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2020-08-31-accounts

Hatfield Road Methodist Church

Serving Christ and the Local Community

Annual Report 2020/2021

The Methodist Church, Hatfield Road, St Albans is part of the St Albans and Welwyn Methodist Circuit in the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District of the Methodist Church in Britain.

The Calling of The Methodist Church in Britain is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.

It does this through:

WORSHIP

By increasing awareness of God's presence and celebrating God's love

LEARNING & CARING

By helping people grow and learn as Christians, through mutual support and care

SERVICE

By being a good neighbour to people in need and challenging injustice

EVANGELISM

By making more followers of Jesus Christ

If you would like a larger print version of this Annual Report, please contact the Minister or one of the Church Stewards

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CONTENTS CONTRIBUTOR
Our Minister’s Message Rev’d Andrew Prout
Church Stewards’ Report Denise Willingham
Church Council Report Rev’d Andrew Prout, Angela Spriggs
Safeguarding Joanna Rose
Church Treasurer's Report Eric Bridgstock
Property and Finance Committee Sue Davey, Eric Bridgstock
Lay Worker Project James Rowley
Aldersgate Café Christine Ford
Babies & Toddlers Gina Woodhead
Childrens and Families Worker’s Report Emma Haggis
Christian Aid Anne Wall
Cradle Roll (Baptismal Roll) Rev’d Andrew Prout, Sally Crowther
Day Care Group Rev’d Andrew Prout
Growmore Ramblers Denise Willingham
House Groups Roy Vivian
Junior Mission for All (JMA) Sarah and Ruth Wallace
Music Group Joanna Rose
Network Fellowship Rev’d Andrew Prout
Pastoral Team Gina Woodhead
Prayer Ministry Roy Vivian
Sunday Club and Youth Fellowship Rev’d Andrew Prout

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OUR MINISTER’S MESSAGE

At the time of writing last years’ report we were all only beginning to readjust to all the changes made necessary by the Covid-19 pandemic, and grieving those who had already died. This was followed by the subsequent announcement of the first national lockdown in March of 2020. It has needless to say been an incredibly challenging and difficult period for everyone, and only now is there a sense of an end in sight with the success of the vaccination programme. The pandemic has meant that we have not been able to gather in one place as a congregation since the announcement of the first lockdown in March of 2020. Between lockdowns, and more recently, when we have been able to meet, we have had to hold two

separate services to accommodate rules on social distancing. We have throughout been particularly mindful of those who have not been able to attend services at all. For those who have been able, it has been difficult not being able to sing and to have to arrive and disperse without the opportunity for conversation. Having acknowledged this, we have still been able to pray and to worship together as a community, whether in the gathered space, or in the digital space through a combination of recorded and livestreamed services, or reading a service at home. It has been an incredible effort on the part of the Church Stewards, the AV Team, Chris Hancock as our Website Manager, the Music Group, the Property Team, our Preachers and Worship Leaders, Eric Bridgstock as our Notice Steward, and the Covid-19 Group working with the Church Council to make this possible. The Pastoral Team led by Gina Woodhead have separately ensured that all of our members and adherents have been regularly contacted by phone or when possible through doorstep visits, and that we have done as much as possible to give everyone encouragement and support. I must also at this juncture record my thanks to Denise Willingham for all she has done as our Senior Church Steward.

It has been a time when we have felt deeply the loss of those who have died not least because of the circumstances. Since the pandemic began eleven of our most well-loved members and adherents have died – Andrew Robertson, George Selvarajan, David Jones, Yvonne Winter, Glyn Lewis, Tara Samson, Geoff Burdett, Sheila Fowler, Margaret Tims, Sheila Wallace and Alan Davey . In each case funerals have had to be conducted subject to restrictions. We continue to remember all who have died and to uphold them and each other, and each of their loved ones and families in our thoughts and prayers.

In addition many of our normal activities have of course been curtailed or will have stopped completely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Growmore Ramblers, Holiday at Home, Network Fellowship, Girls’ and Boys’ Brigade, Babies and Toddlers and other social events were among the many activities suspended. Despite the restrictions many groups have continued to reach out to their members to provide support and adapt how they are working. The Aldersgate Café’s change to Café2U and the House Groups meeting via Zoom are two fantastic examples (see reports below). As we emerge from the pandemic I believe we can yet look forward positively as we seek to continue in our mission of ‘Serving Christ and the Local Community’.

The last twelve months have witnessed many acts of kindness and care rooted in the Gospel. They have also witnessed the successful recruitment in partnership with Marlborough Road Methodist Church of first, a full time Children and Families Worker in Emma Haggis in August of 2020, and second, of a full time Anna Chaplain in Maggie Dodd in April of this year. This cements our commitment to both families and people of younger years, and to people in later life, not just in the Church but also in the Local Community. It is a reminder of our mission which must reach out to each and every person at every stage of life. In April of this year the Circuit signed off ‘The Way Forward’ document. Although this will see a reduction in ministerial staff from 5 to 4 in September of 2022, it will see Marlborough Road and Hatfield Road Methodist Churches placed in a single section under one Presbyter working with a Deacon, giving over 50%

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of their time, and with the Anna Chaplain and the Children and Families Worker. It will give further impetus to joint work across both Churches such as in ‘Holiday at Home’ and focus our efforts in both Fleetville and the City Centre. With Marlborough Road Methodist Church we will also be embracing from this Autumn the work in Salisbury Village where the Deacon is based. This is a piece of outreach that touches many people who live with challenges as a result of greater social deprivation.

As we go forward, although the consequences of the long period of lockdown will mean that some of our activities might not emerge quite the same or may have to cease, others will yet emerge with renewed purpose as we seek to connect to people both inside and outside the Church. New ideas and activities will also be forthcoming as we work with Emma and Maggie, and as we consider all that is possible both within the physical and the digital space. Neither must we forget those who do not use the internet. It is about caring for the whole person all of the time, brother, sister, neighbour and stranger. In this vein we should not underestimate the personal trauma of these last eighteen months and the importance of responding to each end every person’s need. No one has been left untouched by the pandemic with personal bereavement, separation from and absence of contact with family and friends, physical and mental health implications, and challenges of work. Young people have had their education disrupted, others have seen their job disappear or been furloughed and others as key workers have faced constant pressure and strain. There is a very real work and ministry of healing and restoration in which we will need to be engaged.

In all of this we remind ourselves that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord, and that to love God, our neighbour and each other is where everything must begin. How encouraging also that in December, whilst caught up still in the midst of the pandemic, Helen Wallace decided to go ahead with her confirmation and reception into membership of the Methodist Church. It was a confident assertion that God remains in our midst and nothing can hold back His work in our lives, in the Church and in the world.

I record my thanks to everyone for their support and hard effort over this past year, not least when I was not well or feeling low myself, and I invite you to find strength and encouragement in the reading and digesting of this annual report. In different ways, even during the darkest days of this pandemic we have been able to minister to one another and touch the lives of people with the love and grace of God. The words of the Psalms have been a source of constant comfort and inspiration for me and for many throughout, and it is with the reassuring words of Psalm 139 I conclude …

If I rise on the wings of the dawn If I settle on the far side of the sea Even there your hand will guide me Your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me And the light become night around me’ Even the darkness will not be dark to you. The night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to you.

Together let us uphold and encourage one another, and know that God as always has plans to prosper us and give us a future. Thanking you most sincerely and remaining in your and God’s service as together we journey forth, forgetting not the difficult and challenging times we have shared or those whose names are now spoken in Heaven.

Rev’d Andrew Prout, Minister with Pastoral Charge

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CHURCH STEWARDS' REPORT

The last year has inevitably been dominated by the COVID pandemic. It has been a year of great sadness for so many but also one in which the church community has drawn together to offer much support and pastoral care. We have faced many challenges but these have been met by different and creative ways of ‘doing church’. There have also been opportunities to encourage new shoots and to make plans for the future.

Much has been happening behind the scenes and once again it is thanks to all the teamwork in the church. I am grateful to the Church Stewards who have continued to meet regularly with Andrew each month by Zoom. This has enabled us to respond flexibly to both the needs of the church and to the ever changing Covid regulations. In this regard particular thanks are also due to the Worship Consultation team, the Music Group, the Covid Group and the Property Committee. The Pastoral Team has provided unstinting support throughout the year. When the church has been open for worship the stewards have been ably supported by the Sunday Assistants.

During the first lockdown in spring 2020 worship was moved online by way of a website service. New skills were rapidly developed including the Preachers creating videos of sermons and the Music Group recording individually at home. The church was gradually able to reopen, first in August for private prayer and then in September for public worship. Further lockdowns ensued during which worship continued on line. It was a great joy to be able to reopen for public worship in time for Holy Week. Easter Sunday felt particularly special this year. Live streaming was established to support the funeral ministry of the church, something for which the families involved were very grateful. Live streaming of Sunday worship is now offered each week. The number of hits on the website has demonstrated the immense value of online worship being available to those who are not able to attend church. This is something which will therefore continue. Paper based services and communications have continued to support those who need them. The church is deeply indebted to Chris Hancock who has devoted his time and considerable gifts to developing all the many aspects of online worship.

The Hatfield Road and Marlborough Road church stewards have met regularly by Zoom. This has enabled us to work together on the ‘Way Forward’ proposals from the Circuit and to build closer links between the two churches as we prepare to have one presbyter and a part time deacon in St Albans. The joint meetings have been very productive and have identified various areas where the churches can work together or share ministries. Any hoped recommencement in 2021 of established activities such as Holiday@Home will necessarily be dependent on the status of the pandemic.

Excitingly one area of joint work has already borne fruit in the successful appointment of two lay workers to the churches. Emma Haggis was appointed as the Children and Families worker in August 2020 and in April 2021 Maggie Dodd starts her role as Anna Chaplain to St Albans. We eagerly anticipate the possibilities that these new roles will bring to the joint ministry of HRMC and MRMC.

We thank God for His faithfulness through this difficult and challenging year. We pray for His continued guidance in our ministry as we come out of the pandemic and look to the future.

Denise Willingham, Senior Church Steward

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CHURCH COUNCIL

The duties of the Church Council are to Act together and in person and not delegate control to others; Act strictly in accordance with our governing documents; Act only in the church's interests; Manage the church's affairs prudently and take a long term as well as a short-term view; Not derive any personal benefit or gain for the trustees; Take professional advice on matters in which they are not themselves competent.

The Church Council is responsible for the affairs of our church and usually meets three times a year. Members, who may normally serve for up to 6 years, are appointed ex officio (e.g. the Minister and Church Stewards), elected by the annual Church General Meeting, or appointed by the Council itself to ensure that all areas of the church’s life are adequately represented.

Church Council meetings are open to any church member but only Church Council members may vote. Non Council members may speak with the permission of the meeting and, if the wish to do this, should speak to the Minister or Church Council Secretary in advance. Papers about the meetings can be found on the church website.

Hatfield Road Methodist Church is a Registered Charity (Registration No. 1173147). Registration with the Charity Commission was completed in 2017 after the Churches income in the previous year rose above the threshold set by the Commissioners which would have allowed ‘excepted’ status. By the Charities Act 2006 charities including churches are accountable to the public for the resources they control.

As with other groups the Church Council has had to adapt to new ways of working during the COVID crisis. Meetings were temporarily suspended and the May AGM cancelled in accordance with guidance from the Government and the connexional Methodist Church. Meetings resumed in July by Zoom. Unfortunately this excluded two members without online access. Since July the Council has been extremely busy. As well as the three normal meetings within a year (July 2020, November 2020, and March 2021) there were three extraordinary meetings to discuss the ‘Way Forward’ (September 2020, February 2021 and April 2021). The last extraordinary meeting was held jointly with Marlborough Road Methodist Church. Representatives to the Church Council also attended cross-Circuit meetings on the ‘Way Forward’. During the year there have been no changes in roles but one member, Sue Davey, stood down after 14 years of service on the Council. We thank Sue sincerely for all her work and support over this time.

Rev’d Andrew Prout; Angela Spriggs, Church Council Secretary

SAFEGUARDING

The past year has been very different for all of us, with the Covid-19 pandemic meaning that we have had far less direct contact with our children, young people and vulnerable adults. Even when much of the contact has been by phone, or online, we maintain a safeguarding policy which restricts those who can work with them and who are subject to appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. We follow the guidelines set down by the Methodist Church on safe recruitment, and once in post, job holders have to undertake the Methodist Church’s Creating Safer Spaces training, with a refresher course every four years. Training has been difficult this year, with no face-to-face training being able to take place, but the Methodist Church has now agreed that training can be undertaken online, and the Circuit has two people recently trained to run the course. Training will recommence in the early summer.

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All those working with children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church should be able to identify signs of various types of abuse, know how to react, and who to inform of any concerns they may have. We do all we can to create a safe space for everyone within Hatfield Road Methodist Church and for those with whom we have contact virtually, either online or by phone.

No alcohol is allowed on the premises. The Methodist Church has a policy not to do so.

Joanna Rose, Safeguarding Officer

CHURCH TREASURER'S REPORT, 30 April 2020

The 2019-20 Accounts were examined by an Independent Examiner, John Robinson, and were fully signed off on 24 March 2021.

Our application for a CAF Bank account was delivered in July 2020, and the account was opened in September. The Barclays account was closed at the end of October. All problems experienced during the transition have now been resolved. CAF continues to provide all that we want but, from 4 January 2021, the monthly charge increased from £5 a month to £8, and there is now a 50p charge for issuing a cheque. This is still much better than Barclays.

The interest rate on our Deposit Account (with Methodist Central Finance Board – CFB) has recently fallen to 0.01%. In Sept 2020, we received about £100 interest per month; it is now £2 a month. A phone call to the CFB concluded that there are no attractive alternatives – they either incur risk or tie the money up for a number of years.

The Covid-19 pandemic has nullified income from church groups and activities (such and Babies and Toddlers and the Aldersgate Café) and from external lettings, but the energy bills have also been lower due to reduced heating.

The engagement of Emma as our Children and Families Worker has involved the management of Pledges, Grants, and her Payroll and Pension. The response to the Appeal for Pledges was exceptional and heartwarming, as has been the activation of those pledges.

The lack of a weekly cash collection in church has reduced the Church’s income, although many have created new standing orders. The response to a note about the Envelope Scheme also yielded various positive responses – either new standing orders or cheques being sent to the Treasurer. Giving is generally healthy.

Our gas supply is managed by Church Energy Savings Consortium (CESC) under a Crown Commercial Service (CCS). For presumably commercial reasons, CESC switched gas supplier from Corona to Total Gas & Power. It has taken a year for the ramifications of this to settle down. The first Direct Debit payment occurred in December, and online access to invoices was obtained in January. No fault on our part – just poor management and administration by CESC and Total Gas & Power. It is too soon to assess the effect on our gas bill.

BIFFA was contacted to see if we could reduce the frequency of our bins being emptied. We have moved to four-weekly collection, instead of weekly. More significantly, they advised that they had been charging us rental for our own bin since 2013. The outcome was credit notes worth over £1200.

Eric Bridgstock Church Treasurer

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HATFIELO ROAD M￿HoD15TCHuRcM- FINANCE WMMARY, SECONDQUARTER Sept 1020-Feb 1021 201#12O ACTUAL$ Fryll 2020121 BUDG￿ agrted bi CC 2 IIOT 202•-21 q1-G12 Aclials ACTUAIS 2•18- 11￿19- 3118120 ACTUAL8 2020 119120 Prop•ri•oi ol bqdg¢t C•••¢ È57.052 É12,788 11,031 ti,601 t91,742 É211 11.134 tl,014 É2,630 I20,223 132 68 Étg.537 12,233 É251 ,000 1$61 to Éo Éo 541 1021 Sl1 25% 66% l & EThdowmtfil lThcomt 4hhu& Circwt Officé PayTh&ht Doh4ti•hl•r C￿r¢b Sund4y C411¢¢ C)1¢ Bobiv &Toddlti Suhdry L)yWorktr: N¢Th¢ ihy¢4114 411 Non¢ iThy¢)I lo dil¢ Nofi¢ iThy¢)I lo d41¢ iThcI É220cofftptThAftty)i fvom Barclar 8 2 (Notol 82% 1001 691 É22,121 TOTAL É52.800 l13,424 126,400 É650 soi R¢poY &RtThtY141 2,635 tl.486 655 È500 pph¢r ch4nd Wstti Ralé t4.282 É2,65) 378 tl.966 530 É2,502 É315 t161 t201 ¢1,183 12,585 t152 É1.073 t433 É500 t206 -ll86 -1132 Éo to 961 281 501 82% C1¢4niThg & é¥ppIK= Icoyid=￿plI1= don41¢d Youthlsuhday Club Nohé thi: L4tg ¢•pyihg p4ym¢Mrff¢<¢iv¢dQ1 Subé ¢xc¢¢d piymtnl= -661 0% Or94hil & MuK tl80 Éo Éo 2,305 t128 É526 É2,IT$ t44 585 6¢i¢Y•l¢h¢¢ Fybd Ig18 I108 Éo Éo t14,520 t41470 1841 221 SuThdry p¢Thd iTh2020 & Ouirt4ch LayWork¢r: TOTal SUAPLUS t48 101 t18 324 Stt A•le 8 Ilolo I lThl¢rtrl ralt lor our D¢poéril 4ccovThl plufftThéttdfiofft O.7114Vo1 April 100.3% li NoYtmb¢r, aThd O.OIXfrom Januaiy. Noié 2 Froht loJdÉd wilh Grahtlt88501 plu.r lufftp pltdgé:. Stahdih9Ordèr ¢OhtlhUt y¢4r. 6 lThcludt Hote T Dirdtorieddowh by lower dpéhd oh tior9y laboL h4111 ahd répair:: •4 * Boiltf1É2Okl ih QS ahd two Laywoikérp will croatt tht bJd9tttdw4i%k Surplu: (Lo::) ih Qts& Q4 <w￿￿s¢￿T￿M￿t¢¢1fftgs. LU¢s$ Toddtsfs, CisACthVtc¢i<¥t.

PROPERTY & FINANCE COMMITTEE: PROPERTY

The general upkeep of our premises has continued throughout the year.

While the church building has been closed during lockdown, we have followed Methodist Church guidance by running taps and flushing toilets as mitigation against Legionella. In support of permitted church life, we have also ensured supplies of PPE are available, kept signage up to date, undertaken additional cleaning, and installed a screen between the two seats at the audio-visual desk.

A Quinquennial Inspection was undertaken in September. There were no surprises or major expenditure required.

Just as we entered lockdown in March 2020, we initiated the replacement of the boiler for the “west half” of the church (Sanctuary, Small Hall, Foyer, New Room, etc). Three church heating specialists were invited to tender, which culminated in a contract being awarded this Easter. The work should be under way by the AGM.

Further to the replacement of the Sanctuary spotlights with LED units, the square central light has also been replaced with a low energy fitting, and the fan cleaned! The roller-blinds have been replaced.

In the Wesley Room, the carpet has been fitted and new chairs acquired. Curtains are in the pipeline.

An annual Fire Equipment Check was carried out by T & J Fire in November.

A new, more secure, post-box has been fitted.

Finally, thanks to those who:

Sue Davey, Secretary; Eric Bridgstock, Chair

LAY WORKER PROJECT

Last year we reported that the project to employ two lay workers to work with HRMC and Marlborough Road Methodist Church was in the happy position of being fully funded. This year we can report that the project is fully staffed. Emma Haggis started work last August as the Children and Families Worker (CFW) and Maggie Dodd, the Anna Chaplain, is starting work on 26th April 2021. Recruiting these roles was not easy but we were supported by a detailed Methodist process and two highly professional selection panels drawn from Rev’d Rosemary Fletcher, Rev’d Andrew Prout, Rev’d Sue Stilwell, Denise Willingham, Judith Head, Catherine Meredith, Idy Osibodu and Louise Mullins.

As such the work of the Lay Worker Group as an agent for change is effectively over. However, at the last meeting we decided to reconvene in October to consider approaches to getting further funding for the CFW position. At that point we will only be 14 months into a 36 month contract with Emma – but we must start talking with others about this early. The Anna Chaplain contract is for five years.

The Lay Worker Project Group has been a successful example of joint working between Marlborough Road and Hatfield Road and bodes well for the future. The group comprised Rev’d Rosemary Fletcher, Carl Meredith, Jenny Evers, Theresa Tetteh and James Rowley of MRMC and Rev’d Andrew Prout, Eric Bridgstock, Val Parker, Philip Eaton and Denise Willingham of HRMC.

James Rowley, Lay Worker Project Chair

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ALDERSGATE CAFÉ

Sadly, since our last report in 2020 the Aldersgate café has remained closed due to necessary restrictions imposed during the current corona virus pandemic. We have missed seeing our regular customers from our Church family and the wider local community.

Once lockdown was less severe in September, undeterred, our wonderful cake bakers volunteered to deliver their cakes to some of our customers (in a Covid secure way of course!). We called it Cafe2U.

We know this has been very much appreciated, especially by those who have been confined to their homes for such a long time. When the second wave hit many continued to keep in touch by phone.

Cake deliveries resumed again in March. We would like to thank all those who made Cafe2U possible.

Hopefully the café will open again soon, when it is safe to do so. We value your prayers and support and look forward to seeing you all enjoying time at the Aldersgate café once again.

Christine Ford

BABIES AND TODDLERS

HRMC’s Wednesday morning Babies and Toddlers group has not met since the first lockdown in March 2020.

Over the past year we have sadly lost some important members of our team. Tara Samson and Alan Davey will be greatly missed.

Babies and Toddlers are so grateful for their years of regular, cheerful work in helping this important community outreach to be so successful and appreciated by so many.

Louise Bourton has stepped down as leader to spend more time with Peter and the family. Babies and Toddlers are very thankful for her commitment, energy, enthusiasm and knowledge. Peter Bourton is also giving up his weekly support, helping to set up, tidy up and act as milk and provisions monitor!

Mary Gotts, who has helped for many years with crafts, is also retiring from the group. Bliss, the Babies and Toddlers official charity, was Mary’s initiative. According to Mary’s records, £2,170.50 has been raised for Bliss since September 2013.

We are hopeful that Babies and Toddlers will reopen at some time. Perhaps as a smaller group. We have wonderful volunteers still able to help but the group needs:

Please talk to Rev Andrew, Freda Gray or myself if you would like to become involved.

Thank you to the wonderful volunteers who have been sitting patiently at home waiting for news of a reopening date. Our visitors are always thankful for the time and effort put in to making Babies and Toddlers such a success.

Apologies to the families, mums and dads, grandmothers and grandfathers, carers, nannies and childminders and of course the babies and toddlers for not being able to provide our usual service.

Gina Woodhead, Babies and Toddlers Volunteer

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CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WORKER’S REPORT

In the initial few weeks of my appointment I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit many of the families and key members of the congregations in their homes and/or gardens. My visits also involved networking with people from other churches and local projects: Mark and Margaret from St Peter’s, Tori (the Children’s worker) from St Paul’s, Mike Palin at 267 Project and Geoff Sutton from Step.

Sunday club was only able to meet in person for a couple of weeks in October and then further restrictions and lockdowns prevented the youth groups from meeting in the buildings.

Since October I have met with some of the young people who are at University across a screen. We have met once a month on the 2[nd] Sunday of the month for an hour or so since. Each time there have been 2 or 3 of us and we have spent the time together catching up, finding out how their courses/lives are and supporting each other in any way we can.

During the October half term, I hosted 3 afternoon family sessions for children in primary school and in the evening of the same days I planned to host similar sessions for young people in secondary school. Each session included games, Bible story/exploration, discussions and activities/crafts. With the restrictions that were in place at the time, these sessions were hosted on zoom and each child/family who got in touch to say they were planning to attend received an activity pack which I delivered beforehand. These packs included everything they would need for the crafts. At each of the afternoon sessions I had between 1-8 children join me. Unfortunately, there were no young people at the first two sessions for those in secondary school and so I made the decision to not go ahead with the third session. The primary sessions however, appeared to be a great success. The children all seemed to enjoy the activities and I think parents were pleased there was something different for their children to do.

Towards the end of November, I followed up some of my initial visits to the families with the delivery of Advent Calendars. All the children and young people with whom we have contact were given an Advent Calendar from the churches along with a card saying we were thinking of them at this time (in the middle of a 2nd lockdown) and offering help if/where needed. Caroline Tough was a great help in making these deliveries and they were all gratefully received.

As we entered a new lockdown in November I also organised a couple of sessions to run each Sunday morning via Zoom, one for those in primary school and the other for those in secondary. Each session lasted an hour and we would spend some time playing games, doing activities and exploring the Bible. We had a few people at each of the sessions and I think they appreciated the opportunity to keep in touch with one another.

I led the Nativity service at Hatfield Road, which was very different to previous years given we could not have the children acting out the story in our building. Instead I managed to get some families involved by pre-recording their scenes at home to be shown at the service in church. We were unable to meet together for our Christingle service so we hosted this on Zoom where we were joined with one family and a couple of other households. I was able to lead the Christingle service at Marlborough Road before the next lockdown.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, I got in touch with the head teachers at Fleetville Junior and St Peter’s primary to offer help and support to the staff and pupils. As a result, I was asked to put together an Assembly exploring the themes of Christmas and Hope for each school. These were recorded on Zoom so they could be shown to children in their classrooms/bubbles.

With the New Year came the new lockdown and once again Sunday club happened via Zoom as before. During these sessions we spent time exploring some of the psalms through games, activities, crafts and

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sometimes even baking. Fortunately, we have now moved back to having Sunday club at Hatfield Road meeting in person.

In January, I tried to start up a group via Zoom, once a month for those in years 10-13. However, no one showed up to these sessions (we tried January, February and March) and so I have decided to put this group on hold for the time being and we will try again in the Autumn when hopefully, we will be able to meet in person.

As a follow up from the Advent Calendar drop, I sent out some activity packs to all the children and young people with whom we have contact in the lead up to Easter from the churches. Each pack included an Easter card saying we were thinking of them at this time and offering help if/where needed; a craft which was age appropriate for each child and, very importantly, chocolate. Those with younger children also received a ‘my First Easter book’. These packages were posted out and were gratefully received.

Following the assembly I recorded for Fleetville Junior before Christmas, I was invited to record another one before Easter, during which I explored the differences between Passover and Easter. I was also invited to do a similar assembly at Oakwood Primary with Alan Cowan, this time in person. The assembly was well received by both the children and the staff and I hope to continue to support them in other ways moving forward.

I think it is safe to say starting a new role in the course of a pandemic as brought many challenges but also great opportunities. I look forward to what the next few months have in store for me and my role.

Emma Haggis, Children and Families Worker

CHRISTIAN AID

Christian Aid was set up in 1947 to help the many refugees created by World War Two but now its efforts are concentrated in the poorest countries of the world (principally in Africa, South East Asia and Central America), where the charity provides funds to support healthcare, education and development projects. It also responds to emergencies world-wide.

As with most things Christian Aid activities were largely suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic until lockdown started to ease in recent months. Christian Aid were able to hold a very successful sponsored walk in May this year, subject to Covid restrictions, in partnership with other churches in St Albans. This provided a much needed opportunity for members of the Churches to meet in person, albeit socially distanced, and raised £5309 + £947 in Gift Aid at the time of writing. Thank you to all who participated and contributed.

Anne Wall, Christian Aid coordinator

CRADLE ROLL (BAPTISMAL ROLL)

The Baptismal or Cradle Roll is a register of all the children who have been welcomed into the church through Baptism or a Service of Thanksgiving. Their names are also entered onto the Roll displayed in the Church in the Children’s corner. The children are kept on the Active Cradle Roll until they are three years old, when they are promoted into the Sunday Club. There have been no baptisms of infants or children in the last twelve months. Currently there are two children under three years old on the Cradle Roll.

Sally Crowther, Cradle Roll Secretary

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DAY CARE GROUP

Day Care is now in its 33[rd] year having been established in 1988. It is a joint enterprise sponsored by HRMC, St. Paul’s and Fleetville Community Centre.

The Group normally meets on a Friday between 11.00am and 3.00pm offering a place of welcome and support for between 10

and 15 local elderly residents. The Group is a friendly, happy gathering reliant on a number of very willing volunteers. Tea and coffee is served throughout the day and lunch (provided, at a cost, by the local Catholic junior school) is served at midday. An activity is organised each week. These have included most recently seated exercises, visiting musical entertainers, quizzes, flower arranging, Easter card making, birthday and Christmas card making, all with much conversation and laughter. Occasional outings are also arranged.

Sadly but necessarily Day Care had to be suspended in March 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and has yet to resume. And very sadly four of the people attending as visitors (Margaret Tims, Sheila Wallace, Yvonne Winter and Sheila Fowler) together with one of the Group’s key volunteers (Alan Davey) have died in this period. Our thoughts and prayers have remained very much with each other and we hope soon that the future will become clear allowing a resumption in some shape or form. Throughout the pandemic Sue Davey as the Group’s co-ordinator has kept in touch alongside all our volunteers with each of the visitors who were in attendance pre-pandemic. We pay particular tribute to Sue for all she has done not least when also supporting Alan through his illness, surgery and treatment, and when most recently contending with her own bereavement.

Rev Andrew Prout, Chair of the Management Committee

GROWMORE RAMBLERS

The Covid pandemic necessitated the suspension of group rambles by the church walkers. Through the year many people have continued to explore the local countryside as individuals, with a friend or in a family group. We look forward to sharing newly discovered walks and paths once restrictions are eased.

Denise Willingham

HOUSE GROUPS

House groups were obviously impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and it was only possible to meet via ‘Zoom’. Initially the Wednesday evening and Friday morning house groups got underway with some studies on Ecclesiastes and the Book of Ruth. A study entitled ‘His Presence makes the Feast’, which house groups had previously looked at in 2004, was then re-visited. The title was that of a report on Holy Communion which was produced by the 2003 Methodist Conference. Six of the nine key

themes of Holy Communion that were covered (e.g. Thanksgiving, Fellowship and Sacrifice) were then appraised in some study material prepared by the Rev. Brian Galliers. It was very fitting that Una, Brian’s widow, was able to join the Friday morning house group via ‘Zoom’ from her home in Romford, Essex.

Inevitably there were a few members across all 4 groups who were not able to take part in the ‘Zoom’ meetings, but who were provided with copies of the study material so they had it to hand. At the other

14

extreme, Angela Andrews was able to join in several meetings of the Wednesday evening house group from Lagos, Nigeria!

The small and relatively new house group run for both HRMC and MRMC members on a Tuesday evening had to be suspended. Chris Hancock, its leader, was working as Circuit Secretary and was also much involved in all the technical and time-consuming work associated with the streaming of our weekly Sunday Services.

The Monday evening and Thursday morning house groups got back into their stride in the Autumn. The former made use of ‘Thought for the Day’ material prepared by Peggy Liffen’s sister, the Rev. Mary Teed, a retired Methodist Minister.

On the run-up to Christmas all groups had access to six studies in a ‘New Daylight’ publication entitled ‘Journeying through Advent’. The 5 Lenten studies entitled ‘Encounters on the Way to the Cross’ were used by the groups. The material originated from St Albans Cathedral and was used with their permission. Membership of the 4 house groups totals 32 at the time of writing.

Johanna Mason has taken over from me as House Group Co-ordinator as from the beginning of this year.

Roy Vivian, Co-ordinator

JUNIOR MISSION FOR ALL (JMA)

JMA is a network of children, supported by adults, who support and learn about the mission of the church all over the world. The JMA promise is to ‘Learn, pray and serve with the worldwide church of Jesus Christ’. Money raised is allocated one fifth to the Methodist Mission in Britain Fund and four fifths to the Methodist World Mission Fund.

At HRMC we now have 5 collectors who in the year September 2019-2020 collected £930 having been able to hold a successful BBQ (£406) and Hunger lunch (£324) before Covid hit.

Lack of opportunity for events and services, and no mingling after the services we have been able to have, have had a significant impact on opportunities to collect in the year 2020/2021. As a result the money raised so far this year is just £143, although some donors have been giving money directly to JMA through the bank instead which is not included in this amount.

We have not been able to hold our annual JMA service, although we have badges and certificates for the collectors ready for the time when we are able to hold such a service.

Ruth Wallace, JMA Treasurer

MUSIC GROUP

The Music Group would normally expect to lead the music and singing at our main Sunday services and at special services throughout the year. Covid-19 has provided us with new challenges, and we have spent much of the year recording hymns for use at our online services. In full lockdown, this has required us to record ourselves at home singing to a backing track, and then the track and the voices being spliced together to create the full effect. When lockdown was lifted enough to allow services to take place in church but without singing, we recorded hymns together in

15

church during the week for use at the services. It was a real privilege to be able to come together in church and sing and play together in worship to our God while those attending services could only listen.

This year some of us have learned new skills as sound mixers and movie makers, creating the hymns with lyrics and pictures which are now used in all our services, both in church and online. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Chris Hancock for the very many hours he has spent producing the hymns, and to Mike Sheehan for providing all the backing tracks – organ, piano, drums, guitars, flutes – everything you hear in the tracks apart from the occasional clarinet part comes out of his electronic piano. The singers have also had to work hard to record themselves singing to the backing track at home – quite daunting at first, and often needing several takes to get it right. Even recording together in church takes time – first rehearsing, then recording, listening back, and often re-recording verses or even the whole hymn to make sure the final version is presentable.

We were grateful that lockdown was lifted sufficiently in December to allow extra singers and musicians to join us at recording sessions in the church to record hymns and anthems for our Christmas services. We have felt honoured to be asked to record hymns to be played at funerals of much-loved members of our congregation in recent months.

We do welcome new members of any age from secondary school upwards to join the Group. If you enjoy singing, or can play an instrument and would be interested in joining us for special events, on a regular basis, or in our recording sessions, please speak to Joanna Rose. If you are a competent pianist and would be interested in playing the piano or organ for any services once singing in worship is permitted, again please contact Joanna.

This has certainly been a challenging year for us all, and I am very grateful to the regular and occasional members of the Music Group who have made it possible to provide music for worship throughout the year. Perhaps the recording will continue even after the church is fully reopened, if we wish to continue to provide online worship, but I know I speak for all the members of the music group when I say that we will be glad when we can stand together in church leading the congregation as we raise our voices together as only Methodists can in worship to our heavenly Father.

Joanna Rose, Music Group leader

NETWORK FELLOWSHIP

This report would have normally been completed by Sheila Fowler who as secretary to the group arranged and facilitated the programme. Sheila sadly died in February of this year aged 89 years and will be greatly missed by all the members of the group. Sheila was a great advocate of this meeting and its previous incarnations providing a space in the Church where women could meet each week on a Wednesday afternoon for fellowship and mutual support and care. Following suspension of the group in March 2020 because of the pandemic Sheila maintained contact with each of the members through regular phone calls and conversations. Members of the group continue to be in touch with each other and look forward to when they can meet in some form again.

Rev’d Andrew Prout

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PASTORAL TEAM

The Pastoral Care Team at Hatfield Road Methodist Church comprises Rev Andrew Prout, Denise Willingham as Pastoral Steward, Gina Woodhead as Pastoral Secretary, 14 members of the church who are Pastoral Visitors, and 5 House Group Leaders.

Since the compilation of the last Annual Report the Pastoral Team have had two virtual meetings via Zoom in July and November 2020.

The Pastoral Care Team have worked hard to keep in touch with members of the congregation and adherents. Contact has been mostly by telephone or email. Where possible or where necessary meetings in person have taken place following government and Methodist Church guidelines. Thanks go to all the members of the Pastoral Team and others for their efforts and support during this difficult time.

The Church Members Directory was not updated and circulated this year. Methodist Church Membership Cards with Christmas Greeting and Letter from Andrew were mailed out at the end of November.

Currently there are 115 members of the church and approximately 50 adherents. We remember 4 of our members who have passed away since the compilation of the last Annual Report, Glyn Lewis, Geoff Burdett, Sheila Fowler and Sheila Wallace. We also remember Alan Davey, a much loved adherent of our church. Over the past year we have welcomed Helen Wallace as a new member.

You are welcome to contact Andrew or Gina if you feel you would like to get involved in Pastoral Care or have any concerns or suggestions you would like to share.

Please pray for the work of the Pastoral Care Team at HRMC.

Gina Woodhead, Pastoral Secretary

PRAYER MINISTRY

Much of the Prayer Ministry’s conventional activities associated with our Sunday Services were severely impacted by the pandemic. The Church was closed for services for much of 2020 and the winter months of this year. However, from the beginning of January the weekly publication of the Prayer Diary has again been included in Sunday’s Notices which are circulated every week either online or by hand to all Church members and adherents. In this way all the people and families who are listed can be remembered in our prayers during the following week.

Almost eight years have elapsed since a prayer meeting was started by Ros Hancock initially to pray for the success of the first Cliff College Mission and then, subsequently, to pray for the needs of our Church as a whole. The meetings take place on Tuesday mornings (currently via WhatsApp) and are supported by members of Ros’s house group and a few other Church members.

The Prayer Tree continues and there are now 32 of us who are members of it. Prayer requests are normally emailed out to members and this is particularly useful in cases of urgency. Over the past year many prayers have been offered for the people of our Nation all of whom have been affected by the pandemic and for those professions on the front line which are particularly vulnerable such as doctors, nurses, carers, NHS staff, teachers and many more. And prayers have then been offered for the protection of those within our Church membership, or who are otherwise known to us, who work on the front line. Over the past year prayers have also been offered seeking God’s comfort and support for those Church members and their families who have suffered the loss of loved ones.

Roy Vivian

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SUNDAY CLUB AND YOUTH FELLOWSHIP

Sunday Club has rarely been able to meet in person throughout the pandemic. However when restrictions have eased provision has been made for children and young people in both the primary and secondary school age groups, although numbers attending have been very small. During the two periods of lockdown in November and between January and April of this year sessions were organised online for both age groups on a Sunday Morning led by our Children and Families worker Emma Haggis. This was undertaken jointly with Marlborough Road Methodist Church. Emma, who commenced her appointment in August, also ensured activities were offered and distributed to the children and young people during School Half Terms, and at Christmas and Easter. This included all the children and young people with whom the Church has a connection. At Christmas Emma worked with some of the children and families to put together a prerecorded nativity that was greatly appreciated.

In September Emma took on responsibility from Rev’d Rosemary Fletcher and myself for the Monthly Sunday Evening Youth Fellowship aimed at young people aged between 11 and 18 years from Hatfield Road and Marlborough Road Methodist Churches. However the pandemic has made this difficult to restart with many of the young people needing time away from screen contact. It is hoped this may yet restart in some form in the coming months. During the first lockdown Rosemary and I were able to maintain contact with this group. Of greater success has been Emma’s engagement with a small group of our young people who are now at university and with whom she meets monthly on zoom. Returning to Sunday Club we remain without an appointed leader since Lianne Weidmann had to step down in January of last year. Emma and I hope to meet with the remaining Sunday Club staff soon to consider patterns of working going forward. We will be thinking about how best we can work with all our families, children and young people.

Rev’d Andrew Prout

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THE METHODIST CHURCH IN GREAT BRITAIN - SOME FACTS ABOUT US

Constitution

The constitution of the Methodist Church in Britain is contained in the Deed of Union conferred by the Methodist Union Church Act 1929. That Act was replaced by the Methodist Church Act 1976 and its statutory Model Trusts.

The Deed of Union (Part 1 Section 4 Government) provides for the governing body of the church to be the Methodist Conference. The constitution and powers of the Conference are stated and include the power to make standing orders.

The Methodist Church Act 1939 constituted and incorporated a single body of trustees called the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposed (TMCP and known as the custodian trustees) to hold all real, leasehold and other personal estate of the Methodist Church. Various other church courts in the Methodist Church, and accountable to the Methodist Conference and constituted in accordance with those standing orders, act as "local managing trustees".

The Methodist Church Funds Act 1960 provides for the investment of funds of the Methodist Church.

The Sharing of Buildings Act 1969 makes provision for the sharing and using of church buildings in England and Wales by different churches.

Purposes

The purposes of the Methodist Church are set out in Section 4 of the 1976 Act. They are the advancement of:

The details are contained in a publication called The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church Volumes 1 and 2 published by Methodist Publishing, Norwich Books and Music, 13a Hellesdon Park Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR6 5DR Tel: 0845 017 8220 and orders@norwichbooksandmusic.co.uk.

In England and Wales all Methodist churches, circuits and districts with a gross annual income of over £100,000 per annum need to register with the Charity Commission. Methodist charities with an income under £100,000 per annum continue to be excepted from registration. This exception is provided by the Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 242.

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Charitable status

The Methodist Church in Britain (referred to as the Connexion) is made up of over 6000 separate charities and is not a single entity. A separate registration exists in the name of the Methodist Church in Great Britain with the Methodist Conference as the trustee body. Its registration number applies only to the connexional charity and the main connexionally-held funds. Local churches, circuits and districts cannot use that number.

All Methodist churches, circuits and districts are charities whether or not they are registered with the Charity Commission. The Charities (Exception from Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 extended the exception for religious charities in England and Wales with an income under £100,000 per annum until 31 March 2021.

All charities (excluding excepted charities) must keep accounting records and make the annual report and financial accounts available to the public on request.

Structure, governance and management

The whole of the Methodist Church in Britain is referred to as "the Connexion". It operates through 31 Districts in Great Britain which are divided, with a few exceptions, into circuits. Those circuits normally include several churches and ministers. See the Methodist Districts map at the end for further details.

The local church mainly manages its own affairs (including church property) through the Church Council where its members are the managing trustees. It is connected by representative membership to others in the circuit, and more widely to the district and the Connexion.

The Methodist Church, Hatfield Road, St Albans is part of the St Albans and Welwyn Circuit. Three of its church council members represent it at the Circuit Meeting in addition to the Minister, Senior Church Steward and the Church Treasurer. Members of the Church Council must complete a Trustee Eligibility Declaration (T.E.D.) and receive an induction on appointment. Further training is given when needed and existing trustees are required to confirm their ongoing eligibility by completing T.E.D.s at intervals determined by the charity.

The Church Council comprises ministers, ex officio members and members elected once a year by the general church meeting. On election, members serve from 1 July for one year and may be eligible for reelection for a further year up to a normal maximum of six years.

The Church Council meets between three and four times a year and undertakes much of its work through a number of committees with delegated authority.

Reserves Policy

The Reserves Policy is to aim to hold a sum equal to six months' normal expenditure. Any funds above that figure are held pending anticipated major property work and the development of local mission and ministry. This was adopted by the Church Council on 11 October 2016 and is reviewed annually.

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Church Council Members

Church Council membership is confirmed at each meeting and at 3 March 2021 was as follows:

Position Position Name Name Date
Appointed
Circuit Ministers
SO 610 (1) (i)		 Rev Rosemary Fletcher (Superintendent) 09/2013
Rev Andrew Prout(Minister Pastoral Charge) 09/2014
SO 610 (1) (i) & SO 610 (4) (i) Rev Alison Facey CLT 2015
Church StewardsSO 610 (1) (vi) Denise Willingham(Senior Church Steward)1a 05/2016
Angela Andrews1 05/2018
Tomas Cvrcek1 05/2018
Lianne Weidmann1 06/2017
Joe Kinchenton1 O7/2019
Noelene Browning 1 10/2019
Church TreasurerSO 610 (1) (vii) Eric Bridgstock 06/2018
Pastoral CommitteeSO 610(1) (viii) Gina Woodhead3 01/2009
Church Council SecretarySO 610(1) (ix) Angela Spriggs 10/2019
One Circuit Steward appointed by the
Circuit StewardsSO 610(1) (xii)		 Stuart Johnson 09/2020
Not less than six representatives nor Graham Danbury 1 05/2018
more than fifteen elected annually by Chris Hancock1[Elected byballot] 07/2009
General Church Meeting(SO 610 (1) (x) Ros Hancock1 05/2015
Helen Jeffery 1 [Elected byballot] 02/2005
Chris Kitchin1 06/2017
Caroline Tough1 [Elected byballot] 05/2012
Plus up to 15 additional persons appointed by the Church Council to ensure that all areas of the church’s
life are adequately represented and in particular that, wherever possible, young people are included in
its membershipSO 610(1) (xi)as follows: 5 & 6
Sunday Club and Youth
Superintendent		 Vacancy
Property & Finance Committee Eric Bridgstock (Chair of Meeting)
Vacancy		 06/2019
Mission Secretaries Action Group
(Mission in Britain / World Missions /
JMA/ Christian Aid/ Justice & Peace)		 To Be Appointed -
Worship Consultation Convenor Peter Wallace 09/2015
Safeguarding Officer Joanna Rose 05/2009
Other Freda Gray [Catering & Property]
Val Parker		 08/2017
06/2019
Elected to Circuit Meeting
(Ex Officio Officers) SO 510 (1) (vii)
(plus 3 others) SO 510 (1) (viii)		 Church Steward [Ex Officio]: Denise Willingham
Church Treasurer [Ex Officio]: Eric Bridgstock
Joanna Rose
Chris Hancock
Vacancy		 09/2015
09/2017
XX/XXXX

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Notes to membership

The references here to Standing Orders (SO) are those of The Methodist Church contained in The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of The Methodist Church Volume 2.

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Custodian Trustees

Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes, Central Buildings, Oldham Street, Manchester, M1 1JQ Tel: 0161 236 5194 & legal@tmcp.methodist.org.uk

Bankers

CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ

Appointed advisers

The Church Council continued to use the services of an Independent Examiner in Mr. John Robinson (contact details available on request) to examine the accounts for the financial year 2019-2020.

Websites

www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org www.stalbanswelwyncircuit.org.uk www.methodist.org.uk www.tmcp.org.uk

Registered address and Charity Number

The Methodist Church, 133b Hatfield Road, Fleetville, St Albans, AL1 4JX Charity Registration No. 1173147,

Why not keep in touch with the wider Methodist Church in Britain...

Copyright

© All material contained in its publications and on the website is covered by United Kingdom and International Copyright laws. All material is copyright of the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP).

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Recycle or Re-use!

Please pass this copy of this Annual Report to someone else, or recycle.

24

CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

HATFIELD ROAD

Church

FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 August 2020

Circuit
ST ALBANS & WELWYN		 Circuit no 34/13
Registered Charity - Charity Registration number
1173147

If not a registered charity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid 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)

Minister:

REV ANDREW PROUT

Church Stewards: DENISE WILLINGHAM TOMAS CVRCEK LIANNE WEIDMANN ANGELA ANDREWS JOE KINCHENTON NOELENE BROWNING

Treasurer: ERIC BRIDGSTOCK

Church R and P 2015.xls

1 of 5

Church

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020

HATFIELD ROAD

SECTION A Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds		 £
69,841
1,031
4,801
57,015
Totals this
year		 £
69,841
1,031
4,801
57,015
Totals this
year		 Totals last
year
£ £ £ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings and Tax recovered £69,841 69,841 71,472
a3 Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income		 1,031 1,031 874
a4 Lettings 4,801 4,801 9,451
a5 Other receipts 6,792 50,223 57,015 24,763
a6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 82,465 50,223 **132,688 ** (a7) 106,560
SECTION B 52,800
180
13,424
6,942
11,240
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 52,800 52,800 52,800
b3 Donations 180 180 3,418
b4 Repairs and Maintenance 13,424 13,424 39,890
b5 Utilities (Insurances, water
charges,heating& lighting)		 6,942 6,942 7,913
b6
b7 Otherpayments 8,844 2,396 11,240 11,878
b8 TOTAL PAYMENTS 82,190 2,396 **84,586 ** (b9) 115,899
48,102
SECTION C
c1 NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS
FOR THE YEAR
(a6-b8)		 275 47,827 48,102 (9,339)
c2 Total funds brought forward from
last year		 56,530 113,839 **170,369 ** (c6) 176,072
218,471
c3 (c1+c2)
Sub total		 56,805 161,666 218,471 166,733
c4 Transfers and adjustments (c7) 3,636
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR
(c3+c4)		 56,805 161,666 **218,471 ** (c8) 170,369 (c6)
SECTION D
d £
(these amounts are not to be included in total receipts/payments figures above)
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS		 £
d1 Balance brought forward from lastyear 348 847
d2 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 2,911 2,919
d3 Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations 1,896 3,418
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) 1,363 348

2 of 5

Church R and P 2015.xls

HATFIELD ROAD

Church

SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL

SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2020 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the District and connected District Organisations.

INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances Closingbalances
e1
e2
e3
e4
e5
e6
e7
Sub total of Internal
e8 Organisations funds (e11) (e12)
Church accounts (totals
brought forward from page
e9 2 - totals column) **132,688 ** (a7) **84,586 ** (b9) 48,102 **1,015 ** (c7) **170,369 ** (c6) 219,486 (c8)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD
e10 BY CHURCH 132,688 84,586 48,102 1,015 170,369 (x) 219,486 (y)
Continue on a separate sheet
if necessary and bring the
totals forward		 TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL
PAYMENTS
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
OPENING CLOSING
CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2020 BALANCES BALANCES
f1 Cash in hand
f2 BankCurrentAccount 21,730 23,827
f3 Bank DepositAccount 1,000
f4 Central FinanceBoard 148,639 194,659
f5 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
f6 Other funds
f7 SUB TOTAL - Church accounts 170,369 (c6) 219,486 (c8)
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing
f8 balance total from above) (e12) (e11) (e12)
f9 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 170,369 (x) 219,486 (y)
SECTION G At At
1 September 2019 31 August 2020
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES
g1 Investments (includeEndowments) 352 346
g2 Land &Buildings (seenotesreInsurancevalue) 2,565,341 2,632,046
g3 Other Assets 139,200 139,175
g4 Loan(s)-showamount outstanding at yearend
g5 Other Liabilities

f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board

f5 Include only Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes

g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trusts accounts this is included in line f5

3 of 5

2015 Church R and P.xls

Narng ofchurch ............HATFIELD ROAD METHOOISTCHVRCH..................... No. .34113.......... Declarations and Scrutiny I confimi that these Receipt and Pay￿￿nt based accounts for the year to 31 August 2020 have been prepared from the records ol the Church and that Ihey indude all funds under the contrd of the Church tDJstees. Slgnature of treasurer... IG¥lslTr)Zi Narrte and address of treasurer ..... ..ERIC BRIDGSTOCK 16 Evans Grove, StAlban$. H•rts.......................... P05t Code......AL4 9PJ............ Presentation to th• Church trustees I confim that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 AugLESt 2020 were P￿Sented lo the eling of the Church Iruslees héld on 9 April 2021 SKJnalure of the Chair of the meeting Name Of the Chair of the rrEeling ..REVANDREW PRO￿...... Indepgndent Examine￿5 Report to the Trustees of the ..HAf.I4LTr....F.04T)..ItÉJl$2>JJf.Church Charlty Numb•r .. 1173147 Rèsponsibilities and basis of report I report to the Iru5tees on my examinab.on of the accounts of the Haffield Road Methodist Chuf(* for Ihe year ended 31 August 2020 sel out on pages 1 to 3. As the Church's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of thè accounts in accordance vthh the reqU1￿ments of the char￿eS Act 2011 I'the I report in respecl of my examination of the Church's arxounts carried out under sectw)n 145 of the Act and, in carryin9 Out my examination, I have folbbbtd all the applicable Direthn$ gNen by the Charity Commission under section 14515)(b) of the Act. . delete or ￿rde as appropriate 4￿$

Name ofchurch . ..HATFIELD ROAD MEfHODIST CHURCH................. -34113.......... Independent Examlnerfs Statement I have ¢ompleted my examination. I confinn that no material matters have wme 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 accordan￿ wth section 130 of the Act.. or the accounts do not accofd with the accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection thith 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 have/ha¥￿￿or obtained independent verification of all investments wth 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 balan sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner ..JOHN ROBINSON.............. Relevanl professional qualification of independent examiner Name of firm (where appropriatel Address 5 HARMER DELL......... WELWYN,.........HERTS............ Post Code ..AL6 OBE............ Dale delete or cirGle as appropTiate 2015thurth R wd P S￿$

CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

HATFIELD ROAD

Church

FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 August 2020

Circuit
ST ALBANS & WELWYN		 Circuit no 34/13
Registered Charity - Charity Registration number
1173147

If not a registered charity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid 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)

Minister:

REV ANDREW PROUT

Church Stewards: DENISE WILLINGHAM TOMAS CVRCEK LIANNE WEIDMANN ANGELA ANDREWS JOE KINCHENTON NOELENE BROWNING

Treasurer: ERIC BRIDGSTOCK

Church R and P 2015.xls

1 of 5

Church

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020

HATFIELD ROAD

SECTION A Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds		 £
69,841
1,031
4,801
57,015
Totals this
year		 £
69,841
1,031
4,801
57,015
Totals this
year		 Totals last
year
£ £ £ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings and Tax recovered £69,841 69,841 71,472
a3 Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income		 1,031 1,031 874
a4 Lettings 4,801 4,801 9,451
a5 Other receipts 6,792 50,223 57,015 24,763
a6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 82,465 50,223 **132,688 ** (a7) 106,560
SECTION B 52,800
180
13,424
6,942
11,240
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 52,800 52,800 52,800
b3 Donations 180 180 3,418
b4 Repairs and Maintenance 13,424 13,424 39,890
b5 Utilities (Insurances, water
charges,heating& lighting)		 6,942 6,942 7,913
b6
b7 Otherpayments 8,844 2,396 11,240 11,878
b8 TOTAL PAYMENTS 82,190 2,396 **84,586 ** (b9) 115,899
48,102
SECTION C
c1 NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS
FOR THE YEAR
(a6-b8)		 275 47,827 48,102 (9,339)
c2 Total funds brought forward from
last year		 56,530 113,839 **170,369 ** (c6) 176,072
218,471
c3 (c1+c2)
Sub total		 56,805 161,666 218,471 166,733
c4 Transfers and adjustments (c7) 3,636
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR
(c3+c4)		 56,805 161,666 **218,471 ** (c8) 170,369 (c6)
SECTION D
d £
(these amounts are not to be included in total receipts/payments figures above)
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS		 £
d1 Balance brought forward from lastyear 348 847
d2 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 2,911 2,919
d3 Offerings/Gifts -passed to external organisations 1,896 3,418
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) 1,363 348

2 of 5

Church R and P 2015.xls

HATFIELD ROAD

Church

SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL

SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2020 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the District and connected District Organisations.

INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances Closingbalances
e1
e2
e3
e4
e5
e6
e7
Sub total of Internal
e8 Organisations funds (e11) (e12)
Church accounts (totals
brought forward from page
e9 2 - totals column) **132,688 ** (a7) **84,586 ** (b9) 48,102 **1,015 ** (c7) **170,369 ** (c6) 219,486 (c8)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD
e10 BY CHURCH 132,688 84,586 48,102 1,015 170,369 (x) 219,486 (y)
Continue on a separate sheet
if necessary and bring the
totals forward		 TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL
PAYMENTS
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
OPENING CLOSING
CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2020 BALANCES BALANCES
f1 Cash in hand
f2 BankCurrentAccount 21,730 23,827
f3 Bank DepositAccount 1,000
f4 Central FinanceBoard 148,639 194,659
f5 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
f6 Other funds
f7 SUB TOTAL - Church accounts 170,369 (c6) 219,486 (c8)
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing
f8 balance total from above) (e12) (e11) (e12)
f9 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 170,369 (x) 219,486 (y)
SECTION G At At
1 September 2019 31 August 2020
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES
g1 Investments (includeEndowments) 352 346
g2 Land &Buildings (seenotesreInsurancevalue) 2,565,341 2,632,046
g3 Other Assets 139,200 139,175
g4 Loan(s)-showamount outstanding at yearend
g5 Other Liabilities

f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board

f5 Include only Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes

g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trusts accounts this is included in line f5

3 of 5

2015 Church R and P.xls

Narng ofchurch ............HATFIELD ROAD METHOOISTCHVRCH..................... No. .34113.......... Declarations and Scrutiny I confimi that these Receipt and Pay￿￿nt based accounts for the year to 31 August 2020 have been prepared from the records ol the Church and that Ihey indude all funds under the contrd of the Church tDJstees. Slgnature of treasurer... IG¥lslTr)Zi Narrte and address of treasurer ..... ..ERIC BRIDGSTOCK 16 Evans Grove, StAlban$. H•rts.......................... P05t Code......AL4 9PJ............ Presentation to th• Church trustees I confim that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 AugLESt 2020 were P￿Sented lo the eling of the Church Iruslees héld on 9 April 2021 SKJnalure of the Chair of the meeting Name Of the Chair of the rrEeling ..REVANDREW PRO￿...... Indepgndent Examine￿5 Report to the Trustees of the ..HAf.I4LTr....F.04T)..ItÉJl$2>JJf.Church Charlty Numb•r .. 1173147 Rèsponsibilities and basis of report I report to the Iru5tees on my examinab.on of the accounts of the Haffield Road Methodist Chuf(* for Ihe year ended 31 August 2020 sel out on pages 1 to 3. As the Church's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of thè accounts in accordance vthh the reqU1￿ments of the char￿eS Act 2011 I'the I report in respecl of my examination of the Church's arxounts carried out under sectw)n 145 of the Act and, in carryin9 Out my examination, I have folbbbtd all the applicable Direthn$ gNen by the Charity Commission under section 14515)(b) of the Act. . delete or ￿rde as appropriate 4￿$

Name ofchurch . ..HATFIELD ROAD MEfHODIST CHURCH................. -34113.......... Independent Examlnerfs Statement I have ¢ompleted my examination. I confinn that no material matters have wme 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 accordan￿ wth section 130 of the Act.. or the accounts do not accofd with the accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection thith 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 have/ha¥￿￿or obtained independent verification of all investments wth 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 balan sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner ..JOHN ROBINSON.............. Relevanl professional qualification of independent examiner Name of firm (where appropriatel Address 5 HARMER DELL......... WELWYN,.........HERTS............ Post Code ..AL6 OBE............ Dale delete or cirGle as appropTiate 2015thurth R wd P S￿$