2023-08-31-accounts - Westminster Methodist Circuit

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Church Accruals Accounts 2022/23

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THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

ACCRUALS BASIS

For the year ended 31 August 2023

METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER

Registered Charity No 1145076

SUPERINTENDENT MINISTER

Revd Tony Miles

CHURCH STEWARDS

Esther Buckman Abdul Bah Michael Davies Regina Boye Denzil Cummings-John Comfort Golightly Shirley Bernisto Grace Kermah Joseph Adjei Sabrina Malcolm Doreen Aidoo

CHURCH TREASURER

Ama Ackah-Yensu

METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER CHURCH TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

Introduction

This Annual Report gives an account of the mission and ministry of Methodist Church Central Hall Westminster. It represents considerable commitment on the part of its members, who both gather for worship and learning, and disperse in witness, being involved in a variety of means of service.

Aims and Organisation

Our mission is to be a vital Christian presence in the heart of London. Our vision statement declared on the order of worship each week is: “Methodist Central Hall Westminster – a global Christian family following Jesus at the heart of London.”

We want the Central Hall building to be used not only by the worshipping community at its heart, but also to engage with the beating ‘heart’ and life of London, and especially Westminster. We aim to deepen our existing relationships with Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, Church Together in Westminster, the Houses of Parliament, Scotland Yard, etc. The two foci of the church’s mission are ‘nurture’ and ‘outreach’. This includes our seeking to:

Engage local issues and support local charities: The Saint Vincent Family Project (which we host on site), The Westminster Food Bank, The Westminster SWEP Night shelter, The Passage (helping homeless people), the London Prison’s Mission, and working at reviving the Methodist Parliamentary Fellowship.
Build links with the Church worldwide as a ‘cathedral for Methodism’.
Grow MCHW’s social media presence and developing a respected and popular online ministry, including livestreaming regular bespoke services, serving our housebound members, and Methodists around the connexion and globally. New initiatives include online Lent, Advent, Alpha, and Bible study courses online.
Develop MCHW’s respected and balanced healing ministry and developing our pastoral care.
Provide Visitor Services, with hosts giving tours of the building, and Archives for Mission, helping us to tell the story of methodism and especially the Froward Movement.
Host MCHW’s own special events (Including Daffodil Day, the Parliamentary Covenant Service, Traditional Carols service, Jazz Carols, Jazz Vespers, and other gatherings) sometimes partnering with other organisations, like Premier Radio and the BBC, and helping to facilitate other Christian and charity events.
Establish new initiatives, including becoming an Eco Church, setting up a Neighbourhood Team, and we are about to launch 3 new house groups.
Growing MCHW’s wide-ranging worship on Sundays and mid-week, including MCHW’s renowned choir, and the hosting of organ recitals.
Maintaining and growing our healthy work with children, teenagers, and Young Adults (Sanctuary).

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REVIEW OF THE YEAR

Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral

A week before the Queen’s funeral, media from all over the world started to arrive at MCHW, which would serve as a media centre serving this sad, but historic occasion. It was an honour for MCHW to provide a place of welcome to many broadcasting organisations, including the BBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Global Media. We trust we played our part in enabling a Christian service to be accessible to potentially 4.1 billion people worldwide. The BBC broadcast live from MCHW. Revd Tony Miles was interviewed on several occasions, including a seven-minute live broadcast for ABC with news anchor Kyra Phillips. MCHW was necessarily closed to the public during this period, but the Chapel was open for prayer, which was appreciated by visitors and media professionals alike. Central Hall Venues successfully managed and delivered the complex operation. The staff worked long hours and we were pleased with the way that the Company and Church were able to work closely together.

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Operation Golden Orb

It was an honour for the Church to work alongside our business and events team to provide a Christian presence and place of welcome to global broadcast organisations as again we became a media centre for the Coronation of King Charles III. Together with the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, these broadcasts reached billions of people worldwide. The company staff did a tremendous job and, as a gesture of support to staff working very long hours, MCHW put together a gift bag including novelty items, sweets, and a text card to encourage them during a stressful time.

Harvest Festival

This year a significant number of gifts brought to our Harvest Festival were given to the Westminster Foodbank and The Passage – helping homeless people in Westminster.

110th Church Anniversary

On Sunday, 9th October 2022, we celebrated our 110th Church Anniversary and former Superintendent Minister, Revd Martin Turner was our guest preacher at all three services. 220 guests attended our Church Anniversary meal which followed the morning service.

Same Sex Marriages

After open, honest, and very prayerful consideration, the MCHW Church Council voted not to make an application to change our policy relating to marriage registration. This means we will be unable to offer same-sex marriages at MCHW. The Church Council wishes to convey that this decision relates to the theology of marriage that is held by many of our members. Those belonging to our congregation who are in a same-sex relationship remain loved, valued, and very welcome within our worshipping

community. As per the guidance of the Methodist Conference, this matter will be discussed every five years and a vote taken.

Churches Together in Westminster

On Monday 23rd January the CTiW AGM was held in the Chapel. Representatives from churches across Westminster came together to do the annual business required, and to discuss our panel conversation on ‘Coping with a torn safety net: the church’s response to increasing need’. We also had on display for the evening artwork from prisoners in HMP Bronzefield related to their own experiences of homelessness. It was an excellent evening and there will be further work that develops from the conversations that started in at the meeting.

Visitor Hosts and Archives

Our Visitor Services department, which closed during the pandemic, is currently offering weekly tours of the building, as demand is picking up, together with a new initiative ‘Archives for Mission”. We have had several heritage tours from the USA, including one from Drew Theological College, New Jersey. We also had Methodist Mission Partners visiting us ahead of Methodist Conference. Our focus remains on sharing the Gospel whilst telling our Methodist story and we look forward to developing our visitor centre in the years to come

St. Vincent’s Family Project

The SVFP continue to do their work with children and families in the area. The trustees recently had a strategy building meeting and are committed to consolidating and continuing to build on the work that is being done. Financially things are in difficult place at the moment. Over the last two years grants had been awarded that were specifically related to Covid-19 and those are coming to an end, and there are simply fewer avenues of funding available currently as everyone is struggling. The director and his team are working hard to secure funding, but there may need to be savings made in other areas.

Digital Media

We launched our ‘Tik Tok’ channel in the Autumn of 2022. In just the short period of time to the end of the Methodist year the channel has been active, we have reached over 10,000 views – the majority of these views are for our ‘two-minute sermons’ edited from our online services. There is a huge Christian community on TikTok, and we are thrilled to be contributing to this.

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Online Services and Meetings

MCHW has continued to embrace the power of digital media to connect with our expanding global Christian family. One of the key aspects of MCHW's digital outreach is our weekly online worship services which ensure that people from all corners of the world can participate in worship, regardless of their physical location. Furthermore, MCHW has continued to expand its presence on social media. Our accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and this year, TikTok (with over 32,000 views), continue to share inspirational messages, engage in meaningful conversations, and create a virtual community that transcends geographical boundaries.

Our website (mchw.live) is a thriving hub of activity, with over 2,500 people visiting weekly and we welcomed over 45,000 new visitors this year. It provides information about MCHW's history, services, and upcoming events. It also serves as a resource centre, offering access to sermons, devotionals, and other faith-based content, for example, earlier this year we found video of Revd William Sangster preaching in 1948, which you can watch via our ‘timeline’. One fruit of the ministerial team being involved in this work is that we have had requests to be involved in other broadcasting initiatives. Revd Lansford Penn-Timity, for example, has recently recorded devotional TV broadcasts for TBN.

Music

Post pandemic, we are delighted that the choir is back and singing is possible again, but we have also realised that there are still some long-term effects, although it is encouraging to see that our congregations are growing again. The choir has done an outstanding job over the last year with relatively small numbers, but we are, like everyone else, short-staffed! In particular, we would welcome some tenors and basses. It is a regular Sunday commitment, but a wonderful way to serve! We would also like to develop the instrumental group who accompany the worship songs.

The success of our online ministry has shown us how important it is to have recordings of hymns and anthems; going forward, it remains one of our goals to record musical items from our own services in order to include congregational singing.

Our Traditional Carol Service remains the highlight of our year and on Sunday 11 December 2022 the MCHW team with Premier Christian Radio hosted the best attended service in recent years, with 1,200 in attendance. The service was recorded for broadcast on Premier Christian Radio on Christmas Day.

We also performed a short cantata within the context of the 7pm Maundy Thursday service.

Our monthly organ matinée concerts have resumed, with a varied selection of players from around the world and are being well-received.

Jazz Vespers / Carols

Jazz Carols was held on Sunday, 18th December. Despite ‘competing’ against the World Cup Final over 500 people came to hear Jazz Carols in the Great Hall, a service that was recorded for broadcast on Premier Christian Radio on Christmas Eve. It was an extremely well received service with a significant number of people coming to MCHW not only for the first time, but for a significant number it was their first time in a church.

Parliamentary Methodist Covenant Service

This service returned to the St. Mary Undercroft Chapel at The Palace of Westminster on Tuesday 17th January 2023 and was hosted by MCHW. Revd Graham Thompson, President of Conference and Anthony Boateng, VP of Conference, led the Covenant itself; The Revd Helen Cameron, Moderator of the Free Churches Group, preached, and Revd Tony Miles presided over communion. Also participating: Cat Smith MP, Emma Hardy MP, David Linden MP, Revd, the Lord Griffiths of Burry Port; Baroness Anita Gale of Blaenrhondda, Revd Michaela Youngson – Assistant Secretary of Conference; the Revd Nigel Cowgill - Chair of the London Methodist District; the Revd Tricia Hillas, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons and Canon of Westminster; and the Revd Lansford Penn-Timity, the Revd Dr G. Howard Mellor, and Deacon Ali McMillan from MCHW.

Methodist Parliamentary Fellowship

Following the success of this year’s Parliamentary Covenant Service, Revd Tony is hoping to hold a lunch or dinner to launch a new Methodist Parliamentary Fellowship.

Lunch-time Services

Our lunchtime services are building up again now people are returning to their offices. We are partnering with the Connexional Team, who are now located in Church House (across the road). Some Connexional staff are attending and, at the request of the Secretary of Conference, we will be including the names of ministers who have died in our prayers.

Daffodil Day

On Saturday, 4th March, we hosted our Spring Festival for Christian Renewal ‘Daffodil Day’ in association with Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB). The MCHW team led this with special guests including, Pam Rhodes, The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Neresa Maye from the London Community Gospel Choir, Anando Mukerjee, Anthony Boateng – Vice President of Conference, Ruth Parrott – President of MWiB, James Carver – Methodist Youth President, Revd Nigel Cowgill – London District Chair, and Methodist Ministers Housing Society – marking their 75th Anniversary. The event featured our MCHW Choir.

Confirmation and Reception into Church Membership

Today, the congregation bucks the trend of numerical decline experienced by many Methodist churches. The church community has maintained a vibrant multi-cultural congregation, including Methodists who have their origins from various parts of the world. e.g. Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, The Philippines, Hong Kong, South Korea, Brazil, and so on. On Sunday 18th June we received three new members

by way of Confirmation and 13 new members by way of transfer from other Churches. We are soon to receive two Local Preachers who connected with us through our online services. Some of our transferred members have come through the same route – notably where their local churches have closed - others have come through our online Alpha group. In July our membership stood at 424. Church members are in good heart and worship has been vibrant and uplifting. It is encouraging to see tourists returning and new congregants. A recent visitor, Revd Dr Casely Essamuah, secretary of the Global Christian Forum Foundation visited our morning service. He commented that, on his travels around the world, he hadn’t come across such a widely multicultural congregation that successfully holds together a high standard of diverse and blended worship. He also praised our live streamed services. This was very encouraging.

Visit of The Dean

On 14th March we were pleased to welcome to MCHW The Dean of Westminster Abbey and several of his staff. They enjoyed a tour of the building and an opportunity to see how we would be supporting them during the Coronation. This facilitated an opportunity for Abbey staff to meet their counterparts at Central Hall.

Healing Ministry

At our monthly Healing Services there has been a steady increase in the numbers attending. Anointing lines at the end of some services have been reinstated and a good percentage of the congregation are coming forward. Prayer teams are increasingly busy with people waiting for prayer ministry after the Sunday evening Healing Service. We are receiving testimonies of people receiving both physical and emotional healing.

Healing Space, our monthly drop-in, has restarted (and in the 2 hours we are getting some new people attending, as well as regulars.

Healing Conference 2023

Our 2023 Healing Conference theme was “Let the Healing Begin: Freedom from past hurts”, with speaker, Jeannie Morgan, who has headed up the healing ministry at Soul Survivor Watford for 30 years. Though numbers are still lower than before the pandemic, at times the team were almost overwhelmed by the numbers of people coming forward and the prayer ministry continued into the breaks. Feedback slips received contained wonderful testimonies of freedom from fears, anxiety, emotional pain, and negative words and a case of physical healing.

Sanctuary (Global leadership Event / Being Christian Entrepreneurs)

Our Sanctuary congregation continues to offer a community for 20s and 30s from across London exploring spirituality, justice, and leadership. They have also hosted some interesting partnership events in partnership with One Rock, including on 9th March 2023 a Global Leadership Summit. This was the first in what could become an annual partnership, running one of the premier leadership training events at our prestigious location. Speakers included Bob Iger, Lynsi Snyder, Vanessa Van Edwards, Stephanie Chung and Craig Groeschel. This first event was a trial run to see if there is demand for future years. On 15th June there was an event with Alianore Smith from International Justice Mission speaking on the campaigns to end modern day slavery; and on the 29th of June a day on Being Christian Entrepreneurs.

Evangelism Initiative

Revd Lansford Penn-Timity is leading a Neighbourhood Evangelism initiative to set up an intentional evangelism group that will conduct soft in-person neighbourhood evangelism within the geographical boundaries of the Circuit. The aim is to reach out with the Good News of Christ to residents in the locality and share some of the good news stories of the church's work here at MCHW.

It has been another busy year with its own trials and opportunities and God has been with us every step of the way. Looking forward, we trust that the best is yet to be!

Plans for 2023/24

Financial plans have been prepared on the basis that staff levels within the Church will increase, with additional administrative staff. The grant from the Conference Property Trustees is forecast to remain at the same level as 2022/23, which is 70% of the 2019/20 (pre Covid-19) levels. We are initially budgeting for a deficit of £129k in 2023/24, which will result in the Contingency being significantly reduced. The level of designated funds will also drop significantly, with the money being invested in broadcasting facilities in the Great Hall to further enable our online ministry. However the Church Trustees have sought and received assurances from the Conference Property Trustees of their continuing support through gradual increases in their grant over time, with the situation being kept under constant review.

The membership are also considering prayerfully how to increase their giving in order to move forward with the Kingdom Agenda. We continue to trust in God, who has faithfully brought us thus far!

Financial Review

Post Covid church activities resumed almost to normal levels. The grant from the Managing Trustees of the building was 70% of pre-pandemic levels.

The Church finished the year with a surplus of £65,189 (£93,544 deficit in 2021/22) and therefore increased its funds from £301,384 in 2021/22 to £366.573, in 2022/23. The increase of £53,743 in the General Fund and £11,446 in Restricted and Designated Funds, resulted in a positive balance of funds in the General Fund of £39,612 and a balance of £326,961 in Restricted and Designated.

Church income in total was £563,539.

The statement of accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 is attached.

Income

General Fund income increased to £523,145 from £349,010 in 2021/22. The main movements are shown below:

The continued rise in church attendance post Covid and the additional methods for giving meant that there was an
increase in regular giving of £21.6k from Offerings and Donations
increase in Church Anniversary donations of £8.3k

There was also a special appeal (Mission Investment 60), which raised £76.4k including Gift Aid
The Trustees Grant increased by £50k.

Income received in Restricted and Designated Funds was £40.4k compared to £40.2k in 2021/22.

Expenditure

General Fund spending has increased by £37k to £441.8k (2021/22 £404.8k). There were some key variances within these total figures

Administrative and Lay Ministry salaries increased by £24.9k due to changes in the reporting of recharges to the Circuit. There is now a monthly fixed charge shown separately as opposed to reporting reductions in each expenditure category. In addition staff costs increased due the appointment of a Treasurer’s Assistant.
Office Supplies and Equipment expenditure increased by £11.3k due to additional printing and stationery costs and the purchase of computer equipment, all reflecting increased church activity.
Other Costs increased by £4.7k due to lay training materials and the purchase of
Wesley memorabilia and stock for the bookstall, which has now been revived.
Grants and Donations increased by £8.4k due to increased donations made to SVFP.
A refund of £19.9k from the Circuit, for services provided by the Church, has been included as one amount in 2022/23 as opposed to an allocation being offset against individual expenditure categories as in the past.

Designated and Restricted Fund expenditure decreased by £21.4k to £56.6k (2021/22 £78.0). The key movements are detailed below:

In 2021/22 two years’ worth of Tithe Grants were paid out to make up for suspension of the process during the pandemic in 2020/21. In 2022/23 the process returned to normal with just one year’s worth of grants.
Organ Recital expenditure of £2k was incurred in 2022/23, compared to none in 2021/22.

Total Funds for the Church have increased to £366,573 (2021/22 £301,384) with £39,612 (2021/22 negative £14,131) in the General Fund and £326,961 in Restricted and Designated Funds (2021/22 £315,515).

In 2022/23, £27.7k has been transferred from Church General Funds to Designated and Restricted Funds, representing the allocation to the Tithe Fund, which is an increase from 2021/22 due to increased levels of giving.

The Contingency Fund stands unchanged at £148k and represents approximately six months’ worth of average essential expenditure (including payments to the Circuit). There was no increase in the Fund in 2022/23. At the start of the year, we expected that Church income might decrease to the extent that some contingency funds would be required to meet ongoing expenditure, but by the grace of God, the Mission Investment 60 Appeal raised enough funds to avert this. The Contingency Fund is included within the Designated total. The Budget for 2023/24 however, has a significant deficit, which will mean that the Contingency will be reduced.

We are truly thankful for God’s grace and favour, which has sustained the Church, for the Managing Trustees and the Connexion, the staff of Central Hall Westminster Ltd, our members and regular worshippers (new and not so new) and supporters from all over whose prayers, generosity and support continue to sustain us. We give God all the glory as we look forward to where He will lead us in the coming year and beyond!

METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER CHURCH

Trustee’s Annual Report on Finance and Governance

The Charity’s annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice 2015 applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in July 2014.

Full Name of Church :

Methodist Central Hall Westminster

Charity Registration Number: 1145076

Date of registration: 15 December 2011

Main communication address: Methodist Central Hall, Storey’s Gate, Westminster, London SW1H 9NH

The members of the Methodist Central Hall Westminster Church Council are the Charity Trustees, membership being made up of circuit and church office holders, ministers and representatives appointed by the church at the Annual Church Meeting. A full list of Council membership is shown in the notes to this report.

Circuit Stewards: Wesley Gibbs (Senior) Helen Tudor Joseph Adjei Ama Ackah-Yensu Treasurer: Ama Ackah-Yensu Independent Examiner: Buzzacott LLP 130 Wood St London EC2V 6DL

Bank: HSBC The Peak 333 Vauxhall Bridge Road Victoria London SW1V 1EJ Investment Bankers: Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church

Aims and Objectives

The charity’s objective is to act as a resource provider within the area around Westminster for the Methodist Church.:

It aims to be a vital Christian presence in the heart of London, as well as remotely reaching a much wider audience across the world.

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 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; and
d) Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church.

Public Benefit

We confirm that the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Structure, Governance and Management

The governing document for the church 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).

Day to day management of the church is undertaken by the Church and Circuit Stewards and Ministerial Team with input from the Leadership Team.

Trusteeship is exercised by the elected members of the Church Council.

Trustee Training

Trustees are pointed to a range of guidance produced by The Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the church and the role of Trustees.

Related Parties

The Church, like all local Methodist Churches is situated in a Circuit and is part of the Methodist Church of Great Britain. It consequently locates itself in both its polity and structure. In structural terms the Church is the single Methodist Society in the Westminster Circuit, which is one of some 35 circuits (groupings of local churches) making up the London Methodist District. In terms of Polity and Constitution, it, like all Methodist circuits, is accountable to the annual Methodist Conference.

Somewhat unusually, the Westminster Circuit consists of only one local society (church): Methodist Central Hall Westminster, which consequently is constituted so that wherever possible, local church and local circuit matters share the same constitution (by applying annually Methodist Standing Order 511).

Another unusual aspect of the Circuit/Church is the fact that its Trustees are appointed annually by the annual Conference of the Methodist Church of Great Britain, rather than, more commonly, the circuit meeting and church council.

A third related party, in addition to the Circuit and the Trustees is Central Hall Westminster Ltd, a not-for-profit company formed in 1999 to run an events and conference business using the large and prestigious premises in central London.

Regular meetings of each of these three entities take place, with the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent Ministers being members of each of the three, thereby having a strategic overview of the total ministry of the Circuit and its related parties.

Risk Management

The major risks associated with the life and ministry of the Church, located in Methodist Central Hall Westminster, are identified and recorded by the Trustees, with professional advice taken as required. An annual review process is undertaken and recorded.

In terms of financial governance, income and expenditure are regularly and routinely monitored, and are compared with the approved annual budget on at least a quarterly basis to detect trends as part of the risk management process and to avoid unforeseen calls on reserves.

We note the following items, all of which are noted on the Risk Register.

An annual grant to the Circuit is given by the Trustees. This is made possible by profits made by Central Hall Westminster Ltd. Any ‘lean years’ – and particularly several lean years – would affect the ability of the Trustees to award the grant.
The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of Central Hall Westminster Ltd are still being felt. The building’s closure and consequent hibernation of the business has meant that profits which would have been tithed to the Trustees have reduced significantly, thus impacting their ability to provide the same level of grant to the Church, as with previous years. Additionally, the cost-ofliving crisis with high interest rates and sustained rises in energy costs have all but erased the encouraging signs of recovery post-pandemic.
The as yet unknown plan relating to the ‘decanting’ of the House of Commons and House of Lords from the Palace of Westminster. Methodist Central Hall Westminster is, because of its proximity, one of a handful of buildings currently in conversation with ‘Black Rod’ about what are termed “business continuity talks”.
The ever-present risk of terror attacks and security breaches, given the location of the church. As with recent years the Metropolitan Police continue to estimate the risk of such attacks as ‘severe’ and give regular security briefings to Circuit officials as to office holders of other large buildings in and around Parliament Square.
The damage to reputation, given the high usage of the premises by very many clients.
Safeguarding risks, exacerbated by the very high numbers of people using the building each week. In line with Methodist rulings, safeguarding procedures have, and continue to be improved and overhauled.

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.

The Methodist Central Hall Westminster Church commits itself to: -

Ensuring the implementation of the Connexional Safeguarding Policy; government legislation, guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches.
The provision of support, advice and training for lay and ordained people that will ensure people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults who may be vulnerable.

The Safeguarding Policy is approved annually by the Church Council and revised in line with guidelines and directives from the Methodist Church of Great Britain.

Reserves Policy

The Reserves Policy for the Church is to hold a contingency sum equivalent to a minimum of three months’, and ideally six months’, average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure and/or to be able to continue, in the short term, funding planned activities in the event of any inability to

raise funds to cover the Church’s full expenses, including the assessment payable to the Circuit.

The Contingency Fund as at 31 August 2023 was £148k, which is equivalent to approximately six months’ average expenditure.

However, the continuing impact of the pandemic means that the reduced levels of grant from the Conference Property Trustees will most likely continue into 2023/24. Furthermore, high inflation and the cost of living crisis have led to a significant deficit being budgeted for in 2023/24, which will reduce the level of contingency considerably. The Church Council will continue to monitor this and endeavour to take measures to restore and maintain reserves at a healthy level.

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Signed: _______ Revd Anthony Miles (Chair of Trustees)

Date: 10 April 2024

METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER - CHURCH ACCOUNTS

	Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the	Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the	Year Ended 31 August 2023	Year Ended 31 August 2023
	Notes	Unrestricted Fund (General)	Designated Funds	Restricted Funds	2022/23 Totals	2021/22 Totals
		£	£	£	£	£
Income and Endowments From:
Donations and Legacies
Offerings andTax recoverable	13	170,151	0	0	170,151	150,507
Donations	13	42,115	0	0	42,115	40,194
Anniversary Giving		20,651	0	0	20,651	12,366
Special Appeal		76,449	0	0	76,449	0
Grant (Trustees)	14	180,000	0	0	180,000	130,000
DonationsforUse of Rooms		3,088	0	0	3,088	220
Visitors Services & Catering	15	1,414	0	0	1,414	45
Legacies		5,000	0	0	5,000	319
Interest and Investment Income	16	9,501	0	0	9,501	1,317
Other
Special Events	17	14,664	0	0	14,664	14,020
ChurchGroups	18	112	0	0	112	22
DesignatedFunds (SeeNotesFundDetails)	12	0	3,190	0	3,190	2,187
Restricted Funds(See Notes Fund Details)		0		37,204	37,204	38,042
Total Income and Endowments		523,145	3,190	37,204	563,539	389,239

METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER - CHURCH ACCOUNTS

	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS
	Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
		Notes	Unrestricted Fund (General)	Designated Funds	Restricted Funds	2022/23 Totals	2021/22 Totals
Expenditure			£	£	£	£ £
Office &Ministry Staff			91,043	0	0	91,043	66,100
CircuitAssessment			197,064	0	0	197,064	194,023
Office Supplies		19	26,794	0	0	26,794	15,491
Internal Organisations and Events
Sanctuary			1,084	0	0	1,084	1,634
ChurchGroups		20	2,072	0	0	2,072	208
Special Events		21	32,852	0	0	32,852	36,726
Other Expenditure
MusicAccount		22	54,449	0	0	54,449	55,924
Otherexpenditure		23	26,427	0	0	26,427	16,694
Advertising			9,113	0	0	9,113	5,672
Grants &Donations		24	20,730	0	0	20,730	12,284
Designated Funds(See Notes Fund Details)		12	0	22,243	0	22,243	49,012
Restricted Funds(See Notes Fund Details)			0	0	34,399	34,399	29,015
Circuit Payment for Services Provided			(19,920)	0	0	(19,920)	0
Total Expenditure			441,708	22,243	34,399	498,350	482,783
Net Income / (Expenditure)			81,437	(19,053)	2,805	65,189	(93,544)
TransfersBetween RestrictedFunds and General Funds			(27,694)	27,694	0	0	0
Net Income / (Expenditure) after transfers			53,743	8,641	2,805	65,189	(93,544)
Total funds brought forward			(14,131)	232,559 82,956		301,384	394,928
Total funds carried forward			39,612	241,200	85,761	366,573	301,384

For information only Money received and passed on to External Organisations

Balance brought forward from last year Correction to balance brought forward (see note below) Offerings/Gifts - received for External Organisations Offerings/Gifts - passed to External Organisations Balance carried forward	2022/23 £	2021/22 £
	2,082	2,636
	(2,082)	(287)
	9,289	8,407
	(9,289)	(8,674)
	0	2,082

The balance as at the end of 2021/22 consisted of £1,448 for Night Shelter and £593 for Welcome Box. These are activities carried out within the organisation of Methodist Central Hall Church and are not external organisations. Money donated is treated as Restricted Funds, because it is given for these specific activities, but should not be included as being for External Organisations. This has been an error in previous years and has been corrected in 2022/23.

METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER - CHURCH ACCOUNTS CHURCH BALANCE SHEET for the Year Ended 31 August 2023

	Notes	Unrestricted Fund (General)	Designated Funds	Restricted Funds	2022/23 Totals	2021/22 Totals
Current Assets		£	£	£	£	£
Debtors and prepayments	25	44,823	0	0	44,823	31,674
Cashat bankandin hand	26	14,293	0	23,642	37,935	21,616
Central FinanceBoard deposit	27	0	241,200	62,422	303,622	285,720
*Total current assets*		59,116	241,200	86,064	386,380	339,010
Creditors (dueinunder 1year) & unusedfunds	28	(19,504)	0	(303)	(19,807)	(37,626)
Net current assets		39,612	241,200	85,761	366,573	301,384
Total assets less current liabilities		39,612	241,200	85,761	366,573	301,384
*Net assets*		39,612	241,200	85,761	366,573	301,384
Funds of the Church
UnrestrictedFund (General)		39,612		0	39,612	(14,131)
Other Funds (restricted & designated)		0	241,200	85,761	326,961	315,515
*Total funds*		39,612	241,200	85,761	366,573	301,384

I confirm that these accrual-based accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church Council.

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Signed:__________ Ama Ackah-Yensu (Treasurer)

Date: 10 April 2024

I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 were presented to the Church Council at its meeting on 10 April 2024 and were approved.

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Signed: __________

Date: 10 April 2024

Revd Anthony Miles (Chair of the Church Council)

METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER - CHURCH ACCOUNTS

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the Year Ended 31 August 2022

	Notes	Unrestricted Fund (General)	Designated Funds	Restricted Funds	2021/22 Totals
		£	£	£	£
Income and Endowments From:
Donations and Legacies
Offerings andTax recoverable	13	150,507	0	0	150,507
Donations	13	40,194	0	0	40,194
Anniversary Giving		12,366	0	0	12,366
Grant (Trustees)	14	130,000	0	0	130,000
DonationsforUse of Rooms		220	0	0	220
Visitors Services & Catering	15	45	0	0	45
Legacies		319	0	0	319
Interest and Investment Income	16	1,317	0		1,317
Other			0	0	0
Special Events	17	14,020	0	0	14,020
ChurchGroups	18	22	0	0	22
Covid-19Furlough		0	0	0	0
DesignatedFunds (SeeNotesFundDetails)	12	0	2,187	0	2,187
Restricted Funds(See Notes Fund Details)		0		38,042	38,042
Total Income and Endowments		349,010	2,187	38,042	389,239

METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER - CHURCH ACCOUNTS

	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS	METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER- CHURCH ACCOUNTS
	Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the Year Ended 31 August 2022
Expenditure		Notes	Unrestricted Fund (General)	Designated Funds	Restricted Funds	2021/22 Totals
		£		£	£	£
Office &Ministry Staff			66,100	0	0	66,100
Net Payment for Circuit Expenses excluding mortgage repayments			194,023	0	0	194,023
Office Supplies-StaffandEquipment		19	15,491	0	0	15,491
Internal Organisations and Events
Sanctuary			1,634	0	0	1,634
ChurchGroups		20	208	0	0	208
Special Events		21	36,726	0	0	36,726
Other Expenditure
MusicAccount		22	55,924	0	0	55,924
Otherexpenditure		23	16,694	0	0	16,694
Advertising			5,672	0	0	5,672
Grants &Donations		24	12,284	0	0	12,284
DesignatedFunds (SeeNotesFundDetails)		12	0	49,012	0	49,012
Restricted Funds(See Notes Fund Details)			0	0	29,015	29,015
Total Expenditure			404,756	49,012	29,015	482,783
Net Income / (Expenditure)			(55,746)	(46,825)	9,027	(93,544)
TransfersBetween RestrictedFunds and General Funds			(20,571)	20,571	0	0
NetIncome aftertransfers			(76,317)	(26,254)	9,027	(93,544)
Total funds brought forward			62,186	258,813 73,929		394,928
Total funds carried forward			(14,132)	232,559	82,956	301,384

METHODIST CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER - CHURCH ACCOUNTS

CHURCH BALANCE SHEET for the Year Ended 31 August 2022

	Notes	Unrestricted Fund (General)	Designated Funds	Restricted Funds	2021/22 Totals
Current Assets		£	£	£	£
Debtors and prepayments	25	30,490	0	1,184	31,674
Cashat bankandin hand	26	(7,075)	0	28,691	21,616
Central FinanceBoard deposit	27	0	232,559	53,161	285,720
*Total current assets*		23,415	232,559	83,036	339,010
Creditors (dueinunder 1year) & unusedfunds	28	(37,546)	0	(80)	(37,626)
Net current assets		(14,131)	232,559	82,956	301,384
Total assets less current liabilities		(14,131)	232,559	82,956	301,384
*Net assets*		(14,131)	232,559	82,956	301,384
Funds of the Church
UnrestrictedFund (General)		(14,131)		0	(14,131)
Other Funds (restricted & designated)		0	232,559	82,956	315,515
*Total funds*		(14,131)	232,559	82,956	301,384

METHODIST CENTRAL HALL Westminster Church

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2023

1. Basis of accounting

These financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost Convention.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). The Charity is a public benefit entity for the purposes of FRS 102 and therefore the Charity also prepared its financial statements in accordance with the 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 (The FRS 102 Charities SORP) and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.

Going Concern

After making reasonable enquiries and receiving assurances from the Conference Property Trustees, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Church has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and do not consider there to be any threat to the going concern status. Therefore, the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements and confirm there are no material uncertainties at the date of the approval of these financial statements.

2. Funds

The funds held constitute: General Funds for any purpose of the Church which are Unrestricted. Restricted funds, which are held for a narrower purpose including those for internal organisations. Details of each material fund are disclosed in the notes to the Accounts.

3. Accounting Policies Basis

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year, on the accruals basis to show a true and fair view of the Church’s financial position and activities.

Income

Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the Church becomes entitled to the funds, the receipt is probable and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, that results in the payment being unavoidable. Liabilities are recognised as soon as an outflow of economic benefit is considered more likely than not under the legal or constructive obligation committing the Church to pay out resources.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other shortterm liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

Grants

Grants made by the Church from its own funds are recognised in full at the time of agreement or when the Church accepts that there is a legal or operational obligation to make the payment. When the grant is recurrent over more than one year the balance payable in future years is treated as a provision for future commitments in the Balance Sheet against the appropriate fund, the provision being released in future years as instalments are paid in accordance with the originally agreed terms.

VAT

Since the Church is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers.

Tangible fixed assets for use by the Church

These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and individually cost at least £2,000. There is no freehold property owned by the Church.

Financial instruments

Basic financial instruments are measured at amortised cost.

Debtors and creditors

Debtors and creditors receivable or payable within one year of the reporting date are carried at their transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost less any impairment.

Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

In preparing financial statements it is necessary to make certain judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts recognised in the financial statements. There are no judgements and estimates that are considered by the Trustees to have a significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements.

4.Donations and legacies	Unrestricted	Restricted / Designated	2023 Total	2022 Total
	£	£	£	£
Collections	144,217	37,154	181,371	162,133
Tax credits	25,934	-	25,934	26,155
Donations	42,115	-	42,115	42,141
Special Appeal	76,449
Total	212,266	37,154	249,421	230,430

5. Other trading activities	Unrestricted	Restricted	2023 Total	2022 Total
	£	£	£	£
CD Project	-	50	50	500
Total	-	50	50	500

6. Investment income	Unrestricted	Restricted	2023 Total	2022 Total
	£	£	£	£
Central Finance Board	9,486	-	9,486	1,278
Other	15	-	15	39
Total	9,501	-	9,501	1,317

7. Trustees

None of the Trustees, or persons connected with them, received any remuneration or other benefits from the Church or any connected organisation as a result of their office during the year ended 31 August 2023

2022/23 2021/22 Number of trustees who were paid expenses 5 5 £ £ Total amount paid 5,028 6,815	2022/23 2021/22 Number of trustees who were paid expenses 5 5 £ £ Total amount paid 5,028 6,815	2022/23 2021/22 Number of trustees who were paid expenses 5 5 £ £ Total amount paid 5,028 6,815
	Number of trustees who were paid expenses Total amount paid	2022/23 2021/22 5 5
		£ £ 5,028 6,815

Nature of expenses claimed: Car mileage, public transport, hospitality and miscellaneous. These expenses have been incurred by the trustees in the course of fulfilling their pastoral responsibilities.

8. Independent Examiners Fees

Fees for reporting on the accounts Other fees (for advice, accountancy services etc) Total	2022/23 £ 1,680 - 1,680	2021/22 £ 1,680 -
		1,680

9. Paid Employees

Staff costs (excluding stipends) during the year were as below: -

2022/23 2021/22 £ £ Gross wages, salaries and benefits in kind 103,266 70,633 Employer's National Insurance 6,073 3,805 Pension costs 5,728 6,140 Total Staff Costs 115,068 80,578 Average number of full-time equivalent employees in the year were 4.9 3.9	2022/23 2021/22 £ £ Gross wages, salaries and benefits in kind 103,266 70,633 Employer's National Insurance 6,073 3,805 Pension costs 5,728 6,140 Total Staff Costs 115,068 80,578 Average number of full-time equivalent employees in the year were 4.9 3.9	2022/23 2021/22 £ £ Gross wages, salaries and benefits in kind 103,266 70,633 Employer's National Insurance 6,073 3,805 Pension costs 5,728 6,140 Total Staff Costs 115,068 80,578 Average number of full-time equivalent employees in the year were 4.9 3.9
	Gross wages, salaries and benefits in kind Employer's National Insurance Pension costs Total Staff Costs Average number of full-time equivalent employees in the year were	2022/23 2021/22 £ £ 103,266 70,633 6,073 3,805 5,728 6,140
		115,068 80,578
		4.9 3.9

In prior years a proportion of staff costs and FTE have been allocated to the Circuit, but in 2022/23 the full costs and FTE are shown, with a fixed monthly recharge being made to the Circuit for Services Provided by the Church, which includes the provision of administration and finance services.

10. Reserves Policy

0. Reserves Policy
	2022/23	2021/22
	£	£
General Funds held	148,000	148,000

The current level of reserves is equivalent to approximately 6 months of average expenditure including payments made to the Circuit.

Policy for Restricted Funds

No policy as such except that such funds may only be used for the purpose for which they have been given / donated.

Terms relating to Endowment Funds

No such funds are held by the church.

This Reserves Policy has been approved by the Church Council.

11. Related Parties

Name of related party	Description of transaction	Income from related party during the year	Payments to related party during the year	Loans to related party during the year	Amounts owed by related party as on 31 Aug 2023
		£	£	£	£
Fund for Support of Presbyters &Deacons	Gift made by Church	0	200	0	0
Fundfor Property	Gift made by Church	0	330	0	0
London Mission FundPayment	Gift made by Church	0	200	0	0
Total		0	730	0	0

12. Details of Designated and Restricted Funds

CHURCH FUNDS	Balance B/Fwd 01/09/22	Income	Expenditure	Transfer Between Funds	Balance C'Fwd 31/08/23
FUNDS	£	£	£	£
General- Designated
Sunday Catering	(88)	2,140	(1,651)	0	401
Tithe	20,800	0	(20,592)	27,694	27,902
TitheReserve	3,400	0	0	0	3,400
CD Project	14,467	50	0	0	14,517
AVA& Server Replacement	10,122	0	0	0	10,122
Church Space Refurbishment & Maintenance	23,858	0	0	0	23,858
Digital Outreach and Engagement	12,000	0	0	0	12,000
ParliamentaryFellowship	0	1,000			1,000
Contingency	148,000	0	0	0	148,000
TOTAL DESIGNATED	232,559	3,190	(22,243)	27,694	241,200

Restricted
Monday Guild	362	0	0	(362)	0
Flower&HymnSheetFund	2,971	4,036	(2,701)	0	4,306
SpecialOfferings to beDonated	0	5,158	(4,928)	(230)	0
Fees to Be Paid Away for Special Services	0	1,160	(1,390)	230	0
Night Shelter	1,488	0	0	0	1,488
WelcomeBox Project	593	0	0	0	593
Christian Aid	0	1,738	(1,934)	196	0
WorldMission EasterOffering	0	1,037	(1,037)	0	0
Benevolent Fund	4,793	6,407	(5,822)	166	5,544
Music & WorshipLegacy	45,650	0	0	0	45,650
Organ Recital Fund	110	1,962	(2,042)		30
Friends of Westminster	150	0	0	0	150
Ghana Fellowship	2,547	1,744	(1,740)		2,551
Sierra Leone & Gambia Fellowship	53	240	(100)	0	193
Livestreaming-Online Services	24,239	13,722	(12,705)	0	25,256
Total Restricted Funds	82,956	37,204	(34,399)	0	85,761

TOTAL RESTRICTED & DESIGNATED FUNDS	315,515	40,394	(56,641)	27,694	326,961

General Fund	(14,131)	523,145	(441,708)	(27,694)	39,612

TOTAL FUNDS	301,384	563,539	(498,350)	0	366,573

The balance of Designated and Restricted Funds has increased by £11,446. There has been a net transfer from Church General Funds of £27,694 to the Tithe Fund for distribution to other charitable organisations nominated by church members.

CHURCH - NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

£ 27,000 15,412	£ 29,637 0	2021/22 £ 29,637 2,037
236 2,176 0 0 0 0	0 0 179 41 633 1,184
241,200 62,422 0	232,559 53,161 0
		31,674
		-7,630 309 0 247 28,690
		21,616
		285,720
1,680 4,514 334 0 2,278 114 3 8,813 185 841 283 0 376 303 83	1,680 5,113 0 788 1,953 751 164 5,472 0 0 0 119 21,506 80 0
		285,720

		37,626
		0

		37,626

Church Trustees as at 31 August 2023

The following served as trustees during the year and/or were trustees at the date of signing the accounts.

Revd. Tony Miles Ollie McEwen Revd. Lansford Penn-Timity Joe Awotwi Deacon Alison McMillan Tony Ackah-Yensu Revd. Gordon Newton Alison Bryan John Philips Judith Mitchell Helen Tudor Philippa Muir Wesley Gibbs Omotayo Roberts Esther Buckman Charlotte Rankin Dinah Longdon Sarita Lightfoot-Taylor Abdul Bah Esther Thomas Michael Davies Mark Williamson Regina Boye Jacob Baiden Denzil Cummings-John Kate Jones Comfort Golightly Seth Kofi Otoo Joseph Adjei Grace Sangmuah Shirley Bernisto Christina Fashola Grace Kermah Chika Unaka Sabrina Malcolm Aretha Solanke Ama Ackah-Yensu Charles Bushell Jocelyn Boafo MS Kim Rose Senny Ekoh West Claudia Cummings Felicity Arkhurst Cecilia Achila Claudia Milton-Cole Angela Stafford-Sampson

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Methodist Central Hall Westminster Church

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Trustees of the Charity 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with my examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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.

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Katharine Patel ACA Buzzacott LLP Chartered Accountants 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL

10 May 2024

Circuit Accruals Accounts 2022/23

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THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS ACCRUALS BASIS

For the year ended 31 August 2023

METHODIST CENTRAL HALL Westminster

Registered Charity No 1145076

London Mission (Westminster) Circuit No. 35 / 03

SUPERINTENDENT MINISTER

Revd Tony Miles

CIRCUIT STEWARDS

Wesley Gibbs (Senior) Helen Tudor Joseph Adjei Ama Ackah-Yensu (Treasurer)

LONDON MISSION (WESTMINSTER) CIRCUIT 35 / 03 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

Introduction

This Annual Report gives an account of the mission and ministry of The London Mission (Westminster) Methodist Circuit, through its single society Methodist Central Hall Westminster. It represents considerable commitment on the part of its members, who both gather for worship and learning, and disperse in witness, being involved in a variety of means of service.

Aims and Organisation

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral

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Operation Golden Orb

Harvest Festival

This year a significant number of gifts brought to our Harvest Festival were given to the Westminster Foodbank and The Passage – helping homeless people in Westminster.

110th Church Anniversary

Same Sex Marriages

Churches Together in Westminster

Visitor Hosts and Archives

St. Vincent’s Family Project

Digital Media

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Online Services and Meetings

community that transcends geographical boundaries.

Music

It is a regular Sunday commitment, but a wonderful way to serve! We would also like to develop the instrumental group who accompany the worship songs.

We also performed a short cantata within the context of the 7pm Maundy Thursday service. `

Our monthly organ matinée concerts have resumed, with a varied selection of players from around the world and are being well-received.

Jazz Vespers / Carols

Parliamentary Methodist Covenant Service

Methodist Parliamentary Fellowship

Following the success of this year’s Parliamentary Covenant Service, Revd Tony is hoping to hold a lunch or dinner to launch a new Methodist Parliamentary Fellowship.

Lunch-time Services

Daffodil Day

District Chair, and Methodist Ministers Housing Society – marking their 75th Anniversary. The event featured our MCHW Choir.

Confirmation and Reception into Church Membership

Today, the congregation bucks the trend of numerical decline experienced by many Methodist churches. The church community has maintained a vibrant multicultural congregation, including Methodists who have their origins from various parts of the world. e.g. Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, The Philippines, Hong Kong, South Korea, Brazil, and so on. On Sunday 18th June we received three new members by way of Confirmation and 13 new members by way of transfer from other Churches. We are soon to receive two Local Preachers who connected with us through our online services. Some of our transferred members have come through the same route – notably where their local churches have closed - others have come through our online Alpha group. In July our membership stood at 424. Church members are in good heart and worship has been vibrant and uplifting. It is encouraging to see tourists returning and new congregants. A recent visitor, Revd Dr Casely Essamuah, secretary of the Global Christian Forum Foundation visited our morning service. He commented that, on his travels around the world, he hadn’t come across such a widely multicultural congregation that successfully holds together a high standard of diverse and blended worship. He also praised our live streamed services. This was very encouraging.

Visit of The Dean

Healing Ministry

Healing Space, our monthly drop-in, has restarted (and in the 2 hours we are getting some new people attending, as well as regulars.

Healing Conference 2023

Sanctuary (Global leadership Event / Being Christian Entrepreneurs)

Evangelism Initiative

It has been another busy year with its own trials and opportunities and God has been with us every step of the way. Looking forward, we trust that the best is yet to be!

Plans for 2023/24

Circuit financial plans for the coming year have been prepared on the basis that there remain three full-time ordained staff members.

Circuit expenditure is expected to increase by 15% in 2023/24, which includes a contribution of £11k to Designated Funds (Manse Maintenance and Removal) and inflationary increases in stipends and manse costs.

Financial Review

The Circuit’s statement of accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 is attached and shows a total deficit of £18,650, all of which is within Designated Funds and relates to manse repair costs and professional fees in relation to the extension of the lease on the Exbury House manse. There have been no transfers between General Fund and Designated / Restricted Funds.

Income

Circuit income has been drawn primarily from the assessment paid by the church (there being only one church within the Circuit). Income of £20,240 was generated from the temporary renting of a manse. There was an increase in income of £11,010 (from £214,611 in 2021/22 to £225,621 in 2022/23).

Investment income increased by £7,030 due to increases in interest rates
The assessment paid by the church increased by £3,041

Expenditure

Circuit expenditure increased by £26,928, (from £217,343 in 2021/22 to £244,271 in 2022/23), which was mainly due to the following:

An increase in Maintenance of £21.5k, with work being carried out on all manses, but especially significant works on Shirley Avenue.
The methodology for recharging costs from the Church to the Circuit for
services provided changed in 2022/23 to be a fixed monthly fee. This fee was £12.9k above 2021/22 recharges, resulting from additional finance staff and increased costs for photocopying and software.

These increases were partly offset by decreases in Stipends and associated costs of £4.4k, due to the payment in 2021/22 of a contribution towards the Methodist Church pension deficit, which was not repeated in 2022/23

The District Assessment of £43,168 accounted for 17.7% of expenditure (there was actually a decrease from 2021/22 to 2022/23). A significant part of this is passed on to the Connexion to fund the work of the wider Methodist Church.

Fund Balances

The balance on the Circuit General Fund is £1,934,755, of which £1,932,713 represents the book value of the manses.

Circuit Restricted and Designated Funds have decreased by £18,650 to £317,028 in 2022/23 (£335,678 in 2021/22). The decrease is due to expenditure on manse maintenance and legal fees for manse lease extensions. There were no transfers from General Funds into Designated Funds in 2022/23. An advance from Designated Funds was made to the Trustees of Central Hall of £230,000 for lift refurbishment to be carried out in 2023/24. This advance will be repaid on the planned sale of a manse, which is jointly owned by the Circuit and the Trust. The Trust will pay the Circuit £230,000 plus interest in addition to the proportion of the surplus that is due to the Circuit. Therefore, in Circuit Designated Funds cash / bank balances have decreased, but property valuation has increased by £230,000.

Trustee’s Annual Report on Finance and Governance

The Charity’s annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in July 2014.

Full Name of Church : London Mission (Westminster) Circuit

Charity Registration Number: 1145076

Date of registration: 15 December 2011

Main communication address: Methodist Central Hall, Storey’s Gate, Westminster, London SW1H 9NH

The members of the London Mission (Westminster) Circuit Meeting are the Charity Trustees, membership being made up of circuit office holders, ministers and representatives appointed by the church at the Annual Church Meeting. A full list of members is shown in the notes to this report.

Circuit Stewards: Wesley Gibbs (Senior) Helen Tudor Joseph Adjei Ama Ackah-Yensu Treasurer: Ama Ackah-Yensu Independent Examiner: Buzzacott LLP 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL Bank: HSBC The Peak 333 Vauxhall Bridge Road Victoria London SW1V 1EJ

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

Aims and Objectives

The charity’s objective is to act as a resource provider within the area around Westminster for the Methodist Church:

It aims to be a vital Christian presence in the heart of London.

The purposes of the Methodist Church are, and shall be deemed to have been, since the Date of Union, the advancement of:

The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and discipline of The Methodist Church;
Any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit, local 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; and
Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church.

Public Benefit

We confirm that the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Structure, Governance and Management

The governing document for the Methodist Church of Great Britain 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).

Day to day management of the Circuit is undertaken by the Circuit Stewards and Ministerial Team with input from the Circuit Leadership team. Trusteeship is exercised by the elected members of the Circuit Meeting.

Trustee Training

Trustees are pointed to a range of guidance produced by The Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the church and the role of Trustees.

Related Parties

The Circuit is part of the Methodist Church of Great Britain. It consequently locates itself in both its polity and structure. In structural terms the Westminster Circuit is one of some 35 circuits (groupings of local churches) making up the London Methodist District. In terms of Polity and Constitution it, like all Methodist circuits, is accountable to the annual Methodist Conference.

Another unusual aspect of the Circuit/Church is the fact that its Trustees of the Building are appointed annually by the annual Conference of the Methodist Church of Great Britain, rather than, more commonly, the circuit meeting. A third related party, in addition to the Circuit and the Trustees is Central Hall Westminster Ltd, a not-for-profit company formed in 1999 to run an events and conference business using the large and prestigious premises in central London.

Regular meetings of each of these three entities take place, with the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent ministers being members of each of the three, thereby having a strategic overview of the total ministry of the Circuit and its related parties.

Risk Management

The major risks associated with the life and ministry of the Circuit, located in Methodist Central Hall Westminster, are identified and recorded by the Trustees, with professional advice taken as required. An annual review process is undertaken and recorded. In terms of financial governance, income and expenditure are regularly and routinely monitored, and are compared with the approved annual budget on at least a quarterly basis to detect trends as part of the risk management process to avoid unforeseen calls on reserves.

We note the following items, all of which are noted on the Risk Register.

An annual grant to the Church, which is one of the main sources of funding for the Circuit is given by the Trustees. This is made possible by profits made by Central Hall Westminster Ltd. Any ‘lean years’ – and particularly several lean years – would affect the ability of the Trustees to award the grant.
The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of Central Hall Westminster Ltd are still being felt. The building’s closure and consequent hibernation of the business has meant that profits which would have been tithed to the Trustees have reduced significantly, thus impacting their ability to provide the same level of grant to the Church, as with previous years. Additionally, the cost-ofliving crisis with high interest rates and sustained rises in energy costs have all but erased the encouraging signs of recovery post-pandemic.
The as yet unknown plan relating to the ‘decanting’ of the House of Commons and House of Lords from the Palace of Westminster. Methodist Central Hall Westminster is, because of its proximity, one of a handful of buildings currently in conversation with ‘Black Rod’ about what are termed “business continuity talks”.
The ever-present risk of terror attacks and security breaches, given the location of the church. As with recent years the Metropolitan Police continue to estimate the risk of such attacks as ‘severe’ and give regular security briefings to Circuit officials as to office holders of other large buildings in and around Parliament Square.
The damage to reputation, given the high usage of the premises by very many clients.

Safeguarding risks, exacerbated by the very high numbers of people using the building each week. In line with Methodist rulings, safeguarding procedures have, and continue to be improved and overhauled.

Safeguarding

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.

London Mission (Westminster) Circuit commits itself to: -

Ensuring the implementation of Connexional Safeguarding Policy; government legislation, guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches.
The provision of support, advice and training for lay and ordained people that will ensure people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults who may be vulnerable.

The Safeguarding Policy is approved annually by the Circuit Meeting and revised in line with guidelines and directives from the Methodist Church of Great Britain.

Reserves Policy

The policy is for the Circuit itself to hold minimal free reserves, as it is able to rely on the reserves held within its one church. The aim, therefore, is for the Church to hold a designated contingency fund at a level, which can sustain six months’ worth of average expenditure for both Church and Circuit. The Contingency Fund has not been increased in 2022/23 and so remains at £148k, which is equivalent to approximately six months’ average expenditure.

However, the level of grant from the Conference Property Trustees was increased in 2022/23 and will remain at this level in 2023/24, which is significantly less than pre pandemic levels. It is expected that the Church will have a significant deficit is budgeted for 2023/24, which will reduce the level of contingency quite considerably. The Church Council will continue to monitor this and endeavour to take measures to maintain reserves at a healthy level.

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Signed: _______

Date: 10 April 2024

London Mission (Westminster) Circuit 35/03 Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the Year Ended 31 August 2023

	Notes	General Fund (Unrestricted)	Designated Funds	Restricted Funds	Endowment (Restricted)	2022/23 Totals	2021/22 Totals
Income and Endowments from:		£	£	£	£	£	£
Donations andLegaciesIncome		0	0	0	0	0	0
Bank Interest		344	7,973	0	0	8,317	1,287
DistrictAdvanceFund Grant		0	0	0	0	0	0
CircuitAssessment		197,064	0	0	0	197,064	194,023
Lettings (ManseRental Income)	10	20,240	0	0		20,240	19,301
Total Income		217,648	7,973	0	0	225,621	214,611
Expenditure
Stipends, Salaries andAssociated Costs		124,219	0	0	0	124,219	129,120
DistrictAssessment		43,168	0	0	0	43,168	43,716
Travel Expenses		4,555	0	0	0	4,555	6,275
Ministerial Training		484	0	0	0	484	1,534
Insurance, Utilities, etc.	11	21,222	0	0	0	21,222	22,063
Maintenance on Manses	12	2,400	23,995	0	0	26,395	4,863
RemovalCosts		0	0	0	0	0	0
Media Chaplaincy Costs		0	0	0	0	0	58
Other Expenditure
Administration, Staff& Copying etc.	13	0	0	0	0	0	7,059
IndependentExaminer Fee		1,680	0	0	0	1,680	1,680
Professional fees		0	2,628	0	0	2,628	975
Payment to Church for Services Provided		19,920	0	0	0	19,920	0
Total Expenditure		217,648	26,623	0	0	244,271	217,343

Net Income / (Expenditure)		0	(18,650)	0	0	(18,650)	(2,732)
Transferbetween Funds & General Account		0	0	0	0	0	0
Total Funds broughtforward at start ofyear		1,934,756	335,678	0	0	2,270,434	2,273,166

Total funds carried forward at end ofyear		1,934,756	317,028	0	0	2,251,784	2,270,434

London Mission (Westminster) Circuit 35/03 Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2023

	Notes	General Fund (Unrestricted)	Designated Funds	Restricted Funds	Endowment (Restricted)	2022/23 Totals	2021/22 Totals
Fixed Assets		£	£	£	£	£	£
Manses etc.	14	1,932,713	230,000	0	0	2,162,713	1,932,713
*Total Fixed Assets*		1,932,713	230,000	0	0	2,162,713	1,932,713
Current Assets
Debtors andprepayments	15	17,555	0	0	0	17,555	36,457
TMCP DepositAccount	16	0	27,379	0	0	27,379	250,144
CFB Deposit	16	0	16,714	0	0	16,714	23,554
Cash at bank and in hand (HSBC & Barclaycard)	17	(13,831)	42,936		0	29,105	30,712
*Total current assets*		3,724	87,029	0	0	90,753	340,867
Creditors (due in under 1 year) & unused funds	18	(1,680)	0	0	0	(1,680)	(3,146)
Net current assets		2,044	87,029	0	0	89,073	337,721
*Total assets less current liabilities*		1,934,757	317,029	0	0	2,251,786	2,270,434
Loans and creditors due after 1year		0	0	0	0	0	0
*Net assets*		1,934,757	317,029	0	0	2,251,786	2,270,434
Funds of the Circuit
General Fund (Unrestricted)		1,934,757	0	0	0	1,934,757	1,934,756
Other Funds (Restricted)		0	317,029	0	0	317,029	335,678
*Totalfunds*		1,934,757	317,029	0	0	2,251,786	2,270,434

I confirm that these accrual-based accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 have been prepared from the records of the Circuit and that they include all funds under the control of the Circuit Meeting.

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Signed:

Date: 10 April 2024

_____________ Ama Ackah-Yensu (Treasurer)

I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 were presented to the Circuit Meeting at its meeting on 10 April 2024 and were approved.

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Signed:

________

Date: 10 April 2024

Revd Anthony Miles (Chair of the Circuit Meeting)

London Mission (Westminster) Circuit 35/03 Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the Year Ended 31 August 2022

	Notes	General Fund (Unrestricted)	Designated Funds	Restricted Funds	Endowment (Restricted)	2021/22 Totals
Income and Endowments from:		£	£	£	£	£
Donations andLegaciesIncome		0	0	0	0	0
Bank Interest		1,287	0	0	0	1,287
Assessments Church & Trustees to CircuitincludingRepayment of Loan		194,023	0	0	0	194,023
Lettings (ManseRental Income)	10	19,301	0	0		19,301
Total Income		214,611	0	0	0	214,611
Expenditure
Stipends, Salaries andAssociated Costs		129,120	0	0	0	129,120
DistrictAssessment		43,716	0	0	0	43,716
Travel Expenses		6,275	0	0	0	6,275
Ministerial Training		1,534	0	0	0	1,534
Insurance, Utilities, etc.	11	22,063	0	0	0	22,063
Maintenance on Manses	12	2,189	0	0	0	2,189
RemovalCosts		0	2,674	0	0	2,674
Other Expenditure
Administration, Staff& Copying etc.	13	7,059	0	0	0	7,059
IndependentExaminer Fee		1,680	0	0	0	1,680
Professional fees		975	0	0	0	975
Media ChaplaincyExpenses		0 0		58	0	58
Total Expenditure		214,611	2,674	58	0	217,343

Net Income / (Expenditure)		0	(2,674)	(58)	0	(2,732)
Transfer between Funds & General Account		(8,000)	8,000	0	0	0
Total Funds broughtforward		1,942,756	330,352	58	0	2,273,166

Total funds carried forward at end of year		1,934,756	335,678	0	0	2,270,434

London Mission (Westminster) Circuit 35/03 Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2022

	Notes	General Fund (Unrestricted)	Designated Funds	Restricted Funds	Endowment (Restricted)	2021/22 Totals
Fixed Assets		£	£	£	£	£
Manses etc.	14	1,932,713	0	0	0	1,932,713
*Total Fixed Assets*		1,932,713	0	0	0	1,932,713
Current Assets
Debtors andprepayments	15	36,457	0	0	0	36,457
TMCP DepositAccount	16	0	250,144	0	0	250,144
CFB Deposit	16	0	23,554	0	0	23,554
Cashat bankandin hand	17	(31,268)	61,980		0	30,712
*Total current assets*		5,189	335,678	0	0	340,867
Creditors (due in under 1 year) & unused funds	18	(3,146)	0	0	0	(3,146)
Net current assets		2,043	335,678	0	0	337,721
*Total assets less current liabilities*		1,934,756	335,678	0	0	2,270,434

Loans and creditors due after 1year		0	0	0	0	0
*Net assets*		1,934,756	335,678	0	0	2,270,434
Funds of the Circuit
General Fund (Unrestricted)		1,934,756	0	0	0	1,934,756
Other Funds (Restricted)		0	335,678	0	0	335,678
*Totalfunds*		1,934,756	335,678	0	0	2,270,434

London Mission (Westminster) Circuit 35 / 03 Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2023

Basis of accounting

These financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost Convention.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.

1. Going Concern

After making reasonable enquiries the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and do not consider there to be any threat to the going concern status. Therefore, the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements and confirm there are no material uncertainties at the date of the approval of these financial statements.

2. Funds

The funds held constitute: General Funds held for any purpose of the Circuit, which are unrestricted, and restricted funds, which are held for a narrower purpose including those for internal organisations. Details of each material fund are disclosed in the notes to the Accounts.

3. Accounting Policies

Basis

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year, on the accruals basis to show a true and fair view of the Circuit’s financial position and activities.

Income

Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the Circuit becomes entitled to the funds, the receipt is probable and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, that results in the payment being unavoidable. Liabilities are recognised as soon as an

outflow of economic benefit is considered more likely than not under the legal or constructive obligation committing the Circuit to pay out resources.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

Grants

Grants made by the Circuit from its own funds are recognised in full at the time of agreement or when the Circuit accepts that there is a legal or operational obligation to make the payment. When the grant is recurrent over more than one year the balance payable in future years is treated as a provision for future commitments in the Balance Sheet against the appropriate fund, the provision being released in future years as instalments are paid in accordance with the originally agreed terms.

VAT

Since the Circuit is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers.

Tangible fixed assets for use by the Circuit

These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and individually cost at least £1,000.

The freehold property comprises the Circuit’s manses and is shown in the accounts at 2014 deemed values, with the exception of the Shirley manse, which is shown at the purchase value in 2016.

At the time of valuation, purchase and disposal, the value of the properties was not spilt between land and buildings. However, based on an estimate of 25% land and 75% buildings, the total land value at 31 August 2023 would be £483,179 and the total building value would be £1,449,534. No depreciation is provided on the buildings because the trustees consider the current residual fair value of the manse buildings (on the assumption that it had reached the end of its useful economic life by the year-end) to be not less than its current value.

Investment Properties

Investment properties - no property is currently deemed not to be held for the long-term purposes of the charity.

Investments

Investments are valued in the balance sheet at market value at the year-end. Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable and any gains or losses on revaluation at the year-end are shown in the SOFA.

Financial instruments

Basic financial instruments are measured at amortised cost.

Debtors and creditors

Debtors and creditors receivable or payable within one year of the reporting date are carried at their transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost less any impairment.

Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

In preparing financial statements it is necessary to make certain judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts recognised in the financial statements. There are no judgements and estimates considered by the Trustees to have a significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements.

4.Donations and legacies	Unrestricted	Restricted	2023 Total	2022 Total
	£	£	£	£
Legacies	-	-	-	-
Total	-	-	-	-

5. Investment income	Unrestricted	Restricted	2023 Total	2022 Total
	£	£	£	£
Central FinanceBoard	344	7,973	8,317	1,287
Other			-	-
Total	344	7,973	8,317	1,287

6. Payment to Trustees

2022/23 2021/22 Number of trustees who were paid expenses 5 5 £ £ Total amount paid 5,028 6,815	2022/23 2021/22 Number of trustees who were paid expenses 5 5 £ £ Total amount paid 5,028 6,815	2022/23 2021/22 Number of trustees who were paid expenses 5 5 £ £ Total amount paid 5,028 6,815
	Number of trustees who were paid expenses Total amount paid	2022/23 2021/22 5 5
		£ £ 5,028 6,815

7. Independent Examiner’s Fees

Fees for reporting on the accounts Other fees (for advice, accountancy services etc) Total	2022/23 £ 1,680 0 1,680	2021/22 £ 1,680 0
		1,680

8. Paid Employees

The basis allocation of staff costs was changed in 2022/23. In prior years a proportion of staff costs a full-time equivalent was allocated to the Circuit and shown in the annual accounts as staff costs. In 2022/23 a fixed monthly fee has been charged to the Circuit by the Church each month for services provided and so no allocation can be seen directly as a staff cost.

The charity considers that the key management personnel comprise the Trustees. Other than stipends paid to Ministers, there was no remuneration paid to the Trustees during 2022/23.

9 Fixed Assets

Cost or valuation	Residential Land	Manses	Total
	£	£	£
Balance brought forward	483,179	1,449,534	1,932,713
Additionsinyear	0	230,000	230,000
Balance carried forward	483,179	1,679,534	2,162,713

Accumulated depreciation	0	0	0
Net Book Value brought forward	483,179	1,449,534	1,932,713
Net Book Value carried forward	483,179	1,679,534	2,162,713

The value of Manses has increased by £230,000 this is due a cash investment of £230,000 being made by the Circuit to the Property Trustees of Central Hall to enable significant building work in 2023/24. The investment will be repaid upon the sale of a manse jointly owned by the Trustees and the Circuit.

9a Investments

No other investments are held by the Circuit.

London Mission (Westminster) Circuit 35 / 03 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2022/23 £ £ 20,240 20,240 1,879 1,220 1,118 8,059 5,568 3,378 21,222 2,400 2,400 0 0 0 0	2021/22 £ £ 19,301	2021/22 £ £ 19,301
1,879 1,220 1,118 8,059 5,568 3,378	2,012 1,434 1,185 9,720 5,228 2,485	19,301
2,400	2,189	22,063

0 0 0	5,400 143 1,516	2,189

		7,059

London Mission (Westminster) Circuit 35 / 03

BALANCE SHEET NOTES *Note 14 Property Revaluation (Valuations*** Made 2014) 6 Exbury House (25% owned by Circuit) 4 Cotton Row (50.25% owned by Circuit) 16 Pond Green (100% Owned by Circuit) 108A Shirley Avenue (100% Owned by Circuit) Additions - Investment with Central Hall Trustees TOTAL VALUE Prior Valuation Revaluation Reserve *Note 15 -Prepayments* Stipends Manse Expenses Accrued Income Circuit Assessment Paid by Church Owed by Church Church Expenses Paid by Circuit *Note 16 - Central Finance Board* Restricted Funds Designated Funds General Fund *Note 16 - TMCP* Manse Sale and Purchase Fund Other Designated Funds *Note 17 - Cash at Bank& In Hand* General Fund HSBC General Fund Barclaycard Restricted Funds HSBC BALANCE SHEET NOTES *Note 18 - Creditors & Accruals* Ministers Travel & Accommodation Manse Costs Independent Examiners Fee Administration Staff Costs Ministerial Training Designated Funds	2022/23 £ £ Property Value Circuit Value £ £ 550,000 137,500 1,485,000 746,213 400,000 400,000 649,000 649,000 230,000 2,162,713 1,142,685 1,020,028 10,217 5,450 376 1,512 17,555 0 16,714 0 16,714 23,924 3,455 27,379 (9,470) (4,361) 42,936 29,105 0 0 1,680 0 0 1,680 0 0 1,680	2022/23 £ £ Property Value Circuit Value £ £ 550,000 137,500 1,485,000 746,213 400,000 400,000 649,000 649,000 230,000 2,162,713 1,142,685 1,020,028 10,217 5,450 376 1,512 17,555 0 16,714 0 16,714 23,924 3,455 27,379 (9,470) (4,361) 42,936 29,105 0 0 1,680 0 0 1,680 0 0 1,680
	0	0

	London Mission (Westminster) Circuit 35	London Mission (Westminster) Circuit 35	London Mission (Westminster) Circuit 35	/ 03
CIRCUIT FUNDS	Balance B/Fwd 01/09/22	Income	Expenditure	Transfer Between Funds	Balance C/Fwd 31/08/23
FUNDS	£	£	£	£	£

Restricted
Media Chaplaincy	0	0	0		0
TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS	0	0	0	0	0

Designated
RemovalsFund	6,674	0	0		6,674
ManseMaintenanceFund	80,425	0.00	- 23,995	0	56,430
ManseReplacementFund	248,579	7,973	(232,628)	0	23,924
Total Designated Funds	335,678	7,973	(256,623)	0	87,028

TOTAL RESTRICTED & DESIGNATED FUNDS	335,678	7,973	(256,623)	0	87,028

GENERAL FUND	1,934,756	217,648	(217,648)	0	1,934,756

TOTAL	2,270,434	225,621	(474,270)	0	2,021,784

The Balance of Restricted and Designated Funds has decreased to £87,028 from £335,678 in 2021/22, due to the investment of £230,000 to the Property Trustees and expenditure on Manse Maintenance.

London Mission (Westminster) Circuit 35 / 03

Circuit Trustees as at 31 August 2023

The following served as trustees during the year and/or were trustees at the date of signing the accounts.

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of London Mission (Westminster) Circuit

Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of Methodist Central Hall Westminster – London Mission (Westminster) Circuit No. 35/03

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

Independent examiner’s statement

I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with my examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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Katharine Patel ACA Buzzacott LLP Chartered Accountants 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL

10 May 2024