Southwick Methodist Church Trustees Report for the year ending 31[st] August 2021
1. Objectives and activities
In setting our objectives and planning our activities the Church Council meets three times a year under the leadership of the presbyter in Pastoral Charge. The General Church Meeting takes place annually as a forum for all members and friends.
Our mission is to be a powerful spiritual influence in the community and a visible expression of God’s inclusive love. We aim to achieve this by developing the worship, learning, social and outreach activities that currently exist, and by seeking new ways to extend to others the fellowship of the Church family.
2. Achievements and performance
The Church funds and grants made to other bodies are all detailed in the Church accounts. The policy of the Managing Trustees on grant making is to ensure that all applicants can demonstrate public benefit and show imagination and creativity as well as a perceived need for that for which the grant is being applied.
In the course of the year, Southwick Methodist Church has provided regular acts of public worship on Sundays and other significant days of the Christian year. Southwick Methodist Church has joined with the members of other churches in Southwick to organise festive Messy Church in a bag, and weekly Prayer meetings on zoom. It has joined with other churches in the West Sussex (Coast and Downs) Circuit to celebrate other Christian festivals. In the course of the year the Church held a gift day fundraising event to which members of the wider Southwick community were invited. The Church provides opportunities for Christian education and companionship through its regular Bible Study Groups and Prayer meeting. The Church provides opportunities for children and young people to meet through its Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade Companies, Junior Church and Busy Bees Pre-School.
During the lockdown, the church conducted weekly Bible Study, Coffee and Chat sessions, and Prayer times on zoom. Opportunities for children and young people to meet through Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade Companies and Connexions Group has also been taking place on zoom. The Busy Bees Preschool has continued to meet on the premises. The leadership team of the church has been meeting weekly to consider how the church can be present in the community during and after the lockdowns. This has led to many programmes and activities that have helped to pastor and support members of the community.
During the summer, the church spearheaded a Churches’ Together mission programme, “Smile for Sunflower” project, that saw many people in the community growing and tendering sunflower plants.
During the year the church has engaged in regular maintenance of the premises.
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2.1 Plans for future years
Encourage initiatives for mission in the community.
Support Churches Together in Southwick.
Ensure that all those required to do so should attend appropriate safeguarding training.
3. Financial Review
Please see the accompanying accounts.
The Managing Trustees have every reason to believe that the Church is a going concern. Trustees do not foresee any factors that will significantly affect the financial performance or position in the next year or two.
The church holds no freehold property.
The church’s principal sources of funds are from the free-will gifts of the members of the congregation, from fund-raising events and the hire of the church halls.
3.1 Investment policy and performance
To comply with Methodist Standing Orders, monies for long-term investment are lodged with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP). These sums are invested in unitised investments or held on deposit. The investment returns are close to tracking the movements on the FTSE100 index. The deposit mirrors the deposit rates available elsewhere. The Managing Trustees’ investment policy is aligned with that of the CFB and TMCP because these organisations take into consideration the social, environmental and ethical considerations, both negatively and positively, that make investments suitable for the Methodist Church.
Short term deposits are lodged directly with the Central Finance Board (CFB) and attract good rates of interest.
3.2 Reserves Level and policy
Please see the accompanying Reserves level and policy agreed by the Church Council.
4. Trustees’ Responsibilities
For each financial year ending on 31st August the Managing Trustees are required to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the Church’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements the Managing
Trustees must:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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Follow applicable accounting standards
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Prepare accounts using The Methodist Church Standard Form of Accounts
The Managing Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the church and enable them to ensure that financial statements comply with the law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the church and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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4.1 Risk
The Church is largely risk averse.
5. Structure, governance and management
The Church is governed by the Methodist Church Act 1976, the Deed of Union and the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church.
5.1 Structure
Southwick Methodist Church is part of the West Sussex (Coast and Downs) Circuit. As such it is represented on the Circuit Meeting which meets four times a year. The Methodist Conference meets once each year as the supreme denominational body for all Methodist Churches.
1. Overall regulatory authority rests with the Methodist Conference.
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The Connexional Office implements decisions made by the Conference and is responsible for the stationing of presbyters and deacons (collectively known as ministers) in individual Circuits within the District.
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Connexional decisions are passed to the Chair of the District and the appropriate officers of the District for implementation.
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The District passes down to Circuit level for implementation by the Superintendent Minister, ministerial staff and Circuit Stewards, and authority is delegated to the Circuit Meeting for certain matters.
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The Circuit Meeting passes regulatory control down to Church Councils for local implementation by the presbyter, the Church Stewards, and other officers, and this regulatory control is then exercised by the Church Councils as Managing Trustees of their charity.
5.2 Purpose of the Church
The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the date of union the advancement of:
a) The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church, and
b) Any charitable purposes for the time being of any connexional, District, Circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church, and,
c) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society, or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church, and
d) Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a subsidiary or ancillary of the Methodist Church.
The primary purpose of Southwick Methodist Church is to advance the Christian faith by providing opportunities for worship, Christian nurture and fellowship within the wider Southwick Community.
5.3 Governance
The Church operates within a statutory framework of regulation and seeks to ensure that it follows Methodist Standing Orders. It relies on the Connexional Office at 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR to provide guidance on changes that could affect the Church.
The members of the Church Council are appointed under the terms of S.O. 610(1). The Superintendent Minister is ex officio chair of the Church Council but may delegate this task to other presbyters in the Circuit. The Church Council normally meets three times per year and deals with routine and exceptional matters. It oversees the work of other groups within the life of the Church.
5.4 Responsibilities of the Church Council
The responsibilities of the Church Council and other committees are set out in Standing Orders 603 – 604 of the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church.
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6. Reference and Administrative Details
6.1 Name of the Church
Southwick Methodist Church
6.2 Charity Registration number
1172433
6.3 Superintendent Minister
The Revd Ian Suttie MA
6.4 Presbyter in Pastoral Charge
The Revd Dr. Frank Okai-Sam
6.5 Names of Managing Trustees
The Rev. Dr. Frank Okai-Sam, Mrs Jill Aylward, Ms Emily Berry, Mrs Deirdre Blaker, Mrs. Pam Frost, Mr David Bruce, Mrs Wendy Bruce, Mr Robert Disney, Mrs Rosemary Dixon, Mr Robert Draper, Mrs Anne Harris, Miss Jenny Harris, Mrs Norah Ireland, Mrs Pamela Jackson, Mr Laurence Johnson, Mrs Heather McKay, Mr Gary Pickett, Mr Alan Pymer, Mrs Joyce Pymer, Miss Bridget Quint, Mrs June Rushton, Mrs Heather Rye, Mr Brian Smart, Mrs June Smith, Mrs Rosemary Thompson, Mrs Christine Tucknott, Mrs Kim Upton, Mr Philip Webb, and Mrs Yvonne Yates.
6.6 Independent Examiner
Mr John Young (7 The Crescent, Southwick, West Sussex, BN42 4LB)
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| AG | COUNTSFOR THEYEARENDED31AUG | UST2021 | M | ETHo | Drs | r church |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Totalsthis | |||||
| SECTIONA | Funds | Funds | |||||
| g | € | f | |||||
| a1 | RECEIPTS | Note | |||||
| a2 | Offerinos andTaxrecovered | 44,398 | 44,398 | ||||
| Bank andCFBinterest and | |||||||
| a3 | lnvestmentincome | 46 | 46 | ||||
| a4 | Lettinos | 14,713 | 10,7{3 | ||||
| a5 | Otherreceipts | 20,898 | 20,898 | ||||
| a6 | TOTALRECEIPTS | 76,054.32 | 76,054 | (a7) | |||
| SECTIONB | |||||||
| bl | PAYMENTS | ||||||
| b2 | CircuitAssessmentor Share | 56,040 | 56,040 | 58,086 | |||
| b3 | Donations | 652 | 652 | 1,089 | |||
| b4 | Repairs and Maintenance | 5,703 | 5,703 | 9,913 | |||
| Utilities(lnsurances,water | |||||||
| b5 | charges,heating & lighting) | 8,724 | 8,724 | 9,216 | |||
| b6 | |||||||
| b7 | Otherpayments | 7,504 | 7,504 | 10,610 | |||
| b8 | TOTALPAYMENTS | 78,622.86 | 78,623 | (be) | 88,9{4 | ||
| c2 c3 c4 |
Totalfundsbrought forward from last year NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FORTHE YEAR Subtotal Transfersand adiustments |
lc1+c2l | 51,942 49,373 (23) |
165 165 (165) |
52, | r";;l E; I*;'l ndt |
|
| c5 | TOTALFUNDSATEND OFYEAR | (c3+c4) | 49,350 | 49,3491 | (c8) | 52,{051(c6} |
| amountsarenottobeincludedintotalreceipts/paymentsfiguresabove) | € |
|---|---|
| - passed toexternalorganisations | |
| BALANCE STILL TO BEPAID (d1+d2-d3) |
| INTERNAL | |
|---|---|
| ORGANISATIONS | |
| I | ffednesday Fellowthlp |
| t2 | 3rd Southwtck GB |
| e3 | CAMEO |
| e4 | Connexions |
| :5 | Busv Bees |
| :6 | BoyeBrlgade |
| CoffeeShoo | |
| feddvBeaF | |
| t7 | LitleLlghts |
| e8 | Organisationsfunds |
| Churchaccounts (totah | |
| brought foruard frompage | |
| e9 | 2-total8column) |
| el( | BYCHURCH |
| Continue onasepaEte sheet | |
| ifnecessaryandbringthe | |
| toblsforward |
| STATEMENTOF ASSETSAND LI,ABIUTIES | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPENING | CLOSING | |||||
| GASHFUNDSHELDAt3t | zo21 | BALANCES | BALANCES | |||
| 11 | Cash in hand | |||||
| 2 | Bank CuffentAccount | 19.710 | 26,94t | |||
| : | 3ank DeoositAccount | |||||
| f4 | CentralFinanceBoad | 30.235 | 20.235 | |||
| 6 | Trustees for[iHhodi8tChurch Purposes | 2.165 | 2,16s | |||
| 6 | othertunds | |||||
| 1 | SUBTOTAL-Chunchaccounb | 52.r10 | (cG) | 49,350 | (cB) | |
| Total tunds held by lntemal Organisations (the | clGing | |||||
| I | balancetotdaomabove)(e12) | 66,584 | (efI | 76,743 | (e12) | |
| 9 | IOTALCASHFUNDSHELDBYCHURCH | il8.694 | (x) | {26,093 | (v) |
| u | |
|---|---|
| OTHER | |
| 1 | lnvestments(includeEndowments) |
| a | Land &Buildin$(seenotes re lnsurancevalue) |
| )therAssets | |
| 14 | Loan(s)-sholamount outstandinq at vearend |
| ri | OtherLiabilities |
| signatureofthechairofthemeeting@ Name ofthechairofthemeeting..@.r..ffi{fuh |
Date...Tfiry...4:}3 |
|---|---|
Southwick Methodist Church
- Income and Expenditure Year Ended 31st August 2021
| ~~Year Ended~~ 31st Aug 2020 |
Church Income | ~~Year Ended~~ 31st Aug 2021 |
| 13,952.00 £ 7,463.09 £ 11,305.95 £ 7,718.00 £ 40,439.04 £ 6,288.54 £ 17,475.00 £ 23,763.54 £ 21,250.00 £ 4,648.16 £ 673.90 £ 1,586.70 £ 297.04 £ 28,455.80 £ 313.60 £ 485.00 £ 1,933.29 £ 6,374.80 £ 153.07 £ 450.19 £ 9,709.95 £ 102,368.33 £ |
Income from Giving Giving - Direct Bank Giving - Cash & Cheques Giving - Envelopes Gift Aid Claim Income from Property Letting Donations from Internal Organistions Donations for Church Use In Memoriam General Gift Day Newsletter Catering Flowers Other Income Account Interest Fees - Wedding & Funerals Payments for Photocopying & Telephone Refunds from Circuit Assessments Utility Refunds Other Receipts Total Church Income |
|
| 102,368.33 £ |
Total Church Income | 76,054.32 £ |
| ~~Year Ended~~ 31st Aug 2020 |
Church Expenditure | ~~Year Ended~~ 31st Aug 2021 |
|
| 58,086.00 £ 58,086.00 £ 3,168.96 £ 6,840.14 £ 2,657.07 £ 2,972.33 £ 3,305.52 £ 281.11 £ 19,225.13 £ 947.06 £ 3,286.22 £ 713.77 £ 1,481.15 £ 6,428.20 £ 500.17 £ 583.57 £ 355.51 £ 450.00 £ 811.30 £ 2,700.55 £ 1,212.96 £ 25.00 £ 50.00 £ 815.46 £ 94.00 £ 2,197.42 £ 90,081.29 £ |
Direct Expenses Circuit Assessment Property Maintenance & Repairs Cleaning Insurance Gas Electricity Water Office and Administration Stationary & Office Consummables Printer Telephone & Broadband Service Copyright Licence Technology Licences & Software Technology Hardware Church Expenses Worship Books & Cards Flowers Other Supplies (Candles/Communion) Ministers Fund Other Payments Other Expenditure Professional Services Wedding Expenses Hall Deposit Refund Catering Magazine Other Payments Total Church Expenditure |
||
| 12,287.04 £ |
Overall Surplus/Loss | 2,568.54 -£ |
| ~~Year Ended~~ 31st Aug 2020 |
~~Year Ended~~ 31st Aug 2020 |
Mission | ~~Year Ended~~ 31st Aug 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ 383.00 3,597.22 £ - £ 3,597.22 £ 1,045.79 £ 398.20 £ 1,443.99 £ |
Balances brought forward from previous year Donations for Mission Organisations Church Mission (Uganda for 2020-21) Other Mission Collections Transfers to Mission Total Mission Income Donations to Mission Organisations National Charities Local Charities Total Mission Expenditure |
||
| 2,536.23 £ |
Balance Held for distribution | 4,473.14 £ |
| Notes: | Notes: |
|---|---|
| 1 | Our Giving income unexpectedly increased this year, even though overall we had a reduced income. Some of this is because as can be seen a high number of people have moved onto Direct Payment and clearly a number of people reviewed and increased their regular giving, plus a number of additional donations where given. |
| 2 | Letting looks to have increased but this is because I moved the Busy Bees payments from being recorded as 'Donations' to 'Letting' as they are a regular income. Therefore, 'Lettings' now cover income which either regular and expected, or 'hired' as opposed to 'Donations' which mainly church organisations who gift as opposed to have a regular agreed charge. As expect overall there was a substancial deficit this year as most organisations didn't meet. |
| 3 | 3a & 3b reflect a change in the way we pay water - due to a change in supplier we used to pay in advance whereas now we pay as we use - therefore we received a refund (major element of 3a) against a previously high bill (3b). We also changed energy suppliers which resulted in a refund and a £100 cashback. |
| 4 | The difference in inocme from last year was not only due to the loss of earning on the halls but also that last year we received a large legacy. |
| 5 | Last year all licences where accounted for under one heading - this year I have split these into two - one to cover technology licences and one to cover copyright licences to make the differential clear. There is little change from last year, mainly covered by an additional licence to cover zoom services. |
| 6 | At the beginning of the year Mission donations were only tracked as one fund. In order to differentiate the Churches Annual Project as opposed to other periodic mission events (MHA, Leprosy etc) a new fund for the Church Mission (6a) which was Uganda in 2020-21 and is now clearly differeniated from other mission activities (6b). |
| 7 | During 2020-21 year a number of organisations made donations which show in the accounts as transfers as they are not paid in from an external source - I have shown these separately for clarity. This also includes a claim for Gift Aid in relation to the Leprosy Mission which was paid early from general funds. |
| 8 | The total held over for the Uganda Project is £4460.14. |
| 9 | |
| 10 |
Summary:
Following on from 2019-20, this year was always going to be a challenge and whilst at the end of the finanical year we are (excluding Mission Funds) only £2,591 less than the end of the previous year much of this has been because we stopped several projects that where planned. Two of these projects are currently underway and by the end of October 21 we will have paid a further £15,000 which will much reduce our balances at the start of the 2021-22 finanical year.