## Stamford Methodist Church, Lincolnshire Annual report and Accounts Year ended 31 August 2021 **Stamford Methodist Church** Registered Charity Number: 1182848 **CJS February 2023** **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2021** ## **Contents** ||Page| |---|---| |Trustees' Annual Report|1 to 7| |Independent Examiner's Report|8| |Comments on Methodist Standard Form of Accounts|9 to 10| |**Appended:**|| |Methodist Standard Form of Accounts|11 to 13| **CJS February 2023** **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2021** ## **Trustees' Annual Report** ## **Reference and administration details** **Charity name** : **Stamford Methodist Church** Also known as: Barn Hill Methodist Church **Registered charity number** : **1182848** Address: Stamford Methodist 11 Barn Hill Stamford Lincs PE9 2AE ## **Managing Trustees** The names of those who served as Managing Trustees in the year are as follows: Rev Andrew Fyall (Chair) Rev William Booker (assistant chair, minister within the circuit) Corinna Selby (Senior Church Steward) Anne Wiltshire (Church Steward) Anne Earle (Church Steward) Beth Hodgson (Church Steward) Stephen Husbands (Church Steward) Sally Ijioma (Church Steward) John Cameron (Secretary to Church Council, Steward & Property Secretary)) Eddie Adams (Treasurer) Roger Ing (Assistant Treasurer) Moira Collins (Circuit Steward) Vivienne Higgins (Pastoral Secretary) Helen Little (Mission interest) Jan Hetherington (The Well) Audrey Hensman (YOW & Second Helpings) Sarah Atwell-King (Local Preacher) Pauline Jones (Mission Projects) Evelyn Pickard (Past Steward); Charlotte Davis (Church Safeguarding Officer) Ian Husbands Julia Husbands Chris Adams Margaret Hewerdine Janet Howitt Bill Newbery David Clarke Nick Jones Beryl Teasdale Clive Marshall Godfrey Jones Maz Roberts - 1 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2021** **Trustees' Annual Report** _(continued)_ ## **Structure, governance and management** ## **Governing document** As part of the wider Methodist Church in Great Britain, the Charity's governing document is the Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976). Within the wider Methodist Connexion, Stamford Methodist Church is part of the Stamford Circuit which in turn is itself part of the Northampton District of the Methodist Church. ## **Membership of the governing body** The governing body of the Charity is the Church Council, the members of which are the Managing Trustees. Certain officers are automatically Managing Trustees by virtue of their office. These are the minister, the secretary, the church stewards, the treasurer and the pastoral secretary. The other Managing Trustees are church representatives appointed to the Church Council at a general meeting of members of the church, normally held at least annually. Three committees report to the Church Council: - The Finance Committee oversees the churches finances, reporting to the Church Council at all meetings. - The Property Committee is responsible for day-to-day upkeep of the church building and overseeing the hire activities of the Church. - The Pastoral Committee is responsible for the pastoral care of the fellowship of the church Other groups reflecting the life and work of the church meet to discuss their work and write a report shared at Church Council meetings: - The Stewards - The Safeguarding Officer - The Mission Projects Group - Second Helpings – ‘feeding bellies not bins’ initiative - The Well – the church coffee shop & Fairtrade Shop - The Growth & Outreach Group As an employee of the Church, the Children’s and Families Work Enabler also submits a report. ## **Bodies entitled to appoint Trustees** The Stamford Circuit Meeting is entitled to appoint four Trustees to the Stamford Methodist Church Council, which comprise: - the Minister of Stamford Methodist Church; - the Superintendent Minister of the Circuit; - one other Minister from the Circuit; and - a Circuit Steward. - 2 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2021** ## **Trustees' Annual Report** _(continued)_ ## **Objectives and activities** ## **Purposes** The calling of the Methodist Church 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** The Church exists to increase awareness of God's presence and to celebrate God's love ## **Learning and Caring** The Church exists to help people to grow and learn as Christians, through mutual support and care ## **Service** The Church exists to be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice ## **Evangelism** The Church exists to make more followers of Jesus Christ Stamford Methodist Church seeks to apply this within the local environment of Stamford, Lincolnshire. As well as acting as a place of worship, Stamford Methodist Church also aims to use the building with which it is blessed, to offer space for hire to the local community. ## **Activities undertaken** The Charity undertakes a wide range of activities every year in line with its Christian purpose. These typically include but are not limited to: - Acting as a place of worship and providing a holy space for focus within the local community. - Offering pastoral care: to its members, to those visiting the Church and to the wider community. - Providing and maintaining the church building for both worship and community use. - Conducting religious ceremonies, including regular Sunday and occasional services as well as weddings and funerals on request. - Raising awareness of Christianity in our community. - 3 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2021** ## **Trustees' Annual Report** _(continued)_ - Both providing the opportunity for external community action groups to hire the building and running some such groups directly - examples including Second Helpings, Twinkle Tots, Girls’ Brigade & JCBs, Messy Church, various fellowship groups & The Well. - Providing a hire venue for use by the community. - Being part of the Stamford Churches Together group with other local churches. - Maintaining links with the various user groups of its premises. - Serving as a base for Stamford Street Pastors. ## **Public benefit statement** The Managing Trustees oversee the activities of the Charity with due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. The benefits of the Christian activities of the Stamford Methodist Church are considered to be: - Improved spiritual and mental wellbeing. - Pastoral care and support within the local community for families and those without families. - Friendship and fellowship amongst the congregation and others who visit regularly. - Fosters community involvement at all levels. - Care for the environment based on a responsibility for stewardship of God's creation. - Challenging trade injustice through the support of such causes as Fair Trade. - Bereavement support. - Availability for local ceremonies at key stages in life (weddings, funerals, baptisms). - Availability of a safe space. - Support through direct giving, fundraising and support for other local, national and international charities. - 4 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2021** ## **Trustees' Annual Report** _(continued)_ The benefits of the community hire activities of the Church are considered to be: - Strengthening the local community through the availability of learning, leisure and social activities. - Availability of local cultural activities through concerts and other events hosted. - Availability of local therapeutic, wellbeing and health beneficial activities. - Support of other charities through availability of space for hire or hosting of fundraising events. - Encouragement of interaction between different community groups meeting within the same building. ## **Achievements and performance** As the impact of COVID-19 continued to cast its shadow across the world, the year to 31 August 2021 was one of gradual steps back towards some sort of normality. Sunday worship services in church had already resumed, with some restrictions, before August 2020, and worship continued to respond to the changing pandemic situation throughout the period covered by this report (Sept 2020 – Aug 2021). The year also saw the gradual resumption of hire activity of the Church building and we were delighted to begin to welcome hirers old and new through our doors once more. ## **Financial review** The 2020/2021 Accounts have been audited and show a deficit of £8,759. This shortfall is as a result of the deposits paid for the manufacture of the new halls windows and sills, in advance of the work starting. Thanks were expressed to the various internal organisations for getting their accounts to the treasurer in time for the final audit. We were successful in obtaining grants for a large portion of the cost of the work for the refurbishment of the kitchen. In addition, we were able to reclaim all of the VAT paid on the project. Thanks to all those involved. It will be noticed that the windows in the Halls have now been replaced. We are hoping that we will be able to offset most of that expenditure by obtaining grants and also by reclaiming the VAT. At last this project is complete, it has been a long haul! The Collection Counting rota will be starting again in the New Year and Alan Carling, who organises this, will be hoping for more volunteers to help with this important part of church life. To begin with, the frequency will be fortnightly as the amounts of cash in the plates is - 5 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2021** ## **Trustees' Annual Report** _(continued)_ not as much as it used to be. This is due to the fact that most members of the congregation are using standing orders through their banks to make their contributions. You will be aware that the church is employing, on a part time basis, a Children’s & Families Work Enabler. We are currently financing this without assistance, except for the few who continue to contribute regularly. If there are any folk who feel that they would like to make a regular payment towards this work, then they should speak to the treasurer. You will note that we have a sum of £1,000 invested with TMCP (Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes) as the Siddons Bequest. The interest from the account last year was £1.24. It is a restricted fund and we wish to release this to help finance the Children’s & Youth Enabler. I will be applying to the Board in the next week for the release of funds. Finally, a word about the projected figures to the end of the current financial year. The Finance Committee have carefully examined our likely income and expenditure and we are forecasting an approximate break-even situation. It will be noted that lettings have resumed, and we are anticipating a sum of about £17,000 for this. Nearly all the community groups have now returned to their usual full use of their previous bookings leaving just a few smaller groups who have decided not to return. We are also getting many enquiries for new bookings and the weekly schedule is now reaching maximum. We anticipate an income of between £15,000 and £20,000 for the present year. - 6 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2021** ## **Trustees' Annual Report** _(continued)_ The Trustees' Annual Report was signed by the Chair of Trustees on behalf of the Church Council. The accompanying Methodist Standard Form of Accounts were presented to and approved by the Church Council in November 2021 ## **Rev Andrew Hollins** Chair of Trustees _(from September 2022)_ ## Date: **15 February 2023** _(due to the lateness of this report)_ - 7 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2022** ## **Independent Examiner's Report** I report to the Managing Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Stamford Methodist Church (the "Charity") for the year ended 31 August 2021. As the Managing Trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - 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 order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: **David Swann** Name of Independent Examiner: David Swann Address: 39 Chatsworth Road Stamford Lincolnshire Date: **29 Nov 2021** - 8 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2022** ## **Accounting policies - Methodist Standard Form of Accounts** ## **Basis of accounts** On the following pages 11 to 13 are given the Methodist Standard Form of Accounts of Stamford Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2021, prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Methodist Church in Great Britain. The accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis since income is below the threshold that allows this approach. ## **Accounting policies** In order to better aid the understanding of readers, the following accounting policies are stated which explain aspects of the standard form of accounts: ## **Core activities** The result for the year from core activities of the Charity, being the operation of the Church and it’s rooms, are given in sections A to C. ## **Charitable collections** Collections made for specific charities are accounted for separately in section D and are not therefore part of the funds of the Charity. ## **Internal organisations** Any internal organisations within the overall Charity that have separate funds are shown in section E. ## **Funds** In common with most charities, the funds held by Stamford Methodist Church fall into three categories: ## _**General unrestricted funds**_ General funds are unrestricted and can be used for any purpose in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Managing Trustees. ## _**Designated unrestricted funds**_ Designated funds are also unrestricted but have been allocated to a particular purpose by the Managing Trustees. ## _**Restricted funds**_ Restricted funds can only be used for particular purposes within the charitable objectives. Such restrictions may arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. All funds relating to internal organisations are deemed to be restricted funds - 9 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2022** ## **Accounting policies - Methodist Standard Form of Accounts** ## **Church site and building** In common with all Methodist Churches, the property is owned by the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes ("TMCP"). Usage of the building by Stamford Methodist Church is for those purposes as permitted under the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church. ## **Accompanying notes** Additional accompany notes are given voluntarily where it is felt these will add beneficial information to the reader of the accounts. - 10 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2021** **Accounting policies - Methodist Standard Form of Accounts** - 11 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2021** - 12 - **Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2021** - 13 -