AGM- 2023 Report from Revd Richard Pope: our Ministcr There are so many things that infiuence our life together as followers of Jesus; some are positive and some are negative - some come from among us and some from outside. The negative impact of the street preachers in LeeL has, l think, affected attitudes toward the churches in Leek. Attitudes to pray¢r have also shown vast differences of opinion when there is no one 'right' answer or one 'right' way of prdying, and from conversations I have had. people among us are praying and thinking deeply about their faith. The issues generated by the 'God in Love Unites Us, report to th¢ Methodist Conference and the Human Sexuality reports to the General Assembly of the United Refornied Church mcan that the decision to register to offer same-sex marriages can also be diScusd by us - and we have the opportunity to show the open, affwming love of Jesus or to reject people. which is something I don't see in the Gospel accounts of Jesus apart from the stories of the religious hypocrites of the day. This particular issue has a potential to cause division as people's starting points are very different. But the older I geL the more I look at some of these issues, and the more of life I experience, the words of Jesus not only seem more pcrtinent but wise - 'let thc person who is without sin cast the first stone,. Our theology also believes that it is God who deals with sin, not us. But there are those who would prefer to sort it for God - and we are back to the street preachers! However, I still see amongst us at Trinity a people tying to live out their discipleship and being faithful to Jesus. Not agreeing does not make one less of a follower of Jesus than another. How we disagree may show how well we follow Jesus. The beginning of th¢ year made us realise how much we appreciated having heating in the church! The boiler Issue did affect how we marked Advent and Christmas last year and also led the Gathering to relocate to Cheddleton. Although there was some heat by ChriSas, the boilers were not fully functioning until January. We are very grateful to those who look after our building and its contents. Whil¢ the govornmcnt IJ comin8 undcr xnAtiny over thelr handllng of The pandemic, we have been made aware of the on-going infiuence of the pandemic, with some people returning to We(Inesday Coffee earlier in the year saying it was the fst time they had been out since 20201 Part of it has been Icarning to livc with anothw rcspirdtory virus which will be present with all the others. As we have been doing more and more in persoffj the on-line worship became irnpossible to continue as th¢ editing w&s so time consuming - the last on-line video w&g made in February.
Wednesday coffee continues to do well and is gUallY very busy, as is the Cinema Club. The work w¢ do with Abi such as the Craft and Fun mornings seem to have been well received but the summer holiday club was not. This seemed to be a sirnilar issue across the Circuit where the summer holiday clubs were run. A few of us attended the Circuit trip to Iona which saw a week of mix¢d weather! It W&8 intcrcsting to scc how, for some, it was like Putting on an old glove and those who hadn't been before adapted to island life very well. It was one of the newbies who w&s brdve enough to take a paddle in the seal It was another opportunity to discuss things of the Spirit and faith - and how we infonn our faith which can be expresscd through words and activity and art and silence. We continue to discuss faith in worship as well as house groups and Lent and Autumn Stsy courses. We have once again picked up the ideas of worshipping differently with Coffee, Cakes and Questions, Taize and Julicn services taking place recently. We recognise that habits have changed since the pandemic, but we seem to be picking ourselves up and dusting ourselves off quite well. Our worship has been enhanced by musicians and readers, actors and people willlng to share of themselves. Thank you. We have also been left bereft by the deaths of our friends - and this year we have lost a number. There are on-going issues and illnesses that come and go which can be challenging to u& but there is a lot of support offered amongst th¢ congregation. It was quite a shock when the URC Synod infornied us they were stopping the post I cUentlY fill. We are well aware of the decline within the churches across this island and genernlly within the West. When the fonner Leek Circuit joined with the forn]er Cheadle Circuit - it was a sign of the decline facing our denominations" there were 23 churches in the Circuit at that time, there gre now l O, we had 5 full time ministers of Word and Sacrdment plus one in secular ap)Intmen( whereas from Scptcmbcr 2024 there wlll be two full Ilmc mfintsters in this Circuit. I am reminded of a conversation I Iwl with a member in Devon who said to me more than twenty years ago, 'Will there be a church for you to retire from?" There may not bc - but that doesn't mean there won't be followers of Jesus. Things may change: how we do 'church' will change and it is highly likely that the church as an institution may also radically alter, but while the story of the life, dcath and resurrection of Jesus continues to be told, and inspires, challenges, heals and impacts people's actions thus helping to build the kingdom of God in word and deed. we need not fear change; taking our part in th¢ conversations is the only way to infiuence it.
This wilI also be the last AGM report I write for Trinity: thank you for journeying with me. putting up with new hymn& modern words to old tunes, having an occasional go at something different. Thank you also to those among you who have offered healing space and have listened during extremely difficult times for me, Daniel and Aeddan over the last ten years, and thank you for those of you who kept out of it. Next summer when there will b¢ different futures for u& I am confidcnt we will all go fon¥ard as God's people, trusting in the love of God and the hope of the Gospel and working for God's kingdom of justice and peace. Richard
A unlted con8re8ation Trinity Church, (Methodist United Reformed) Russell Street, Leek, Staffs., ST13 5JF The Methodlst Church and The Unlted Reformed Church Telephone: 01538 398483 Emall: ch rchl uwclub.net Registered Charity Number: 1171597 Trinity Church, Leek Accounts for the year September 1" 2022 to August 31st 2023 Pages 1-7
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TRINITY CHURCH, LEEK". YEAR ENDING 315fAUGUST 2023 Other Acc(wnts and Funds Account &. CONTINGENCY FUND ICentr41 Anance aoard, CF81 {'1 Balance brought forward Sept 1° 2022 £77,195.00 Interest CFB IA061 £2.673.83 Transfer from Nat West General 2911112022 £7,750.00 Transfer fiom Nat West General 1410212023 £21,000.00 Transfer from Nat West Gèneral 1010512023 £7,000.00 Transfer from Nat West General 3110512023 £7,OW.00 Transfer ffom Nat W@gt Goneral 3010912023 £7,7SO.00 Transfer from Nat West General 3ty0812023 £6,OLKI.00 INB: E55m assessments: £1,5 addltjonal Assessment > Circuit IDIDI Code IN021 £55,OCQ Balan¢e f3v08 202J £81.308.83 £136,368.83 £136.368.83 Account I: CAPITAL RESERVE FUND lieek Unlted Bulldl Sod Balante brou ht forward £28 94.70 Interest Added A7 £165.43 No TFRS to NATWEST 2022-2023 Balanc• 202Y £28.660.13 E28 660.13 Account m: CHURCHES MUTUAL CREDrr UNION Balance Brou ht Forward Dlvldend Credlteil CMCU £Sm9.2y £5.03 No wlthdrawals 2022-2023 £0.00 Balance elf at 3110812023 £5.03430 £5,034.30 £5.034.30 Funds wlthln Natwwt bank account z n (yneral), t (taxl. b {benevolent) y (youth). r (re¢ell Fund tTAXTO HMRC Desl nat•d Start balance 11912022 Tax on Funeral Fees It/A18 Tax + NEST enslon+NI Staff Wa £54.97 £21.20 £46.00 £30.17 Pa ments to HMRC TAX B•lance (If at 3V812023 + NEST from tITAX £90.40 £60.23 £30.17 es NB T•x Refvnds due io em es Fund b BENEVOLENT FUND IR•strl¢t•d) Start balance 11912022 Interest from TMCP bl804 £902.51 £85.78 £988.29 Wlthdrawal$ 2022-2023 blB05 8alanc• ¢lf at 3110812013 £653.46 £33483 £988.29 Fund YYOUTM EVE15 FUND (Des Start balan 11912022 £1,233.70 Sunda rou + Easter M05 lanG• Gll * 3110812023 É308.41 £925.29 £1133.70 233.70 Fund r Refu ees nlIent Fund (Restrlcted Start balance 11912022 2619122 Donations £467.60 £20.00 Wlthdrawals 2022-23 rlGIO Balon¢e ¢lf 013110812023 £487.60 £0.00 £487.60 £0.00 Page 2
I l Our assessment to the Methodist Clrcuit and URC Synod is transferred from our general account lalc n) to the Methodist Central Finan Board ICFBI la/cl during the course of the year, from where rt Is debited by the Staffordshire Moorlands Circuit1£55,CQO). Page 2
Trea$ureffs Report for Trinity Church. Leek (Methodlst and Unlted Reformed) to the Charfty Commlsslon. Sept 1st 2021-Au8 3tst 2023 (Charlty Nymber: 1171597) General: Th1$ year has wn a futher continuation of the return to some klnd of normality followln8 Covid. The Offertory has reduced from 2021-22 by £3,707 due to the sad deaths of several long standlng church members. The dedit*Son of Church Members, who stlll feel unable to attend worshipfft in ensurin8 their Offertory envelo reach Trinlty has also help$. Booklngs of our Lower Hall and Foyer space have reduced by £1,153 as we lost some regular hIr$ as a result of the few Mont we had without heatin8 whilst our boller was belng replaced. Our own re8ular c¢)ffee mornlnBS whlch provlde a soclal envlronment as well as income, have continued to improve wlth £4.897 ralsed and our regular fllrn clubs have provlded Income of £2.846 Our normal prnctlce of Mak1 appea15 at Festlval tlmes took place at Harvest. Chrlstmas and Easter and many people made donatlons dlrectly to our sUPPOrted Charltles as well as via Trlnlty. Isee Page 7 for detalls) Reeelpts: Our Offertory contlnued to be sufflclent forTrfnlty to pay Its pledged Assessment to the Methodlst Clrcult, whlch, as Trlnlty 1$ an LEP ILocal Ecumenlcal Partnershlp), transfers Mlnlsterlal costs to the Unlted Reformed Church for our Mlsslon and Mlnlstry. Glvlng for speclal appeals throughout the year was p•ld out dlrertly to the reclplent charftles. The Glft Ald reclalmed from HMRC was down by al)out £1.036 malnly due to th• ¥fornmentloned reductlon In Olfertorf85 An In$uran¢e b¥lanc• of £l.306.99 relatlng to los$ of Income durfng COVID was rrfelved. aloTr8 wfth a Grant of £15066.00 from th¢ Untted Refornied Church towards the new l)oller Payments.. The effert of COVID has reduc•d fvrth¢r slnce last year on our oirt8oln83 . Our Mlnlstry contlnues to b¢ enhanced by produclng materlals prfnt•d matèrlal$. whlch are made avallable. These are all r•ferenced under the tsb 'Mlnlstry under COVIV. the Increase of £203 from145t year reflects the Increased post88e tosts. We were able to malntsln our a55essm¢nt to the Methodlst Clrcuft of £55.000. 'MaJor Work, Includes £28,464 for th¢ r¢pla¢¢mont boller, £1.607.78 for temporary heaters and £1,999.62 lor èrnergenry cellln8 repalrs whlch w•r• carrl•d out 'Ropalrs & Renewals, Included ¥arlou$ malntonance wo, In addltlon to tho re8ul•r $ts, th• bl88•St of whlch were £1.065.60 Uft Remedlal work and £1,026.31 work on thg old l>o11or 'GaslElectrle costs have Increased by £2882.54 followlng a slgnlflcant Increase when our Gas contrnrt was renewed, we have not yet been Impacted by th• Elertrlclty Increase as we are stlll In ¢ontrart untll th? end of August 2023. Other Utility ¢osts and thè Insuraneè prémlurn $how onty mlnlmal Incr•asts thls year. We were able to transfer £1.5() to our reseThes durlng the year Donatlons: Planned Tlthed glvlng of £5,31XI 110% of dlrert 8lvlng) to pre-ayeed ¢harltles as well as our Festlval glvlng Is summarlsed on page 7. Conclusion: We have managed to maintaln our Assessment It had to redu¢e ourttth¢d £lvln8 as w• have lost a number of long 5tandlng church members Energy costs wlll contlnue to b• a thalleng• and w• wlll start to g•tth• Impart of th• El•ctrfclty Incr•aM followin8 the end of our old contract. It ts very dlfflcult to Pa55 on the full offert of the Increa5e5 to external hlrer5 wlthout losln8 them attogÈther. Re8ular malntenance of our bulldlng rontlnues to b? a cost wlth some mor• Potsntlal repalrs In 2023124 whlch may requlre some more transfers from our reserves. Robln McDuell {Church Treasur}. November 3rd 2023 Page 4b
Independent examlnerfs report to the trurtees of Trfnitychurch, Leek I report to the trustees on my examlnatlonbf the accounts of Trlnlty Church, LeeK on pages 1-4 for the year ended 31" August 2023 R•¥Jonsiblllt1 and l)asls of report. As the charltytTUStees of the Trust you are iespon51ble forthe preparatlon of the accounts In accordance wlth the requlrement5 of the Charitie5 Act 20111.the ACYI. I report In respect of rny exarnlnatlon of the Tru3t'5 accounts carrled out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrylng out my examlnat(on I have followed all the appllcable Dlrectlons glven by the Charity Commlsslon under sectlon 14515llbl of the Act. Indendent Exwmlnerfs Ststement I have completed my examlnatron. I confim that no rnaterlal rnatters have come to my attentlon In connection with the exarnination glvtng me cause to belleve that In any m3tsr(al respect: accounting records were not kept In respe¢t of the Trust 05 requSred by 5ertlon 130 of the Att,. or the accounts do not aerord wlth these records- or the accounts do not tomply wlth the appllcable requlremenls concernlne the form nd content of accounts set out In the Ch8rltle5 (Accounts and Reportsl ReBulatlons 2008 other than any requlrement that the accounts give a 'true and fair vlew whlch is not a mattèr consldered as part of an Independent examlnatlon,. I have no concern5 and have come across no other matters In connertlon wlth the examlnatlon to whlch attention should be drawn In thi5 report In order to enable a proper underst8ndln8 of thè accounts to be reached. Ollver Newey ACA Slgned: Date.. 231,:/.z3........-........... Pose S
A unrted congregation of The Mèthodlrt Church and Th¢ Unlted Reformed Church Trinity Church, (Methodlst United Reformed) Russell Street, Leek, Staffs., ST13 5JF Telephone: 01538 398483 Email: trlni ch Registered Charlty: 1171597 Trfnlty Church Accounts 2022-2023 The atcounts on Pages I to 4 were presented to. and approved by, the Church Mèetin8 held on 30th November 2023 Slgned on behaff of the trustees: Rev Rlchard Pope Ichalrpersonl Mrs Maureen Wi5kln Ichurch Seuetaryl Date., Pay6
Allocatlon of cents chjrth ts (harfd•$ 2012-2023 Doi Methodlst Mission in Britain Fund Methodist World Mission Fund Leaders of Worship and PreachersTntst MHA Action for Children URC Commitment for Ltfe Leek Town Centre Youth Pro'ectl 21) Leek Foodbank Asha A Rocha UK D02 D02 D02 D03 D04 D05 D05 D07 £i,o L700 £450 £500 £1s(x) £150 £iso £200 £550 TOTAL £5,300 Charltsble Monltt In Tr1 2022-2(Q3 Evffltlncome FOI Harvest Glft Ald 511 s sent to StIan Ald dl F02 Chr15tmas aL Credit PoldAwoy to•> Deblt £617.00 £134Q(X GOI Hanost Chrlstlan Atd) G02 Actlon Ald Uk lthrlstmasl. G02 Leek Foodbank Ichrlstmasl. G03 Prartical Actkln Easter G03 Wlndmllls IEasterl' £627.00 £620.00 £620.00 F03 Easter Ap al F05 Chrtstian Ald Indlvlduals also contrlbut•d onllne) F06 MHAA eal F07 Actlon for Chlldrefi IXmaslAforC f)5 Cthrfstlan Atd 1>)6 MHA• £867.33 £360.00 ènvs F08 Speclal Apal$ IPakistan Floods £202nurke Earthquake £868 FII ASHA F12 Falrtrade Coffee Mornin81£468 Coffee Mornin8 plus £50 D¢natlon kth)n forchlldren. G08 Speclal Appeab {Paktstan Floods £20 Earthquake £868 ' GII ASHA• £720.35 £1.070.Th) £1.070, £20. £5th £62X68 G12 Transfomi Ttsde TOTAL. tTh *Also donatlons equlvalent to Glft Ald pald to Redp5ents marked £51& £6,230.68 £915.98