## Stratford on Avon Methodist Church
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements
For the year ended 31st August 2020 Registered Charity Number: 1152323
C Wiltshire & Co Chartered Accountants
17 Greenhill Street, Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire CV37 6LF _www.cwiltshire.co.uk E-mail: cw@cwiltshire.co.uk_
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
**CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Reference and Administrative Details**|1|
|**Report of the Trustees**|2 to 6|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**|7|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|8|
|**Balance Sheet**|9|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|10 to 16|
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
**REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
|**TRUSTEES**|Miss B J Birnie|Dr L C Ho|
|---|---|---|
||G Collins|M B Ledgard|
||Rev J Dobson|D J Loader|
||D L Dumper|Mrs J Mee|
||Mrs S A Dumper|Mrs S Rimmer|
||Mrs G A Edwards|M D Smith|
||Mrs M Farmery|Mrs M J Smith|
||S Farmery|Miss S D Stroud|
||Mrs K M Fraser|Mrs M Taylor|
||Mrs S D Giles|Mrs J Taylor –_retired 1st June 2020_|
||W J Giles|Mrs E Walker|
||Mrs E M Ho||
The Treasurer, Mr David Dumper acted as the principal officer overseeing the day to day financial management and accounting for the Church during the year.
|**PRINCIPAL ADDRESS**|Stratford upon Avon Methodist Church|
|---|---|
||Old Town|
||Stratford-upon-Avon|
||CV37 6BG|
|**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER**|1152323|
|**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER**|Mr C Wiltshire|
||_Chartered Accountant_|
||C Wiltshire & Co|
||Chartered Accountants|
||17 Greenhill Street|
||Stratford upon Avon|
||CV37 6LF|
|**BANKERS**|HSBC|
||13 Chapel Street|
||Stratford-upon-Avon|
||CV37 6ET|
Page 1
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st August 2020. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Mission statement, objectives and aims**
## **Mission statement**
Our vision is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around us and to provide a place of witness and worship for all people. Our aim is to have a dynamic, growing church with warm fellowship and outreach where people of all ages and backgrounds can meet the Lord Jesus Christ and feel part of a caring church family.
## **Objectives and aims**
The objectives of the charity are set out in The Methodist Church Act 1976 and include the following:
The advancement of
(a) the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church;
(b) any charitable purpose for the time being of any connexial, district, circuit, local or other organization of the Methodist Church;
(c) any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church;
(d) any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.
## **Activities of the Charity**
- Worshipping God through prayer, song and other acts of worship including the organization and resourcing of regular public acts of worship open to members of the church and non-members alike.
- The teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups.
- The resourcing of pastoral work including visiting the sick and bereaved.
- Taking religious assemblies in local schools.
- Promotion of Christianity through the staging of events and services.
- Provision of chaplaincy services to Cedar Lawn care home.
Page 2
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
- The charity supports Connexional and mission work in the UK and overseas including an Overseas Sponsorship scheme, Junior Missionary Association, World Mission Fund, Mission in Britain, Action for Children, Methodist Homes for the Aged, Christian Aid, and South Warwickshire Methodist Circuit projects.
- Additional support is given to Stratford Churches Together, Stratford Ecumenical Homeless Project, Stratford upon Avon Foodbank and Talking Newspapers for the Blind (Stratford).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Significant activities**
The Church provides services and organises events resulting in the provision of public Christian worship for all and provides a facility for local groups and organisations to use our premises for the purposes of a wider witness within the Stratford-upon- Avon community.
## **Public benefit**
In preparing these financial statements the Trustees have had due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Charitable activities**
## **Income Trends**
Church income is primarily drawn from the Sunday collections, Gift Aid tax credit, donations, legacies, gifts, and fundraising from church groups and members and members (57%) together with letting income paid by external users of the building (36%).
Following redevelopment of the church in 2014, our green features have enabled us to export energy to the National Grid, yielding just over 3% of annual income.
COVID-19 has had a major impact on both the finances and outreach of the Charity. Since March 2020, lockdown has meant that no worship services have taken place on church premises during the remainder of this financial year, income from giving has reduced, and letting income no longer exists.
## **Expenditure Trends**
The major cost has been in relation to the annual assessment paid to the South Warwickshire Circuit. Our contribution this financial year represents 58% of annual income.
Other significant expenditures include staff and administration costs (17%), maintenance and cleaning of church premises (24%) and utilities and insurances (9%) of annual income.
## **Fund balances**
As at 31 August 2020 the net current assets of the church were £54,574.
Page 3
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
## **Plans for 2020-21**
The Charity's financial planning for the coming year has been prepared on the basis that government COVID restrictions will apply well into 2021, and the return of any of the hirers will be limited, so income will be reliant on the continuing goodwill of our church members.
## **Stratford-upon-Avon Foodbank**
Since lockdown in March 2020, the Stratford-upon-Avon Foodbank has relocated to our premises free gratis until the end of July 2020 and continues tenure here from August 2020 through to July 2021 subject to a nominal rental.
## **ECO Church**
In 2003 this church began its Eco-Congregation programme and was given three awards over the next 12 years. In 2014 the premises were redeveloped with the aim of it becoming more energy efficient and successfully reducing its carbon footprint. In summer 2019 the church received the Gold Eco-Church Award from A Rocha, the first Methodist Church in the UK to do so, and only the sixth church in the country of any denomination.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Reserves policy**
The Reserves Policy for the Church is to hold a minimum sum equivalent to six months' average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure on the church building and/or to be able to continue, in the short term, funding planned activities in the event of any inability to raise the full expenses including the assessment payable to the Circuit.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
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).
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
The trustees are appointed at the AGM of the church.
## **Organizational structure**
The members of the Church Council of Stratford upon Avon Methodist Church are the Charity Trustees, membership being made up of church office holders, Minister and representatives appointed by the church at the annual general meeting.
Day to day management of the church is undertaken by the church leadership team along with the minister.
Page 4
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
The internal organizations linked to this church during the past year were Wesleys (mothers and toddlers), Men's Meeting Point, Holiday at Home/Contact the Elderly, and Knit, Stitch & Natter.
## **Induction, and continued training of trustees**
A range of guidance produced by Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the church and the role of Trustees is given to the Church Trustees at various meetings.
## **Wider network**
Throughout the financial year ending 31st August 2020, the church was part of the South Warwickshire Methodist Circuit, itself a part of the Birmingham District, accountable to the Methodist Conference.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Risk management and safeguarding**
## **Risk Management**
Major risks have been identified and recorded by the Trustees with professional advice taken as required. A regular review process is undertaken and recorded. A separate working party meets weekly to updated COVID risk assessments with the intention of beginning worship services in line with government restrictions from September 2020 and return later this year of some hirers.
Income and Expenditure is monitored and compared with the approved annual budget on a half yearly basis to detect trends as part of the risk management process to avoid unforeseen calls on reserves.
## **Safeguarding**
Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God's own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God's re-creation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.
Methodist Connexional practice outlines commitment to the following principles:
- The care and nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and adults
- The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable
- The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where there is informed vigilance as to the dangers of abuse.
- We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with Safer Recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes.
- We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and local authority in any investigation.
- We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.
Page 5
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
- 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 recognized good practice.
The Stratford upon Avon Methodist Church commits itself to ensuring the implementation of Connexional Safeguarding Policy, government legislation, guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches.
The Stratford upon Avon Methodist Church also commits itself to 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.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 22 March 2021 and signed on its behalf by:
**D L Dumper** Trustee
Page 6
**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF STRATFORD ON AVON METHODIST CHURCH**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Stratford on Avon Methodist Church (the Trust) for the year ended 31st August 2020.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. 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.
## **C Wiltshire**
Chartered Accountant
C Wiltshire & Co Chartered Accountants 17 Greenhill Street Stratford upon Avon CV37 6LF
Date: 22 March 2021
Page 7
## **Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
|**2020**
**Unrestricted**
**fund**
**Notes**
**£**
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
2
64,822
**Charitable activities**
4
General charitable activities
7,136
Investment income
3
368
**Total**
72,326
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
5
General charitable activities
86,844
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(14,518)
**Other recognised gains/(losses)**
Gains/(losses) on revaluation of fixed assets
63,388
**Net movement in funds**
48,870
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**Total funds brought forward**
3,104,632
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
3,153,502|**2019**
**Total funds**
**£**
84,045
15,832
334
100,211
85,334
14,877
(27,948)
(13,071)
3,117,703
3,104,632|
|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 8
## **Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
## **BALANCE SHEET 31ST AUGUST 2020**
|**Notes**
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
10
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
12
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS**
13
Unrestricted funds:
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|**2020**
**Total funds**
**£**
3,098,928
750
54,814
55,564
(990)
54,574
3,153,502
3,153,502
3,153,502
3,153,502|**2019**
**Total funds**
**£**
3,035,704
2,913
70,540
73,453
(4,525)
68,928
3,104,632
3,104,632
3,104,632
3,104,632|
|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 22 March 2021 and were signed on its behalf by:
## **D L Dumper**
Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 9
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
With the exception of office equipment, tangible fixed assets are revalued each year in line with the insured value of the Charity's property and other assets. Depreciation is therefore not provided on such assets as in the opinion of the Trustees, such amounts would not be material.
Office equipment is depreciated on a straight line basis over 5 years or the useful life of the asset if shorter.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
continued...
Page 10
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued**
## **Fund accounting**
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**
|**2020**
**£**
Offertories
30,461
Donations
627
Gift aid
7,003
Contributions for use of premises
26,731
64,822
**3.**
**INVESTMENT INCOME**
**2020**
**£**
Deposit account interest
368
**4.**
**INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
**2020**
**Activity**
**£**
Other income
General charitable activities
7,136
**5.**
**CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS**
**Direct**
**Grant**
**Support**
**Costs (see**
**funding of**
**costs (see**
**note 6)**
**activities**
**note 7)**
**£**
**£**
**£**
General charitable activities
41,986
43,704
1,154|**2019**
**£**
34,401
1,394
7,172
41,078
84,045
**2019**
**£**
334
**2019**
**£**
15,832
**Totals**
**£**
86,844|
|---|---|
continued...
Page 11
## **Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
## **6. DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
|Staff costs
Rates and water
Insurance
Light and heat
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Internal organisations, mission and outreach
Sundries
Repairs and maintenance
Cleaning
**7.**
**SUPPORT COSTS**|**2020**
**£**
9,978
351
2,664
4,378
1,394
1,381
1,057
3,022
9,783
7,978
41,986|**2019**
**£**
9,049
339
2,568
5,250
1,421
1,301
5,937
6,700
14,291
12,096
58,952|
|---|---|---|
|**SUPPORT COSTS**|||
|---|---|---|
|||**Governance**|
|||**costs**|
|||**£**|
|General charitable activities||1,154|
|Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:|||
||**2020**|**2019**|
||**General**||
||**charitable**|**Total**|
||**activities**|**activities**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Independent Examiner|990|990|
|Depreciation of tangible fixed assets|164|164|
||1,154|1,154|
continued...
Page 12
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
## **8. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31st August 2020 nor for the year ended 31st August 2019.
One trustee received an honorarium of £360 in the current year (2019 £1,406) in their capacity as church organist.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31st August 2020 nor for the year ended 31st August 2019.
## **9. STAFF COSTS**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
|Lay employees
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.|**2020**
2|**2019**
2|
|---|---|---|
## **10.**
## **TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|**COST OR VALUATION**
At 1st September 2019
Revaluations
At 31st August 2020
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1st September 2019
Charge for year
At 31st August 2020
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31st August 2020
At 31st August 2019|**Freehold**
**property**
**£**
2,916,864
60,434
2,977,298
-
-
-
2,977,298
2,916,864|**Fixtures**
**and**
**fittings**
**£**
122,932
2,954
125,886
4,092
164
4,256
121,630
118,840|**Totals**
**£**
3,039,796
63,388|
|---|---|---|---|
||||3,103,184|
||||4,092
164|
||||4,256|
||||3,098,928|
||||3,035,704|
continued...
Page 13
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
|**11.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Other debtors
Prepayments
**12.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Accrued expenses
**13.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**At 1.9.19**
**£**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
3,104,632
**TOTAL FUNDS**
3,104,632
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**resources**
**expended**
**£**
**£**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
72,326
(86,844)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
72,326
(86,844)|**2020**
**£**
750
-
750
**2020**
**£**
990
**Net**
**movement**
**in funds**
**£**
48,870
48,870
**Gains and**
**losses**
**£**
63,388
63,388|**2019**
**£**
1,813
1,100
2,913
**2019**
**£**
4,525
**At 31.8.20**
**£**
3,153,502
3,153,502
**Movement**
**in funds**
**£**
48,870
48,870|
|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 14
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
## **13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
|**Net**
**movement**
**At 1.9.18**
**in funds**
**£**
**£**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
3,117,703
(13,071)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
3,117,703
(13,071)
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Gains and**
**resources**
**expended**
**losses**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
100,211
(85,334)
(27,948)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
100,211
(85,334)
(27,948)|**At 31.8.19**
**£**
3,104,632
3,104,632
**Movement**
**in funds**
**£**
(13,071)
(13,071)|
|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|**At 1.9.18**
**£**
3,117,703
3,117,703|**Net**
**movement**
**in funds**
**£**
35,799
35,799|**At 31.8.20**
**£**
3,153,502
3,153,502|
|---|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 15
**Stratford on Avon Methodist Church**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2020**
## **13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
||**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Gains and**|**Movement**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**resources**|**expended**|**losses**|**in funds**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||
|General fund|172,537|(172,178)|35,440|35,799|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|172,537|(172,178)|35,440|35,799|
## **14. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31st August 2020.
## **15. ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY**
The charity is controlled by its Trustees.
Page 16