Southwick Methodist Church Trustees Report for the year ending 31[st] August 2024
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 the Remembrance Day service and weekly Prayer meetings. 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 fund-raising event to which members of the wider Southwick community were invited. It also held outdoor events to for celebrations including the coronation of King Charles III.
The Church provides opportunities for Christian education and companionship through its regular Bible Study Groups and Prayer meetings. The Church provides opportunities for children and young people to meet through its Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade Companies and Junior Church. Young families also meet for monthly Messy Church and twice a week for a parents’ and children’s group.
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During the year, the church conducted some Prayer times on zoom.
The Busy Bees Preschool has continued to meet on the premises, but it is now a charity of its own. The leadership team of the church met once a month to consider how the church can be present in the community. This has led to many programmes and activities that have helped to pastor and support members of the community. In summer 2023, the church spearheaded a Churches’ Together mission programme, “Smile for Sunflower” project, that saw many people in the community growing and tendering sunflower plants. Though the bad weather did not bring much rain, some of the sunflowers blossomed and brought hope and smiles onto people’s faces.
During the year the church has engaged in regular maintenance of the premises.
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
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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.
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.
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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.
2) 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.
3) Connexional decisions are passed to the Chair of the District and the appropriate officers of the District for implementation.
4) 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.
5) 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:
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a) The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church, and
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b) Any charitable purposes for the time being of any connexional, District, Circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church, and,
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c) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society, or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church, and
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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.
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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 Tavistock Place, London. WC1H 9SF 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.
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 Rosemarie Clarke
6.4 Presbyter in Pastoral Charge The Revd Dr. Frank Okai-Sam
6.5 Names of Managing Trustees
The Rev. Dr. Frank Okai-Sam, Rev. Rosemarie Clarke, Rev. Dawn Carn, Ms. Emily Berry, Mrs Rosemary Dixon, Mrs. Pam Couchman, Mrs Anne Harris, Mrs Heather McKay, Miss Bridget Quint, Mrs Kim Upton, Mr Philip Webb, Mrs Yvonne Yates, Mrs. Julie Scarratt, Mrs. Phyllis Nicholls, Mrs. Janet Collett, Mrs. Elayne Peacock, Mrs. Wendy Cooke, Ms. Jenny Harris, Mr. Robert Disney.
6.6 Independent Examiner
Mr John Young (7 The Crescent, Southwick, West Sussex, BN42 4LB)
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Year Ended 31st Au 2023 Church Expenditure Year Ended 31st Au 2024 Direct Expenses Circuit Assessment 51,015.00 51.015.00 46,447.00 46,447.IM) Propertv Maintenance & Repairs Improvements Cleaning {Cleaner, Supplles & Window Cleaning) Insurance Gas Electrlcity Water 12,893.03 4,338.00 9.819.17 3,174.39 5.824.34 5,078.71 818.47 41,946.11 10,513.60 VI 9,990.00 A, 6,576.82 V 3.502.20 A: 7,254.15 A, 6,754.94 A, 1,094.81 A,, 45,686.52 Offlce and Admlnlstratlon Stationory & Office Consumable5 Printer Telephone & Broadband Service Copyrlght Llcence Technology Llcence5 & Software Technolo8y Hardware 398.72 1,613.18 504.84 351.89 864.75 2,546.98 6,280.36 502.58 1,677.22 698.59 377.30 848.80 r 4.710.63 Church Expenses Worship Books & Cards Flowers Other Supplles ICandles/Communlon) Mlnlsters Fund Layworker Other Payments 259.84 804.99 27.98 loo. 857.50 57.45 V 332.62 V, 30.(KJ 320.00 1,845.00 731.69 3,316.76 2.050.31 Other Expendlture Professlonal Service5 weddIg Expenses Hall Deposlt Refund Catering Magazine Other Payments Internal Organisations 281.70 1,629.60 A 65.00 663.49 V 1.611.49 V 89.00 V 311.69 4.370.27 823.78 1,679.99 671.90 278.94 3.736.31 105.028.09 Total Church Expenditure 104,531.18 43,630.35 Overall Surplus/LosS 8,513.31
Mission Year Ended 31st Aug 2024 Balances brought forward from prevlous year 498.52 Donatlons for Mlsslon Or8anlsatlons Church Mlsslon Iwilderness Trust) Other Mlsslon Collectlons {In¢l Pantry) 2,453.95 1,694.46 Totsl Mlsslon Income 4,148.41 Donatlon5 to M15s1on OrgaD15atlons Last year totals Church Mi5si0n (Wilderness Trust) Church Mission IGhana Schoolll Other Mission Ilncl Pantry C05t51 600.00 469.98 1,343.95 Totsl Mission Expendlture 2,413.93 Balance Held for distrlbutlon 2,233.00
CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Southwick Methodist Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 West Sussex (Coast and Downs Clrcuit Circuit no. 3609 Reglstered Charlty - Charity Registratlon number If not a registered charity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift 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. Methodlst charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) 1172433 Minister.. Rev lan Couchman Church Stewards: Bridget Quint Philip Webb Julie Scarratt Pamela Couchman Treasurer: Philip Webb ChurGh R and P 2015.xls 1ofS
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Southwick Methodist Church Unrestrlcted Restrlcted Funds Funds Tota16 th18 year Totals last year SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note Offerings and Tax recovered Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 39.529 39,529 43,689 a3 3,322 3,322 25.138 27,903 95,892 1,812 21,698 81,344 148,543 Lettings Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 25,138 27,680 95,669 a5 224 a6 224 la7) SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 46,447 46,447 51,015 b3 Donations 640 640 274 Repairs and Maintenanc8 Utilities (Insurances, w8ter charges, heating & lightin 28,119 28,119 25,259 b5 18,695 18,695 14,973 b6 b7 Other payment8 TOTAL PAYMENTS 10,944 104,846 157 11,101 105,003 8,890 100,411 b8 157 (b9) SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 {a6-b8> (9,177) 67 (9,110) 48,132 Total funds brought foward from last year c2 99,330 99,330 (c6) 51,198 c3 Sub totsl (c1+c2) 90,153 67 90,220 99,330 c4 Transfers and ad. ustments (34) 34 Ic7) TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR {c3+c4) 90,120 100 90,220 (c8) 99,330 {c61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (these amounts are not to be Included In totsl receiptslpaymènts fi ures abovè) d1 Balance brou ht forward from last year 499 1,607 d2 OfferingslGifts- received for external organisations 4,148 7.703 d3 OfferingslGifts - passed to extern81 organisations 2,414 8,812 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) 2,233 499 Chur¢h R P 2015.xls 2of5
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Name of Church . Southwlck Illethodlst Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2024 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 . Date.. 221.12124 Name and address of treasurer ..... Philip Webb. 422 Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham By Sea, W Sussex, BN43 SNE Presentatlon to the Church trustees I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 werelwill be. presented to the meeting of the Church trustees don... Signature of the Chalr of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting Date . Independent Examlner's Report to the Trustees of the Southwickmethodist Church Charity Number 1172433 Responsibllities and basls of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Southwick Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages 1 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 2015 L*urch R and P.xls 4of5
Name of Church- SOUTHWICK METHODIST CHURCH ..... NI 360812 Independent Examiner's Statement 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 give 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 havelhawt. 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 So.H.w..Yo.u.M.q Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner Name of firm (where appropriate) Address Post Code Date .. J.6/I/S5 delete or circle as appropriate Sep-24 2015 church R and P.xls 5of5