NEW MALDEN METHODIST CHURCH TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT for the year ended 31st August 2025
Reference and administrative details
Registered Name: New Malden Methodist Church (NMMC)
Charity Number: 1176621
Address : 49 High Street, New Malden, Surrey KT3 4BY
Trustees:
Susan Abell David Knowles Richard Bland Rev Vindra Leelawatee Maraj-Ogden Alison Bullett Sarah Moore Peter Bullett Julia Morton Liz Edwards Rev Karl Rutlidge Susan Knowles Gloria Taviner Julie Haines
Objectives and activities
The purposes of the Methodist Church are, and have been since the date of the union, as set out in the Methodist Church Act of 1976. NMMC exists to exercise the ministry of Jesus Christ, particularly in the local community, through worship, fellowship, pastoral care, mission and service, and emphasis is placed on undertaking these tasks ecumenically. NMMC is part of Churches Together in Malden.
Structure government and management
NMMC is part of the British Methodist Church. Its governing documents are the Deed of Union (1932) and the Methodist Church Act 1976. All Methodist churches are connected to each other and are governed by the decisions laid down by Connnexion, through a District, Circuit and the local church. NMMC is part of the Kingston upon Thames Circuit which in turn is part of the London District, and is accountable to the Methodist Conference.
The members of the Church Council are the charity trustees, membership being made up of church office holders, ministers and representatives appointed by the church at the Annual Church Meeting.
Achievements and Performance
This has been another busy year for NMMC, with lots of activities going on. At the heart of our engagement with the local community is the Wesley’s Café, which faces out onto the High Street, is staffed by a dedicated pool of volunteers and open 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday. We celebrated thirty years of Wesley’s this year with a special series of events culminating in an anniversary service. In response to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, we have continued to run our Community Larder so those who need it can access free food, and tokens allowing people to access free hot drinks without having to explain their situation. Alongside this, we have continued with activities such as Tai Chi and ‘Knit and Natter’, concerts and initiatives such as a fortnightly arts and crafts group and a board games club, to respond to loneliness and isolation and provide welcoming warm spaces. We are pleased to be able to offer hospitality to the local community, and it has been good to get to know those who drop in for a cuppa and/or to pray in the Sanctuary through the week. To help us in our work, we employ both an Administrator and a Community Worker on a part-time basis, so there is always someone in the Church Office during the week.
Being on the High Street means we sometimes find ourselves welcoming and supporting people in crisis and in this past year, this has included providing practical support to refugees, abuse survivors and to people who are struggling with their mental health, among others. We have been working with Citizens UK as one of the many Be Well Hubs across South London, with a specific focus on mental health and wellbeing. Members of the church have previously received mental health training from the local NHS trust, and we have been offering our various wellbeing activities described above as a result. With financial support from various generous funders, including the London Methodist District, we aim to continue and develop this work.
At the year end the church’s membership stood at 78, with a fair and growing number of adherents. Regular acts of worship are provided, both in the building and online via YouTube. Everyone is welcome to attend, and we have made use of social media (especially Facebook and Instagram) to let the community know what we are doing and to reach new people; the number of subscribers is steadily growing. When possible, children’s activities are provided during services, and we are grateful for the volunteers who have enabled this to happen. Bible study and prayer groups have been held at various times during the week, and pastoral support is given by both the minister and our appointed pastoral visitors. Holy Communion is taken to the housebound and those in care homes when possible.
Events have been held to provide opportunities for people to donate to organisations and charities associated with, or ancillary to, the Methodist Church, including All We Can and Christian Aid. Donations have been made to various local, national and international organisations. We look forward to being able to support charities and organisations further in the future. Also, we operate a monthly Bereavement Café in conjunction with Princess Alice Hospice, which offers space for bereaved people to share their experiences and be listened to; the numbers attending have been steady over the past year, and we now have a group of regular attendees coming most months. This sits alongside our Cancer Connections initiative, in which we partner with the local NHS trust to provide support to those who have finished cancer treatment or who are in remission. Working with South London Citizens has seen us deepen ecumenical and interfaith relationships, and our Minister is one of the two co-chairs of Churches Together in Malden. Music has continued to be an important fixture of our common life. We have again enjoyed a series of free lunchtime concerts and continued Sunday concerts, as well as a very successful Good Friday music event. Looking to the future, we continue to pray about and think through what it means to be at the heart of the High Street.
Public benefit
The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. NMMC exists to facilitate public worship in line with the Methodist Church tradition. Rooms are available for use by community organisations, including a daily playgroup. These rooms are let at a rate in line with other premises locally and are well used, with discounted rates offered to charities. NMMC runs a daily coffee bar (Wesley’s) from 10am to 2pm, which is run as a not-for-profit facility; the proceeds from Wesley’s are normally divided equally between our charities for the year.
Note that, on Saturday mornings, Wesley’s is available for outside organisations to hire for hosting charity coffee mornings. We charge a nominal fee for this, and charities/organisations then keep anything they make on top of this. By this mechanism, we have supported a wide range of other causes, from the local Rotary Club to Kingston-based dementia care and international development charities. This is in addition to our specific focus on raising money for charities at Harvest and during Christian Aid Week, for example, and the twenty-six local, national and international causes supported via the annual Christmas Tree Festival. The latter included, in this year’s selection, a local charity facilitating community refugee sponsorship, an LGBT+ organisation and All We Can, which is the Methodist Church’s international development charity.
Financial review
NMMC income is primarily drawn from the Sunday collections, Gift Aid and rental income including the letting of the church flat. These remained much the same as in the previous year. The major expenditure is in relation to the assessment paid to the Kingston upon Thames Methodist Circuit which is used to pay the District assessment and stipends and related costs of ministers. NMMC also employed a Church Administrator during this period. Our premises are owned by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes. NMMC is responsible for the cost of repairs and upkeep which in the year amounted to £8,421 .
The Church is indebted to the dedicated commitment, financial support, gifts in kind, work and self-sacrifice of our members in many ways without which we, and the neighbourhood, would be much the poorer. From time to time, the Church has surplus funds to invest on a short-term basis. Funds have traditionally been placed with the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church, which has a record of prudent management and good returns, coupled with flexibility and ease of repayment.
Reserves
The church does not maintain a separate Buildings Fund and feels it is therefore prudent to maintain a reserve that covers 6 months of annual running costs.
Risk management
The major risks have been identified and recorded by the Trustees with professional advice taken as required.
CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS NEW MALDEN METHODIST Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025 Kln ston-u on-Thama8 Clrcult Clrcuit no. 35138 Reglstered Charity - Charfty Reglstratlon numbor If not a registered charity His Majesty's Revanue and Customs Gift Ald number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist chariti8s in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) 1176621 Minister.. Rev. Dr Karl Rutlid Church Stewards: Julia Morton Julie Haines Elizabeth Edwards Treasurer.. Gloria Taviner Church-receipls4nd-payments-2025_Normal 1of5
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 NEW MALDEN METHODIST Chur¢h Unr•strlcted R•8tyi¢t•d Total3 th18 Funds Fund• yoar Totals last year SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note Offerin s and Tax recovered Bank and CFB Inte$1 and Investment income 42,216 42,216 43,279 a3 5.20S 80,S37 21,805 149,763 5,205 80,537 26,327 154.285 5.687 82,507 34,659 166,132 a4 Lettin a5 Other reIptS TOTAL RECEIPTS 4.522 4,522 a6 la71 SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 49,490 49,490 3.600 48,000 50 b3 Donations 3,600 8,421 Re airs and MaintenancE Utilities Ilnsurances, water charges, healing & lightin 63,056 b5 20,728 20,728 22,034 57,695 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 66,535 148,774 1,741 1,741 68,277 150,515 b8 (b91 190,835 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 a6-b8 989 2.780 3,770 24,703 Total funds brought forward from last year 107,174 49,047 156.221 180.924 ¢3 Sub totsl c1+c2 108.163 51.827 159,991 156,221 Transfers and ad ustments c7 c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR {c3+c4) 108.163 51,827 159,991 {c81 156.221 (c61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (these amounts ar• not to be Includad In total r•¢oiptslpa ments fi ureg d1 Balance brou ht fOard from last ear d2 Offerin sIGifts - reiVed for external o anisations 5,134 d3 OfferingslGifts - passed lo extem81 organisalion5 5.137 3,610 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID Id1+d2-d31 2ofS ChurClpts-ymtht$-202S Norn1
NEW MALDEN METHODIST Chureh $EeTION E pi &Jmm8ryofth8 church •c¢ounts for the year ended 31 Auou8t2025 and Intern81 Orgoll18atyons repoFbw tothe Church Countsvchurth Meeting. th81th8 fund8 01 an Intetn81 Org3nwbon would nom1 be Restncied lunds unles5 ncou1d be cwty$h( thatttrwcould used Icrany Methodi61 wrpDse. T8 Wbon muBtba grfnpI tosrrive atthe gross InMe and expenduretoISIsofth8 Church. ttGroBS intorne eXee4d$1hQAj&ts thfeSllOkY. tmn th•Awu8 metw 0facLx)ThI1ffj AND A DIFFERE14T FORM must be Lryed tore the accounts (see i18181byrtel Pthse relerto theguidance Feoarding transfefs thé Dlstrlra 8nrJ ¢Thatted DtrtOan1¥8uo7S. INTERNAL ORGANigAnoNS Nei Receip P8 en Openi b•&75 mon e3 e7 ublotg Dl8m•1 nwtbnsfunag e12 Church ttccounts Ilotsls brought fomrd Irom p•g• 2. totalo colurnnl 16438$ 100.11S 3.770 i¢n 158,221 189 991 Y CHLIRCH 1286 150.515 3,770 166,221 169,991 Conynug on a Beparnt& Sheet If8$¥ry •thJ Drig the •L8 fowrd TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL PAYMENf8 SECTION F OPENING CLOSING HURCH.CA8H FUIIDS HELD al31 Ewt 2025 Cash In ha Bank CurwiAnI 71.358 Bank De tAcctyJni Central Flrnan BDgr¢ 36.2e1 Trustsfor Melhoth Church P 50.144 52.373 rfunds SUP TOTAL- Ghur¢h I¢unt4 Totsifunds Md by hterMI Qrgwu$8bon$ (lhe dowrva 8114 total frorn thve} le121 156,221 169,991 le12 TOTAL CASH FUNDS MELD BY CHLIRCH 156.221 q69,991 SECnON G Al 1 Sept8mD8r2024 At 31 Auw8t2025 OTFERA88ET8 uABIL1Es Investments Includ¢ Endtrwm•nis LAna & Bukdin 8qe rntel re InBuFAllc4 VWUO OtherA55ets . 8NywanbxnlouhtÈndln ond r4 Indud81 FundSd at Cenlrdl FinArK8 Bo•id IS Irdudoonly Fun4$ held at Trusteesfor m&thodtChurth puSe q1 Induda any omer investments cash elemeMofTMCPtsu3ts lS1$Indu In Ilne rs 30f5
Name of Church . NEW MALDEN METHODIST CHURCH No.. 35138 Declarations and Scrutiny l confirm that these Receipt and Payment based ae¢ounts for the year to 31 August 2025 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that Ihey include all funds under the control of the Church trustees. Signature of treasurer ... Date... Name and address of treasurer: Gloria Taviner 4 Turner Road New Malden Post Cod6: Iff3 5NL Presentstlon to the Church trustses confirm that the annu21 report and aceounls for the year ènded 31 August 2025 were presented to the meeling of the Church trustees held on 25th January 2026 Signature of the Chair of the meellng Name of the Chair of the meeting.. Rev Dr Karl Rutlidge Date Independent Examlner's Report to the Trustees of the New Malden Methodist Church Charlty Number 1176621 Responslbilltles and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of theijw Ih&4-I,.C Church for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages . to 3 As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the Act,). I reFKIrt in respect of my examination of the Church's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)Ibl of the Act. delete or circle as appropriate Church+rece1pAnd.pIVnt2Q2&_Non 4ofS
Name of Church '. NEW MALDEN METHODIST CHURCH No . 35138 Independent Examlner's Ststsment I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination ( that in, any material respect: ") which give me cause to believe the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave not. obtained independent vertfication of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner Relevant professional qualtfication of independent examiner . kcfi Name of fim (where appropriate) CoLLArt05 - 9 Fou s-,rnFJiC IciMLx5isJTrJ IHAfy£s Address Post Code Date 3/31z delete or circle as appropriate ChLtr¢h-feoipts-and-payment5-2025_Normal 5of5