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CANTLEY METHODIST CHURCH
ANNUAL REPORT to the CHARITY COMMISSION
for the year ended 31 August 2022
Charity Name
The name of the charity is Cantley Methodist Church.
Legal status
Cantley Methodist Church is registered with the Charity Commission of England & Wales – Registered Charity Number 1163447.
Principal address and correspondence address:
Cantley Methodist Church, Highbury Avenue, Cantley, Doncaster DN4 6BT.
Trustees
The following were members of the Church Council as the Trustee body, and thus trustees of the charity at the date of this Report
Presbyter and Chair of Trustees: Revd. Dr. Jonathan Gichaara (to May 2022)
Pastor and Chair of Trustees: Mrs. Susanna Brookes (from June 2022)
David Beardsall, David Clarke, Henry Curtis, Gwenyth Derry, Janet Foster, Mary Gibson, Alison Hudson, Alan Mendum, Brenda Mendum, Jean Reynolds, Linda Ross, Mary Scott, Cathryn Street, Stuart Willerton
Hazel Hepworth (Doncaster Methodist Circuit appointee)
Some Trustees are appointed because of their role in the Church: Church Stewards, Team Leaders, Church Treasurer.
Some are elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting of the Church which is open to all members of the Church.
Structure, Governance and Management
Cantley Methodist Church forms part of Doncaster Methodist Circuit which in turn forms part of the Sheffield Methodist District of the Methodist Church.
The legal framework within which the Methodist Church is governed is given by the Methodist Church Act 1976 and provides for the Methodist Conference as the governing body of the Methodist Church.
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The Church Council of Cantley Methodist Church serves as the Trustees Meeting and is the local managing body. Quarterly meetings are held to make decisions relating to the life of the Church. Appointments to the Church Council are governed by the Standing Orders of the Methodist Church.
Aims of the Organisation:
Mission Statement:
To gather to worship Christ
Together to grow in Christ.
To go and show Christ’s love and make him known
Summary of Activities 2021-22
Structure and Management
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Church Council met four times during the year. Church Council continued to provide a robust decision making and monitoring body. It received written reports from the Teams and considered proposals from the Teams.
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Teams of 4/5 members performed the operational activity within the Church. The Teams are: Communications, Finance & Property, Outreach & Mission, and Worship; Pastoral and Safeguarding Teams are mandatory. Each team had a representative from the Stewards who both raised matters from the Stewards and reported back to the Stewards.
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Ad hoc teams can be established for specific purposes.
The importance and value of Communications within the Church
The Connexional Year 2021-22 witnessed the Church still feeling the effects of the pandemic with a slow return to something approaching normality. When the Church did reopen for services, one service, rather than the previous two each Sunday, was felt to be more appropriate to our members’ needs. Inevitably, the numbers attending worship declined to an approximate average of 55-60 from a previous average of approximately 75-80.
To serve our wider congregation and to ensure that communication was effective, morning worship was broadcast online and CDs were also made available. A monthly Newsletter was distributed to all members and adherents by email or by post/hand delivery. A prayer chain allowed requests for prayers to flow across the membership. In addition, Shepherds kept in regular contact with their flocks, particularly to those living alone, and a Shepherds’ What’s App group enabled prayer requests to be shared by all Shepherds. The Circuit provided support with
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short daily acts of worship on the You Tube channel. Further methods of communication are given below.
Finance & Property
The Standard Form of Accounts for the year ended 31[st] August 2022 is attached.
Income
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Personal giving: the budget prediction of £55,500 was exceeded by 10% to £60,750. The generosity of our members is noted and appreciated as is the fact that many turned to contribution by Standing Order, thus allowing a regular monthly income.
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Income received from the Gift Aid tax refund scheme was £11,220.
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Income derived from lettings at £19,833 was marginally over the budget prediction.
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Taking all income sources, the final total of £87,480 exceeded the budget prediction of £74,970 by 16.7%.
Expenditure
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The Church maintained its full contribution to the Circuit.
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Overall expenditure was less than the budget prediction by 8% - largely explained by the relatively few demands on property maintenance.
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No new property projects began during the year.
Summary
Church finances realized an excess of income over expenditure of £2,931.
Reserves Policy. The policy agreed by the Trustees is to maintain unrestricted funds at a level that equates to three months’ budgeted annual expenditure - £23,000 for the year under review. Reserves have been held at this level or more throughout the financial year ended 31[st] August 2022.
The building and contents are fully insured, and the Church carries public liability at an appropriate level.
How the church’s work has developed towards fulfilling its aims during the past year.
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The following are provided as examples:
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Three house groups
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Cantley Community Coffee Shop
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Network meeting
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Living At Home under the auspices of Methodist Homes for the Aged
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Annual Memorial Service for families of the bereaved
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Visits to Care Homes at Harvest, Christmas and Easter
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Prayer and Praise session bi-monthly
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‘Churches Together in Cantley’ organised carol singing at the local shops; and a joint service in the Week for Christian Unity
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A Christingle service was held and was well supported by local children and parents
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A visit by a local school brought 60 pupils aged 9/10 into the church
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The church continued to be available for baptisms, weddings and funerals
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Safeguarding – all DBS checks were up to date as was all safeguarding training.
Progress of any special projects
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Foodbank – items continued to be donated weekly to the local Food Bank by church members. Generous donations of money have also been made, especially when the Church was closed.
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Doncaster Homeless – items were donated for use by this charity
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Traidcraft goods continued to be available.
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The ‘Shoebox’ Operation Christmas Child appeal continued and enabled us to send 70+ boxes of presents to children in central Africa.
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The Outreach and Mission Team continued to support a number of charities including the Doncaster Children’s Air Ambulance and All We Can. Funds raised for these and other charities totaled £3,800 over the year.
Signed: …………………………………………………. Date …………..
Pastor and Chair of Trustees