Trustee’s Annual Report for the period 01/09/24 – 31/08/25
South Petherton and Crewkerne Circuit
Objectives and Activities: The purposes of the Methodist Church are the advancement of:
The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of The Methodist Church as laid out in the “Constitution, Practice and Discipline” of the Methodist Church.
Any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit local church or other organisation of The Methodist Church.
Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church.
Any Purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church.
The Mission Statement of our Circuit is:
To be a vibrant community of Christian believers; living out the call of discipleship and mission, through our Christian beliefs, love, respect for all and pastoral care. We exist to worship God, as revealed in Jesus Christ, through His Life, teaching, death, and resurrection. In our Circuit of Methodist churches, we want to encourage growth through evangelism, fellowship and service in and around the towns and villages located in this area.
Our Circuit Priorities are:
God-centered worship and prayer
Action to help where and when needed.
Developing eco-friendly and accessible churches, with well-maintained property
Encouraging fresh expressions of being church
Care, respect, inclusion and love for all
A deep belief that we have a future and a relevance.
This Circuit has an umbrella body of 5 Methodist churches and continues to serve the 2 villages (South Petherton and Combe St Nicholas) where our churches have recently ceased to worship. The Circuit produces a quarterly preaching plan to ensure regular acts of worship take place at each church. They are open to all, without charge.
Achievement and Performance
The Trustees have taken note of the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, and in particular their guidance on charities for the advancement of religion, when planning their activities. |The actions of The Circuit therefore meet the requirement for there to be an identifiable public benefit, or benefits, and that benefit is to the public, or a section of the public.
During the 2024/2025 financial year the Circuit has used accessible funds for the following:
Our presbyteral minister, (this Circuit can only afford 1 minister) together with Local Preachers and Worship Leaders provide regular Sunday worship in our 5 churches and in local residential and care homes, when requested. Such services are publicly advertised, open to all, and every effort is made to provide accessible, welcoming and meaningful worship.
The Circuit encourages its churches to regularly review their position in the community they serve and envision new and contextual ways of engaging people. Each church provides a report to the Circuit of their work, mission, and outreach throughout the year. The Circuit provides a Trustee to sit on each Church Council and be available to report the work undertaken by the Circuit. It is a two-way process as we assess the requirements and viability of both Circuit and churches.
The Circuit has provided courses for those individuals requiring Safeguarding training and ensures that DBS checks are completed for those in posts that require them. The Safeguarding policy of the Circuit and the churches is regularly reviewed in line with the Policy produced by the Connexional Team of The Methodist Church. It covers both children and vulnerable adults.
The Circuit also accesses GDPR and Inclusion, Equality and Diversity training for those individuals needing it.
The Circuit continues to support churches in their work with children and young people.
There is a regular review process carried out by the Circuit Leadership Team (CLT) to ensure that the charity is fulfilling its objectives.
The CLT oversee the day to day running of charity and regularly report to the full meeting of the Trustees. Professional advice is sought when necessary.
The Circuit continues to prioritise the commitment to Our Calling and a Methodist Way of Life as it encourages its members to grow in discipleship and share the love of God in line with our mission statement.
CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
South Petherton and Crewkerne
18/37
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
| District South West Peninsula Registered Charity - Charity Registration number |
Circuit no 18/37 1139503 |
|---|---|
If not a registered charity His Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number
(The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242 )
Ministers:
Rev Andrew Longshaw
Circuit Stewards:
Ken Banks Elizabeth Beattie
Treasurer:
Rev Peter Thomas
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ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025 South Petherton and Crewkerne Circuit
Un - Circuit
restricted Model Trust Restricted Totals this Totals last
SECTION A Funds Fund Funds year year
a1 RECEIPTS Note £ £ £ £ £
a2 Assessment/Share 66,468 66,468 67,916
a3 Capital receipts 396,659 396,659
a4 Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income
231 6,563 136 6,930 6,372
a5 Lettings 18,292 18,292
a6 Other receipts 1,582 1,582 7,894
a7 TOTAL RECEIPTS 86,572 403,222 136 489,930 (a8) 82,182
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and
travel costs 43,735 43,735 59,927
b3 Manse Costs 11,892 11,892 60,851
b4 Administration etc 60 262 9 332 1,641
b5 District Assessment 16,570 2,017 18,587 9,997
b6 Grants & donations
b7 CPF levy
110,664 110,664 6,506
b8 Other payments 6,865 22,943 29,808 7,355
b9 TOTAL PAYMENTS 79,122 135,886 9 215,017 (b9) 146,277
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR
c1 THE YEAR (a7-b9) 7,451 267,336 127 274,913 (64,095)
c2 Total funds brought forward from last year 25,071 80,696 2,904 108,671 (c6) 172,766
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) 32,521 348,032 3,031 383,584 108,671
c4 Transfers and adjustments 127 (127) (c7)
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) 32,648 348,032 2,904 383,584 (c8) 108,671 (c6)
SECTION D
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
d (these amounts should not be included in total receipts/payments above)
d1 Balance brought forward from last year
d2 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations
d3 Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1 + d2 - d3)
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South Petherton and Crewkerne
Circuit
SUMMARY OF CIRCUIT ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATION REPORTING TO THE CIRCUIT MEETING
SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page Summary of the Circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Circuit Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross receipts and payments totals of the Circuit. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold of £250,000, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the Circuit and connected Circuit Organisations.
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INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances Closing balances
e1
e2
e3
e4
e5
e6
e7
Sub total of Internal
e8 Organisations funds (e11) (e12)
Circuit accounts (totals
brought forward from
e9 page 2 - totals column) 489,930 (a8) 215,017 (b9) 274,913 (c7) 108,671 (c6) 383,584 (c8)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS
e10 HELD BY CIRCUIT 489,930 215,017 274,913 108,671 (x) 383,584 (y)
Continue on a separate TOTAL
sheet if necessary and TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
bring the totals forward
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
OPENING CLOSING
CIRCUIT - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025 BALANCES BALANCES
f1 Cash in hand
f2 Bank Current Account 22,866 18,935
f3 Bank Deposit Account
f4 Central Finance Board 2,204 13,712
f5 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 83,601 350,936
f6 Other funds
f7 SUB TOTAL 108,671 (c6) 383,584 (c8)
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the
f8 closing balance totals above) (e12) (e11) (e12)
f9 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT 108,671 (x) 383,584 (y)
SECTION G At At
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES 1 September 2024 31 August 2025
g1 Investments (include Endowments)
g2 Land and Buildings (see notes re Insurance value)
g3 Other Assets
g4 Loan(s) - show amount outstanding at year end
g5 Other Liabilities
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f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board
-
f5 Include only CFB Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trust accounts this is inserted in line f5)
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Name of Circuit South Petherteon & Crewkerne No 37/18
Declarations and Scrutiny
I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 have been prepared from the records of the Circuit and that they include all funds under the control of the Circuit meeting.
Signature of treasurer Peter J Thomas Date /10/25
Name and address of treasurer ………………………………………………………………………….
Peter J Thomas …………………………………………………………………………………. Post Code…… TA1 2TA
Presentation to the Circuit meeting
I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 were/will be*
presented to the Circuit meeting held on December 10th 2025
Signature of the Chair of the meeting Andrew Longshaw
Name of the Chair of the meeting Andrew Longshaw Date ……………………
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the
South Petherton and Crewkerne Circuit
Charity Number 1139503
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the …………………………………. Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages … to …. As the Circuit’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Circuit’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
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Name of Circuit …South Petherton & Crewkerne……………………… No 37/18.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below*) which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
I have/have not* obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date.
Signature of independent examiner
Name of independent examiner David Hawkings
Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner C Math
Name of firm (where appropriate) N/A
Address 5 Hither Acre, ILMINSTER
……………………………………………………………………………….. Post Code TA19 9DA
Date 09/10/25
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Incorporated in SFA return