2025-08-31-accounts

NORTH YORKSHIRE DALES METHODIST CIRCUIT

Trustees Annual Reports and Accounts Year ended: 31 August 2025.

Introduction:

Formed in September 2010, NYDC is part of the Darlington Methodist District, within the Methodist Church of Great Britain; and encompasses 9 worshipping congregations, 8 chapels and 8 church councils with a total membership of 237. This is made up of the following:

Melmerby 14 members *Gayle/Bainbridge 19 members Brompton-on-Swale 10 members Leyburn 44 members	Richmond 100 members Scorton 20 members West Burton 12 members Gunnerside 15 members Hunton 15 members

*(Bainbridge a class of Gayle without a building who meet at Sycamore Hall)

The Circuit is set in some 375 square miles of the beautiful countryside of Swaledale and Wensleydale: not forgetting Coverdale, Bishopdale, Raydale and Arkengarthdale.

The Superintendent is Rev Jo Brown. Her colleagues are, Julie Greenslade, the Circuit Administrative Assistant and Wendy Bunting, the Circuit Methodist Primary Schools Chaplain (see below).

The 9 worshipping congregations differ in size and location and some offer activities several days per week, others are less busy. There are regular Circuit Services throughout the year when communities are encouraged to meet together at one church, or location within the circuit and further details can be found on our website www.nydalesmeth.org.uk

The Circuit has pastoral responsibility for the Methodist Schools in Gunnerside and Richmond and from 4.9.23 formed a partnership with the Darlington and Teesdale Circuit whereby the North Yorkshire Dales Circuit appointed a Lay Methodist Primary Schools Chaplain to serve across the 3 Methodist Schools of Gunnerside, Richmond and Melsonby.

Aims and Organisation:

Mission Statement

Our mission…

is to grow the church, both in quality and quantity, so that all the people of the North Yorkshire Dales, and beyond, may encounter the love of God.

Our aim… to walk with Jesus, to witness to others, to worship the Lord. Our vision… is for a God-led, Spirit-filled church serving and ministering to individuals, families and the community.

The Circuit encourages and supports chapel communities to build each other up, in their local area group, encouraging growth of Christian discipleship, ministry and mission; through shared Bible studies and prayer groups, mutual witness and worship to the wider communities in which they are placed, through sharing special services, local celebrations and events and outreach projects. The principal purpose being to:

•  Create opportunities to regularly share in fellowship in their locality, and across the wider Circuit.  Be encouraged to serve, witness & care for the local communities in which they live & work.

•  Develop strong pastoral links with fellow Methodists across the community in their local area, as well as in the wider Circuit, in order to create a larger supportive community from several smaller fellowships.

Brief financial review of the year:

The budgeted expenditure at the beginning of the year was £172,159.00. Actual expenditure was £208,607.00

Several cost centres were underspent, including travel costs for ministers, the administrative assistant, and quinquennials. The over budget costs were mostly due to repairs required to the Dove Cottage Manse.

The budgeted income was £107,593.00. Actual income was £103,283.00. Interest on capital was greatly increased due to a high balance in the Circuit MTF following chapel sales, and high interest rate

Stipend expenditure has increased in each financial year in line with conference approved increases. Almost 25K of expenditure is the Circuit contribution to the District and Connexion of which a significant part is used to fund the work of the wider Methodist Church. Other Circuit expenditure includes ongoing maintenance and insurance of empty chapel buildings.

The lay appointment of a Schools Chaplain began in September 2023 with the remaining funds from the previous Circuit Schools and Families worker transferred to the new Chaplaincy post. Contribution from the District/Teesdale Circuit have been received towards funding the post.

As at 31[st] August 2025 the nett assets of the Circuit were as follows: General Account: £104,465. £32,468 is nominally designated for other projects. Circuit MTF: £700,082.

Plans for the coming year 2025 / 2026:

Circuit financial plans for the coming year have been prepared on the basis that there remain two full time ordained staff with the anticipated cost of living stipend increases, and a part-time self-employed administrator whose hourly rate increases in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Average Weekly Earnings Index recommendations, and always above the recommended Living Wage rates. Where possible, other costs have been kept to a minimum. The CLT, in consultation with Chapel Treasurers, have agreed to revise chapel assessments on the basis of income and current membership. The budget shortfall will continue to be made up from Circuit reserves.

The Charity’s annual report and accounts for the year end 31[st] August 2025 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice 2015 as applicable to the Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 102

The Full name of Charity: The North Yorkshire Dales Methodist Circuit

Registered Charity Number: 1143259

Date of Registration: 5[th] August 2011

Main communication address: Dove Cottage, Moor Road, Leyburn, N Yorks. DL8 5DH

The members of the North Yorkshire Dales Methodist Circuit Meeting are the Charity Trustees, membership being made up of Circuit office holders, Ministers and representatives appointed by the local churches.

Circuit Ministers and Officers:

Active Circuit Ministers:

Rev Jo Brown (Superintendent) Rev Julia Reid

Circuit Lay Workers:

Miss Wendy Bunting (Methodist Primary Schools Chaplain)

Circuit Stewards:

Mr Graham Di Duca Mrs Michelle Stonley Mrs Angela Bailey

Administrator:

Mrs Julie Greenslade

(Full membership is shown as Appendix A to this report)

Structure, Governance and Management:

The governing document for the Circuit is the Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976)

Detailed governance arrangements are outlined within the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church by order of the annual conference (CPD).

Management of the Circuit is the responsibility of the Circuit Meeting who meet four times per year. Day to day management is exercised through the Circuit Leadership team on behalf of the Circuit Meeting along with the Local Preachers meeting and the Circuit Finance and Property Committee.

The Circuit is part of the Darlington District and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference.

Risk Management:

Income and expenditure is being monitored in total and is compared with the approved annual budget on a half yearly basis to detect trends as part of the risk management process to avoid unforeseen calls on reserves.

Safeguarding:

Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.

Methodist Connexional practice outlines commitment to the following principles:

• The care and nurture of and respectful pastoral ministry with all children, young people and adults

• The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable

• The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where there is informed vigilance as to the dangers of abuse

• We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with Safer Recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes

• We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and local authority in any investigation

• We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care

• We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust

• We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult

• In all these principles we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice

Aims and organisations:

The charity objective is to act as a resource provider within the area of the North Yorkshire Dales for The Methodist Church.

• The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the date of union the advancement of:

• (a) the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church;

• (b) any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church;

• (c) any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church;

• (d) any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.

Achievements and performance:

Ministry

Regular services are held in Sycamore Hall, Bainbridge, the local residential home where many of the members are Christian. These services are open to all residents of all Christian denominations or none. Ecumenical relationships with St Matthew’s in Leyburn mean that Anglican and Methodist Congregations regularly come together for Sunday and season special worship in each other’s buildings as well as outdoors. Ecumenical working across the entire Circuit brings a wealth of shared opportunities and a mutual delight in being able to worship and work together regularly including annual Covenant Services, united Christmas, Mothering Sunday, and Easter Services. There is also an annual Ecumenical Carol Service at the Auction Mart in Leyburn, and an ecumenical presence at the country shows across the Dales.

As a Circuit we continue to challenge ourselves by declaring that our Mission is to grow the church, both in quality and quantity, so that all the people of the North Yorkshire Dales and beyond may encounter the love of God. Whilst acknowledging that membership figures continue to indicate that this is a real challenge, there are small signs of growth within the last 12 months.

We remember our promise to maintain the life of worship and service that the children among us may grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The Circuit is host to two Methodist Primary Schools, one each at Richmond and Gunnerside. The school at Gunnerside is currently in Federated Governance with the slightly larger primary school at Reeth. There are three Circuit appointed Governors on the governing body of Richmond Methodist school and two Circuit appointed Governors on the governing body of Reeth and Gunnerside School. The Circuit employs a Methodist Primary Schools Chaplain to provide chaplaincy to both these schools as well as Melsonby School located in the Darlington and Teesdale Circuit. The work of the Methodist Primary Schools Chaplain is a key part of this mission and outreach, and this work continues to develop with several initiatives being delivered in partnership with Melsonby, Richmond and Reeth and Gunnerside Schools and the churches and chapels located near to these Schools. Monthly whole School services (Reeth and Gunnerside Primary school) happen at Gunnerside Chapel with parents and members of the congregation also present, and Richmond Methodist school regularly visit Richmond Chapel. All seasons are celebrated alongside Spirituality days and mindfulness, Eastertingle and marking Christmas, to name but a few. All three schools have regular Christian based assemblies and collective worship with much of the leading being done by the pupils themselves with input, direction and encouragement from the Chaplain and Staff. The Circuit Ministers are also involved with this essential ministry when able. At the end of the school year, the Circuit provides Year 6 pupils with Youth Bibles, as the children leave to move up to a Senior School.

The Circuit continues the process of exploring its “Vision and strategy for the Future”, recognising that resources both financial and personnel are key. There is a concerted effort to ascertain what we can do well. A lot of work over the last 5 years has been done on freeing up resources through the sales of redundant property to provide a healthy reserve recognising that there is an ongoing budget deficit to be met alongside having sufficient monies to enable outreach and mission projects. Richmond church has been working on a vision strategy that aims to expand the use of the building

whilst reconfiguring it for sustainability and future use. A generous legacy has enabled this important step forward.

Outreach work

King's Club : This Ecumenical Circuit initiative is well established and was ably coordinated and led this year once again by the Revered Gillian Lunn. A team of volunteers from across the Circuit and the parishes of Leyburn, Bellerby, Bedale and Hawes delivered a family focussed 3 session, 3 centre activity afternoon on the theme of ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers’ Matthew 5:9. 100 free family activity bags were put together and families were invited, through various means of advertising, to one of three King’s Club sessions based at Leyburn Methodist Church Hall and The Market House Hawes (change of venue this year) and a first trial at Bedale Parish. These sessions ran from 11am to 3pm providing activities, games, refreshments, short time of worship and prayer and the gift of an activity bag containing various items linked to the theme etc. The sessions once again attracted both holiday makers and locals. Children were accompanied by parents, grandparents, and childminders.

Individual chapels – Bible studies, fellowships, choirs, harvest concerts, sing-a-longs, cream teas, coffee mornings, plant sales, Messy church, etc have all taken place this year. Safe spaces continue to be a significant part of the outreach of the Circuit again this past year with Richmond specifically opening its doors mid-week to a number of vulnerable and needy individuals.

Property:

Chapels: At the end of the year (31[st] August 2025) there were 8 chapels in use in the North Yorkshire Dales Circuit:

Brompton on Swale; Gayle; Gunnerside; Hunton; Leyburn; Melmerby; Richmond and Scorton; and whilst the responsibility for the maintenance of these properties lies with the trustees of each church, the Circuit is responsible for arranging quinquennial inspections. Satisfactory independent inspections were undertaken of Gunnerside, Richmond, Dove Cottage and 1 Vicarage Road during the year with individual reports presented to the Church Property Stewards and the Circuit Property Committee.

This year the Circuit has only had Carlton chapel to market for sale. It was put on the market on 8[th] December 2023 for a period of 6 months for Community Use enquiries and bids as per the regulations of the North Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Circuit Trustees agreed at their meeting held on 14[th] December 2023 that if no credible community use offer was forthcoming during the 6- month period then the Chapel would be sold at auction. However, before it could go to Auction a cash offer for the full market value just after the community use period had expired was received and accepted on 17.6.24. The sale is now progressing.

On 11[th] December 2024 West Burton sought formal permission to cease to worship and close. This will now along with Marsett and The Manse at Catterick Garison be advertised as required and either actioned or sold and reported fully in the report due at the end of August 2026.

Manses : There are three manses in the Circuit. Two are occupied by Ministers and the former manse at Catterick Garrison continues to be let to tenants. All legally required annual checks are carried out at all manses. Upon the arrival of a new minister in September 2026, the Richmond manse needs significant work before the new minister can move in. This will require the roof to be replaced, along with the windows and external doors and reconfiguration of the kitchen to make the property more carbon neutral and address long term damp issues.

Burial Grounds

There are burial grounds at Hawes, Low Row, Hurst, Arkengarthdale, and an additional within the

grounds of Gunnerside Chapel. All grounds are well maintained and the required topple testing has been carried out and all unstable headstones have been re-fixed and made safe. This year it has been necessary due to health and safety concerns to have part of the dry stone wall rebuilt at Hawes Burial Ground.

Financial review:

The Reserves Policy for the North Yorkshire Dales Circuit is to hold a sum equivalent to 6 months average expenditure in the General account. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure on manses and/or to be able to continue, in the short term, funding of planned activities in the event of the closure of a church or an inability to raise the full Circuit Assessment requirement from the individual churches.

The Circuit does hold sufficient working capital in its General account to enable the monthly payment of stipends and work-related expenses for the two full-time presbyters and its contribution to the District.

1.	GeneralFunds held at Y/E 31/08/2025 £104,465 MTF=£700,082
2.	RestrictedFunds held“£621
3.	EndowmentFunds held“£ 143,872
4.	Reserves policy for General Funds

An amount of the general funds - £81,052 is held as designated funds, having been taken from the Circuit MTF for specific purposes. Expenditure is monitored and funding for the budget shortfall will be drawn from the Circuit MTF as required.

The budget for 2024/25 was £172,159 and that for 2025/26 is £222,070, therefore the reserves held equate to 66% of budget expenditure, which is above the recommended 50%

The Circuit Leadership Team welcomes applications for the remaining monies which further the Mission Vision of the Circuit.

The Circuit Finance Team consisting of Mrs Katherine Brightman, Mrs Angie Bailey, Mrs Elizabeth Haythornthwaite and Mrs Michelle Stonley, has acted as the principal body overseeing the day to day financial management and accounting for the Circuit during the year.

Independent examiner – Mrs Sue Brunskill

Investment Bankers:- Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church Trustees for Methodist Church purposes

HSBC info etc – Current Account: HSBC, 23 Market Place, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4QQ

Section G – Other information:

None

Section G – Declaration:

The Trustees declare that they have approved this Trustees’ Report.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:

Signature(s)		GR Di Duca
Full name(s)	Rev’d Joanna Brown	Mr Graham Di Duca
Position e.g. Chair, Secretary,	Chair (Superintendent Minister)	Circuit Steward

Date: 31[st] August 2025

Appendix A

Chair of District: Rev’d Richard Andrew (Darlington) Circuit Superintendent: Rev’d Jo Brown Circuit Minister: Rev’d Julia Reid

Rev Kathleen Bowe (Supernumerary) Deacon Elizabeth Timmins (Supernumerary) Rev David Wood (Supernumerary) Rev Kathleen Wood (Supernumerary)

Circuit Finance Team: Mrs Katherine Brightman, Mrs Angie Bailey, Mrs Elizabeth Haythornthwaite, Mrs Michelle Stonley

Circuit Meeting Secretary: Mrs Julie Greenslade Circuit Administrative Assistant: Mrs Julie Greenslade

Circuit Steward: Mrs Angie Bailey Circuit Steward: Mr Graham Di Duca Circuit Steward: Mrs Michelle Stonley

Local Preacher’s Secretary: Mrs Christine Lamb Local Preachers’ Rep: Mrs Ruth Poultney Circuit Evangelism Enabler: Rachel Martin Connexional Funds Treasurer: Mrs Angie Bailey Education and Youth Secretary: vacancy Youth Reps: vacancy World Missions Secretary: Mrs Ruth Poultney World Missions Treasurer: Mrs Ruth Poultney MWIB Secretary/ Treasurer: Superintendent is contact person JMA Secretary/ Treasurer: Mrs Janet Pringle Methodist Primary Schools Chaplain: Miss Wendy Bunting Health & Safety Advisor: Mrs Julie Greenslade Safeguarding Officer: Mrs Julie Greenslade Mission in Britain Secretary: Vacancy

Action for Children Secretary/Treasurer: Mrs Julie Pledge Methodist Homes Sec/Treasurer: delegated out to each individual chapel District Policy Committee Reps: Rev’d Joanna Brown (Superintendent), Angie Bailey Representatives to Synod: Angie Bailey, Jos Huddleston, Pauline Beckett District Ecumenical Officer: Vacant

Church Representatives

Brompton on Swale: Mr Arthur Wheeler; Mrs Katherine Brightman; Mrs Christine Lamb Gayle: Mrs Janet Fagg, Mrs Mary Sowerby, Miss Heather Sowerby Gunnerside: Mrs Eleanor Cherry; Mrs Jackie McCartney Hunton: Mrs Helen Hughes; Mr Peter Latham Leyburn: Mr Jonathan Sparey; Mrs Elizabeth Sparey, Mrs Wendy Grannan, Mrs Marjorie Iveson Melmerby: Mrs Margaret Simpson; Mrs Janet Harker Richmond: Mrs Janet Pringle, Mrs Janet Leahy Scorton: Mrs Barbara Robinson; Mrs Tricia Kirby; Mr Eric Kirby West Burton: Mrs Elizabeth Haythornthwaite, Mrs Pauline Beckett

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.

----- Start of picture text -----
INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances Closing balances
e1 Kings Club 1,841 1,583 259 3,308 3,566
e2 Hawes Burial Ground 877 1,801 (924) 5,967 5,043
e3 JC 24/7 13 (13) 247 234
e4
e5
e6
e7
Sub total of Internal
e8 Organisations funds 2,718 3,397 (679) 9,522 (e11) 8,843 (e12)
Circuit accounts (totals
brought forward from
e9 page 2 - totals column) 313,713 (a8) 342,436 (b9) (28,723) (c7) 833,891 (c6) 805,168 (c8)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS
e10 HELD BY CIRCUIT 316,431 345,833 (29,402) 843,413 (x) 814,011 (y)
Continue on a separate TOTAL
sheet if necessary and bring TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
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 4,707 4,458
f3 Bank Deposit Account
f4 Central Finance Board 115,566 100,007
f5 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 707,605 700,082
f6 Other funds 6,013 621
f7 SUB TOTAL 833,891 (c6) 805,168 (c8)
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the
f8 closing balance totals above) (e12) 9,522 (e11) 8,843 (e12)
f9 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CIRCUIT 843,413 (x) 814,011 (y)
SECTION G At At
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES 1 September 2024 31 August 2025
g1 Investments (include Endowments) 144,114 143,872
g2 Land and Buildings (see notes re Insurance value) 1,683,184 1,945,124
g3 Other Assets
g4 Loan(s) - show amount outstanding at year end
g5 Other Liabilities
----- End of picture text -----

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)

Copy of NYDMC SFA25

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Name of Circuit …………………………………………………………… No………..

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 ……………………………………………………… Date……………………..

Name and address of treasurer ………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………. Post Code………………

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 ……………..

Signature of the Chair of the meeting ……………………………………………………………………

Name of the Chair of the meeting …………………………………………… Date ……………………

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

……………………..…………………….. Circuit

Charity Number …………..

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.

• delete or circle as appropriate

Copy of NYDMC SFA25

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