## **Bedale & District Methodist Church** ## **Trustees Annual Report for year ending 31[st] August 2025** ## **Introduction** Bedale & District Methodist Church serves the communities of Bedale and neighbouring villages and farms by offering God’s love and pastoral care through a variety of services and outreach to bring the love of Christ to all who seek his presence. The Charity’s Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice 2014. ## **Structure, governance and management** Bedale & District Methodist Church is a registered Charity – Number 1168843. It is governed by 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). Day to day management of the church is undertaken by the Church Council who are the Trustees of the charity. They are elected annually at the General Church Meeting, usually held in July, with pastoral oversight from the Minister, and representatives appointed by the Circuit. A range of guidance is produced by the Methodist Church to support effective running of the church, e.g. the leaflet “The role of a trustee in the Methodist Church”. The church is part of the Ripon and Lower Dales Methodist Circuit, who are part of the Yorkshire North and East District of the Methodist Church in England and N Ireland. As from 1[st] September 2025 there will be a change in governance as we become part of The Bridge Methodist Circuit, and the church will belong to Ripon and Lower Dales Mission Area. This is an exciting change as it frees up Ministers and Church Officials from the burdens of Property, Finance, Safeguarding, etc, allowing for a more missional approach to future planning, whilst the business side will be dealt with by experts in those fields within the Bridge Circuit. The Treasurer is Mrs Kathleen Lowrie Independent Examiner Mr Alan Shinkfield Bank Accounts Barclays Bank and Skipton Building Society ## **Aims and organisation** Bedale & District Methodist Church aims to become a source of hope and encouragement to all those living in Bedale and surrounding villages by offering opportunities to know the love of God through varied worship, relevant teaching and learning and to committed service in the community and in the world. The Church Council act as the Managing Trustees and meet at least 3 times a year to oversee the work and mission of the church. There are sub-groups that concentrate on particular areas: these are Stewards, Finance, Property, Worship & Prayer, Pastoral and Display. We have representatives for Safe-guarding and General Data Protection, supported by the Circuit. ## **Review of the Year** The church continues to meet its aims of providing a space for worship, quiet times of prayer and reflection, Bible Study and written services for those unable to attend in person. On Mondays an Art & Crafts group meet to provide opportunities for socialising. Tuesday Open Doors is a popular weekly warm space for meeting up for friendship and care in a less busy environment. On Wednesday’s there is another chance to meet up and “Talk Life” in the nearby Courtyard Café, Bedale and on the evening there is individual Prayer Time with short act of Worship in the church. On Thursdays the new venture of Bible Journaling has proved popular for an opportunity to study scripture in a creative way. There are also regular activities of Coffee Mornings, Lunches, and Men’s Breakfast to allow people to meet up over a meal for friendship and care, all proving popular with the local community. Messy Vintage sessions are held in two local Care Homes, where our volunteers have been welcomed and activities of craft, prayers and hymn singing have proved popular with the residents and the Minister, Rev Gareth Baron visits the local primary schools to lead Collective Worship with the children, which is also well received by the youngsters and their teachers. On occasions the children visit the church for worship and learning. The building is also used by the wider community. This year has seen sessions of Yoga, Pilates, Keep Fit, Ukulele, Friendship Choir, Craft group and Alcoholics Anonymous all taking part. The church members continue to be generous in their support of charities. St George’s Crypt, Leeds was the chosen Charity of the Year and received £1,198, RABI Harvest Appeal raised £183, Myanmar Earthquake Appeal £140, Age UK £200, Christian Aid £272 and Action for Children £211. The church continued to support the Methodist Connexional charities with financial gifts of £450 too. ## **Financial Review** Financially, the church has been able to meet its commitments, mainly the Assessment and Utility costs, although extra donations were asked for to help with the cash flow, which meant the Reserve Fund was met by the end of the year. ## **Moving Forward** Although there will be a 5% rise in Assessment (our contribution to the Circuit expenditure) extra funds from monthly Lunches and other events are expected to cover this, but the Church Council will monitor and If necessary, seek other fund-raising ideas. ## **Sight and Sound Project** This project was begun last year to install AV equipment in the hall and to seek funding for the restoration of the church organ. The church was awarded Grants during the year, as follows: Gibbs Trust £1,000 Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust £2,000 The Kirkby Foundation also promised a grant for Autumn 2025 of £5000. With the church’s own fund-raising the AV installation part of the project is expected to be completed early in the new financial year. The Church Council will continue to consider restoration of the organ in their future plans. CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS BEDALE & DISTRICT METHODIST Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025 on & Lower Dales Circuit Circuit no. 24129 Registered Charity - Charity Registration number If not a registered charity His Majesty's Revenue and Customs Glft Ald number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable 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 registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) 1168843 Minister.. Rev Gareth Baron Church Stewards.. Clare Dalton Lister Baynes Alyson Whttehouse Jean Coates Kathleen Edmondson Treasurer". Kathleen Lowrie Church-receipts-and-payments-2025 Bedale 1of5 BEDALE & DISTRICT METHODIST ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 Church Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds Totals this ear Totals last SECTION A year a1 RECEIPTS Note a2 Offerin s and Tax recovered Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 31.531 31,531 30,695 a3 145 145 146 a4 Lettin 3,849 15,551 51,076 3.849 18.551 54,076 3,309 12.969 47,119 a5 Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 3,000 3,000 (a7) SECTION b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 32,344 650 32.344 650 30,812 b3 Donations b4 airs and Maintenance utilities (Insurances, water char es heatin htin 3,337 3,337 10,773 b5 7,059 7,059 602 7,545 b6 CFB Error re aid from 202312024 602 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 3,868 47,258 18 3,886 47,878 4,953 54,083 b8 620 (b9) SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS a6-b8 3,818 2,380 6,198 6,964 Total funds brought fornvard from last year 11,536 712 12.248 G6 19,212 c3 Sub total c1+c2 15,354 3,092 18,446 12,248 Transfers and ad'ustments c7 c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) 16,354 3.092 18,446 (c8) 12,248 (c61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS {th•so amounts are not to be included in total r•c•iptsl ments fi ures above) d1 Balance brou ht fop4vard from last ear 106) d2 Offerin sIGifts - received for extemal or anisations 4,636 3,840 d3 OfferIng￿GiftS - passed to external organisations 4,636 3,734 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) 2of5 Church.reCeiptS-and-rAYll￿￿2o2S Bedale BEDALE & DISTRICT METHODIST¢hurch SUMMARYOF CHURCH ACCOUPtrs AP4D SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to com lete thi5 Summary ofthe Church accounts foT yeaT ended 31 August 2025 and Internal Organisations rEFNxts"nglo lthe Chwch C(wuWChurth Mee1ing. Ntrte that the funds of an IntEmal Organisation would nomially t* Restricted funds unle55 it ctyJkJ L* cleady Shr￿￿ that Ihey Ixyjkl LE used forany IAethodist purpose This section must be completed to aniye atthe gr05s income aThY eXpendrtU￿ lotsls ofthg Churth. Lf gri)55 income exceets the AirnJal8 fhreshjhl, Ihen the Accruals meth¢)# ofacujunting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be u8ed Io fèwt thè ￿YJnts (see mettu1￿￿t*I. P￿tr guttJan￿ notes regarding transfets betsveen the District and DistrLt Oroanisaknns. INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS OFening Pay￿RnIS ClosSn balan arArt• & Crafts 518 120 246 366 e4 ¢5 Intsm8 anisatlons furKIs 518 120 246 366 •12 ch￿￿h J¢¢ounts Votsl$ brought forwarfj Irom pag• 2 - totsl• eolumnl 54076 la71 47m Ib9} 6.198 Ic71 12,248 Ic81 18.446 Ic81 elo BY CHURCH 64.592 48.274 6.318 12,494 lyl 18.812 Continue on a separate sheet necessary and bring lh$ tota18 fon*ard TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL PAYAIENTS SECTION F TA ET LIABILITIE OPENING BALANCES CLOSING BALANCES CHURCH- CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 Au ust 2026 Cash in hand 614 Bank Curr•nt Aewunt Bank Oè sil Account 793 770 t4 C8ntral Flnance Board Trusteots for MothLyJ18t Church Pu Other funds 2.456 8,887 SUB TOTAL- Church accounts Totsl funds hekl by Intemal Organisats)ns (the doslng balan￿ totsl frorn above) le121 18,446 le111 366 1*121 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 12,494 18,812 SE¢710N G At 31 AuguBt 2025 OTHER ASSETS and UABILMES Invaslments Indude Endtyvments Land & Buildin see rntss r• Insuranc• value 3 561098 herA$8et8 LoaTr . SIM¥ amounioutstandi Other Liabilit￿$ f4 Indude only Funds held atlhe Cthl BoArd f5 Indude only Fund¥ he%1 al Trustees for MethodBt Churth PurFOSèS 3of5 Name of Church BEDALE & DISTRICT METHODIST Charrty No 1168843 Declarations and Scrutiny confinn that these Re￿Ipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees. Signature of treasurer ... Name and address of treasurer Mrs Kathleen Lowrie Ashlea, Londonderry, Northallerton, North Yorkshire Post Code DL7 9ND Presentstion to the Church trustees I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 werelwill be. presented to the meetina of the Church trustees held on 8th October 2025 Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting . Date.08,/Q...ZS.., Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Bedale & District Methodist Church Charity Number 1168843 Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examinatlon of the accounts of the Bedale & District Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages 2 to 3. As the Church's trustees, 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 Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. delete or circle as appropriate Chu￿re￿pts-an1￿paYm￿￿202S Bedale 4ofS Name of Church BEDALE & DISTRICT METHODIST Charity No 1168843 Independent Examiner's Ststement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (othEr than that disclosed below") which g(ve 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 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. I havelhave not" 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 Mr Alan Shinkfield Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ACIB Name of firm (where appropriate) ' Address 8 Oak Tree Drive, Bedale, North Yorkshire Post Code DL8 1 UL Date delete or Circle as appropriate Church-receipts-and-payments-2025 Bedaie 5of5