## ST.ANDREW’S METHODIST CHURCH BUSHEY HEATH ## **Registered Charity Number 1163054** ## **Registered Address** 69, High Road, Bushey Heath, Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23 1EE ## **Managing Trustees who served during the year under review and at the date this Report was approved** Rev’d Donna Fowler-Marchant ( Minister) Matthew Tattersall ( Church Steward ) Hugh Markham-Jones Lesley Markham-Jones David Whitehead ( Church Steward and Church Treasurer) John Wood ( Church and Property Steward ) Suzanne Wood ( Church Steward ) Ann Wright ( Church Steward ) Hazel Appleton ( Secretary to the Church Council ) All the above were Trustees for the whole of the year under review. ## **Custodian Trustees** The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes Central Buildings, Oldham Street, Manchester, M1 1JQ ## **Banks** Barclays 62-64 High Street, Watford Hertfordshire, WD17 2BT Central Finance board of the Methodist Church 9, Bonhill Street, London, EC2A 4PE 1 ## **Independent Examiner** Mrs Anne Canavan, 26, Ivinghoe Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23 4SW ## **Charitable Object and Status** The principal object of the Charity is the furtherance of the religious and other charitable work of the Church together with the maintenance of the Church premises in order to facilitate this object. The Church is part of the Methodist Connexion in Great Britain whose constitution is governed by an Act of Parliament. Since 7[th] August 2015 the Church has been registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Previously it had been excepted from registration under Statutory Instruments 1734 of 2012 and 242 of 2014. ## **Organisational Structure** Members of the Church are accepted either upon confirmation of their Baptismal vows by profession of faith in Jesus Christ, or by transfer of their membership from another Methodist Church. At 31[st] August 2025 there were 22 members of the Church. The members for the time being of the Church Council act collectively as local Managing Trustees of the Church and have responsibility for the overall policy of the Church. The Church Council comprises the Minister, as Chairman, the Church Stewards, other elected officers and representatives of the Church members. Apart from the Minister, all the above together with the Independent Examiner are appointed or re-appointed at the Annual Meeting of the Church which is open to all members and also to non-members although they do not have a vote. Church Stewards are normally appointed for a period of six years although this may be extended on an annual basis and together with the Minister they are responsible for the day to day running of the Church’s work and witness. They meet regularly and report to each Church Council (which normally meets two or three times a year) as do the Treasurer and Property Steward. Other reports may be required by the Church Council for their consideration and approval, and all their decisions are recorded in The Minutes Book. Copies of The Minutes are available for inspection by Church members. The Church is part of the West Hertfordshire and Borders Methodist Circuit which at 31[st] August 2025 comprised twenty Churches (including two Local Ecumenical Projects) and is in the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire Methodist District. The Church is entitled to appoint two representatives to Circuit Meetings 2 ## **Objectives and Activities** In order to achieve the principal object as stated above, the Church provided activities for its members and for the local community. Services of worship were held on Sundays usually at 9.30am. Once a month the service was preceded by breakfast in the Church commencing at 9.00am. These services were open and accessible to all. Any special services, e.g. the annual Carol Service, were advertised on the Church notice board and website (www.samcbh.org.uk ). The Church was available for weddings, funerals and baptisms. Other activities included House-groups for study, discussion and fellowship and twice-monthly coffee mornings. As part of the ministry to the local community the premises were available at reasonable charges for community, educational, cultural and physical activity groups and for children’s birthday parties. In all its activities the Church has always had due regard to the requirements for equality and diversity. The Trustees have complied with the duty imposed by section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission in respect of public benefit and are of the opinion that during the year under review, this was met by the Church’s objectives and activities outlined above. ## **Review of the Year** During the period under review Church services continued each week with the exception of the second Sunday each month. This was due to the shortage of preachers within the circuit. In September 2024 we welcomed Rev’d Donna Fowler-Marchant as the Minister. Rev’d FowlerMarchant is also the Minister for Croxley Green, Berry Lane and The Scroll Methodist Churches. In line with many other Churches the average attendances at services of worship showed a significant decline when services resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic. This is reflected in the reduction of Church members from 40 on 31[st] August 2021 to 22 on 31[st] August 2025. In the year under review average attendances on a Sunday morning showed a slight decline reflecting the aging congregation although some new attendees were welcomed into the congregation. Breakfast Church services continued to be the best attended services. Community activities on the premises continue to represent an important source of income for the Church as well as representing a contribution to community life. Despite a modest decrease in the number of children’s parties this remained out largest source of lettings income. This Church has continued to play a part in the life of the wider Church by supporting financially, and by the involvement of members of the congregation, such organisations as Macmillan Cancer; Christian Aid; the Watford Peace Hospice; the Methodist World Mission Fund; Connexional Funds and a local food bank. No public appeals for funds have been made by the Church. 3 ## **Financial Review** The Church’s Accounts for the year were prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis and show a surplus of £2,161 as against a surplus of £5,488 in the previous year. This does not take account of the increase of £1,105 in the value of the Church’s investments. A number of factors contributed to this result. The key items were as follows: - Normal offerings decreased to £9,320 (2024: £11,415) as some regular contributors left the Church at the start of the year. Gift Aid of £2,836 (2024: £2,736) was recovered in the year. The gift day raised £3,300 compared to £3,445 the previous year. - Reported lettings income decreased to £13,594 in 2025 from £14,681 in 2024. However last year’s figure was flattered by a late payment which related to the previous year so the underlying picture was an increase of about £900. There was another good contribution of £4,300 from parties, although this was down from £4,840 last year. The Church premises were used as an election polling station once this year generating £450. We gained a new stream of letting income from Dacorum Council for hosting language lessons for refugees. - The Church received a payment of £4,342 from the Ministers Pension Fund. This was the return of a £4,000 donation plus interest previously made following an appeal to bolster the reserves of the pension fund. Without this item we would have recorded a deficit. - Utilities fell to £7,624 (2023: £10,628) reflecting a cheaper gas contract and the installation of energy efficient led lighting. The Circuit once again generously offered Churches support payments to limit the annual costs increases to 5% above the prices in place before the sudden inflation which occurred in 2022. St. Andrew’s received a support payment of £4,339 (2024: £7,620). Without this support the financial results would have been much worse. - No significant property items were undertaken during the year. Some exterior decorating which had been planned for the summer had not been started by the end of the year under review. Once again if these works had been done our results would have been worse. - The three items above (the Pension fund rebate, the Circuit energy support and the deferred property expenditure) all have contributed to the surplus we made this year. The underlying picture suggests such surpluses are unlikely in future years. - At the end of the year the Reserves of the Church, being Unrestricted Funds, amounted to £56,066 (2023 : £52,800) including Designated Funds of £28,895 (2024: £27,790) in the form of a Contingency Reserve. There was also a Restricted Benevolence Fund of £50. The following Reserves Policies were approved by the Trustees:- Unrestricted Funds: Reserves are maintained, so far as is practical, at a level sufficient to cover foreseeable requirements, having regard to the Church’s stated aims and objectives. The General Reserve, which 4 is held in bank balances and a Central Finance Board deposit, is maintained over a period at a level equivalent to around 50% of normal annual expenditure. The Contingency Fund Reserve, which is held in equity investments, is to meet any significant expenditure on the property. Restricted Funds: The Church’s Benevolence Fund is to be maintained at a minimum of £50. The Charity holds no Endowment Funds. Investments in managed funds to the value of £28,895 (2024: £27,790) at the end of the year are held on behalf of the Church by the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes who also hold the title to the Church’s property. At the end of the year this property was valued on an insured value basis, at £2,435,004 (2024: £2,373,290). ## **Trustees’ Responsibilities** The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the Accounts in line with Methodist custom and practice and the applicable law. The actual writing of this report was delegated to the Church Treasurer on their behalf. The law applicable to Charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare Accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of those resources for that period. In doing so, they are required to: - (a) Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - (b) Observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP; - (c) Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - (d) State whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures being both disclosed and explained; - (e) Prepare the Accounts on the going concern basis, unless it is inappropriate to assume that the Charity will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any given time, the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the Accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011 and with the Charity’s constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities. The Trustees have continued to conduct an ongoing risk assessment and management programme for activities held on Church premises as well as a financial risk assessment. No Trustee has received any remuneration, benefits or expenses in their capacity as a Trustee. Approved by the Trustees on the 20[th] November 2025 and signed on their behalf by:- 5 CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS ST ANDREWS BUSHEY HEATH. METHODIST Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025 WEST HERTFORDSHIRE AND BORDERS Circult Circuit no. 34114 Reglstered Charlty - Charlty Reglstratlon number 1163054 If not a registered charity HIS Majesty's Revenu• and Customs Gift Ald number IThe HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terns of evidence of Gharitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from regislration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) Minister. REV. DONNA FOWLER-MARCHANT Church Stewards.. MAThHEW TAThERSALL DAVID WHITEHEAD JOHN WOOD SUZANNE W(K)D ANN WRIGHT Treasurer. DAVID WHITF.HF.AD Standard form of accounts 2025 1of5 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 ST ANDREWS BUSHEY HEATH. METHODIST Church Unf•StrIc￿ R•strlcted Totsl$ this Funds Funds SECTION A Totsls last y•ar al RECEIPTS Offerings and Tax recovered Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 12,1 12,156 14.151 1.453 13.594 1,026 14,681 23,271 53,129 Lettings Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 13,594 14,269 41,472 a5 14.269 41,472 107) SECTION b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 20,436 20,436 1.175 20.425 b3 Donations 1.175 1.055 Repairs and Maintsnance Utilities Ilnsurances, water charges, heating & lighting) 4,733 4,733 11.100 b5 10.020 10,020 12,961 b6 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 2,947 39.311 2,947 39,311 2,100 47.641 b8 Ib91 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ¢1 2,161 2,161 5,488 Total funds brought foThvard from last year 25,CNJ9 50 25,059 {c61 19,571 c3 Sub total (c1+¢2) 27,170 50 27,220 25,059 Transfers and adiustsnents Ic71 c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR Ic>c4) 27,170 27,220 {c81 25.059 {c61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (these amounts are not lo be includad In total re¢elptslpa ments flgures above d1 Balance brought forward from last year 10 10 d2 Offering￿GIfts - receFved for extemal organisations 141 d3 OfferingslGffts - passed to extemal organisats.ons 141 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) 10 10 2of5 Sts1￿ forni 2025 ST ANDREWS BiISHEY HE4TH. METHODIST Church SECTION E èfoll Summ8ryolth&CWrch ￿￿nIS for y&irerf* 31 Ws12025 arwj c￿9•￿46a￿￿ rer(¥W Churth CouNiifChuth NotstrAI thefunds ol an htemal OrganIsab￿ w•)J￿ rtsTnalty be Re5trthd r*cw 51w th8tlJwc(AAd fforany puipxe ThLS must be ANO A DIFFERENT FORM must be 10 fwtheamrts{8* P*aye rel¥*J n(** tr￿1￿$ bthoen the Dlsb)G1 ORGANISATION8 b3larre8 ¢2 e3 e5 ¢8 fund• Church x¢owrt*itota brougtttfoNv*rd from ptyJ• 2-tot4kn t￿u￿nI 1*71 39Jl1 1161 26,059 27,220 1¢81 Y CHURCH 41h72 39.311 1161 26,059 27,220 ConllDue on a ••P8rat• •C0p¥ary and th• TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL PAYMEIITS SECTION F OPENINQ CHURCH. CASH FIM18 HEL04t 31 CLO$IPIG BALANces 20ZS Cun In 83 curnnlA￿￿I 11.874 7,03è f4 Fln•rK* Bc•td 13,101 20,118 TnJBMe8 Purkw Olhvfundl 8UB TOTAL- Chuv¢h •ccwTht• Totsi luThl¥ W by IniefnBI (tynks•knitr*¢k tr*L9rts Iotsi frorn 8bDvel1•121 25.069 iee} 27,220 roTAL CASH Ful￿ HELD BY CHURCH 25,069 27.220 8EcnoN G OTHERASSETS •fid LI1￿uTIEs 31 A￿￿11025 vejbmonij IIn¢lU￿ Ero?￿n&￿> 27.7 28.895 L8nd & BuiNying818ee ncdes rnlrournrK*tthfftl 2.373, 2,435,004 57.326 58,817 84 ￿ab￿rtIeS 14 Funds attr* Cer￿￿ Finance Bc*rd fs I￿kKI￿ onty Funds atTrns1*5 ftyAleirxh1iyl Cmwch Pw g1 Inc4ude 8nYoW*rin¥eyb￿ ￿n￿the&￿h ￿15 3ofS Andrthvs ljlethodlsichu ThÈ Financial Statements have been prepafed in a(c(*dan¢e ￿ the req￿re￿mS0f the MethodLst conne￿On ugng the receipts and payments ba￿s. Investments are ststed at their mttrketval￿ at 3tstAu8ust 20¥. Land and buildinB5 and othei assets. comprisin8(thurth fvmishing5 and eqUIpff￿nE are shown at their currentinsured vèluÈ. 202412025 202312024 Offefin8S Glftald tax recove￿￿ (offerings and Gfft tkyl 11,415 2.?36 14,151 12.156 Dancing Classes ZumbH Baby Sln8& Si8m Swan Bal￿1 Residents. Meetin8S French Ci￿le Elertlon Pollin85tsti0n Heath Hill Women's Club Bushey Ladies P•rfjes 812 IA28 1,155 320 434 450 1.211 2Y 420 1.246 504 1.241 7&) 1,082 Dacorum Councll Refu8ees ukele￿ grwp U3A Artists Mlscellaneovs 528 210 13.594 2[ 14.681 Glft Day Donètlons Coffee momln8s Passion Play tscket sales Ind Cw¢uil Grnnt Legacy Clrcult and ￿$trICt￿raI￿f0r ener8y Costs. LED118Mn8and p￿e rep•lrs Mlnlstsr5 pen￿￿ Fun(1 contrlbvJon reluTrJ Council yants for Warm Spaces and cOr￿all0￿ 3M45 450 1.370 810 1.275 4.339 10.492 14.269 23,412 World MIS￿on Fund Property Division Mlnlsters HoU￿n8 Fund ALtxiliary Fund Macmlllan Ca￿e Red Trust Peace H05plce Christian Ald All We Can 50 70 175 125 165 1,055 L175 rn1 Mai Repairs and renewèls aeanin8 3.578 4,731 3,5 11,1 7.928 2,475 225 2,333 12.961 ElertrSdty Water Insurance 1.921 10.020 The above notes form of the Financial Ststements fortheyeareryled 3151 AuBUtt2025. Name of Church . SL Andrew's Bushey Heath Methodist Church No 34114 Independent Examinerfs Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection wrth the examination (other than that disclosed below") which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordan￿ wrth section 130 of the Act: or the accounts do not accord y￿th the accounting records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wrth the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. l +thelhave not" obtained independent verification of all investments with the Twstees 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 . Marga￿t Anne Canavan Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner Name of firm (where appropriate) Address . 26 Ivinghoe Road, Bushey Heath . Herts WD23 4SW Date delete or circle as appropriate Standard fomi of accounts 2025 5of5