Southwick Methodist Church Registered Charity 1129035 in the West Sussex Coast and Downs Circuit 36/01
Annual Report and Financial Statement for the year ending 31[st] August 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements of Southwick Methodist Church (SMC) for the year 01 September 2024 to 31 August 2025
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.
Our mission statement is Worship God, Love People, Grow Disciples.
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 and an open air service on Good Friday. It has joined with other churches in the West Sussex (Coast and Downs) Circuit to celebrate other events. In the course of the year, the Church held a gift day fund-raising event and coffee morning 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, Coffee Shop and Wednesday Fellowship. 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 carers and toddlers group.
During the year, we held specific appeals where funds were collected for: Action for Children, Leprosy Mission, Link to Hope, MHA, Leap into Hope, Christian Aid.
During the year the church has engaged in regular maintenance and improvements of the premises.
The church has now developed a focused musical outreach to encourage the local community to join activities in the church, these range from social musical events to Christian worship.
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2.1 Plans for future years
Encourage and organise initiatives for mission in the community.
Develop café style worship.
Support Churches Together in Southwick.
Organise a series of events to celebrate 60 years of worship in our current church.
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. At the end of the year the church was blessed to receive a large bequest which has allowed us to progress some much needed improvements to the premises which will be ongoing over the next couple of years.
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
It is SMC’s policy to aim to hold at least six months general expenditure plus a buffer amount to cover unexpected fluctuations in income. On this basis funds reserved for the financial year 2025-26 will be £35,000.
Please see the accompanying Reserves level and policy agreed by the Church Council.
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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.
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.
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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 the pastor and support members of the community. For example, running a course to help people explore the Christian faith and organising social events such as music concerts.
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.
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 Mrthodist Church House, 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.
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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 Rosemarie Clarke
6.4 Presbyter in Pastoral Charge
- The Rev. Ian Couchman
6.5 Names of Managing Trustees
Revd. Ian Couchman, Rev. Rosemarie Clarke. Ms Hilary Colbourn, Mrs Dawn Carn, Mrs. Janet Collett, Mrs. Wendy Cooke, Mrs Pam Couchman, Mr Robert Disney, Mrs Mandy Ford, Mrs Anne Harris, Mr James Lelean, Mrs Joanna Markvoot-Weijters, Mrs Heather McKay, Mrs. Phyllis Nicholls, Miss Bridget Quint, Mrs. Julie Scarratt, Mrs Kim Upton, Mr Philip Webb, Mrs Yvonne Yates.
6.6 Independent Examiner
Mr John Young (7 The Crescent, Southwick, West Sussex, BN42 4LB)
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Southwick Methodist Church Registered Charity 1129035 in the
West Sussex Coast and Downs Circuit 22/04
ACCOUNTS (ACCRUALS BASIS) For the year ended 31[st] August 2025
Minister
Rev’d Ian Couchman
Church Leadership Team
Miss Bridget Quint Mrs Julie Scarrett Mrs Pam Couchman Mr Philip Webb
Church Treasurer
Mr Philip Webb
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Church No 360812
Name of Church
Southwick Methodist Church
| Statement of Financial Activities | Statement of Financial Activities | (SOFA) for the year | (SOFA) for the year | ended 31 | August | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes to | Designated | ||||||
| the | General Fund | Funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total |
Total | |
| accounts | (Unrestricted) |
(unrestricted) | Funds | Funds | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Income | |||||||
| 1 Offerings | 1 | 29,924 | 29,924 | 32,131 | |||
| 2 Donations | 4 | 8,389 | 3,543 | 11,931 | 17,379 | ||
| 3 Gift aid | 7,600 | 7,600 | 7,398 | ||||
| 4 Interest and investment income | 2 | 3,144 | 3,144 | 3,322 | |||
| 5 Income from investment properties | 3 | 25,065 | 25,065 | 25,138 | |||
| 6 Internal organisations | 5 | 43,743 | 43,743 | 354 | |||
| 7 Other charitable income | 4 | 11,764 | 205,902 | 217,666 | 14,319 | ||
| 8Total income | 85,885 | 249,645 | 3,543 | - | 339,072 | 100,041 | |
| Expenditure | |||||||
| 9 Circuit assessment or share | 6 | 30,764 | 30,764 | 46,447 | |||
| 10 Grants and donations | 13 | 438 | 3,116 | 2,406 | 5,960 |
3,054 | |
| 11 Property maintenance | 8 | 10,804 | 50,240 | 61,044 | 28,119 | ||
| 12 Insurance,utilities etc | 9 | 16,160 | 16,160 |
18,695 | |||
| 13 Depreciation | - |
0 | |||||
| 14 Office expenses | 10 | 2,311 | 2,311 | 2,878 | |||
| 15 Other expenditure | 10 | 8,168 | 593 | 8,760 |
7,911 | ||
| 16 Internal organisations | 11 | 23,720 | 23,720 | 312 | |||
| 17Total charitable expenditure | 68,644 | 77,669 | 2,406 | - | 148,719 | 107,416 | |
| 18 Gains/(losses) on monetary investments | 0 | ||||||
| 19 Gains/(losses) on investment properties | 0 | ||||||
| 20Net income/(expenditure) | 17,241 | 171,976 | 1,137 | - | 190,353 | -7,375 | |
| 21 Transfers between funds | 100 | 100 - |
0 | 0 | |||
| 22 Other gains/(losses) | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 23Net movement in funds | 12 | 17,341 | 171,976 | 1,037 | - | 190,353 | 7,375 - |
| 24 Total funds brought forward | 39,004 | 51,116 | 2,333 | 92,453 | 99,829 | ||
| 25 Total funds carried forward | 56,345 | 223,092 | 3,370 |
- | 282,806 | 92,454 |
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Church No 360812
Name of Church
Southwick Methodist Church
Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2025
| Fixed Assets | Notes to the Accounts |
General Fund (Unrestricted) £ |
Designated Funds (Unrestricted) £ |
Restricted Funds £ |
Endowment Funds £ |
Totals 2025 £ |
Totals 2025 £ |
Totals 2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church buildingand otherproperty | 5,174,109 | 5,174,109 | 4,999,063 | |||||
| Investmentproperties | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Investments | 0 | |||||||
| Total fixed assets | 5,174,109 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,174,109 | 4,999,063 | ||
| Current Assets | ||||||||
| Debtors andprepayments | 9,392 | 9,392 | 0 | |||||
| Loans bythe Churches | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Investments with TMCP | 211,843 | 211,843 | 43,864 | |||||
| Central Finance Board Deposits | 4,524 | 4,524 | 16,393 | |||||
| Cash at Bank and in hand | 42,429 | 15,352 | 3,370 | 61,152 | 32,196 | |||
| Total current assets | 56,345 | 227,195 | 3,370 | 0 | 286,910 | 92,453 | ||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Creditors (due in under 1 year) | 4,104 | 4,104 | ||||||
| Grantspayable within 2025-26 | 0 | |||||||
| Total current liabilities | 4,104 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,104 | 0 | ||
| Net current assets/liabilities | 52,241 | 227,195 | 3,370 | 0 | 282,806 | 92,453 | ||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 5,226,350 | 227,195 | 3,370 | 0 | 5,456,915 | 5,091,516 | ||
| 0 0 0 5,226,350 227,195 3,370 0 5,456,915 |
||||||||
| Long term liabilities (due after more than oneyear) |
||||||||
| Grantspayable after 2025-26 | 0 | |||||||
| Loans to the Church | 0 | |||||||
| 0 | ||||||||
| Net assets | 5,226,350 | 227,195 | 3,370 | 0 | 5,456,915 | 5,091,516 |
| Funds of the Church | 5,226,350 227,195 5,453,545 3,370 0 5,456,915 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund(Unrestricted) | 5,226,350 | 227,195 3,370 0 |
5,226,350 | 39,004 | |||
| Designated Funds(Unrestricted) | 227,195 | 227,195 | 51,116 | ||||
| Total Unrestricted Funds | 5,453,545 | 90,120 | |||||
| Restricted Funds | 3,370 | 3,370 | 2,333 | ||||
| Endowment Funds | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Total Funds | 5,226,350 | 227,195 | 3,370 | 0 | 5,456,915 | 92,453 |
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Southwick Methodist Church
Analysis of income and expenditure Selected period: 01 September 2024 to 31 August 2025
| General | Designated | Restricted | Thisyear | Lastyear | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | ||||||||
| Note 1 - Offerings and tax recoverable | ||||||||
| 1001 - Weekly offering - cash and | ||||||||
| cheques | £5,750 | - | - | £5,750 | £5,494 | |||
| 1002 - Weekly offering - envelopes | £2,480 | - | - | £2,480 | £3,602 | |||
| 1003 - Offering - Direct Bank | ||||||||
| Payments | £19,601 | - | - | £19,601 | £21,348 | |||
| 1006 - Offering - Online | £2,093 | - | - | £2,093 | £1,687 | |||
| 1010 - Tax reclaimed | £7,600 | - | - | £7,600 | £7,398 | |||
| Offerings and tax recoverable Totals | **£37,524 ** | - | - | £37,524 | £39,529 | |||
| Note 2 - Bank & CFB interest and investment income | ||||||||
| 1102 - Interest - CFB | £625 | - | - | £625 | £1,073 | |||
| 1103 - Interest - TMCP | £2,519 | - | - | £2,519 | £2,249 | |||
| Bank & CFB interest and investment income Totals | **£3,144 ** | - | - | £3,144 | £3,322 | |||
| Note 3 - Lettings | ||||||||
| 1202 - Lettings - Hall | £25,065 | - | - | £25,065 | £25,138 | |||
| Lettings Totals | **£25,065 ** | - | - | £25,065 | £25,138 | |||
| Note 4 - Other receipts | ||||||||
| 1301 - Fees - Weddings & Funerals | - | - | - | - | £275 | |||
| 1302 - Donations - Use of Halls | £9,662 | - | - | £9,662 | £8,332 | |||
| 1303 - Photocopy & telephone | ||||||||
| Payments | £605 | - | - | £605 | £683 | |||
| 1304 - Donations - In Memoriam | £475 | £196,562 | - | £197,037 | £10,150 | |||
| 1305 - Donations - General | £2,179 | - | - | £2,179 | £1,949 | |||
| 1306 - Donations - Church Mission | - | - | £2,756 | £2,756 | £2,454 | |||
| 1307 - Donations - Newsletter | £790 | - | - | £790 | £761 | |||
| 1308 - Fund Raising - Receipts | £42 | - | - | £42 - | ||||
| 1310 - Other Collections - Receipts | - | - | - | - | £451 | |||
| 1311 - Payments from Circuit | - | £8,900 | - | £8,900 | £2,648 | |||
| 1312 - Donations - Catering | £2,195 | - | - | £2,195 | £1,801 | |||
| 1313 - Donations - Flowers | £590 | - | - | £590 | £393 | |||
| 1315 - Refunds | £980 | - | - | £980 | £112 | |||
| 1316 - Donations - Other Mission | - | £440 | £786 | £1,226 | £1,609 | |||
| 1317 - Donations - Gift Day | £2,635 | - | - | £2,635 | £80 | |||
| Other receipts Totals | £20,153 | £205,902 | £3,543 | £229,597 | £31,697 | |||
| Note 5 - Internal organisations (income) | ||||||||
| 1901 - Internal organisations (inc) | - | £43,743 | - | £43,743 | £354 | |||
| Internal organisations (income) Totals | - | **£43,743 ** | - | £43,743 | £354 | |||
| Receipts Grand totals | £85,885 | £249,645 | £3,543 | £339,073 | £100,041 |
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Payments
Note 6 - Circuit assessment or share
| Note 6 - Circuit assessment or share | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 - Circuit Assessment | £30,764 | - | - | £30,764 | £46,447 | ||||
| Circuit assessment or share Totals | **£30,764 ** | - | - | £30,764 | £46,447 | ||||
| Note 7 - Donations | |||||||||
| 2102 - National Charities | £3 | £2,876 | £2,406 | £5,284 | £1,944 | ||||
| 2103 - Local Charities | - | £241 | - | £241 | £690 | ||||
| 2105 - Other Collections - Payments | £435 | - | - | £435 | £420 | ||||
| Donations Totals | £438 | £3,116 | £2,406 | £5,960 | £3,054 | ||||
| Note 8 - Repairs and maintenance | |||||||||
| 2201 - Cleaning - Services | £4,174 | - | - | £4,174 | £5,027 | ||||
| 2203 - Cleaning - Materials | £1,629 | - | - | £1,629 | £1,550 | ||||
| 2218 - Property - Improvements | - | £34,082 | - | £34,082 | £9,990 | ||||
| 2219 - Property - Signage | £900 | - | - | £900 - | |||||
| 2220 - Property - repairs, | |||||||||
| maintenance etc | £3,571 | £14,059 | - | £17,630 | £10,514 | ||||
| 2223 - Organ - Repairs | - | - | - | - | £120 | ||||
| 2224 - Pianos - Repairs | £328 | £2,100 | - | £2,428 | £70 | ||||
| 2629 - Technology - Hardware | £201 | - | - | £201 | £849 | ||||
| Repairs and maintenance Totals | £10,804 | **£50,240 ** | - | £61,044 | £28,119 | ||||
| Note 9 - Utilities, insurances etc | |||||||||
| 2301 - Insurance - Church | £3,619 | - | - | £3,619 | £3,502 | ||||
| 2310 - Gas | £6,567 | - | - | £6,567 | £7,254 | ||||
| 2312 - Electricity | £3,857 | - | - | £3,857 | £6,755 | ||||
| 2320 - Water | £1,330 | - | - | £1,330 | £1,095 | ||||
| 2321 - Council tax | £787 | - | - | £787 | £89 | ||||
| Utilities, insurances etc Totals | **£16,160 ** | - | - | £16,160 | £18,695 | ||||
| Note 10 - Other payments | |||||||||
| 2002 - LayWorker Salary | £2,014 | - | - | £2,014 | £1,845 | ||||
| 2104 - Ministers Discretionary Fund | £100 | - | - | £100 | £320 | ||||
| 2601 - Equipment - eg Vacuum | |||||||||
| Cleaner | £125 | - | - | £125 - | |||||
| 2603 - Stationery | £162 | - | - | £162 | £483 | ||||
| 2604 - Office Consummables - | |||||||||
| paper, cartridges | £74 | - | - | £74 - | |||||
| 2605 - Postage | £5 | - | - | £5 | £20 | ||||
| 2606 - Telephone & Broadband | £767 | - | - | £767 | £699 | ||||
| 2620 - Printer Expenses | £1,302 | - | - | £1,302 | £1,677 | ||||
| 2621 - Professional Service | - | £593 | - | £593 | £1,630 | ||||
| 2624 - Copyright Licence | £396 | - | - | £396 - | |||||
| 2625 - Magazines Costs | £1,875 | - | - | £1,875 | £1,611 | ||||
| 2626 - Technology - Licences & | |||||||||
| Software | £1,261 | - | - | £1,261 | £983 | ||||
| 2627 - Books & Cards | £229 | - | - | £229 | £57 | ||||
| 2628 - Catering | £468 | - | - | £468 | £663 | ||||
| 2640 - Flowers | £759 | - | - | £759 | £333 | ||||
| 2642 - Hymnbooks | £130 | - | - | £130 - | |||||
| 2643 - Worship Books | £136 | - | - | £136 - | |||||
| 2644 - Church Supplies | £308 | - | - | £308 | £30 | ||||
| 2645 - Outreach Expenses | £368 | - | - | £368 | £373 | ||||
| 2700 - Hall Hire Deposit Refund | - | - | - | - | £65 | ||||
| Other payments Totals | £10,478 | **£593 ** | - | £11,071 | £10,789 | ||||
| Note 11 - Internal organisations (expenditure) | |||||||||
| 2901 - Internal organisations (exp) | - | £23,720 | - | £23,720 | £312 | ||||
| Internal organisations (expenditure) Totals | - | **£23,720 ** | - | £23,720 | £312 | ||||
| Payments Grand totals | £68,644 | £77,669 | £2,406 | £148,719 | £107,416 |
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Note 4 & 13. Donations to Others
For Mission Funding our policy is to have focused opportunities for members of the congregation and wider community to give to named charities. These are raised through freewill giving and special events. Charities supported are both Methodist and others.
Each year we have a specific Christian charity which is proposed from the membership. In 2425 we supported the Leap into Hope charity and through donations and social activities raised £2406 which was matched from a specific fund which was designated for supporting missions in the church. This is a principle which has been approved by the trustees and review each year.
Other donations have been collected and made based on individual focused Sunday services such as Action For Children and Methodist Homes for the Aged.
Note 5 & 11 Internal Organisations
Internal Organisations report to Church Council which has ultimate responsibility for them, but they conduct their own financial affairs including an examination of their accounts.
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----- Start of picture text -----
INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments balances Closing balances
Wednesday Fellowship 3,789.17 4,342.31 (553.14) 1,722.83 1,169.69
3rd Southwick GB 8,199.16 9,844.01 (1,644.85) 9,815.45 8,171
Cameo (Closed in the year) 681.00 743.58 (62.58) 62.58
1st Southwick Boys Brigade 1,671.00 1,986.01 (315.01) 8,680.53 8,365.52
Manna Lunch Club 2,355.05 2,358.39 (3.34) 1721.28 1,717.94
Teddy Bears 3,267.95 3,441.91 (173.96) 373.87 199.91
Messy Church 814.74 775.97 38.77 289.34 328.11
Sub total of Internal
Organisations funds 20,778.07 23,492.18 (2,714) 22,665.88 19,951.77
----- End of picture text -----
(Note - in the SOFA report it shows internal organization income as £43,743 – this reflects the addition of the internal organisations previous years balance which was reported externally from the churches accounting software to being reported within the churches accounting package. And funds held in ‘Other Funds’ which can been seen above in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities in ‘Other Funds’ as having no opening balance. This occurred as the movement occurred after last year’s Financial Year was closed and so no amendment could be made)
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Note 6 - Prepayments and Accruals
Prepayments and Accruals
Debtors & Pre-Payments
| Assessment for Sept to Nov' 2025 Water Rates Pre-Payment Creditors & Accruals Fire Extinguisher Service Leap into Hope Missiom pending payment |
General Restricted This Year Last Year 9,271.71 £ 9,271.71 £ N/a 120.03 £ 120.03 £ 9,391.74 £ 9,391.74 £ General Restricted This Year Last Year 1,228.56 £ 1,228.56 £ N/a 2,875.58 £ 2,875.58 £ 1,228.56 £ 2,875.58 £ 4,104.14 £ |
|---|---|
Accruals Method was not required last year
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Note 12 Movement in Funds
Unrestricted Funds are for the use of the trustees in the furtherance of the general objectives of the Church. Restricted Funds are those to which contributions have been made for a specific purpose.
All transfers between funds are approved by Church Council (the Trustees) and made in response to changes in internal requirements or to reflect changes in Circuit Policy.
Funds held during 2024-25 Financial Year
| General Fund | Unrestricted Funds forgeneral inpayingliabilities |
|---|---|
| Mission 2024–Leap into Hope |
Monies collected for the annual church project, the fund is closed the next financial year after all moniespaid. |
| Property Fund | Monies held for the Maintenance and Upkeep of the Church premises. A specific legacy was left of which 50% was expressedgiven for the upkeepof Southwick Methodist. |
| Charity Bequest | Money received as the other 50% of the legacy requested to be given to support charities the Church supports. As the legacy was only received just before end of the financial year no payments have been made. |
| Other Mission | Monies received for other missionprojects(AFC,MHA,TurningTides etc) |
| Messy Church | Monies received for Messy Church which are collected via the Church Digital Collect Plate. These remain separate from the MessyChurch IOA accounts managed bythemselves |
| Pantry/Warm Spaces | Special Mission for the provision of a food bank and a warm space. Project closed at the end of the financialyear and monies are beingdonated to two local charities with the same aims. |
| Open The Book | Monies held for the churchgroupwho visit schools. |
| Internal Organization Accounts |
Monies held in IO Accounts. These are part of the churches total assets but not held in church accounts. |
| Ladies that Breakfast | An IO which closed during the year. The Organization asked that the remaining balance be used as a donation to the church forprevious use(£100)and the Annual Church Project(£168.72) |
| Mission | A fund which was closed in order to split the Annual Mission (which starts and ends each financial year)and the Other Missions. All monies collected at that time were assigned to‘Other Missions’. |
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Note 14 – Assets and Liabilities
Statement of Assets and Liabilities As at: 31 August 2025
==> picture [511 x 202] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Closing Balances Openng Balances
Current Asset
5001: Barclays Current Account £22,743 £15,696
5002: Lloyds Current Account £18,456 £16,500
5003: Central Finance Board £4,524 £16,393
5005: Other Funds £19,952
5006: Cash in Hand
5009: Trustees For Methodist Church Purposes £211,843 £43,864
Z05: Accounts Receivable £9,392
Total £286,911 £92,453
Liability
Z04: Accounts Payable £4,104
Total £4,104
Net total assets £282,806 £92,453
----- End of picture text -----
Page 15 of 19
Basis of accounting and accounting policies
i. Accounting standard
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective from 1 January 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)).
ii. Public benefit entity
Southwick Methodist Church meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note below.
iii. Basis
These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year. The accruals basis has been used and trustees present accounts that show a true and fair view of the Church’s financial position and activities.
iv. Content
The financial information presented is relevant, reliable, comparable and complete. Where estimates are used, these are based on experience, research and judgement. The accounts are expressed in £Sterling,
v.
FRS102 SORP 2015
These accounts are compliant with FRS102 and with the FRS102 SORP 2015. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with applicable charity law in England, this being the Charities Act 2011 and SI2008/629 (Charities Accounting and Reporting Regulations) and, pending the making of replacement Regulations specific to SORP 2015 in accordance with Reg.8(4)(d) of SI 2008/629, the charity trustees have departed from the requirement of Reg.8(5) by following SORP (FRS102) instead of SORP 2005 to the extent necessary to give a true and fair view in the circumstances.
vi.
Going concern
Based on the monetary assets and human resources available at 31 August 2024, the trustees believe that the church is a going concern.
vii.
Income recognition
Income is brought into the accounts when there is entitlement and the amount is reliably measurable once it is more likely than not that the economic benefit of the income will be forthcoming. In accordance with the Charities SORP (102), the time of volunteers is not recognised.
viii. Expenditure
This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, where the amount is reliably measurable, and it is considered more likely than not that there will be an outflow of economic benefit.
ix. Grants
Grants made by the Church from its own funds are recognised in full at the time of the agreement to make a grant without performance conditions, or as and when the Church accepts that there is a legal or operational obligation to make the payment if it is subject to performance conditions. When the grant to be accrued is recurrent over more than one year, the balance payable in future years is treated as a provision for future commitments in the balance sheet against the appropriate fund, the provision being released in future years in accordance with the originally agreed terms.
x.
VAT
Since the Church is not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers.
xi. Tangible fixed assets
These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and individually cost at least £5,000.
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xii. Funds
The funds held constitute: General Funds held for any purpose of the Church which are unrestricted. Restricted funds are held for narrower purpose. Details of each material fund are disclosed in the notes to these accounts. Any funds may be represented by more than just cash.
xiii. Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement
The charity opted to adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements .
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Name of Church Southwlck Methodlst Church No 360812 Declarations and Scrutiny I confim that these accruals-based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they indude all funds under the control of the Church trustees. Signature of treasurer ............. 10 Name and address of treasurer: Phlllp C Webb 422 Uppor Shoreham Ro•d. Shor•ham By Sea, W•3t Su•Mx Post Code BN43 SNE Presentstlon to th• Church trustees I confim) that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 we presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on 22rxl February 2026 Signature of the Chair of the meeting: Name of the Chair of the meeting: R•v Ow•n Carney Date.. ZZ 1712 7ca Page 18 of 19
Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of the Southwick Methodist Church Church No- 360812 Charlty Number 1172433 Respon*lbllltl•s and ba81• of r•port I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Southwick Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2025 set oul on pages 2 to 9. As the Churth's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts m accordance wrth the requirements of the Chanties Act 2011 ('the Act,). I ceport in respect of my exarnination of the Church's accounts umed out under section 145 of the Act and. in carrying out my examination, I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under secbon 145(5)(b) of Ihe Act. Ind•pondent Examln•V• Statement lThe Church'8 gr088 incwio exceeded £250.CW and l am quallfied to urKlertake the examination by being a qualified member ol Certrfied Accountants {Retired). I have completed my examination. I confim thal no rnaterial matters have come to my attentK•n in connection wrth the examination (other than that disdosed below") which give me cause to beIve thai in. any rnaterial respect: the accounling records were not kepl in accordance with section 130 of the Act: or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records: or the accounts do not comply wrth the applicable requirements concemirKJ the forn) arKI content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 olher than any requirement that the accounts give a 't aThd fair, view. which is rwt a mattar cOnSered as part of an independent exarnination the iruslees, annual report 18 not consistenl with the accounts I have no concems and have corne across no other matters in conrctIon with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this pOrt in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I Iv•ave not. obtained independent verification of all investrnents with the Tru81ees fof Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts. bank balances and furHJs at the C•Mral Finance Board of the Meth(xlist Church which are Indivu81lY in excess of £10.CK)O (ten thou88nd pounds) at Ihe balan sheet date. Synature of indepondenl examiner Name of independent examin•f Di.4rJ.y.o..IrJ..Q............. ..... Relevani wofessional qualffication of indep8nd6nt èxaminer Name of fim (wher8 appropriate) Addre88 Date Page 19 of 19