2024-08-31-accounts

Stamford Methodist Church, Lincolnshire

Annual report and Accounts Year ended 31 August 2024

Stamford Methodist Church Registered Charity Number: 1182848

CJS June 2025

Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

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
Intentionally blank	14

CJS June 2025

Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

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 Hollins (Chair) Corinna Selby (Senior Church Steward) Anne Wiltshire (Church Steward) Anne Earle (Church Steward & Second Helpings rep)) Elizabeth (Beth) Hodgson (Church Steward) Stephen Husbands (Church Steward) Vivienne Higgins (Church Steward & Pastoral Secretary) Martin Greenfield (Church Steward) Lynne Booker (Secretary to Church Council) – wef 02 May 2024 Frances Coles (Treasurer) Eddie Adams (Assistant Treasurer) Barry Streets (Circuit Steward) – wef 02 May 2024 Janet (Jan) Hetherington (The Well) Sarah Atwell-King (Local Preacher) Pauline Jones (Mission Projects) Conan Lewis (Past Steward); Charlotte Davis (Church Safeguarding Officer) & CC Secretary – until April 2024 Julia Husbands Audrey Hensman Christine (Chris) Adams Margaret Hewerdine Janet Howitt Beryl Teasdale Jennifer (Jenny) Whatley Clive Marshall resigned wef 02 May 2024 Godfrey Jones Rev William Booker wef 02 May 2024 Hugh Allen wef 02 May 2024 Jane Allen wef 02 May 2024

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Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

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.

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Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

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 worship and occasional services as well as weddings and funerals on request.

• Raising awareness of Christianity in our community.

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Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

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.

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Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

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 the 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

Numbers of attendees has remained lower than pre-COVID, but the Pastoral Visitors have remained in contact with all members, and online services have continued to feature weekly and at key times in our religious calendar. Several members have passed away and others remain too frail or ill to return to church. We have seen new people worshipping with us and look forward to seeing all that they bring to our fellowship as they worship with us. Four members were transferred in February 2024.

Hiring of the building continues to ensure our building is busy, providing a steady income.

From September 2023, each quarter, the church was responsible for its own worship on a given date. These Local Arrangement services are the responsibility of the stewards, but they have encouraged other groups to work with a steward and deliver a service. Local Arrangement services were in October, December and March.

In April 2024 the church celebrated all that it achieves and held a Gift Day to increase funds allowing for improvements to be made to our worship area and worship held within it. This was very well supported and the trustees, with advice from the Property Committee and Stewards, will be responsible to ensure that this money is spent wisely.

Financial review

The accounts for the year ending 31st August 2024 have been audited and were presented for approval by the Church Council and signing by Rev Andrew Hollins on 12 November 2024.

The accounts for the year show a surplus position of £21,783, representing income of £133,243 offset by expenditure of £111,460. (In 2022/23 the Church made a surplus of £11,619)

Income has increased from last year, due to the receipt of a legacy of £9,656 and a wellsupported Gift Day where Church members donated £20,560. Lettings income has

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Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

reduced from £20,573 to £18.286 due, in part, to cash accounting and Bank interest/investment income increased to £4,203 from £2,044 due to higher interest rates. Expenditure has also increased from last year to £111,460 from £104,674. This increase is due to

• a 50% increase in Utilities costs to £18,062. This increase reflecting the end of the fixed term utility contract in December 2023.

• The Church assessment, supporting the Circuit expenses including ministerial stipends and lay workers, which increased by £7,000 to £57,000.

A reserve of £5,000 has been created for future boiler maintenance/replacement.

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Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

The Trustees' Annual Report was signed by the Chair of Trustees on behalf of the Church Council at the meeting in October 2025. The accompanying Methodist Standard Form of Accounts were presented to and approved by the Church Council in November 2024

Rev Andrew Hollins Chair of Trustees

Date: 09 October 2025

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Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

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 2024.

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 William Swann Address: 39 Chatsworth Road Stamford Lincolnshire Date: 25 October 2024

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Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

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 2024, 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 its 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

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Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

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.

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Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

Accounting policies - Methodist Standard Form of Accounts

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Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024 Stamford Methodist ECTK4 A 31 RECEVTS ie. 18206 1rn 1332 .S31 TOTAL REcwrs 11 SECTK4 B TS Vartevce 27.W 111Ag) .IYJ1 10(GT TOTAL PAYIEpirs secTTh C NEf RECMWAYIIEifrs FOR YEAR c1 21.78 21.7 Je c1 101. TOTAL F￿lD5 AT ￿ Cf YEAR 101. $ecTK4 0 a1 271 STLL TO BE P dl 2(¢5

Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024 ¢￿t ei3 J4 16SI 17r.17 T￿ Ir Ji 13-

Stamford Methodist Church Year ended 31 August 2024

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