The Methodist
Church
Beckenham Methodist Church Bromley Road BR3 5JE and Clock House Road BR3 4JP
Registered Charity No. 1138006
Trustees Annual Report and Accounts for year ending 31[st] August 2022
Purpose
We are a body of people, drawn together by the love of God to worship, pray and try to follow the teaching of Jesus. To fulfil our purpose, we will:
Glorify God in worship Develop our understanding of the love of God and the way of Jesus Deepen our commitment to the Christian life Enable and encourage our community to develop and use all their God-given talents Offer Christian love and friendship to all Respond to the needs of God’s world, especially the people of Beckenham
The Methodist Church exists to exercise the whole ministry of Christ. The Local Church in Beckenham, with its membership and larger church community, exercises this ministry where it is and shares in the wider ministry of the Church in the world. In this one ministry worship, fellowship, pastoral care, mission and service are essential elements, enabled by training and prudent administration.
Organisation and governance
Beckenham Methodist Church (BMC) is part of the Bromley Circuit (No 35/42) of the Methodist Church, and arose from a merger of the Bromley Road and Clock House Road churches on 01 September 2004.
The number of members regularly attending services at Clock House Road never regained the numbers pre COVID and in the light of such low attendance, the Church Council authorised a suspension of services and that a motion be sent to synod to declassify the site for religious purposes.
Ministers are appointed to the Circuit and given Pastoral Charge of the Local Church by the Circuit, usually staying for a term of 5 years. Rev. Alex Terrett, who had pastoral charge of the Beckenham and West Wickham churches since autumn 2018 moved on in August 2022 and no replacement was secured.
The Circuit appointed the Minister at Bromley to be the acting Superintendent and Rev David Morris, a retired minister who is part of the Beckenham membership, agreed to take on pastoral care duties for 2022/23 and taking Holy Communion. Services are led by the Circuit ministerial team and lay preachers as planned by the Superintendent according to normal Methodist practice.
The various tasks in carrying out our ministry are undertaken by the local Church, through its Church Council and committees, in union with the ministry of the Circuit of which it is constituent. In accordance with its governing document, the Constitution Practice and Discipline (CPD) of the Methodist Church, the Trustees are all the members of the Church Council who are over the age of 18 years, some by virtue of posts they hold and some as elected representatives of the whole congregation.
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Worship and Prayer
For most of the year services were held at both sites at 10.30 a.m. on a Sunday. Towards the end of the year services were only held once a month at Clock House Road. Holy Communion is celebrated at Bromley Road on the third Sunday of the month. The remaining members of the congregation at Clock House are now worshipping at Bromley Road.
The regular congregation is a mixture of age groups, nationalities and backgrounds and everyone who comes through the doors is afforded a friendly welcome. Service books, hymn books and pew Bibles are provided, as well as printed sheets when appropriate although audio-visual projection is now normally used and all appropriate copyright licences are held.
Membership stands at 93. Average attendance at Bromley Road is 40/50 with some housebound or infirm and others not attending regularly because of work or family commitments.
Circuit Meeting
Several Members of the Church Council also hold posts at Circuit level and the Church Council elects four representatives from amongst its number. The Circuit Meeting is a separate charity and its members are its trustees. The Local Church pays an assessment to the Circuit each year to cover the stipends and housing of ministerial staff and contributions to the Methodist Church nationally. BMC’s assessment for this year was £64,530, which was an increase on last year.
The Church Premises
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance of the premises at Bromley Road (BR3 5JE) and at Clock House Road (BR3 4JP) Beckenham until the long-term future of that site is known. The Church premises at both sites are extensively used by the local community as well as by Church members. At Clock House Road there is a long-established pre-school playgroup and occasional evening community meetings.
The premises at Bromley Road are more extensive and are used by some 35-40 community groups on a regular basis as well as for annual meetings of local residents’ groups and management committees. Activities for young children and the elderly are all available as well as the Church’s own sponsored Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Badminton Club and Social gatherings. According to Methodist Practice (CPD) no alcohol is allowed to be brought onto or consumed on the premises. The AA and Al-Anon hold meetings on the premises for many years.
At Bromley Road we have been running a Community Café called TCs since July 2000 when a similar project run by Churches Together in Beckenham (CTiB) was forced to close. This has been very successfully staffed by volunteers from among the church membership as well as non members. At Bromley Road an extensive building project and covid caused the café to be closed in November 2018 but it reopened this year, renamed Joy’s Kitchen, initially on 3 days a week basis later extending to 4 days a week as more volunteers were obtained. The aim is to reach full 5 days a week opening if sufficient volunteers come forward. In previous years a surplus was made and allocated to various mission projects at home and abroad. It is intended that this policy be reactivated and distributions should start next financial year. The Joy’s Kitchen management committee reports to the Church Council.
The Property and Finance Committee reports to the Church Council and is responsible for day-to-day management of the bookings through the offices of the two appointed Property Stewards. Cleaning of both churches is carried out by professionals.
Maintenance of the premises is an ongoing expense: ongoing servicing of boilers, fire protection equipment and other key facilities was carried out. Two one off items of expenditure were incurred during the year on enhancing audio visual facilities and overhauling the Victorian organ and are covered later in more detail.
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Pastoral Care
The members of the Methodist Church are each allocated to a Pastoral Visitor who works closely with the minister to ensure all pastoral needs are met. The Pastoral Visitors are members of the Pastoral Committee which reports to the Church Council. Those who are unable to attend services are visited and when requested the minister celebrates Holy Communion with them in their own home.
Mission
The Methodist Church supports Mission in Britain as well as Mission in the Wider World. These funds are well supported by the members of BMC as well as other charities. The After Service Coffee collection is allocated to specific charity by Church Council. The work of Joy’s Kitchen has already been mentioned. Other charities regularly supported are Christian Aid and Action for Children, the Methodist Children’s charity, one of whose founders was also a member of Beckenham Methodist Church at its original foundation in 1887. Various other charities are supported annually, both locally and worldwide, e.g. Workaid and a food bank and support for homeless men provided at another local church.
Ecumenical relationships
BMC is an active member of CTiB participating in all its activities and making financial contributions to the cause. The CTiB held a picnic in the Summer in a local park which was well attended by our congregation. Close relationships are held with our nearest neighbours at St. George’s Parish Church.
Financial review, including reserves policy, designation of material funds and likely timing of expenditure
The financial position declined during the year as letting income, although well up on the previous year, was still below pre-pandemic levels and repayments on loans incurred for the redevelopment project fell due. The loans need another few years before they will be fully paid off. At the close of the financial year £24,400 was outstanding.
Church income was up compared with the previous year but only c10%. The long-term trend of switching from cash giving to electronic giving continued. Our bankers, HSBC started charging for our account which was unwelcome but we have chosen to stay with the bank we have been with for 130+ years. Despite bookings bouncing back and personal giving remaining strong no tax refund for gift aid was received. This is a timing issue and the money is expected next year. Also, no grants were received. Last year when the redevelopment finished final instalments of grant money from generous backers was triggered.
The redevelopment, which has been a major feature of these reports for the last few years has completed and a grand dedication and opening was held in early October 2021. Our Minister was joined by Rev Barbara Calvert and Rev Michael Cassidy, both past Ministers of the Church. We had an exhibition and of course a celebration cake.
Expenses during the year included normal maintenance costs together with two one off items. The first of these was to install improved audio-visual facilities in the church. It had originally been intended to do this with the redevelopment works but it was postponed due to funding issues. Around £11,000 was spent. We now have the capability to stream services onto the internet as well as having much improved wi-fi within all our buildings. The second item of expenditure was on the organ. This had been dismantled for the redevelopment works and when it was reinstalled it became clear that an overhaul was required. In total it will cost c£50,000 spread over 2 years. £28,000 was spent this year. The organ should then be match fit for the next 40 years. An appeal for funds has been made and generous donations have been received to date.
During the year our reserves declined by around 15% or just over £22,000 to £122,000. This reduction although unwelcome and explained earlier is far less than the previous year. With income recovering we
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are on track to repay outstanding loans within the 5-year window we stated would be needed when the redevelopment works commenced.
Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others:
Such funds are not material. They may include, during the financial year:
collections made for nominated charitable organisations, detailed in the Notes to the Receipts & Payments Account, but not yet distributed to them. Examples are Action for Children, Fund for Human Need and on behalf of the Community Café. Movements of such funds, which are held temporarily on the main bank current account, are separately recorded in the Vestry Journal, receipts and payments ledgers, and documented in other papers on file; and balances of the Benevolence Fund, to be applied at the minister’s discretion.
It is policy to disburse such collections in the same financial year in which they were received into the church accounts, except for the Benevolence Fund which may accumulate across year-ends.
Thanks
The Trustees would like to thank all those who work in a volunteer capacity to enable the smooth running of the Church in all its facets. As can be seen, BMC is an organisation devoted to providing public benefit with the assistance of its members. The Trustees, in exercising their powers and duties, complied with their obligation to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission.
| This Report was approved at BMC’s Church Council meeting on 13 March 2023, on which date the Trustees were the following: |
The Trustees during the year ending 31 August 2022 were the following: |
|---|---|
| Rev. Karen George | Rev. Alex Terrett |
| Deacon Laura MacBean | Deacon Laura MacBean |
| Irene Antwi | Irene Antwi |
| Gordon Wilson | Vicky Bessant |
| Cynthia Campbell | Cynthia Campbell |
| Sandra Storch | Mark Cheesman |
| Andrew Cloke | Andrew Cloke |
| Tina Eshun | Tina Eshun |
| Theo Farmer | Theo Farmer |
| Christine Handel | Christine Handel |
| David Jackson | David Jackson |
| Mary Jackson | Mary Jackson |
| David Keall | David Keall |
| Barbara Kyei | Joe Krywko |
| Rev. David Morris | Barbara Kyei |
| Graham McLeod | Comfort Lawson |
| Jenny Nichols | Rev. David Morris |
| Lum Ntumazah | Graham McLeod |
| Sheila Priestman | Jenny Nichols |
| Judith Reep | Lum Ntumazah |
| Paulette Tomlinson | Sheila Priestman |
| Valerie Wilson | Judith Reep |
| Simon Young | Paulette Tomlinson |
| Valerie Wilson | |
| Simon Young | |
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CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Beckenhaffl Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2022 Bromley Circuit Circuit no 35142 Reglsternd Charlty- Charity Reglstration numb•r If not a registefed charity Her Majesty's Reven and Customs Gift Aid number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and fflay be used to give to donors or grant funderg vlshing to see evidence of organi&thn's charitable status. Methodist charib'es in England and Wales that are not registered charibes are excepted from registration under Statutw Instrument 2014 Nk>.242) 11380C NIA Mlnlsier. Rev. Alèx Terrett Church Stewards: Jenny Nichols, Christine Handel. Sheila Priestinan. Corniort Lawson. Paettfr Tomlinson. Graham McL80d. Ifpne Antwi. Cynthia Campbell, Lum Ntumazah Treasurer. Slmon Young Id5 PUBLK Cluth R P 2715A&
ACCOUNT8 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGusf 2022 Beckenham Church Unrestricted Restrlct•d Totsls thls Fund Funds Totsls laqt Jr SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Not• Offerfn s and Tax recoverod Bank aThJ CFB iTrteT8St and Investment income a3 371 371 363 Letting9 Other Tec8ipl6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 64.706 638 64,706 1,884 123.780 26883 26,738 116,474 1248 1,246 a6 121534 la7) SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS Circuit Assessmont 01 SharB 64.530 52.291 230 Donation8 irs and Mainlen8n Uts"lrties (Insurances, water Charges, h8abng & lighong) 55,554 29 bs b7 Other p8yments TOTAL PAYMENTS 11.790 152,865 1.720 1.220 13,010 154,085 153253 250,124 (b91 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ¢1 464>8 0.331 138,650 Total funts t¥OU9ht foThvard from lasl year ¢2 179 c6 318,251 Sub total ¢1+c2 148,514 2247 179 601 TrartsfeT5 and ad Ltherrts 954 535 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4> 146,614 2347 149.715 (c8) 179,066 {c6) SEcnoN D FOR (NFORIAATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVEO AND PASSED ON TO ErfERNAL OIIGANI&ATION8 payThnts lur•5 above (th•s• amounts ar• Trot to be Included In total rncei d1 8alanL* bro ht forward from last 146 681 Offerin Gits - receNed for eOrn81 o 445 d3 OfferinggGits - passed to ejternal organisallons BALANCE STILL TO BE PAro (d1 +d2413 1,100 144 2of5 PUBUC Jt •xl P Y113.110
Be¢k•rtwrn Chwch Ji SECTION ui Sufflmary (4 Ih Chwrh l(¥ lh¥ year ondcql 31 Augusl 2Q21 aryd Inl•rn Ctynls•itarn r• C4JwKilChuich hkA• lh8 lthnds IWMI Orp•rd&atknfft v•pu nmlty be R¢) furyls unlo•s il cwld d•wty that Ilw couks b• u••d ts •ry v41¥xl puw Thts rrnAI b• al th• qrLW •%p•ThJlw• ol the 10 11 •c•edS AccrL4akn IhT•shc4d. Iln I ADwu•ts mffl1l ol ORGANISATK>N• el ¢11 t•foW forn•r4 ffom Plgè 2-Iclakn co¢uTrnl 710 154,085 ,301 179,W 1uns BY CHURCH 123.780 1M,0•5 (XIJOS) 141715 SEcn&Y p Cuft kl th•rKI 618 519 ctAs¥ fran •trn)1•12)
DECLARATIONS Tr•asur•r I confirm that I have prepared the accots from the oft Chwch and that hKaxle al Iwds urKl8r the control of the CtKffch C4xncI &gnatsre of Tfe•xr Date 10 13 Nam• Simon J Your 80 Vdlage Way, Beckertham . Kant 8R3 3NR Pr•serrtatlon to the "Church Counctl for approval. l ¢(ffifrni #t the Acc(Mts Fove been wesented to the CtArth L 13.3.23 SlwtLTe of the Char ofthe meelw Name of ts Chaff of Ihe maethg 13.3. Independent Examlrnrf• Report to the TfU8t•es of th• Church 8•ck•nham Methodist R•sp•ctlv• r•sponslbillti•s of Trust••s and Examln•r t re<¥Ared for ttys year w¥Jef secbon 144 of the Charthes Art 2011 (trx Chaitrs Ad) Jnd th81 an indepen examin•tion is needed. tt l• my to: ExOrnff aCctt 8ectKm 145 of Chwaies Act CommB%k)n (WKl•r Sectlm 145(5Xb) of the Chw*es Act), 4dS PUBLK 2015
Ba•1• of Ind•p•ndent ExamlD•f• R•port My examination was carried out in 8cconJan(x with genernl Diredions glven try the Chaiity Commossion. An examlnallon includes a fEview of the accounting recortts kem ty the charity aThl a CA)rnparison of the accx)unts Kyesented with those records. ft also includes consKlerntion of any unusual rtems or ¢sclosures in the a)unts. 8fKJ seeking explanatiors from the trustees concemlng any suth matters. The procedures undertaken do not I0vIde all Ihe eviden(x thal would be requlred in an audi( and consequenlly no opInn is given as to whelher Ihe 8ccounts IKe5eiil a InR aNI fait Vie4V 8TxI the fEPOrt Is hmiled to ttK)5e matters set oul in Ihe statement below. Independent Examine¢s Statement In connedlon wilh my examination, no matter has (xjme to my #lenti (other than thal disckwj belrf: (1) which glvas mo reaSonae cause to bdieve Ihal In any nterfal fequirnfflents: . to keep ac(x)untiw records in acc(xdance sedion 130 of the Ch1 Act . lo wep8re oUr wlKh ac(xKd Mth the account¢ng records and comply wilh the accounting uirements of Ihe Charfties Act have been met; or ) lo 1¢h, in my opinion, attentkm shoukj be Sn orderto 6Tr80 a prow understsndlng of tl accounts lo be reach1. (3) I h8ve obtained indeFWKlent verification of all Inveslments wilh the Trustees for Melhodisl Chur( PUrFeS rrMCP? or hekl in other Trusts. Bank balanrAs and Funds at Ihe Central Finan 8oanl of the MethcMJist Church fCF8?, lch arn IndlvKlually In excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balanc* sheet date. Name John Whittam Slgn8ture Clliip Relev8nl Professlonal qu8Jificalion or txxjy ICAEW (7735C66) 9 Badgers Way, Stralford.upon•Avon, WaThhckshire CW37 OUJ Sof5 PUBUC ZY15 PA
CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Beckenhaffl Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2022 Bromley Circuit Circuit no 35142 Reglsternd Charlty- Charity Reglstration numb•r If not a registefed charity Her Majesty's Reven and Customs Gift Aid number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and fflay be used to give to donors or grant funderg vlshing to see evidence of organi&thn's charitable status. Methodist charib'es in England and Wales that are not registered charibes are excepted from registration under Statutw Instrument 2014 Nk>.242) 11380C NIA Mlnlsier. Rev. Alèx Terrett Church Stewards: Jenny Nichols, Christine Handel. Sheila Priestinan. Corniort Lawson. Paettfr Tomlinson. Graham McL80d. Ifpne Antwi. Cynthia Campbell, Lum Ntumazah Treasurer. Slmon Young Id5 PUBLK Cluth R P 2715A&
ACCOUNT8 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGusf 2022 Beckenham Church Unrestricted Restrlct•d Totsls thls Fund Funds Totsls laqt Jr SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Not• Offerfn s and Tax recoverod Bank aThJ CFB iTrteT8St and Investment income a3 371 371 363 Letting9 Other Tec8ipl6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 64.706 638 64,706 1,884 123.780 26883 26,738 116,474 1248 1,246 a6 121534 la7) SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS Circuit Assessmont 01 SharB 64.530 52.291 230 Donation8 irs and Mainlen8n Uts"lrties (Insurances, water Charges, h8abng & lighong) 55,554 29 bs b7 Other p8yments TOTAL PAYMENTS 11.790 152,865 1.720 1.220 13,010 154,085 153253 250,124 (b91 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ¢1 464>8 0.331 138,650 Total funts t¥OU9ht foThvard from lasl year ¢2 179 c6 318,251 Sub total ¢1+c2 148,514 2247 179 601 TrartsfeT5 and ad Ltherrts 954 535 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4> 146,614 2347 149.715 (c8) 179,066 {c6) SEcnoN D FOR (NFORIAATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVEO AND PASSED ON TO ErfERNAL OIIGANI&ATION8 payThnts lur•5 above (th•s• amounts ar• Trot to be Included In total rncei d1 8alanL* bro ht forward from last 146 681 Offerin Gits - receNed for eOrn81 o 445 d3 OfferinggGits - passed to ejternal organisallons BALANCE STILL TO BE PAro (d1 +d2413 1,100 144 2of5 PUBUC Jt •xl P Y113.110
Be¢k•rtwrn Chwch Ji SECTION ui Sufflmary (4 Ih Chwrh l(¥ lh¥ year ondcql 31 Augusl 2Q21 aryd Inl•rn Ctynls•itarn r• C4JwKilChuich hkA• lh8 lthnds IWMI Orp•rd&atknfft v•pu nmlty be R¢) furyls unlo•s il cwld d•wty that Ilw couks b• u••d ts •ry v41¥xl puw Thts rrnAI b• al th• qrLW •%p•ThJlw• ol the 10 11 •c•edS AccrL4akn IhT•shc4d. Iln I ADwu•ts mffl1l ol ORGANISATK>N• el ¢11 t•foW forn•r4 ffom Plgè 2-Iclakn co¢uTrnl 710 154,085 ,301 179,W 1uns BY CHURCH 123.780 1M,0•5 (XIJOS) 141715 SEcn&Y p Cuft kl th•rKI 618 519 ctAs¥ fran •trn)1•12)
DECLARATIONS Tr•asur•r I confirm that I have prepared the accots from the oft Chwch and that hKaxle al Iwds urKl8r the control of the CtKffch C4xncI &gnatsre of Tfe•xr Date 10 13 Nam• Simon J Your 80 Vdlage Way, Beckertham . Kant 8R3 3NR Pr•serrtatlon to the "Church Counctl for approval. l ¢(ffifrni #t the Acc(Mts Fove been wesented to the CtArth L 13.3.23 SlwtLTe of the Char ofthe meelw Name of ts Chaff of Ihe maethg 13.3. Independent Examlrnrf• Report to the TfU8t•es of th• Church 8•ck•nham Methodist R•sp•ctlv• r•sponslbillti•s of Trust••s and Examln•r t re<¥Ared for ttys year w¥Jef secbon 144 of the Charthes Art 2011 (trx Chaitrs Ad) Jnd th81 an indepen examin•tion is needed. tt l• my to: ExOrnff aCctt 8ectKm 145 of Chwaies Act CommB%k)n (WKl•r Sectlm 145(5Xb) of the Chw*es Act), 4dS PUBLK 2015
Ba•1• of Ind•p•ndent ExamlD•f• R•port My examination was carried out in 8cconJan(x with genernl Diredions glven try the Chaiity Commossion. An examlnallon includes a fEview of the accounting recortts kem ty the charity aThl a CA)rnparison of the accx)unts Kyesented with those records. ft also includes consKlerntion of any unusual rtems or ¢sclosures in the a)unts. 8fKJ seeking explanatiors from the trustees concemlng any suth matters. The procedures undertaken do not I0vIde all Ihe eviden(x thal would be requlred in an audi( and consequenlly no opInn is given as to whelher Ihe 8ccounts IKe5eiil a InR aNI fait Vie4V 8TxI the fEPOrt Is hmiled to ttK)5e matters set oul in Ihe statement below. Independent Examine¢s Statement In connedlon wilh my examination, no matter has (xjme to my #lenti (other than thal disckwj belrf: (1) which glvas mo reaSonae cause to bdieve Ihal In any nterfal fequirnfflents: . to keep ac(x)untiw records in acc(xdance sedion 130 of the Ch1 Act . lo wep8re oUr wlKh ac(xKd Mth the account¢ng records and comply wilh the accounting uirements of Ihe Charfties Act have been met; or ) lo 1¢h, in my opinion, attentkm shoukj be Sn orderto 6Tr80 a prow understsndlng of tl accounts lo be reach1. (3) I h8ve obtained indeFWKlent verification of all Inveslments wilh the Trustees for Melhodisl Chur( PUrFeS rrMCP? or hekl in other Trusts. Bank balanrAs and Funds at Ihe Central Finan 8oanl of the MethcMJist Church fCF8?, lch arn IndlvKlually In excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balanc* sheet date. Name John Whittam Slgn8ture Clliip Relev8nl Professlonal qu8Jificalion or txxjy ICAEW (7735C66) 9 Badgers Way, Stralford.upon•Avon, WaThhckshire CW37 OUJ Sof5 PUBUC ZY15 PA