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2023-08-31-accounts

MARKET HARBOROUGH METHODIST CHURCH

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

31 AUGUST 2023

Charity Number 1178813

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MARKET HARBOROUGH METHODIST CHURCH

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the independently examined financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2023.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Charity Name: Charity Registration Number: 1178813

Market Harborough Methodist Church

THE TRUSTEES (Church Council)

The Trustees who served the charity during the period were as follows:

Revd Andrew Farrington (Superintendent Minister) Revd Andrew T Murphy (Chair) Neil Hadkiss (Secretary) Richard Huntington (Treasurer)

Church Stewards

Catherine Clarke Paul Colliss Emma Ferreri Helen Green David Haddow Maggie Hadkiss Rachel Hounsfield Kate Upcraft

Other members of the Church Council

Anita Beer Gill Billington Susie Colliss Alan Cox Margaret Cox Brenda Davies Peter Hales Shirley Hales Christine Hodgson Audrey Huntington Sue Nixon Caroline Osborne John Pearce Susan Routley Hannah Russell Ruth Thomas-Twinn

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MARKET HARBOROUGH METHODIST CHURCH

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

THE TRUSTEES (Church Council) (continued)

In attendance from the East Mercia Methodist Circuit:

Marilyn Calvert

In attendance as an observer, the Circuit Growth and Nurture worker:

Melissa Wheeler

Independent Examiner

Sarah Atwell-King

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Market Harborough Methodist Church is part of the East Mercia Methodist Circuit, which in turn is a component of the Northampton District of the Methodist Church of Great Britain.

With effect from 1[st] September 2022, the Market Harborough Methodist Circuit merged with the Kettering and Corby and the Rugby and Daventry Methodist Circuits to form the East Mercia Methodist Circuit, a component of the Northampton District of the Methodist Church of Great Britain. The Superintendent Minister oversees the whole Circuit, with a Circuit Leadership Team of lay and ordained people.

The Superintendent Minister delegates responsibility for the church to the Minister in pastoral charge, who is supported by internal groups and committees as follows:

Church Council

The Superintendent Minister, the Minister appointed to the Church, Church Stewards, Treasurer, Church Council Secretary, up to 21 representative Church Members (elected annually by the General Church Meeting). In attendance is a Circuit Growth and Nurture worker. All appointments are made annually, although there is an expectation that members will serve for a number of years.

All the Committees listed below report to the Church Council, which meets at least twice annually.

Church Stewards

8 stewards are elected by the General Church Meeting, for a maximum of six years. Responsible, with the Minister, for leadership over a whole range of the church’s life and for acting on decisions and policies of the Church Council.

Church Leadership Team

Regular meetings of Church Stewards and all other Church officers to ensure a forward-vision in the life of the Church and bring bringing proposals to the Church Council.

Pastoral Committee

Minister and Pastoral Visitors. Concerned with the pastoral care of Church members and attenders, maintenance of membership roll and promotion of fellowship through church groups.

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MARKET HARBOROUGH METHODIST CHURCH

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (continued)

Safeguarding Officer

The Church Council appoints a Safeguarding Officer who is appropriately trained and qualified, and this officer is supported by the Circuit Safeguarding Officers, and those at a District level.

Children and Youth Work Activities

Leaders of the various groups of children’s activities are accountable to the Church Council and are also supported by a Circuit committee appointed to oversee youth work more widely.

Prayer Ministry Team

This team of volunteers is active on a Sunday morning to provide prayer support when requested.

Worship and Music Team

Worship services are led by our Minister and other Preachers appointed by the Circuit. Musicians are co-ordinated by our music co-ordinator, and the wider church is occasionally consulted by the Minister in reviewing our provision of worship services.

Governance

Our statutes of governance and procedures such as the appointment of Trustees and other officers follows ‘ The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church’ ( CPD ), which is revised annually by the Methodist Conference and published annually by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP).

The primary governing body of Market Harborough Methodist Church, in accordance with CPD, is the Church Council. Members of the Council are the Managing Trustees, and the Council is chaired by the Minister. Church Council representatives and Church Stewards are elected at the General Church Meeting which is held annually. All church members can attend this meeting and are entitled to vote and raise any issues for discussion. The Trustees actively seek nominations for new Trustees who can represent all aspects of the church community and its activities.

At the first Church Council meeting of each year, new members receive documentation explaining their role as Trustees, which includes information provided by the Charity Commission. The Trustees receive no remuneration or other financial benefits from their work. All decisions taken at the Church Council meetings are minuted, and a summary is made available to church members and others by newsletters and in the weekly church service notices. A full copy of the Council minutes is displayed on a church noticeboard.

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MARKET HARBOROUGH METHODIST CHURCH

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (continued)

Management

The Trustees have maintained financial management arrangements requiring dual signatures on all cheques, and prior approval for all except minor items of expenditure.

The Trustees have maintained a Safeguarding policy with appropriate DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks for all aspects of the work of the Church with children and vulnerable adults.

The Trustees have maintained a system of formal risk assessment and a risk register. This includes mitigation strategies and is reviewed annually by the Trustees and by relevant sub-committees.

Day to Day management of the premises of the Church and the caretaking staff is delegated to the Minister, with support from members of the Church Leadership Team, some members of which are members of the Church Council.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Market Harborough Methodist Church seeks to achieve its purpose of advancing the Christian Faith by holding public worship on Sundays and on occasional weekdays, and by encouraging its members to live up to the priorities of the Methodist calling, namely evangelism, worship, service, learning and caring.

Every effort is made to ensure that the services are excellent in quality and accessible and inviting to all. The church buildings are open during the week both as a resource for local community groups to utilise and to provide a space for prayer, reflection and rest. Facilities are offered for baptisms, weddings and funerals, together with accompanying pastoral care.

The Church is an active member of ‘Churches Together in Harborough’ which promotes ecumenical dialogue, services and inter-denominational activities within Market Harborough and the surrounding area.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Worship

Whilst the buildings have been open for public worship, the pattern of Sunday services has been sustained, with a willingness to innovate as well as maintaining a tradition of excellence. The church continues to welcome visitors and new members.

The ‘live streaming’ system to the Church YouTube internet site continues to allow housebound and other members to experience worship in their own homes alongside the congregation in the Church or at a later date.

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MARKET HARBOROUGH METHODIST CHURCH

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (continued)

Property & Finance

A steady programme of maintenance has continued through the year to ensure that the buildings provide a safe and welcoming space and to reduce their carbon footprint. £16,050 (2022 £13,033) of funds has been donated during the year to support a number of local and overseas projects which help people in need.

Growth in Membership / Loss of Members

Market Harborough Methodist Church encourages people to express their Christian commitment in terms of baptism, confirmation and church membership, and to continue to grow, learn and serve, in fellowship, worship and service in the community. In the year 2023-24, we received five new members and conducted no baptisms. Sadly, six of our members died during this period, while an additional five funerals were conducted by our minister either on our church premises or at another venue. There was one wedding conducted during the year.

Community Service

The premises remain available to a wide range of community groups and activities. Church members engage as volunteers with a number of these organisations. In particular, members support the Jubilee Food Bank, the Bower House counselling service, and are involved in collecting for Christian Aid.

During the year a café was established as a safe meeting place and a source of information for Ukrainian families living within the area. It has been well supported.

Work with Children & Young People

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MARKET HARBOROUGH METHODIST CHURCH

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (continued)

Ecumenical Links

The Church has participated actively in Churches Together in Harborough and supported the events organised by CTH.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Church suffered a small deficit for the year ended 31 August 2023 due to significant expenditure on maintenance of the buildings. Offerings from members returned to their previous levels due to many members maintaining their contributions by standing order. All other costs were minimised wherever possible to reduce the impact of the lower income although the effects of escalating energy costs are being felt throughout the Church.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees aim to maintain free reserves in the unrestricted General Fund at a level which equates to approximately six months of unrestricted expenditure. The Trustees consider that at this level, the reserves will provide sufficient working capital to cover the normal fluctuations in income and expenditure and to meet emergency calls on cash, for example for unexpected repairs. At the end of the year, General Funds equated to 37.6% of annual General Fund expenditure. (2022 = 42.2%).

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AC COUNTSFOR THEYEARENDED 31A UGUST2023 Market Harboro ugh Church
Unrestricted Restricted Totalsthis Totals last
SECTIONA Funds Funds
t € t E
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings andTaxrecovered 68,424 11,091 79,515 89,730
Bank and CFB interest and
a3 lnvestment income 1,624 1,621 3,245 257
a4 Lettinqs 23,987 23,987 18,992
a5 Other receipts 4,283 4,958 9,241 15,217
a6 TOTALRECEIPTS 98,318 17,670 115,988 (a7) 124,196
SECTIONB
LI
1		 PAYMENTS
h
F b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 46,920 46,920 45,395
b3 Donations 16,049 16,049 13,033
b4 Repairs andlVlaintenance 25,939 25,939 24,250
Utilities (lnsurances,water
b5 charges, heating & lighting) 12,634 12,634 9,370
b6 Capital Proiects 10,850 10,850
b7 Other payments 6,165 2,212 8,377 5,699
L b8 TOTALPAYMENTS 102,508 18,261 120,769 (be) 97,747
t
SECTIONC
NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS
c1 FOR THEYEAR (a6-b8) (4,190) (5e1) (4,7811 26,449
Totalfundsbrought forward from
c2 last year 41,447 72,130 113,577 (c6) 85,600
iII c3 Subtotal (c1+s2') 37,257 71,539 108,796 112,049
c4 Transfers and adiustments 4,087 4,087 (c7l 1,s28
I c5 TOTALFUNDSATEND OFYEAR (c3+c4) 41,344 71,539 tm @ 113,577 (cG)

INTERNAL
ORGANISATIONS		 Receipts Net Receipts/ Net Receipts/ Adjustments Opening
balances		 Closing balances
el BenevolenceFund 3,022 2,745 711 988
e2 Bowls Club 106 12 94 (s50) 657 201
e3 Ladies Contact Group 719 54 665 129 794
OutreachFund (1,648) 1,648
e4
e5 Together Lunches 3,353 (e0o) 490 454
e6 Tuesday CoffeeMornings 1,959 1 (e8e) 1,148 1,428
e7
e8		 Sub total of lnternal
Oroanisations funds		 9,159 5,990 3,169 (4,087) 4,783 (e11) 3,865 /e',l2|
e9 Church accounts(totals
brought forwardfromPage
2-totalscolumn)		 115,988 (a7) 120,769 (bs) 14,781], 4,087 (c7) 113,577 (c6) 112,883 (c8)
e10 TOTALCASH FUNDSHELL)
BY CHURCH		 125,147 't26,759 (1,612) 't18,360 (x) 116,748 (v)
Continue on a separatesheet
if necessary andbring the		 TOTALRECEIPTS TOTAL
PAYMENTS
totalsfoMard
$t.
hl		 STATEMENTOFASSETSAND LIABILITIES
P
11,		 OPENING CLOSING
GHURCH-CASH FUNDSHELD at31 2023 BALANCES BALANCES
fl Cash in hand
3,432 5,995
n Bank Current Account
f3 Bank Deoosit Account
49.710 45,194
f4 Central Finance Board
60,435 61,694
15 Trustees for [4ethodistChurch PurPoses
f6 funds
n SUBTOTAL-Church accounts 113,5771 (c6) 112,883 (c8)
f8 Total fundsheld by lnternal Organisations (the closing
balance totalfrom above) (e12)		 4,783 (e1 1) 3,86s (e12)
118,360 (x) 116,748 (v)
19 TOTALCASHFUNDSHELDBY CHURCH
SECTIONG At
1September 2022		 At
3'1August 2023
ASSETS ES
34,348 34,522
sl lnvestments(include Endowments)
2,877,257 2,975,594
ffii Land&Buildings(see notes re lnsurance value)
l:
s3 Other Assets
s4 Loan(s) - show amountoutstandingatyear end
E5 OtherLiabilities