2025-08-31-accounts - The Methodist Church in West Somerset

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METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER – 1147036

CIRCUIT OFFICE MINEHEAD METHODIST CHURCH

7 THE AVENUE MINEHEAD SOMERSET TA24 5AY

METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

CONTENTS	PAGE
Trustees’ Annual Report	1-6
Independent Examiner’s Report	7
Receipts & Payments Account	8-9
Statement of Assets & Liabili�es	10

METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

Structure, Governance & Management

MANAGING TRUSTEEES

During this period, the managing trustees have been changed according to a new cons�tu�on which considers the One Church set up. These changes were made on 1st October 2024. A copy of the cons�tu�on is available.

J Armin M Hill – from 1.10.24 C Hope L Barriball – from 1.10.24 M Nevell C Gill – from 1.10.24 H Sperring E Westlake – from 1.10.24 J Sperring A Branfield – from 1.10.24 G Tap M Jennings – from 1.10.24 S Rose – from 1.10.24 H Mounfield – from 1.10.24 A Robinson – from 1.10.24 T Hedgecock – from 1.10.24 C Longhurst – from 1.10.24 M Lintern – from 1.10.24 A Day – from 1.10.24

CHURCH SECRETARY J Armin CHURCH TREASURER J Armin PRESBYTER IN PASTORAL CHARGE Rev A Day LAY PASTORAL AND COMMUNITY WORKER P Williams CHURCH STEWARDS C Longhurst J Sperring C Wooldridge

For the one church, Circuit Stewards have responsibility for Churches and Circuit.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS A Smith & Co Ltd 4 Middle Street Taunton Somerset TA1 1SH

BANKERS

TSB Bank PLC 19 The Parade Minehead Somerset TA24 5LU

METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (con�nued )

Structure, Governance & Management

Acronyms used in this report are as follows: WSC – West Somerset Circuit MCiWS – Methodist Church in West Somerset LA – Local Arrangement LPCW – Lay Pastoral & Community Worker WL – Worship Leader

Leadership structure

During this year a One Church Model has been more fully embraced, with the gradual amalgama�on of banking for the churches and the conversion of Alcombe’s charity status to encompass the whole Methodist Church in West Somerset.

These joint Church Council mee�ngs three �mes a year, include all presbyters; Supernumeraries; Circuit Lay Employees; Circuit Stewards; fully accredited Local Preachers and Circuit Officers; the Church Treasurer and representa�ves from the Churches.

Governing Document

The Methodist Church in West Somerset in subject to a governing document dated 1932 and amended in March 2022.

Structure changes in year

Methodist church in West Somerset was previously known as Alcombe Methodist Church. On 1[st] September 2024 the new name of Methodist Church in West Somerset was u�lised, when the churches of Minehead, Porlock, Watchet and Brendon Hill joined with the Alcombe church charity. Previous year financials have been pooled to show combined church adjusted compara�ves.

Objec�ves & Ac�vi�es

Methodist Church in West Somerset (MCiWS) is part of the West Somerset Circuit (WSC), whose Mission Statement states:

‘We are commi�ed to working together as a Circuit to enable personal growth and every church to be a place of welcome, love and acceptance in the name of Jesus Christ.’

MCiWS and WSC are run according to the Cons�tu�onal Prac�ce and Discipline of the Methodist Church in Great Britain. (Registered Charity No. 1132208.)

METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (con�nued )

Objec�ves & Ac�vi�es

Worship

WSC produces in each quarter a plan for the worship in the churches across the whole circuit. Four Churches hold a public service of worship each Sunday morning at 10.30am and another has an evening service (a�ernoon in Winter).

Services of Holy Communion are held about once per month, in each church.

There are two accredited Worship Leaders, one at Alcombe, the other at Minehead church, available to assist visi�ng preachers leading the worship services and to assist the Church Stewards in the leading of any Local Arrangement services that are planned at the church.

Each church works with ecumenical partners, whenever appropriate.

Each church is available for Bap�sms, weddings and funerals, as required.

Pastoral Care

Rev Andy Day, the WSC Superintendent Presbyter, has oversight of the pastoral care of Porlock, Alcombe and Watchet; Rev Chloe Kingdon has Minehead and Brendon Hill,

Day to day pastoral care of the church community is covered informally by natural groupings of those who meet regularly in various capaci�es during the week as well as at worship.

Discipleship, Nurture and Learning

Discipleship, Nurture and Learning at the churches covers a wide range of ac�vi�es, which include…

A regular pa�ern of worship, including rites of passage: bap�sms, weddings and funerals, in addi�on to hos�ng Circuit services
Hos�ng of an Annual ecumenical holiday club for children aged 5-11
Church events for fellowship, fun and fundraising
Appropriate training for volunteer workers with children and young people
Safeguarding training is available for all those required to a�end
Other training and sharing opportuni�es make use of the projec�on facili�es
Special worship occasions
meal, an interes�ng talk and an opportunity for fellowship
A fortnightly ‘Bright Hour’ fellowship; monthly Thursday Circle & Tuesday Club.
Bible studies, eg regularly at Watchet, plus elsewhere for Advent, Lent etc.
Registra�on at Fair Trade and Eco Church at some churches.

METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (con�nued )

Objec�ves & Ac�vi�es

Evangelism and Outreach

MCiWS is commi�ed to support, encourage and challenge the members of the church in their life and mission. Evangelism and outreach is about having a Chris�an presence in the local community; being salt and light in the local area. This involves making connec�ons with the various groups who use the building and moving outside the church building to make connec�ons with the local community. Charitable agencies supported include: Ac�on for Children, MHA, All We Can, West Somerset Food Cupboard, Quantock Food Cupboard, Exmoor Youth Project.

Ongoing community outreach includes our Super and our Lay Worker as School Governors at the Community Church School, also running Open the Book and an annual Journey to Bethlehem, Chris�an Escape rooms for Church and community occasions.

Our buildings serve as a venue for a wide variety of Church and community events.

join us for conversa�on, light lunches and simple ac�vi�es. These Spaces offer opportuni�es for new friendships.

Safeguarding

Chloe Kingdon (name changed in November 2024) is the Church Safeguarding Coordinator who liaises between MCiWS and WSC on ma�ers rela�ng to safeguarding and keeps the Church Council up to date with any changes in legisla�on and procedures. Each church holds a copy of the current WSC Safeguarding Policy document. The Church Council has adopted the Methodist safeguarding policy and reviews this policy annually. WSC runs the Crea�ng Safer Space Founda�on Module as and when required, so that all those who need to a�end this training from MCiWS are able to do so.

Communica�ons

WSC produces a Circuit magazine, ‘The Messenger’, published ten �mes per year. This magazine is a showcase for events around the circuit. Two churches produce a weekly no�ce sheet to help disseminate informa�on and to aid communica�on, which is circulated electronically and by paper copies. The church stewards have an important role in making sure that communica�on happens amongst the church community throughout MCiWS.

During the year WSC has upgraded its website to h�ps://www.westsomersetmethodists.org.uk. Chaz Hardiman is the webmaster.

METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (con�nued )

Objec�ves & Ac�vi�es

Property

Property is overseen by a small team with people at each church building taking the lead to feedback to CLT and Circuit Mee�ng where appropriate.

Finance

Jean Armin is the MCiWS treasurer. Jean is responsible for overseeing the correct procedures and accoun�ng rela�ng to MCiWS church finances. Bookkeeping is now undertaken by James Price who is

Achievements & Performance

Main achievements of the year

The churches which are able to let out their halls for par�es, rehearsals and other mee�ngs have seen a return to pre-pandemic levels of use and income.
under review. (Closed in May 2025.)
The Tuesday Warm Space at Alcombe is welcoming increasing numbers of ‘guests’ and a new venture at Minehead is becoming established.
The Toddlers Group is proving very successful, now running at Minehead on Mondays, Williton on Wednesdays, Alcombe on Fridays and plans are underway for a new group at Porlock on Tuesdays.
Chris�an Escape rooms for Church and community occasions have engaged the local community with the Bible in a meaningful way and is being requested for wider use.

Progress of Aims and Objec�ves for MCiWS during the period 01.09.24 – 31.08.25

To meet the needs of the lonely and disadvantaged in our community.
To con�nue to hold a meet in various ways for fellowship and support.
To a�end safeguarding training, including both founda�on and advanced sessions, wherever required

Financial Review

The merging of the churches will provide improved financial performance and stability.

MCWS has no current reserves level set as it has no commi�ed projects, or ongoing commitments, and instead budgets to spend all its annual income on its and its circuits ac�vi�es

METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (con�nued )

published by the charity commission in exercising their responsibili�es.

Declara�on

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees' report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signed – ……………………………………

Full Name – Rev Andy Day

Posi�on – Superintendent Minister

Date – 23[rd] April 2026

METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Independent Examiners Report

I report to the trustees of Methodist Church in West Somerset on accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 which are set out on pages 2 to 13.

Responsibili�es and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the prepara�on of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Chari�es Act 2011 ('the Act')

I report in respect of my examina�on of the Trust’s accounts carried out under sec�on 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examina�on, I have followed the applicable Direc�ons given by the Charity Commission under sec�on 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

than that disclosed below *) in connec�on with the examina�on which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accoun�ng records were not kept in accordance with sec�on 130 of the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accoun�ng records

I have no concerns and have come across no other ma�ers in connec�on with the examina�on to which a�en�on should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed - ……………………….

Date - 24[th] April 2026

Name - Anthony Smith FCMA

Weston Super mare BS22 6AA

METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET

RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

RECEIPTS Offerings Offerings Gift aid Donations Bank Interest CFB Interest TMCP Investment Lettings Other Income Little Fishes Toddler group Income Electicity Solar rebate Warm Space grant Bright hour collection Coffee Morning collection Holiday Club Income Legacies VAT reclaim on Building work Insurance claim Little Fishes Donation Minehead Garden collection Plant Sales Funeral Fees Xmas Tree festival Card Sales Open the book collections Summertime stall sales Gift Collection Circuit share of costs Alcombe Friendship centre External Organisations collections Asset & Investment sales Realised Gains/(losses) on Investments Total Receipts Unrealised Gains/(losses) on Investments	Unrestricted Funds £ 52,989 4,174 887 58,050 4,814 34,337 39,151 21,458 1,137 3,155 750 97 881 199 12,370 5,653 3,700 - - 45 321 250 436 321 80 - 10,617 2,128 6,662 48,800 (3,143) - (3,143) 164,316	Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,000 275 - - - - - - - - - - 1,275 - 1,275	Total Funds 2025 £ 52,989 4,174 887 58,050 4,814 34,337 39,151 21,458 1,137 3,155 750 97 881 199 12,370 5,653 3,700 1,000 275 45 321 250 436 321 80 - 10,617 2,128 6,662 50,075 (3,143) - (3,143) 165,591	Prior Year 2024 £ 53,842 15,716 4,270 73,828 6,367 32,041 38,408 23,383 1,337 2,851 - 95 621 - 1,000 - 8,693 - - 58 - 566 641 - 85 73 2,238 2,980 6,514 27,752 607 391,188 391,795 555,166

METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET

RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

PAYMENTS Circuit Assessment Donation Repairs Utilities Light, Heat & water Insurance Wages Other Expenditure Phone Transport Stationery Gardens Cleaner Bank/Investment Charges Kitchen exp Accountancy & bookkeeping fee Secretarial fees Subscriptions Little Fishes Costs Sundry Projector Bossington church expenditure Roadwater Church expenditure External Organisation donations Total Payments Net of Receipts/Payments Cash Funds at 1st September 2024 Cash Funds at 31st August 2025	Unrestricted Funds £ 145,375 2,699 30,642 16,861 10,214 27,075 22,546 1,619 7,559 1,339 1,568 3,886 3,379 3,673 1,397 2,012 1,200 1,264 3,351 - - - 5,907 38,152 266,489 (102,173) 726,740 624,567	Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - 275 - - - - - - - - - - - - 275 275 1,000 - 1,000	Total Funds 2025 £ 145,375 2,699 30,642 16,861 10,214 27,075 22,546 1,619 7,559 1,339 1,843 3,886 3,379 3,673 1,397 2,012 1,200 1,264 3,351 - - - 5,907 38,427 266,764 (101,173) 726,740 625,567	Prior Year 2024 £ 109,750 1,327 72,120 15,998 9,443 25,441 31,667 1,317 2,426 904 229 2,517 2,981 4,945 2,683 2,314 1,217 1,534 4,986 11,022 2,491 6,279 7,758 55,603 295,909 259,257 467,483 726,740

METHODIST CHURCH IN WEST SOMERSET

STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES AT 31 AUGUST 2025

Cash Funds Cash held at Bank Cash on hand CFB Account TMCP Investment cash	Unrestricted Funds £ 37,462 559 72,045 514,500 624,567	Restricted Funds £ 1,000 - - - 1,000	Total Funds 2025 £ 38,462 559 72,045 514,500 625,567	Prior Year 2024 £ 56,982 264 140,468 529,026
				726,740

TMCP Investment held £ 444,844

Methodist Church in West Somerset

Simple statement of financial activities for Year ended 31 August 2025

Church ID INCOME Offerings Offerings Gift aid Donations Bank Interest Bank Interest CFB Interest TMCP Investment Lettings Other Income Little Fishes Income EXPENSES Circuit Assessment Donation Repairs Utilities Light, Heat & water Insurance Wages Other Expenditure Phone Transport Stationery Gardener Cleaner Bank/Investment Charges Kitchen exp Bookkeeping fee Secretarial fees Subscriptions Little Fishes Costs Sundry SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) External Organisations Income Expenditure Transfers SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) BWFD FUND CFWD FUND ASSETS TMCP CFB Unrealised Gains/(losses) on Investments Bank Cash		Alcombe 30238 14,344.22 597.48 - 14,941.70 - 1,932.23 27,148.23 29,080.46 3,739.00 16,192.70 284.17 (3,158.39) 61,079.64 83,875.00 100.00 3,000.81 2,192.66 1,429.69 3,622.35 17,225.51 868.00 5,407.60 33.87 390.00 57.90 2,825.62 3,219.12 1,243.40 - 302.40 284.17 622.00 15,254.08 123,077.75 (61,998.11) 157.25 (157.25) ( 0.00 ) (61,998.11) 878,609.65 816,611.54 (15,709.45) 179.63 806,806.74 25,334.62 816,611.54	Minehead 30243 13,080.05 1,701.17 16.42 14,797.64 - 617.93 7,085.81 7,703.74 11,070.90 12,990.11 284.16 14.70 46,861.25 45,750.00 481.25 17,776.83 8,293.86 3,319.75 11,613.61 5,321.01 750.80 2,151.20 490.66 1,353.22 1,689.47 545.80 318.23 88.00 2,011.98 254.40 411.66 1,731.97 11,797.39 92,740.09 (45,878.84) 607.50 (607.50) 0.00 (45,878.84) 196,246.75 150,367.91 (205.76) 246.76 150,055.88 271.03 150,367.91	Watchet 30233 16,642.85 89.83 870.70 17,603.38 - 2,045.11 16.79 2,061.90 5,143.00 13,081.19 284.16 - 38,173.63 10,625.00 1,768.00 6,447.53 5,312.02 2,579.33 7,891.35 - - - 813.99 39.44 1,112.89 1.14 83.32 65.50 - 395.72 284.17 934.53 3,730.70 30,462.58 7,711.05 5,497.32 (4,742.93) - 8,465.44 61,768.63 70,234.07 30,239.77 (0.01) 367.55 39,626.76 70,234.07	Porlock Williton 30239 372513 5,887.89 - 292.90 - - - 6,180.79 - - - 61.54 42.12 80.48 5.90 142.02 48.02 1,407.00 - 111.00 - 284.16 - 0.75 - 8,125.72 48.02 2,500.00 500.00 - 25.00 2,116.10 - 1,062.82 - 2,429.35 - 3,492.17 - - - - - - - - - 60.00 - 1,025.76 - 6.21 - 52.45 - - - - - 247.00 - 284.15 - 22.04 - 1,697.61 - 9,805.88 525.00 (1,680.16) (476.98) 299.44 - (299.44) - - - (1,680.16) (476.98) 12,288.22 15,230.37 10,608.06 14,753.39 8,178.48 13,968.64 46.01 - 1,985.93 127.79 397.64 656.96 10,608.06 14,753.39	Brendon Hill Total 30236 3,034.23 52,989.24 1,492.73 4,174.11 - 887.12 4,526.96 58,050.47 - - 114.63 4,813.56 - 34,337.21 114.63 39,150.77 - 21,359.90 - 42,375.00 - 1,136.65 - - (3,142.94) 4,641.59 158,929.85 2,125.00 145,375.00 325.00 2,699.25 1,300.60 30,641.87 - 16,861.36 455.58 10,213.70 455.58 27,075.06 - 22,546.52 - - 1,618.80 - 7,558.80 - 1,338.52 - 1,842.66 - 3,886.02 - 3,378.77 - 3,673.12 - 1,396.90 - 2,011.98 - 1,199.52 - 1,264.15 40.00 3,350.54 40.00 32,519.78 4,246.18 260,857.48 395.41 (101,927.63) 100.00 6,661.51 (100.00) (5,907.12) - ( 0.00 ) 395.41 (101,173.24) 7,440.27 1,171,583.89 7,835.68 1,070,410.65 1,990.50 38,462.18 87.00 559.39 - 959,343.89 5,758.18 72,045.19 7,835.68 1,070,410.65