RYEDALE METHODIST CIRCUIT 29134
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

RYEDALE METHODIST CIRCUIT
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
ADMINISTrATIVE INFORMATION
Circuit Numbcr. 29,Q4
Clrcult Staff:
Ordained..
Superintendent Minister
Rev Peter Sheasby
7 Pinfold Garth, Malton, North Yorkshire, Y017 7XQ
Minlsters:
Rev Graham Ransom
Lay..
Missional Lay Employee:
Administration Assistant:
Mrs Karen Pattison
Mrs Ann Thomas
Trustees:
All members of the Circuit Meeting. A full list is available on request.
Ms Kate Gibbs
Dr Julia Branson
Mr Steve Amold
Mr John Foster
Mr Richard Lukey
Circuit Stewards:
Independent Examiner:
Ms S A Cutting
STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Goveming Document
Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976)
Constituted
Act of Parliament
Selection of Trustees
Appointed by local churches and existing trustees
Ministers are automatically trustees
Structure
Part of the Yorkshire North and East District of the Methodist Church
Accountable to the Methodist Conference
Risks
Considered by the Leadership Team
Take professional advice when required
Adopted Safeguarding Policy

08JECTIVES AND ACTMllE3
The Vision of Ryedala Methc￿ls( Cfirajil Is to Ixjild fell￿hIpS of c(Mnrnitted lolk)w8rs 01 Jesus Chrlsl, who will shor
the Gospel, grow In faith arKJ dernnstrate Ihls Ihn)ugh k)viNJ s￿Vice In both the k)cnl communlty nnd the wkler world,
This vision wll be w¢xked oul by:
Increasing 8W8reness of G(xl'3 presenco and dedarinq Hi3 lovo In our doily Iivo3"
Offering safe places for wcthip where every(Me Is made lo feel ￿lCome Bnd occepted:
Provlding oppcytunities for spritual grDwth 8nd leaming;
Providing tsme and space for church and community aclivitses:
Showlng care and support for all:
Sharlng tasks of ministy among both lay and ordained people;
Working for justice and peace for all peoplo, and
Regularly reviewing opportunities for mission, ministry and worship both within tho Molhodist Clrcuit and with
others of faith.
Objectlves:
The purposes of the Methodlsl Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the Date of Union the
advancement ofr
a) Thc Christian faith in ac￿)rdanCe the doctrinal standards and disciplinc of Thc Nqothodist Church.
b) Any charitable purpose for the time belng of any Connexlonal, District, Circuit, local or other organisatlon 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.
STRUCTURE AND DECISION MAKING
The Circuit staff work as a team sharing responsibilities across the Circuit.
Day-tO•day management decisions are taken by the Circuit Leadership Team (CLT). The CLT is composed of the
Circuit Stewards and ordained stsff.
The Circuit Meeting is the principal decision-making body responsible for the affairs of the Circuit and the development
of circuit policy, although decision on specific matters is delogated to the CLT Ivhen required. It also acts as the focal
point of the working fellowship of the churches in the Circuit, overseeing their pastoral, training and evangelistic work.
It meets twice yearly, in the autumn and spring.
CLT meets between Circuit Meetings to:
1. discuss the life and work of the Circuit
2. formulate recommendations for the Circuit Meeting
carry out work on behalf of the Circuit Meeting, where appropriate.
4. to ensure the Circuit effectively uses its financial reSoUr￿S through:
(i)
agreeing proposals for the annual cir(￿lt budget in advan￿ of the Circuit Meeting
(li)
monitoring financial pr0￿dUreS.
The CLT is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the manses and has the authority to approve emergency
works to manses on behalf of the Circuit Meeting.
All propety schemes within the Circuit are examined by the CLT who recommend an appropriate response to the
Circuit Meeting. The CLT may seek clarification or modification of an application before making its recommendation to
the Circuit Meeting.
In addition to seeking approval, a church may seek financial support from the Circuit for urgent repairs or essential
improvements. No limit is placed on this although requests have to be justified and the continuation of the church
considered appropnate within the CircuiL For other projects (up to £5000) the CLT may recommend that the Circuit
Meeting grant from the Circuit Model Trust Fund up to 15 % of the budgeted cost of the stheme (subject to funds being
available) depending on how well the scheme fits the approval criteria.
The CLT is also responsible for ensuring staffing levels are maintained at a workable level and may allocate funds for
tho employment of lay staff to aeovoist with tho wiork of the church whcn deemod necessary.

RISK MANAGEMENT
The Truste83 ha￿ exwnined the rn8kff Strateg￿ aThJ OPff8bcThI nsks 18cry Ihe C*￿11 and havo eslablishod lh•
necessary systems to manaae (y M￿gate t1￿ risks.
In partujlar.
insurance a)ver is In place
Ihe finances of Ihe arB kept under revie•V
the Circuil has adcpted Ihe Methodist Church SafeguarrlirrfJ Policy and ensured Ot Is rollod o(It lo Iho chiirches;
appointed a Clr(xJit Safeguarding CO￿rdinatcr. apprDwlate Disdosure and Barring Servlce (DBS) chocks Dre
made and there are regular audits of Safeguardlng prBcllces a(xoss the Clrcult and All Its churchos,
Public Benefrt
We confirm that the trustees have had regard to the Chanty Commisslon's guldance on public benefiL
Ryedale Methodlst Clrcuit (2rries out a range of actlvltles In pursuance of Its mlsslon. The Trustees conslder that
these actsvities, summarised below, provKle benefit to those who a￿ members of Ihe Circuil through the local
Methodist churches and the wider community.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Reli
ious Activities
Acts of worship and pastoral carp
The Circuit prodU￿S a quarterty, or bi monthly, preaching plan to ensure regular acts of worship take place at each of
the Methodist churches and Local Ecumenical Partnerships under its remit. These are open to all people, without
chargo. Tho Milnlstors havo pastoral care for thoso churches.
Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals
The Circuit staff conducted baptisms, weddings and funerals at each of the churches in the Circuit. These services are
available at the discretion of the person with pastoral charge. No charge is made for baptisms. A modest set fee is
usually charged for weddings and funerals.
Work with Childrcn, Youth, and Familios in the local Community
The Circuit supports the work done in the local churches to
create and strengthen relationships and help people along their life's journey
ensure people feel welcome arid get a positive experience of Church life
encourage people to start and continue a joumey into faith.
Wc aim to makc these scrvices available to evcryone.
Peo
le and
ert
Presbyters, Deacons and Local Preachers
The Circuit spiritually and financially supported the above named Presbyters throughout the year (or for the period
shown); a number of acb've Local Preachers and several Supemumerary Ministers took services and preached in the
Circuit's churches during the ycar.
Lay Employees
The Circuit funded:
A part time Lay Employee
A part-time Administrator
Property management
The Circuit maintained two manses throughout the year. Unused manses are rented out until required for new
ministers. The properties were only accounted for as manses whilst occupied by ministers. Four further former
manses were commercially let. One redundant church was sold during the year and two closed church buildings were
transferred to the Circuit.
Voluntcors
A substantial part of Ihe Circuit's ministry is accomplished by volunteers. All the Circuit Stewards and the other
members of the Circuit Meeting, except for the Ministers and paid lay employees, are volunteers. All the local
preachers are volunteers.

FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Accounts for the year ending 31￿ August 2024 and the St8tement of Assets 8nd Li8bilitlos 89 at 31￿ August 2024
are contained in Appendix 1. These show a net deficit (gross Income less expenditure) of £(25,362) in Ihe year, with
totsl cash funds of £518,889 at the end of Ihe year.
Thls net surplus figure was mainly attrlbutable to the refund of the Penslon contributlon made In a prevlous year of
£95.533 and soft loans aq￿ed for two Churches £175K
Unrestricted fvnds achieved a deficit of £176K.
The principal funding sources for the year to 3111 August 2024 are the Assessments received from the churches within
the Circuit and propety ￿ntaI. The principal expenditure is the salary costs of the ministers and lay employees of Ihe
Circuit.
The Rftsarves pollcy Is contalned In Appendix 2,
The Trustees have established a pollcy whereby the unrestricted funds held In the General Reserve should be
sufficient to cover six months of general running costs. At 3181 August 2024, the level of reserves was £191,366, with
net current liabilities deducted (but not including loans) and annual expected expenditure is £368K (induding possible
grants to churches to help with essential repairs). This approach to reserves Is considered prudent and current
balances, although hlgher than required, are consldered beneficial in the current uncertaln economic climate and will
enable the Circult to help local churches where consldered beneficlal.
Th8 Trustees have also established a policy whereby the Circuit Model Trust Fund should b8 maintained at a level
sufficient to fvnd an anticipated level of propety projects plus the budgeted transfers to general funds over a five year
horizon, after allowing for inflows from propety sales. At 31sI August 2024, the balan￿ of the CMTF (excluding the
restricted funds) is £372,258. The CMTF is currently in a position which exceeds the requirements of the policy.
This reserves policy will be reviewed regularly.
Overall, the Trustees consider the financial position to be satisfactory.
Approved on 27th March 2024 and slgned on behalf of the Circuit by:
Re
erend Andy L
ndley
Superintendent Minister

APPENDIX 1: ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Unmtrlct•d
Funds
Clrtuh Mod•l
rrust Fund
Totil thls
y•ar
Totol laNt
yoar
Othor Fundg
RECOPTS
AssessmenVsh8re
159973
159 973
161465
Capital receipts
92,413
02,413
r9,491
Interest and inv8Stmenl Income
10,130
13,235
23,365
18,026
Grants
288,288
Other receipts
42,548
96,023
138.571
43,319
Total r•celpts
212,651
201,671
414,322
570,589
PAYMENTS
Stipends, salaries, NIC, pension and
travel costs
127,678
127,678
102,748
Manse costs
10,333
10,333
8,456
Administration etc
1,736
612
5,256
District assessment
31,216
31,216
34,684
Grants Loans and donations
197,298
197,298
309,272
Other payments
20,403
50.408
70.811
39,005
Total payments
388,664
51,408
439,684
499,421
Net recelpts and payments
Total funds brought forward from last
year
(176,013)
150,651
(25,362)
71,168
319,930
213,533
10,304
543,767
472,599
Transfers and adjuslments
(9,652)
8,074
2,062
484
,Total fvnds at end of year
134,265
372,258
12,366-
518,889
543,768

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024
Op•nlng balanc•g
Cloglng balanc•s
CASH FUNDS HELD
Bank current accounl
57,407
53,325
Centfdl Flnance Board deposit a￿Unt
263.685
80,941
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
222.676
384,624
Other fvnds
Total cash funds held by clrcult
543,768
518,890
OTHER ASSEfs AND LIABIUTIES
Investments
11,194
11,194
Land and buildings
2,069,300
2,069,300
Olher assets
8,266
9,200
Loans
84,810
175,910
Other liabilities
40,706
40,706

APPENDIX 2: RESERVES POLICY
Our Reserves Policy relates to our genw81 (unTrstricted) which are freety available to be used lor any or 81101
the purposes of the CircuiL
Other funds are also Induded for the sake of darfty and (¥>enness and to show that th8 Clrcult has a pollcy for the
management of all of its money not smply those which a￿ defined as reserves.
Alms
To secure and sustain the Clrcuit's vlabllity and future.
To rcassurD thc gcncral public that tho Circuit which Is a charity, Intonds to uso all of tho monoy comlng Into
its care for the purposes of the charity.
Three Step Process
In line with Connexional guidance, we undertake a three step process In setting reserves policy:
set out our mission aims
ii.
decide what financial plans will be ne￿SSary to achieve those aims
detemiine the appropriate level of reserves required to meet our financial plans.
(1) Mission Policy
The Circuit's Mission Policy is set out in a separate document developed during the merger process.
Essentially, it provides for
(a) The ministerial oversight and pastoral care of up to twenty local churches in the Circuit.
(b) The support of a ministry team of two presbyteral Ministers (1 at 31st Aug 2024), several supernumerary ministers
and two lay employees (one plus an Administrator currently).
(c) The rna1ntenan￿ of the two Circuit manses, four former manses that are currently let out commercially, and any
closed chapels that are in the prO￿sS of being sold.
(2) Flnanclal Plans
Each year, the required levels of expenditure and income are reviewed and a Circuit budget is produced. This covers:
the total level of expenditure required by the Circuit to meet the costs of 1 (a), (b) and (c) above
expected income from the let properties
reqLiirement for contributions to the Circuit from indivldiial chapels
appropriate level of transfer from Circuit Model Trust Fund (budgeted at £10,000 for 2023124) as a general
amount help meet Circuit needs plus exceptional transfers where necessary to fund the Circuit's financial help
for Churches.
We make provislon for our propety maintenance programme by designating an amount per annum for each manse to
maintain the propertles, and an amount per annLim to fund a program of perlodic propety Inspections for all the Clrcult
properties including quinquennial reports for Circuit churches.

(3) Reserves Pollcy
The Clrcuit Genernl Fund
Under StanditvJ Orders the Circuil must meet its financial obligations In relation lo the SUPPOrt of its minlsters and Ihe
malntenance of the manses. The totsl budgeted expenditure for the next fin8nc181 year (Includlng p18nnod
contribut1(￿s to the Manse Fund and the Property Inspedion Fund) is &£118,247. A further allowance of £20,000 Is
in'duded for polential qrants to churchcs.
Our ReseNes Policy is to hold al least six mcffith's expenditure in hand. On 31n8r24, the balance was
c..£330,613(exduding loans of £175.910) so it rep￿sented nearfy one yearfs expenditure. Thls Is above our pollcy
but is consldered txudent In the ajrrent Un￿rtaIn financial dimate.
Clrcult Model Trust Fund
Thls fund derlves from sales of chap81s and manses. Histoilc211y, the us8 of Ihl.s fund ha.s befin r8Strlctftd to .8P8dfic
purposes by the Conference, but more re￿ntlY Circuits have been given the ability to use thelr CMTF as they see fit.
Our policy is to use the fund to provide support to the General Fund to further the work of the Circuit (budgeted at
£10,000 in 20231234 and to provide specific support for propety related expenditure in individual chapels, through ad-
hoc contributions to slgnlficant projects. The Circuit also uses this fund through an Initiative to provlde 15 % of small
propety schemes.
The call upon CMTF rcservcs is increased in current financxally difficult timcs to covcr larger cxceptional grant.
made where financial difficulties are experienced by spectfic churches.
Our Reserves Policy is to hold sufficient in the CMTF to cover projected expenditure, over a 5 year horizon, after
allowing for anticipated proceeds from property sales - this expenditure comprising:
Continuing support for the General Fund (budgeted at £10,000 for 2023124)
Specific allowance for significant projects already committed to or anticipated
Contributions of £30,000 per annum to future significant projects and repairs
A running cost of £5,000 per annum from the "15 % scheme"
This would suggest a requirement of £225,000 plus the cost of specific projects less proceeds from sales of closed
chapels (net of levies and fees).
The actual balance in CMTF at 31108124 was £372,258 but this is considered prudcnt.
Restrlcted Funds
These funds comprise trusts managed by Trustees for Methodist Churth Purposes (TMCP), where either the funds
are committed to a specific project or the income is available for general use but the capital cannot generally be
accessed. Restrictions for the latter case funds are in line with the wishes of the benefactors. These funds amounted
to just over £10,000 as at 31108124.
Holdings of just over £1,100 are held within the Circuit bank account but had previously been held in a segregated
savings account and is being treated as restricted until any requirements relating to its provenance can be confirmed.

APPENDIX 3: Lrnt crf Tnnlees @311 Awl 2024
Rol•
CM Sècrnlary (rTh Voltro)
Mr3 R A
Superinten￿nI
R•wJ P•l•f Sh￿$bY
Presbyter
R8vd Grnh8m Ransom
SupernurrErnry
Revd Petef Clark
Supemunwary
ReKI Jane Pickeflrrfj
Supemumerary
Revd Mlchael Wllllams
Minister Resident in Circuit
Revd Dr Penny Worth
Minister Resident in Circuit
Revd Mark Haynes
Lay Employee
Mrs Karen Pattison
Circuit Steward
Dr Julia Branson
Circuit Steward
Kate Glbbs
Clrcult Steward
Mr Steve Amold
Circuit Steward
Mr John Foster
Circuit Steward
Mr Richard Lukey
Synod Rep
Mr Robert Rayner
Circuit Steward FinancelEbberston
Treasurer
Mr Philip Evans
Circuit Property Rep
Mike Leng
Local Preachers Rep
Mrs Rachel Prest
Allerston Steward
Howard Parr
Allerston Treasurer
Mary Kemp
Ebberston Representative
Helen Leng
Ebberston Steward
Mike Peck
Helmsley Representative
Andrew Leckenby
Helmsley Steward
Les Helm
Helmsley Treasurer
Christine Wright
10

Kath Hal
A￿lTrY ￿j1•s3
KMS Sknvanj
Janel Bnywn
KMS Treasurer
Sluafl Bnmn
L8avenlng Stow&d
Slevo Langt(
Leavening Treasurer
Nancy Spencer
Malton Rep
Paul Ernberley
Malton Stewanj
Ann Lonsdale
Malton T￿aSU￿r
Roger Hadr￿Id
Norton Bethel Rep￿Sentative
Jonathan Plercy
Norton Bethel Steward
Veronica Piercy
Norton Bethel TreaSU￿r
Margaret Graham
Norton Trinity Representstive
John Hubery
Norton Trinity Steward
Sue Holmes
Norton Trinity Treasurer
Suzanne West
Pickering Representative
Pam Sellers
Pickering Steward
Ruth Hall
Pickering Treasurer
Martin Redgard
Rievaulx Steward
Edward Garbutt
Rievaulx Treasurer
Sheila Foster
Scagglethorpe Rep
Janet Smith
Scagglethorpe Steward
Paul Douthwaite
Scagglethorpe Treasurer
Nancy Wilson
Sinnington Steward
David Scaling
Slingsby Represenlative
Stephen Prest
Slingsby Steward
Audrey Foster

i•
Mwy Hcog•rth
Name of Circuit Ryedale Methodist Circuit No 29124
12

Independent Examinerfs Statement
I have completed my examination. l (J)nfirm that no material matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination (other than that disdosed below.) which give me cause to believe
that in, any material respect:
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concems 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.
I have obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church
Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the
Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance
sheet date.
Signature of independent examiner
Name of independent examiner Ms S A Cutting
Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner AAT
Address 33 South Road, Dodsworth, Bamsley, South Yorkshire, S75 3LG
Date
13