or
- sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 12, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of financial statements which give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
17
## **WESLEY'S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF WESLEY'S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
To identify risks of material misstatement due to fraud (“fraud risks”) we assessed events or conditions that could indicate an incentive or pressure to commit fraud or provide an opportunity to commit fraud. Our risk assessment procedures included:
+ Obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks applicable to the charity.
+ Obtained an understanding of how the charity is complying with those legal and regulatory frameworks by making enquiries to the trustees.
+ The susceptibility of the charity’s financial statements to material misstatement caused by fraud or other irregularities were assessed with the following procedures:
- Identifying and assessing the design effectiveness of controls which trustees have in place to prevent and detect fraud
- Understanding how those charged with governance considered the potential for override of controls and management biases
- Identifying and testing journal entries, in particular any journal entries posted with unusual account combinations
- Assessing the extent of compliance with the relevant laws and regulations
- Assessing the extent to which pressures existed which may have increased the risk of fraudulent revenue recognition
Potential fraud risks that had been identified throughout the planning and commencement of the audit were communicated to the audit team.
The inherent limitations of audit present an unavoidable risk that we, the auditors, may not have detected some material misstatements within the financial statements despite proper planning and performance of our duties as auditors. Equally, there remains a risk of the non-detection of fraud which could involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. The audit procedures carried out are designed to detect material misstatements within the financial statements, and as such we take no responsibility for preventing non-compliance or fraud and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
18
## **WESLEY'S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF WESLEY'S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Reg ulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume resp onsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
## **Clay Ratnage Strevens & Hills**
## **Chartered Accountants**
## **& Statutory Auditor**
Suite D, The Business Centre Faringdon Avenue Romford, Essex, RM3 8EN
## **Date:**
Clay Ratnage Strevens & Hills is eligible to act as auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
19
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AT 31 AUGUST 2025**
||||||**Permanent**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Unrestricted Funds**||**Restricted**|**Endowment**|||
|||**General**|**Designated**|**Funds**|**Funds**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**Notes**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income and endowments**||||||||
|Donations and legacies|**2**|310,515|-|
3,108|-|
313,623|846,723|
|Investment income|**3**|153,403|134,203|17,107|10,353|315,066|298,824|
|Charitable activities|**4**|69,672|-|
-|
-|
69,672|46,868|
|Other||-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
|||─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|
|**Total income and endowments**||||||||
|||533,590|134,203|20,215|10,353|698,361|1,192,415|
|||─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|
|**Expenditure**||||||||
|Raising funds|**5**|25,406|42,660|6,429|3,784|78,279|59,754|
|Charitable activities|**6**|1,048,396|-|3,213|-|1,051,609|696,883|
|||─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|
|**Total expenditure**|**7**|1,073,802|42,660|9,642|3,784|1,129,888|756,637|
|||─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|
|**Net income/(expenditure) before**||||||||
|**gains and losses on investments**||(540,212)|91,543|10,573|6,569|(431,527)|435,778|
|Net (losses)/gains on investments|**21**|(17,323)|(113,663)|3,032|6,709|(121,245)|375,774|
|||─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|
|**Net income/(expenditure) for the year**||(557,535)|(22,120)|13,605|13,278|(552,772)|811,552|
|Transfers between funds|**21**|1,832,202|(1,733,154)|(13,197)|(85,851)|-|-|
|Net gain on transfer of fixed assets|**12**|-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
327,051|
|||─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|
|**Net movement in funds**||1,274,667|(1,755,274)|408|(72,573)|(552,772)|1,138,603|
|Total funds brought forward||4,137,627|6,327,088|821,774|463,845|11,750,334|10,611,731|
|||─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|─────|
|**Fund balances carried forward**|**21**|5,412,294|4,571,814|822,182|391,272|11,197,562|11,750,334|
|||═════|═════|═════|═════|═════|═════|
The notes on pages 23 to 40 form part of these financial statements.
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There are no other recognised gains and losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed above and in notes to the financial statements.
20
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **BALANCE SHEET AT 31 AUGUST 2025**
|**Notes**
**Fixed Assets**
Tangible assets
**12**
Investment properties
**13**
Investments
**14**
**Current Assets**
Debtors
**16**
Cash at bank and in hand
**17**
Stock
**18**
**Creditors:**
Amounts falling due within one
year
**19**
**Net Current Assets**
**Total Net Assets**
**Funds**
Unrestricted
- General
**21**
- Designated
**21**
Restricted
**21**
Permanent endowment
**21**
**Total Charity Funds**|**2025**
**£**
1,500,000
3,020,701
5,774,212
10,294,913
34,359
1,005,914
17,689
1,057,962
155,313
902,649
11,197,562
5,412,294
4,571,814
9,984,108
822,182
391,272
11,197,562|**2024**
**£**
5,695
3,020,701
5,926,647
8,953,043
828,893
1,984,666
13,718
2,827,277
29,986
2,797,291
11,750,334
4,137,627
6,327,088
10,464,715
821,774
463,845
11,750,334|
|---|---|---|
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf on 19 March 2026:
Jennifer Smith Peter Forward Trustee Trustee
Registered Charity No. 1137321
The notes on pages 23 to 40 form part of these financial statements.
21
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
**STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AT 31 AUGUST 2025**
|**2025**
**£**
**Cash Flows from Operating Activities**
Net cash (used by) Operating Activities
253,556
**Cash Flows from Investing Activities,**
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
254,502
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(1,500,000)
Proceeds from transfer of fixed assets
-
Net proceeds from sale of investments
31,190
Net cash provided by Investing Activities
(1,214,308)
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period
(978,752)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
1,984,666
**Cash and cash equivalents at end of period**
**1,005,914**
**Reconciliation of net expenditure to net cash flow from Operating Activities**
**2025**
**£**
Net (expenditure)/income for the reporting period (as per the
Statement of financial activities)
(552,772)
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation and amortisation charges
5,695
(Gain)/Loss on investments
121,245
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
(254,502)
(Increase) in stock
(3,971)
(Increase)/Decrease in debtors
794,534
Increase/(Decrease) in creditors
125,327
**Net cash used in operating activities**
**253,556**
**Analysis of changes in net debt**|**2025**
**£**
**Cash Flows from Operating Activities**
Net cash (used by) Operating Activities
253,556
**Cash Flows from Investing Activities,**
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
254,502
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(1,500,000)
Proceeds from transfer of fixed assets
-
Net proceeds from sale of investments
31,190
Net cash provided by Investing Activities
(1,214,308)
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period
(978,752)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
1,984,666
**Cash and cash equivalents at end of period**
**1,005,914**
**Reconciliation of net expenditure to net cash flow from Operating Activities**
**2025**
**£**
Net (expenditure)/income for the reporting period (as per the
Statement of financial activities)
(552,772)
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation and amortisation charges
5,695
(Gain)/Loss on investments
121,245
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
(254,502)
(Increase) in stock
(3,971)
(Increase)/Decrease in debtors
794,534
Increase/(Decrease) in creditors
125,327
**Net cash used in operating activities**
**253,556**
**Analysis of changes in net debt**|**2025**
**£**
**Cash Flows from Operating Activities**
Net cash (used by) Operating Activities
253,556
**Cash Flows from Investing Activities,**
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
254,502
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(1,500,000)
Proceeds from transfer of fixed assets
-
Net proceeds from sale of investments
31,190
Net cash provided by Investing Activities
(1,214,308)
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period
(978,752)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
1,984,666
**Cash and cash equivalents at end of period**
**1,005,914**
**Reconciliation of net expenditure to net cash flow from Operating Activities**
**2025**
**£**
Net (expenditure)/income for the reporting period (as per the
Statement of financial activities)
(552,772)
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation and amortisation charges
5,695
(Gain)/Loss on investments
121,245
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
(254,502)
(Increase) in stock
(3,971)
(Increase)/Decrease in debtors
794,534
Increase/(Decrease) in creditors
125,327
**Net cash used in operating activities**
**253,556**
**Analysis of changes in net debt**|**2025**
**£**
253,556|**2025**
**£**
253,556|**2024**
**£**
(329,223)|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||254,502
(1,500,000)
-
31,190||253,380
-
1,510,812
121,817|
||||(1,214,308)||1,886,009|
||||(978,752)
1,984,666||1,556,786
427,880|
||||**1,005,914**||**1,984,666**|
||||||**2024**
**£**
811,552
7,922
(375,774)
(253,380)
(3,471)
(507,333)
(8,739)|
|||||**253,556**|**(329,223)**|
||||||**At year**
**end**
**£**
1,005,914
1,984,666|
||**At start of**
**year**
**£**|**Cash**
**flows**
**£**||**Other**
**non-cash**
**changes**
**£**|**At year**
**end**
**£**|
|**At 31 August 2025**||||||
|Cash at bank and in hand|1,984,666|(978,752)||-|1,005,914|
|||||||
|**At 31 August 2024**||||||
|Cash at bank and in hand|427,880|1,556,786||-|1,984,666|
The notes on pages 23 to 40 form part of these financial statements.
22
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION NOTES TO ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **1. Accounting Policies**
The Trust was registered as a charity in England and Wales, United Kingdom, on the 6[th] August 2010 and is governed by a Deed of Union under the Methodist Church Act 1976. The address of the charity is 47, 47a & 49 City Road, London, EC1Y 1AU.
- 1.1 **Basis of preparation and assessment of going concern**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements are presented in and are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair view’ and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 14 July 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. With respect to the next reporting period, 2025-26, the most significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity are the level of investment return, continued impacts of inflation and ongoing cost of living pressures, and the performance of investment markets.
## 1.2 **Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity and depreciation**
Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity are stated at cost less depreciation. All assets costing more than £5,000 are capitalised and valued at historical cost.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write-off the cost or valuation of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:
Fixtures, furniture & fittings - 5 to 10 years Freehold property - 50 years
## 1.3
## **Investment properties**
Investment properties are stated at fair value. Any realised and unrealised gains/(losses) are shown in the Statement of Financial Activities.
## 1.4 **Income and endowments**
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Donations, are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
23
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## 1.4 **Income and endowments (continued)**
Legacy gifts are recognised following the granting of probate when the administrator/executor for the estate has communicated in writing both the amount and settlement date. These are only to be accounted for if received by the date of the accounts being approved. In the event that the gift is in the form of an asset other than cash or a financial asset traded on a recognised stock exchange, recognition is subject to the value of the gift being reliably measurable with a degree of reasonable accuracy and the title to the asset having been transferred to the charity prior to the approval of the accounts.
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid payable by the bank.
Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due. This is normally upon notification by our investment advisor of the dividend yield of the investment portfolio.
## 1.5
## **Heritage assets**
The heritage assets represent the Grade 1 and Grade 2 listed church, stained glass, organ, and the Museum containing various artefacts, manuscripts and papers of John Wesley. The Museum consists of the Museum of Methodism, tracing the history of worldwide Methodism, in the Crypt of the Chapel and John Wesley’s House, which contains many original items of furniture.
The house was refurbished in 1992 and restored to a condition as much like the original as possible. The permanent collections contain manuscripts, photographs, letters and mementoes from his eventful life together and other objects totalling over 16,800 in number. The permanent collections are included in the balance sheet at market £nil valuation as they are historic in nature and have been fully written-off in previous accounts.
The Trustees believe that the costs to continually update the market value of the heritage assets would be onerous compared with the additional benefits derived by the Chapel and the users of the accounts. The latest estimated value of the building and organ is reported in note 12b. The Trustees believe the benefits of obtaining valuations for the remaining items would not justify the cost as these items are estimated to be of little monetary value and are not insured as are irreplaceable originals, although the collections include duplicate and facsimile items held for educational and research purposes. Therefore, these items are not recognised in the balance sheet as reliable cost information is not available.
Expenditure which is required to preserve or prevent further deterioration of the buildings and individual items within the archive is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when it is incurred. The Chapel’s management policy in respect of its heritage assets is summarised in Note 12b.
## 1.6 **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses including support costs and governance costs are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings.
Volunteers act as Church and Circuit Stewards and the Chapel also benefits from the time dedicated by its Treasurer, Trustees, Committee members and other helpers. This cost has not been included in the accounts [see note 11b].
The costs of generating funds consist of investment management costs and certain legal fees.
24
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
- 1.7 **Support costs**
Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other support costs. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. These costs include costs related to statutory audit and legal fees together with an apportionment of overhead and support costs. Governance costs and support costs relating to charitable activities have been apportioned based on income. The allocation of support costs is analysed in note 8.
## 1.8 **Irrecoverable VAT**
Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading for which it was incurred.
- 1.9 **Fixed asset investments** Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price. The statement of financial activities includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluation and disposals throughout the year.
- 1.10 **Realised and unrealised gains and losses** All gains and losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise. Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their opening carrying value or their purchase value if acquired subsequent to the first day of the financial year.
Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the fair value at the year end and their carrying value. Realised and unrealised investment gains and losses are combined in the Statement of Financial Activities.
- 1.11
## **Operating leases**
Operating leases are recognised over the period of which the lease falls due. Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to sign an operating lease are recognised on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.
## 1.12 **Cash at bank and in hand**
- Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition, opening of the deposit or similar account.
- 1.13
## **Debtors**
- Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. Accrued income and tax recoverable is included at the best estimate of the amounts receivable at the balance sheet date.
## 1.14 **Stock**
Stock is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value, being the estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost is based on the cost of purchases on a first in, first out basis.
At each balance sheet date, stocks are assessed for impairment. If stock is impaired, the carrying amount is reduced to its selling price less costs to complete and sell. The impairment loss is recognised immediately in the Statement of Financial Activities.
- 1.15
## **Creditors**
Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
25
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
- 1.16 **Fund accounting**
- Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the Trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. The aim and purpose of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. Restricted funds are community and other projects being undertaken by the charity. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each material designated and restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
- 1.17
## **Taxation**
- The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
- 1.18 **Financial instruments** The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value. Fixed assets are recorded at depreciated historical cost and investments are recorded at fair value, being the closing market value rate, with unrealised gains in the SOFA. All other assets and liabilities are recorded at cost which is their fair value.
- 1.19 **Minister pension costs**
The charity contributes a proportion of the standard stipend to the Methodist Ministers Pension Scheme. The pension scheme trustees have advised that it is not possible to currently identify Wesley’s Chapel & Leysian Mission’s share of the underlying assets and liabilities of the scheme. The charity have therefore accounted for the pension scheme as if it was a defined contribution scheme. The total pension expense recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities in 2025 totalled £12,326 (2024: £12,741). At the period end, £Nil was included as owed to the scheme (2024: £Nil).
An Actuarial Valuation of the Scheme is carried out every three years. The Scheme’s last full actuarial valuation occurred as at 1 September 2023. The valuation results were produced using a set of actuarial assumptions which were agreed by the MMPS Trustee Board, including updated discount rates to current market conditions. The valuation results showed a surplus of assets relative to the Scheme’s liabilities for the past service benefits to around £44.7m.
The Church contribution rate will remain at 20.0% of Stipends with any deficit met by an annual contribution from the Pension Reserve Fund. In addition Ministers pay a Members voluntary contribution of 9.3% by deduction from their Stipends. The next valuation is expected to be agreed as at 31 August 2026, with a target date set for summer 2027.
## 1.20 **Judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty**
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for assets and liabilities as at the balance sheet date and the amounts reported for revenues and expenses during the year. However, the nature of estimation means that actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. There are no material judgments or key sources of estimation uncertainty in these financial accounts.
26
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **2. Donations & legacies**
## **3.**
|**Current year**
Ministry and Mission
Offerings and donations
Grants
Legacies
Heritage
Donations
Grants
**Prior year**
Ministry and Mission
Offerings and donations
Grants
Legacies
Heritage
Donations
Grants
**Investment income**
**Current year**
Ministry and Mission
Rents
Interest
Dividends
Heritage
Dividends
**Prior year**
Ministry and Mission
Rents
Interest
Dividends
Heritage
Dividends|108,169
-
3,108
-
29,853
-
-
-
98,438
-
-
32,105
-
-
-
41,950
-
-
-
310,515
-
3,108
-
98,642
-
23,787
-
37,884
-
-
-
100,035
-
500,774
-
34,565
-
-
-
51,036
-
-
-
322,162
-
524,561
-
**Permanent**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted Endowment**
**General Designated**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
117,150
-
-
-
1,689
9,348
12,031
-
34,564
124,855
1,928
10,353
-
-
3,148
-
153,403
134,203
17,107
10,353
139,305
-
-
-
3,019
-
12,093
-
16,708
111,022
714
12,520
-
-
3,443
-
159,032
111,022
16,250
12,520
**Permanent**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**General Designated**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Permanent**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**General Designated**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Permanent**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**General Designated**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|111,277
29,853
98,438
32,105
41,950
**2025**
**£**|
|---|---|---|
|||313,623|
|||122,429
37,884
600,809
34,565
51,036
**2024**
**£**|
|||846,723|
|||**2025**
**£**
117,150
23,068
171,700
3,148|
|||315,066|
|||139,305
15,112
140,964
3,443
**2024**
**£**|
|||298,824|
27
## **WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **4. Charitable activities**
## **5.**
|**Current year**
Ministry and Mission
Insurance recovered
Heritage
Museum and book sales
**Prior year**
Ministry and Mission
Insurance recovered
Heritage
Museum and book sales
**Expenditure on raising funds**
**Current year**
Donations and legacies
Other trading activities
Investment costs
**Prior year**
Donations and legacies
Other trading activities
Investment costs|||**Permanent**
**Restricted Endowment**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**General Designated**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
17,687
-
-
-
51,985
-
-
-
69,672
-
-
-
**Permanent**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**General Designated**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
20,179
-
-
-
26,689
-
-
-
46,868
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Permanent**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted Endowment**
**General Designated**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
610
-
-
-
17,104
-
-
-
7,692
42,660
6,429
3,784
25,406
42,660
6,429
3,784
**Permanent**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**General Designated**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
500
-
-
-
13,810
-
-
-
9,093
32,333
1,212
2,806
23,403
32,333
1,212
2,806|**2025**
**£**
17,687
51,985
69,672
**2024**
**£**
20,179
26,689
46,868
**2025**
**£**
610
17,104
60,565
78,279
**2024**
**£**
500
13,810
45,444
59,754|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
28
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **6. Expenditure on charitable activities**
|**Current year**
Ministry and Mission
905,022
-
3,213
-
Heritage
143,754
-
-
-
1,048,396
-
3,213
-
Included in General expenditure for the year is £235,927 (2024: £Nil) in relation to site im
**Prior year**
Ministry and Mission
582,943
-
2,390
-
Heritage
111,550
-
-
-
694,493
-
2,390
-
**Analysis of expenditure**
**Direct**
**Support**
**Current year**
**Costs**
**Costs**
**£**
**£**
Ministry and Mission
571,014
398,396
Heritage
_117,646_
_43,832
688,660
441,228
**Prior year**
Ministry and Mission
284,377
346,900
Heritage
94,428
30,932
378,805
377,832
**Permanent**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**General Designated**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Permanent**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**General Designated**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Direct**
**Support**
**Costs**
**Costs**
**£**
**£**|908,235
143,374
1,051,609
provements.
585,333
111,550
696,883
**2025**
**£**
969,410
_160,478
1,129,888
631,277
125,360
756,637
**2025**
**£**
**2024**
**£**
**2024**
**£**|
|---|---|
Included in General expenditure for the year is £235,927 (2024: £Nil) in relation to site improvements.
## **7. Analysis of expenditure**
Raising funds costs of £78,279 (2024: £55,488) has been categorised as Ministry and Mission activities.
## **8. Analysis of support costs**
|**Current year**
Ministry &
Mission
Heritage
**Prior year**
Ministry &
Mission
Heritage|**Staff**
**Related**
**£**
**Consulting &**
**Legal Fees**
**£**
**District**
**Levy**
**£**
**Governance**
**£**
**Office,**
**IT &**
**Other**
**£**
**2025**
**£**
131,894
23,712
63,035
65,578
114,178
398,396
17,136
2,341
-
8,520
14,835
442,832|
|---|---|
||149,030
26,053
63,035
74,098
129,013
441,228|
||**Staff**
**Related**
**£**
**Consulting &**
**Legal Fees**
**£**
**District**
**Levy**
**£**
**Governance**
**£**
**Office, IT**
**& Other**
**£**
**2024**
**£**
123,783
15,488
56,612
66,181
84,836
346,900
13,305
1,394
-
7,114
9,119
30,932|
||137,088
16,882
56,612
73,295
93,955
377,832|
29
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **9. Grants payable**
Grant making activities in total are not material in the context of the Charity’s overall charitable activities.
## **10. Net movement in funds for the year**
|The net movement in funds for the year is stated after
charging:
Auditors’ remuneration - audit work
**11.**
**(a) Staff costs and emoluments**
Salaries & contractors
Minister stipends & pension
Social security costs
Staff pension costs
Training & recruitment costs
The average weekly number of staff employed by the
Charity during the year was as follows:
Ministerial and administrative
Establishment|**2025**
**£**
10,050
**2025**
**£**
231,029
83,961
24,965
14,687
367
355,009
**2025**
**Number**
10
1|**2024**
**£**
9,576|
|---|---|---|
|||**2024**
**£**
224,974
69,923
17,027
11,777
2,389|
|||326,090|
|||**2024**
**Number**
9
1|
The charity considers its key management personnel comprise the Trustees and the ministers. The ministers are employed by the Connexion. Their stipend and pension costs are paid direct to the London District of the Methodist Church.
The total employment benefits including employer pension contributions of the key management personnel were £83,961 – 4 persons (2024: £69,923 – 2 persons). No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2024: none).
The charity contributed £12,326 during the year (2024: £12,741), representing 20.0% (2024: 26.9%) of the standard stipend as pension contributions for its ministers. This is paid to the London District of the Methodist Church for the Methodist Ministers’ Pension Scheme, which is a final salary defined benefit scheme ( _Note 1.19_ ). The Ministers occupy housing owned by the Charity.
In addition, the charity offers lay staff the opportunity to contribute to a stakeholder pension scheme and the Charity matches any employee contribution up to a maximum of 7%. The charity contributed £14,687 during 2025 (2024: £11,777) to the stakeholder pension scheme.
30
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **11. (b) Volunteers**
It has not been possible to calculate the number of hours contributed by volunteers, but they are estimated to be at least 1,500 hours during the year (2024: 1,500). If valued at the London Living Wage of £14.80 per hour, in line with policy, this would amount to a gift of £22,200 (2024: £20,775; £13.85).
In addition, there are currently 39 (2024: 36) volunteers who act as Heritage Stewards and work part time at the Chapel, covering John Wesley’s House and The Museum of Methodism and the visitor services aspect of the Chapel’s mission. There are normally three volunteers on duty Tuesday to Saturday, working from 10:30am to 4:00pm. On that basis the total hours estimated to have been worked in the current year is 3,100 (2024: 2,860). If valued at the London Living Wage of £14.80 per hour, this would amount to a gift of £45,880 (2024: £39,611; £13.85).
Neither of these gifts has been included in the statutory accounts.
## **12. Tangible assets**
|Cost
At 1 September 2024
Additions
Disposal
**At 31 August 2025**
Depreciation
At 1 September 2024
Charge for the year
Disposal
**At 31 August 2025**
Net book value
**At 31 August 2025**
At 31 August 2024|**Furniture**
**& Fittings**
**Freehold**
**Property**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
400,949
-
400,949
-
1,500,000
1,500,000
-
-
-|
|---|---|
||400,949
1,500,000
1,900,949|
||395,254
-
395,254
5,695
-
5,695
-
-
-|
||400,949
-
400,949|
||**-**
**1,500,000**
**1,500,000**|
||**5,695**
**-**
**5,695**|
## **(a) Organ**
The organ is an integral part of the Chapel Building and has been treated in the same way as the Chapel and shown at insurance value, but fully depreciated.
31
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **12. Tangible assets (continued)**
## **(b) Heritage assets**
Although it is known that the Chapel cost £7,000 to build in 1778, the cost of subsequent additions and improvements to the campus buildings is not ascertainable. The original cost of these assets have previously been written off completely and, while they continue to be used for the purposes of the Charity, are not realisable, therefore the Trustees have decided to continue to show them as fully depreciated.
Any valuation of buildings such as those on the 49 City Road campus is bound to be arbitrary and the Trustees believe that the costs to continually update the market value of the heritage asset would be onerous compared with the additional benefits derived by the Chapel and the users of the accounts. The Trustees have therefore decided that the most sensible figures to show as an estimate for the value of these assets for information purposes is the estimated rebuilding or reinstatement costs for which they are insured as follows:
||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Buildings and fixtures (including organ)|23,550,434|22,781,195|
|Glass windows|1,072,666|1,072,666|
These figures are based on the most recent survey undertaken in 2024. The Trustees regularly undertake a Quinquennial survey of the property and assets which identifies the required maintenance requirements in order to be able to manage and plan the continual upkeep of these assets and to ensure they are insured at their rebuild costs. This also allows for the Chapel to plan and fundraise for any significant refurbishments that may be required and to effectively maintain the assets at their required condition.
The heritage assets are deemed inalienable as they are not able to be disposed of by the Chapel. The remaining artefacts are also maintained and their upkeep planned and scheduled. The Museum exhibits part of the collection of artefacts and they are accessible to the majority of users through education work, research into Methodism and displays in the Museum.
Researchers have access by appointment to items held in storage subject to the access and privacy policy of the Museum. The archive and storage area are maintained in the appropriate condition for the artefacts and in a secure environment. The Museum also occasionally receives items on loan, subject to the Museum's loans policy.
## **(c) Freehold property**
The Freehold property at Linton Street, an offsite manse purchased on 2 August 2019 for £1.425m, was transferred to the ownership of the Methodist Connexion on 30 April 2024 at a market value of £1.725m. This realised a one-off profit on transfer of £327,051 in the 2023/24 accounts. The property was recorded at historical cost less depreciation over 50 years in line with the accounting policy.
A replacement manse had been identified at the prior year close of 31[st] August 2024, but completion of the transaction did not take place until after the year end on 5 September 2024 during the current financial year. The funds to complete the purchase were held at the prior year end in the Circuit Advance Fund 18787A. The replacement manse is known as 24A Lidfield Road and cost £1,500,000.
32
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **13. Investment properties**
|**Investment properties**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Valuation
At 1 September 2024
Flat, 17 Farriers House
Trinity House, Tabernacle
Street
**At 31 August 2025**
**At end of the year**
At 31 August 2025
At 31 August 2024|**Land and**
**Freehold**
**£**
-
2,560,701
2,560,701
2,560,701
2,560,701|**Buildings**
**Leasehold**
**£**
460,000
-
460,000
460,000
460,000|**Total**
**£**
460,000
2,560,701|
||||3,020,701|
||||3,020,701|
||||3,020,701|
- (a) There is another building on the campus at 49 City Road that is not used for Church purposes. This is the office building at the rear of the site known as Trinity House. The Charity owns the freehold and in 1982 the site was let on a lease for a period of 125 years. The freehold interest relates to ground which forms part of the graveyard, and being a Methodist Heritage site and the resting place of John Wesley, it is not readily available for sale.
In 2017 the terms of the lease were renegotiated, and the term extended to 155 years from completion to 2172. As part of the agreement, a lease extension premium was received by the charity of £925,000. The Methodist Connexion withheld £350,000 of the proceeds received by the Charity in accordance with Methodist Church Standing Orders, calculated as to £100,000 at 20% and £825,000 at 40%. 100% of this levy was recovered in 2019 contributing to the purchase of the offsite manse at Linton St.
Under the terms of the lease, ground rent of £17,500 per annum or 9% of the passing rent, whichever is the greater, is received by the Charity. The entitlement to income means the interest does have a value but this value may not necessarily follow the fluctuations in the general property market. Due to the points above, a professional valuation will be obtained every 5 years and the Trustees will value the property in the intervening periods.
The freehold interest in the property was revalued in March 2021 by Boultbee LDN Limited, who despite being the leaseholders are responsible for the recent renovation and have used separate in-house expertise to undertake the valuation. Their valuation of £2,560,701 is considered by the Trustees to represent the best current estimate of the current market value.
Further, leasehold property at 17 Farriers House, a flat which is let commercially, is currently valued at £460,000 (2024: £460,000). This represents the Trustees’ best estimate of the market value, on a conservative basis, given the most recent sales in the building, the condition of the flat, current market conditions and a desktop valuation received letting agents, Cluttons LLP in November 2022.
The Trustees consider that these two properties held should be treated as investment assets and the provisions of Section 16 of FRS102 apply.
33
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
**NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **14. Fixed asset investments**
|**a)PERMANENT ENDOWMENT**
**Trust name**
**Fund**
Mrs M A Grayson Bequest (11211)
Greenbank Strat Growth
Other bequests (564)
Greenbank Strat Growth
Gabriel, Grosvenor & Cooper Trust
(Youth Council)
Greenbank Strat Growth
**b)RESTRICTED FUNDS**
Wesley Chapel Crypt & Museum
(Gibbs Fund)
Greenbank Strat Growth
Robert Davies Bequest
Greenbank Strat Growth
Local Youth Club
Greenbank Strat Growth
**c) DESIGNATED FUNDS**
Sale Proceeds - Property Endowment
Discretionary portfolio
Museum of Methodism Fund
Greenbank Strat Growth|**Market Value**
**2025**
**£**
**2024**
**£**
154,712
152,871
219,689
216,733
10,410
10,292|
|---|---|
||384,811
379,896|
||125,978
124,456
7,626
7,545
40,253
39,762|
||173,857
171,763|
||4,020,602
4,172,717
458,982
453,169|
|||
||4,479,584
4,625,886|
34
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
**NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|**14.**
**Fixed asset investments (continued)**
**Trust name**
**Fund**
**d) GENERAL FUNDS**
Various Bequests (13777)
Discretionary portfolio
Local Mission Fund (22316)
Greenbank Strat Growth
**Total investments**
**15.**
**Analysis of movement in fixed asset investments**
Carrying value (market value) at beginning of year
Total net disposal proceeds
Net gain/(loss) on revaluation
Carrying value (market value) at end of year
**16.**
**Debtors**
Prepayments and sundry debtors
Legacy gifts receivable
**17.**
**Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank
Petty cash and museum float
Interest bearing deposits
**18.**
**Stock**
This has been valued at the lower of cost and
net realisable value
Museum shop stock
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
35
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|**19.**
**Creditors**
Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade creditors
Accruals & income in advance
Other creditors
**20.**
**Unrestricted General Fund**
**(a) Capital account**
Balance at 1 September 2024
**Add/(Deduct):**
Ministry & Mission (deficit)/surplus
Heritage (deficit)
Gain/(Loss) on revaluation of investments
Gain on transfer of fixed assets
Transfer of restricted funds held for new Manse
Funds reclassification
**Balance at 31 August 2025**
Capital account|
|**2025**
**£**
128,488
23,910
2,915
155,313
**2025**
**£**
4,137,627
(505,774)
(34,438)
(17,323)
-
-
1,832,201
**5,412,293**
5,412,293
**5,412,293**||**2024**
**£**
4,477
17,127
8,382|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||29,986|
|||||**2024**
**£**
5,356,893
(180,207)
(9,627)
47,427
327,051
(1,500,000)
96,090|
|||||**4,137,627**|
|||||4,137,627|
|||||**4,137,627**|
36
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|**21.**
**Statement of Funds**
**Trust Name:**
**Tst No:**
**Unrestricted - Designated**
Leysian Mission Fund (previously
‘Property Proceeds Fund’)
15005
House & Museum
15005B
CAF Reserve Projects
18787A
**Total Unrestricted-Designated**|**At 31 Aug**
**2024**
**£**
4,363,196
463,892
1,500,000
6,327,088|**Gain/(Loss) in**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Valuation**
**£**
**£**
**£**
115,406
(38,413)
(121,661)
11,461
(4,222)
7,998
7,336
(25)
0
134,203
(42,660)
(113,663)|**At 31 Aug**
**Transfers**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
(216,195)
4,102,333
(9,959)
469,170
(1,507,000)
311
(1,733,154)
4,571,814|**At 31 Aug**
**Transfers**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
(216,195)
4,102,333
(9,959)
469,170
(1,507,000)
311
(1,733,154)
4,571,814|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||4,571,814|
- The Leysian Mission Fund and House & Museum Fund were established with the proceeds from the sale of the previous site held by the Leysian Mission at 112 City Road. In accordance with a resolution passed by the Methodist Conference at their meeting in 1989, these are to be used at the discretion of the Trustees for the upkeep and improvements to the properties at 49 City Road, including the Chapel, the Manse, and John Wesley’s House & the Museum, and also to continue the work of the Leysian Missioners. The capital has been invested and the income has been used during the current year to fund repairs and maintenance of the Charity site and deliver programmes in line with Leysian Mission values.
- CAF Reserve Projects represents funds received from the transfer of the Linton St Manse to the Methodist Connexion, designated for the purchase of a replacement Manse.
## **Permanent Endowment**
|Mrs M A Grayson
11211
Other combined bequests
564
G Grosvenor & Cooper Trust 11799
**Total Permanent Endowment**|230,991
222,495
10,359
463,845|4,595
5,506
252
10,353|(1,667)
(2,022)
(95)
(3,784)|2,698
3,830
181
6,709|(80,847)
(4,786)
(218)
(85,851)|155,770
225,023
10,479|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||391,272|
- Permanent endowment funds are invested with management undertaken by the Investment Manager. The capital cannot be spent, however income is available to assist the Charity carry out its mission and for local purposes defined in the Methodist Church Act 1976.
- Although the Mrs M A Grayson trust 11211 is a ‘Permanent Endowment’ fund, the TMCP Board passed a resolution under the Charities Act 2011 in 2018 with the result that the capital of the trust be available to be used for the general purposes of the Church Council. No capital was required during the year.
## **Restricted Funds**
|Circuit Advance Fund
18787
Gibbs Fund
18281
Kinnear Education Fund
Junior Church/Youth
Development
Music Development Fund
Museum Collection Fund
Alan Watts Legacy Fund
Other Funds
**Total Restricted Funds**|11,492
129,112
34,010
68,690
21,382
15,734
500,774
40,580
821,774|6,168
3,148
1,193
0
0
0
7,606
2,100
20,215|(5,200)
(1,159)
0
0
(874)
0
0
(2,409)
(9,642)|0
2,196
0
702
0
0
0
134
3,032|(11,802)
(2,735)
0
0
0
0
0
1,340
(13,197)|658
130,562
35,203
69,392
20,508
15,734
508,380
41,745|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||822,182|
- The Circuit Advance Fund relates to sale proceeds from Circuit assets, majority of which is to be spent in line with standing orders.
- The balance of the Kinnear Education Fund is to be applied to support work at The Leys School, specifically around anti-racism and anti-bullying. The remainder is to be directed towards bursaries at Southlands College to benefit those to continue higher education.
- The Gibbs Fund was created by the donation from the Gibbs Trust to be spent on the House & Museum.
- The Music Development Fund was created in the memory of Michael Aderinola. A fund for the development of music in the life of Wesley’s Chapel & Leysian Mission and in our neighbourhood, through the support of scholarships for young musicians in the church, and for nurturing and developing musical ability among the church’s congregation and local community.
- The Museum Collection Fund was setup to enable the purchase of items of significance to add to the collection.
- The Alan Watts Legacy Fund was created from his legacy gifts for the benefit of the Chapel’s work with the Elderly and the Young.
## **General Funds**
|4,137,627
**11,750,334**|533,590
**698,361**|(1,073,802)
**(1,129,888)**|(17,323)
**(121,245)**|1,832,202
5,412,294
**-**
**11,197,562**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
**Total Funds**
37
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **21. Statement of Funds**
**(continued)**
|**21. Statement of Funds**
**(continued)**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Trust Name:**
**Tst No:**
**Unrestricted - Designated**
Leysian Mission Fund (previously
‘Property Proceeds Fund’)
15005
House & Museum
15005B
CAF Reserve Projects
18787A
**Total Unrestricted-Designated**|**At 31 Aug**
**2023**
**£**
4,096,745
437,356
-
4,534,101|**Gain/(Loss) in**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Valuation**
**£**
**£**
**£**
101,208
(29,193)
266,451
9,814
(3,140)
26,536
-
-
-
111,022
(32,333)
292,987|**At 31 Aug**
**Transfers**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
(72,015)
4,363,196
(6,674)
463,892
1,500,000
1,500,000
1,421,311
6,327,088||
|||||6,327,088|
- The Leysian Mission Fund and House & Museum Fund were established with the proceeds from the sale of the previous site held by the Leysian Mission at 112 City Road. In accordance with a resolution passed by the Methodist Conference at their meeting in 1989, these are to be used at the discretion of the Trustees for the upkeep and improvements to the properties at 49 City Road, including the Chapel, the Manse, and John Wesley’s House & the Museum, and also to continue the work of the Leysian Missioners. The capital has been invested and the income has been used during the current year to fund repairs and maintenance of the Charity site and deliver programmes in line with Leysian Mission values.
- CAF Reserve Projects represents funds received from the transfer of the Linton St Manse to the Methodist Connexion, designated for the purchase of a replacement Manse.
## **Permanent Endowment**
|Mrs M A Grayson
11211
Other combined bequests
564
G Grosvenor & Cooper Trust 11799
**Total Permanent Endowment**|221,356
208,529
9,558
439,443|7,623
4,762
135
12,520|(1,266)
(1,464)
(76)
(2,806)|9,635
13,966
801
24,402|(6,357)
(3,298)
(59)
(9,714)|230,991
222,495
10,359|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||463,845|
- Permanent endowment funds are invested with management undertaken by the Investment Manager. The capital cannot be spent, however income is available to assist the Charity carry out its mission and for local purposes defined in the Methodist Church Act 1976.
- Although the Mrs M A Grayson trust 11211 is a ‘Permanent Endowment’ fund, the TMCP Board passed a resolution under the Charities Act 2011 in 2018 with the result that the capital of the trust be available to be used for the general purposes of the Church Council. No capital was required during the year.
## **Restricted Funds**
|Circuit Advance Fund
18787
Gibbs Fund
18281
Kinnear Education Fund
Junior Church/Youth
Development
Music Development Fund
Museum Collection Fund
Alan Watts Legacy Fund
Other Funds
**Total Restricted Funds**|15
121,843
32,759
65,591
242
15,734
-
45,110
281,294|11,477
3,443
1,250
1,118
21,140
-
500,774
1,609
540,811|-
(861)
-
(295)
-
-
-
(2,446)
(3,602)|-
7,269
-
3,099
-
-
-
590
10,958|-
(2,582)
-
(823)
-
-
-
(4,282)
(7,687)|11,492
129,112
34,010
68,690
21,382
15,734
500,774
40,580|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||821,774|
- The Circuit Advance Fund relates to sale proceeds from Circuit assets, majority of which is to be spent in line with standing orders.
- - The balance of the Kinnear Education Fund is to be applied to support work at The Leys School, specifically around anti-racism and anti-bullying. The remainder is to be directed towards bursaries at Southlands College to benefit those to continue higher education.
- The Gibbs Fund was created by the donation from the Gibbs Trust to be spent on the House & Museum.
- The Music Development Fund was created in the memory of Michael Aderinola. A fund for the development of music in the life of Wesley’s Chapel & Leysian Mission and in our neighbourhood, through the support of scholarships for young musicians in the church, and for nurturing and developing musical ability among the church’s congregation and local community.
- The Museum Collection Fund was setup to enable the purchase of items of significance to add to the collection.
- The Alan Watts Legacy Fund was created from his legacy gifts for the benefit of the Chapel’s work with the Elderly and the Young.
|**General Funds**
**Total Funds**|5,356,893
**10,611,731**|855,113
**1,519,466**|(717,896)
**(756,637)**|47,427
**375,774**|(1,403,910)
4,137,627
**-**
**11,750,334**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
38
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **22. Analysis of net assets**
|**Analysis of net assets**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Current year**
Tangible fixed assets
Investment properties
Investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
**Total net assets**
**Prior year**
Tangible fixed assets
Investment properties
Investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
**Total net assets**|**Endowment**
**Funds**
**£**
384,811
6,461
391,272
**Endowment**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
379,896
83,949
-
463,845|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
173,857
648,325
822,182
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
171,763
650,011
-
821,774|**Designated**
**Funds**
**£**
4,479,584
92,230
4,571,814
**Designated**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
4,625,886
1,701,202
-
6,327,088|**General**
**Funds**
**£**
1,500,000
3,020,701
735,960
310,946
(155,313)
5,412,294
**General**
**Funds**
**£**
5,695
3,020,701
749,102
392,115
(29,986)
4,137,627|**2025**
**Total**
**£**
1,500,000
3,020,701
5,774,212
1,057,962
(155,313)|
||||||11,197,562|
||||||**2024**
**Total**
**£**
5,695
3,020,701
5,926,647
2,827,277
(29,986)|
||||||11,750,334|
## **23. Operating leases**
## **Operating leases - lessee**
As at 31 August 2025 the charity was committed under non-cancellable operating leases to make the following annual minimum payments (at present value):
||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|_Printing Equipment_|||
|Less than 1 year|8,344|
-|
|2 to 5 years|25,032|-|
|Greater than 5 years|-|-|
The operating lease is in respect of printing equipment taken out with Siemens Financial Services for a period of 5 years. Total lease payments expensed during the year was £8,344 (2024: £8,364). The current reporting year represented the final year of the lease.
## **Operating leases – lessor**
As at 31 August 2025 the charity had agreed commitments as a lessor under non-cancellable operating leases to receive the following minimum receipts:
||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|_Investment properties_|||
|Less than 1 year|17,500|17,500|
|2 to 5 years|70,000|70,000|
|Greater than 5 years|2,485,000|2,502,500|
The above lease is for the Trinity House investment property behind the Chapel where the freehold is held by the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes as custodian Trustees. The minimum base rent is £17,500 per annum. The lease was extended during the 2017 financial year to 155 years.
39
**WESLEY’S CHAPEL AND LEYSIAN MISSION NOTES TO ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **24. Related party transactions**
The Charity considers its key management personnel comprise the Trustees and the ministers. No Trustee received any remuneration or benefits in their capacity as Trustee during the year (2024: none). The Ministers are Managing Trustees of the Circuit. In this capacity they are related persons receiving benefit. Their total employment benefits including employer pension contributions was £83,962 (2024: £69,923). This is paid direct to the London District of the Methodist Church as the ministers are employed by the Connexion.
The Charity contributed £12,327 during the year (2024: £12,741), representing 20.0% (2024: 26.9%) of the standard stipend as pension contributions for its ministers. This is paid to the London District of the Methodist Church for the Methodist Ministers’ Pension Scheme, which is a final salary defined benefit scheme. The Ministers occupy housing owned by the Charity.
In addition, three Trustees were reimbursed for travel and other out of pocket charity expenses amounting to £8,124 (2024: £4,790).
During the year the Charity paid £900 to a company in which Trustee Jerry Abankwah is a director for the post renovation and removal steam cleaning of carpets, walls, floors and fittings in a manse.
40