South West Cumbria United Area Trustees’ Annual Report (September 2021 – August 2022)
This year’s report starts with thanks to the people who have supported the United Area in 2021/22 when we had only one full-time minister, our incoming Superintendent and Lead Minister, Rev Dr Helen Hooley. The Trustees are grateful to Rev Les Hann, whose pastoral care and preaching has been greatly appreciated by the congregation at Millom; to Rev Stephen Tudway, who has given pastoral care to the Kirkby folk while developing ecumenical fellowship groups and youth work at our Broughton church; and to Rev David Edmondson, who has not only given pastoral care in Dalton and Askam but has grappled with a building project and a church merger, as well as preaching regularly. In the autumn, the URC fulfilled their long-term ambition to bring a minister to the Area, providing us with our second minister. After several Zoom meetings, Rev Kate Hunt visited on a very busy weekend at the start of December and subsequently accepted our invitation to join us in 2022/23. A packed Beacon Hill hosted a wonderful welcome and ordination service on 20[th] August, followed by a faith tea. It’s not often that a charabanc full of worshippers arrives at one of our churches! These were from Kate’s home church. Kate will have pastoral charge of Ramsden Street, Dalton, Askam, Kirkby and Millom, with links to the work at Broughton, and will also be active in the URC Cumbria Partnership. She and husband Stephen will live in Dalton and we wish them a happy and fruitful time among us. Thanks, again, to David for agreeing to stay on to support Kate as she learns more about Methodism and for continuing to oversee the Dalton building work, which is happily going to plan and will hopefully open up new opportunities for outreach in the town.
Our lay staff continue to play an important part in the UA. Alongside his work in re-new community charity shop , Tim has grown as a trainee local preacher and, keen to develop further, has explored a course in Pioneer Mission starting in January 2023. Our initial Area administrator did not remain in post for long but was swiftly replaced by Rebecca Blackett, who has been doing a great job in producing preaching plans, agendas and minutes, distributing information and generally keeping things running smoothly. May we hold all our staff in our prayers and support them wherever and whenever we can.
In September, there was a real sense of church life re-starting properly after the constraints of 2020/21 and many church fellowship groups and lettings have resumed and been as popular as ever. However, it should be noted that there was also a sense of tiredness and uncertainty in some places, partly due to the reduced number of members; and, of course, some groups and activities have not continued. It is disconcerting when a group which had previously flourished and served the community well suddenly seems no longer to be in demand. So, it seemed very pertinent that Helen’s questions to every church council in the autumn were: How does this church community feed your spiritual life? and What does this church do really well in its community? We can be thankful for the blessings of the past but should remember that, when something comes to an end, though sad, it might be to enable us to start something new and potentially exciting. Some new initiatives this year have been Hartington Street’s and Ramsden Street’s engagement with Love Barrow Families which has led to a number of actions. Something that particularly ‘captured the moment’ was Trinity’s hospitality to Ukrainian refugees through their coffee mornings; and many of our churches held special events to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, often inviting their community to join in. Although there was no Area-wide charity initiative this year, individual churches have continued to support good causes, including Christian Aid, All We Can, Lebone, Leprosy Mission and the Foodbank. Whether ongoing or new activities, it is clear from the reports in the new South West Connections that the Spirit is moving in the United Area and there is a longing for it to flourish and grow.
Trinity took a momentous step this year when the members decided – after some years of reflection – to close their building and look for a new way to be a worshipping community. Trinity’s building will hold its last service in September 2022, but Trinity Church will continue to worship at Abbey Road Baptist Church, with whom they have built up good relations over recent years. They plan to worship separately, but to hold some joint services. Askam, as a smaller church which does not have a church council, made plans to merge with Dalton, but will also continue as a separate worshipping community. Other UA churches have continued to develop strong ecumenical relationships with neighbouring churches: for example, Kirkby with St. Cuthbert’s, Vickerstown with St. Mary’s and Millom with the Baptists and Salvation Army.
Finances have been a consideration in some of the above. With fewer members and possibly fewer lettings, money is tight in all of our churches – and likely to become tighter with spiralling heating costs. In some cases, a realistic reappraisal of our rental fees has been necessary; and a willingness to share services with another church and only heat one building may become necessary as the new year progresses. the need to do some things differently is a theme that resonates across all levels and denominations of the Christian Church, not just here; but the Church has experienced many challenges over the centuries and has evolved and gone forward. So, while we must be realistic, we should remain hopeful. There are green shoots to be developed and, with money in reserve from the sale of the manses, the potential to develop new projects, find a way to be sustainable for the future and hopefully grow God’s kingdom. The Trustees began 2021/22 with a day to look at where we were and what we hoped to carry forward, with the resolve to use the year for ongoing discussion and reflection and to listen to where God might be leading us. Early in 2022/23, we will hold a Vision Day to pull our thoughts and ideas together, with the aim of writing a new Mission Plan for the United Area.
Please continue to pray for the life and work of our churches and those in them; and have faith in God’s wisdom and His plan for our United Area.
CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
THE METHODIST CHURCH
STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS
South West Cumbria United Area
Circuit
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022
Cumbria District Circuit no 09/16
Registered Charity - Charity Registration number
1141404
If not a registered charity Her 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 Helen Hooley
Rev Kate Hunt (URC)
Circuit Stewards:
Lynne Pearce Kathryn Aldred Sue Millard Karen Edmondson Charlie Mills
Treasurer:
Lynne Pearce
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South West Cumbria United Area Circuit
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022
| SECTION A | £ £ £ Un - restricted Funds Circuit Model Trust Fund Restricted Funds |
£ £ £ Un - restricted Funds Circuit Model Trust Fund Restricted Funds |
£ £ £ Un - restricted Funds Circuit Model Trust Fund Restricted Funds |
£ £ £ Un - restricted Funds Circuit Model Trust Fund Restricted Funds |
£ 111,132 0 1,812 0 28,762 Totals this year |
£ 111,132 0 1,812 0 28,762 Totals this year |
£ Totals last year |
£ Totals last year |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a1 | RECEIPTS | Note | |||||||||
| a2 | Assessment/Share | 111,132 | 111,132 | 119,303 | |||||||
| a3 | Capital receipts | 0 | 223,898 | ||||||||
| a4 | Bank and CFB interest and Investment income |
377 | 1,435 | 1,812 | 727 | ||||||
| a5 | Grants | 0 | 13,952 | ||||||||
| a6 | Other receipts | 28,762 | 28,762 | 24,732 | |||||||
| a7 | TOTAL RECEIPTS | 140,271 | 1,435 | 0 | 141,706 | (a8) | 382,612 | ||||
| SECTION B | 69,683 4,157 1,640 48,495 0 0 49,948 |
||||||||||
| b1 | PAYMENTS | ||||||||||
| b2 | Stipends, salaries, NIC, Pension and travel costs |
69,683 | 69,683 | 106,798 | |||||||
| b3 | Manse Costs | 4,157 | 4,157 | 15,779 | |||||||
| b4 | Administration etc | 747 | 892 | # | 1,640 | 5,045 | |||||
| b5 | District Assessment | 48,495 | # | 48,495 | 38,234 | ||||||
| b6 | Grants & donations | # | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| b7 | # | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| b8 | Otherpayments | 49,948 | # | 49,948 | 88,219 | ||||||
| b9 | TOTAL PAYMENTS | 173,031 | 892 | 0 | 173,923 | (b9) | 254,075 | ||||
| (32,218) | |||||||||||
| SECTION C | |||||||||||
| c1 | NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR |
(a7-b9) | (32,760) | 543 | 0 | (32,218) | |||||
| c2 | Total funds brought forward from lastyear | 155,136 | 311,385 | 0 | 466,520.99 | (c6) | 337,984 | ||||
| 434,303 | |||||||||||
| c3 | Sub total (c1+c2) |
122,376 | 311,928 | 0 | 434,303 | ||||||
| c4 | Transfers and adjustments | 0 | (c7) | ||||||||
| c5 | TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4 |
) | 122,376 | 311,928 | 0 | 434,303 | (c8) | 466,520.99 | (c6) |
| SECTION D | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| d | FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (these amounts should not be included in total receipts/payments above) |
||||||
| d1 | Balance brought forward from lastyear |
2,046 | # | ||||
| d2 | Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations | 0 | 11,428 | ||||
| d3 | Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations | 9,383 | |||||
| d4 | BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID(d1 + d2 - d3) | 2,046 | 2,046 |
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South West Cumbria United Area
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 2022 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.
| SECTION E | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary of the Circuit accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 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. |
||||||||||
| INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS |
Net Receipts/ Payments |
Adjustments | Opening balances |
Closingbalances | ||||||
| e1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e2 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e4 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e6 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e7 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| e8 | Sub total of Internal Organisations funds |
0 | 0 | **0 ** | (e11) | 0 | (e12) | |||
| e9 | Circuit accounts (totals brought forward from page 2 - totals column) |
(32,218) | **0 ** | (c7) | **466,521 ** | (c6) | 434,303.44 | (c8) | ||
| e10 | TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT |
(32,218) | 0 | **466,521 ** | (x) | **434,303 ** | (y) | |||
SECTION F STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
| SECTION F STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES |
SECTION F STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIRCUIT - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2022 | OPENING BALANCES |
CLOSING BALANCES |
||||
| f1 | Cash in hand | |||||
| f2 | Bank Current Account | 32,247 | 42,852 | |||
| f3 | Bank Deposit Account | |||||
| f4 | Central Finance Board | 107,889 | 94,253 | |||
| f5 | Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes | 311,385 | 297,198 | |||
| f6 | Other funds | 15,000 | ||||
| f7 | SUB TOTAL | **466,521 ** | (c6) | 434,303 | (c8) | |
| f8 | Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing balance totals above) (e12) |
0 | (e11) | 0.00 | (e12) | |
| f9 | TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT | **466,521 ** | (x) | 434,303 | (y) | |
| SECTION G | At | At | ||||
| OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES Investments(include Endowments) Land and Buildings(see notes re Insurance value) Other Assets Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end Other Liabilities |
1 September 2021 1,681 315,348 11,713 |
31 August 2022 1,575 343,413 11,713 28,974 |
||||
| g1 | Investments(include Endowments) | 1,681 | 1,575 | |||
| g2 | Land and Buildings(see notes re Insurance value) | 315,348 | 343,413 | |||
| g3 | Other Assets | 11,713 | 11,713 | |||
| g4 | Loan(s)- show amount outstandingatyear end | |||||
| g5 | Other Liabilities | 28,974 |
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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DECLARATIONS
Treasurer
I confirm that I have prepared the accounts from the records of the Circuit and that they include all funds under the control of the Circuit
Signature of Treasurer Date 9/25/2022 Name Lynne Pearce MAAT Address 60 Steel Street, Askam-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA16 7BP
Presentation to the *Circuit Meeting for approval.
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I confirm that the Accounts have been presented to the Circuit Meeting on 9/27/2022
and were approved.
Signature of the Chair of the meeting
Name of the Chair of the meeting Rev Dr Helen Hooley
Date 9/27/2022
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the
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South West Cumbria United Area Circuit
This Report is on the Circuit Accounts for the year ended 31 [[st]] August 2022
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This Report is on the Circuit Accounts for the year ended 31[[st]] August
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consid audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and th independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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Examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity
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Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act), and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
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Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act;
• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
(3) I have not obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes ("TMCP") or held in other Trusts, Bank balances and Funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church ("CFB"), which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date.
Name Mr David A Hollis Signature Relevant Professional qualification or body FMAAT Address 119 Birchwood Drive, Ulverston, Cumbria,LA12 9NY Date 22nd December 2022
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Basis of Independent Examiner's Report
My examina�on was carried out in accordance with general Direc�ons given by the Charity Commission. An examina�on includes a review of the accoun�ng records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes considera�on of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explana�ons from the trustees concerning any such ma�ers. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those ma�ers set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner's Statement
In connec�on with my examina�on, no ma�er has come to my a�en�on:
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(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accoun�ng records in accordance with sec�on 130 of the Chari�es Act;
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accoun�ng records and comply with the accoun�ng requirements of the Chari�es Act have not been met; or
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(2) to which, in my opinion, a�en�on should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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(3) I have not obtained independent verifica�on of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church
Purposes ("TMCP") or held in other Trusts, Bank balances and Funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church ("CFB"), which are individually in excess of El 0,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date.
Name Mr David A Hollis
Signature
FMAAT
Address 119 Birchwood Drive, Ulverston, Cumbria,LA12 9NY
9th March 2023
Date