CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND ANO WALES Trustees. Annual Report for the period From 1 September 2024 2025 Period start date To Period end date 31 August Charity name: All Saints Methodist Church Abingdon Charity rngistration number. 1184115 Objectives and Activities Summary of the purposes of the charity as set our in its ' goveming dcKument P*•117 The purposes of the tharity as set out in bts goveming documenl, the Methodist Churth Act 1976 (dause 4) are as followA.' The Purposes of MeitNxlist Church are and sh￿[ be deemed lo have been Sin￿ the dale of union the advancement of - {a} the ChrEtian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the d￿p11r￿ of Ihe Methodist Church; Ib) any ch*rtable purwse for the iome bei of any connexional dstrict. circuit. local or other organisat￿n of the Meth(xJist Church: {c) any charitafjle purpose tor the ts.me beirvJ of any sociely or In5thution b•ng a society or institution subsidiary or anullary to Ihe methOd￿t Churth.. (d) any purpose for the time beir*3 of any charity betng a charity SUb￿d￿ry or ancillary to the MethodBt Church. The Mission siaiement of All Saints sLites Ihal we seek to sha￿ Our larth in Myship and stuty. Rgllecf Christ s acce￿￿ love iv? fx*ndship and canilg.. Help each ouw f￿e any diffrutties and doub Explofe r(>Jether sthat rf means to be GCQ'S people in today s bK)hd. Summary ol the main aclivities in relatKJn lo IfM)se purposes for the pubtic benefit, in particular. the activil*s. projects or serwces id•niif*d in accounts. Parn t.17 aryj 1 19 The provision of public acts of worship ¢¥en to members of the churth and l¢x31 communty. Promotion of Chnsttanity through stagirKJ events arKI services open to all who wi*h tn xttpnrl The provision of a sacred pl￿ {a lld1￿ for prayer. contem . .￿. ation and S￿ritUal expl(xation. The teaching of Chrlslianily. expbration of farth and providin9 nurture for Indiv￿uals through S￿5, colwses and group aCt￿t￿5. Prayer as a Church- recent inthabves indude a prayer tree In the lobby Iwhe(e anyone can wjd prayer requests), dedicated prayer comer in Ihe main Church, a what's app prayer group a monthly 'in person, prayer meeling. Pastoral work including ￿SItIng and Supporting the 5Kk and bereaved among the corrfJregation. Tre provision of y¢)uth actNities open to the local ¢(￿M￿nty. Promotin9 whote rnission of the Church (and aidiTh3 social cohe&on) Ihrough activrtie5 for older people, pareftls and children. and other specfft needs groups. New mi55ion Inrtiatives indude a FrKday Coffee moming open lo church members and wider communty. There is also a new M(yxlay offee mcrfning to which panKipants In one of our user groups of the chur offerirvj exercise classes for older peo are wannly invited. The provision of hDSPrtality and support for vulnerable people. Supporting other charibes in the UK and overseas financolly, wrth prayer. apFeals and lur¥Fraisng event5, and in some ases wrth volunteenng by individuals. Letting Ihe Fwitses to a Var￿ of ¢huTth, chantable. community groups and individuals ft)r events. concerts. celetrrfalions etc. Providing use ol the premises for free to local guJdJng and scout groups tho rovrde adivilies for oun The Trustees have confimied ai the Ch(tych Council tr￿kj on 5 Fetyuary 2026 thal. Statement confirmin9 whethef the trustees have had re9ard to ihe guKlan¢e issued by the Charity C¢)mmission on public benefrt I 1.18 The frustees have 1￿mplied witty duty to have due regard to the guidarKe on public beneljt publishcd by the Commi&sKJn rn their rs ¢Y duli&¥s Addilional information Iopiional) You ma choose to indLkde furthér statèments wtve relevant aboutr All Saints makes donations to Methodist Churd) fvnds and Other Organisatsons that have been supponea regularly for a numDer OT ycars. These are budgeied for. v￿h a rtion of parni. Poly grant makiNJ geted rmjregat￿la1 giving aTh letts'ng ￿￿Orne. and rewewed for affordability. Thc overall charitaP)Je giving budgci is agreed by Church Council. rirg the year, a workirwJ party re¥iewEJJ the oolicy on making donations fof 2025-26. For the rrerrt year budgeted tharilable donations will be the sum of 5% of income lrneanirKJ ￿leCtIOnS plus gift awj plus letting income) and £500 Th￿ amount will t￿ split between a smaller list of 12 ¢harrties regularly supported by All Saiftls In the pasL This recommendabon subsequentty approved by Church Counal. NIA Polbcy on socaal investrneni irKluding Pf(¥ram related investrncnt Pwa 1.38 Many con9wational members volunteer for All Saints in different capacrtjes. InclLJding the g0veMan￿ of the church as stth¥ards. Church Council and commrttee members. Othefs suppM worship in church sefvices and fellopwshiplrefreshments after church sery1￿, runnirg house groups, prayer and worship groLJps. Others supwrt the maintenance and genèral running of thurch as well aS￿neral fellowshi . c￿InbU￿"ofi m*Je by volunteers 1.36 Achievements and Performance In September 2024 we ￿elcoMe¢ a rthv Minisler Rev Georgina Borb#zi-Simpson. The Church Council continue lo consider the I￿￿e direction of the Church, ur>d the gu￿an￿ of our ne4V minister. in 11ght of reduced numbers of minister5 In the def Circu There is a ferewed lo￿ on missi¢)n th workshops being held In the year by Selina Nesbitt as well as all thurch discu￿On$. This work ¢￿tInUeS. PrayN 3 Chureh has been *nhInr￿￿1 through a prayer tree. prayer c¢xner. what.s a and monihl 'in Summary of the main hievemenls of the tharity. enbfying the difference the charity's work has mado to Circumstan￿ ot its beneficiaries and any wider benefrts to society as a whole P**1 prayer meetings. Despite a small sle4Y4rdship team in the period, the slewardship leam have dilM)ently prepared a safe and stsmulating worship environmenl aloThJsidc the welcome stewards that support on a Sunday rnoming and have also taken on responsibilily propety matters Wrth the support of church members as Property Adion no longer meets lormally. Key property projects induded the cOmp￿￿On of the sound system pgrade (fvndecl from generous bequests receive24). The Churctl Council have agrced to the reptacement of the boiler due to old age This wil safeguard continuty of wamth for the congregatjon and Church user groups Through0￿ year. an organisl has accompan￿1 services once a month. using funds from lThe restrKted living legacy. Pianisls and Ihe Music Gn)up also frequenty te•J our music in worship. All Saints has continued to closely support charrties through both dire 9tving and congregational givir•9. Contnbutions t¢)wards the Methodist Church and other charities regularly supported by the Church were made evertts for fundra￿n9 for other chanties held. During the peri¢Jd the Church conDnued to supwt AbiTrJdon Foodbank wrth a donatIc￿ and focvJ arKI loiFetr￿5 do￿￿ed by Ihe wngregation part of inthatives to support the Anti- Poverty Charter. I Saint5 has continued to support cornrnunrty groups. an increasiThJ number of local organtsati¢)ns maknng regular use of the Church premises. AEI Saints has expaTrJed tts links wrth the communty by establishiryJ two new coffee mornings These indude a Friday coffee moming open to church members and Ihe wder Commun￿ There Is also a new MorKlay coffee moming lo whrti partiopant5 in one of our user groups ot the church offeriry exercise classes for older are Nyarml invrted Additional inlormation (optional) You ma tho)se to include further st*ements where relevant about AchievemerttÈ aoainsl P4r4 1.41 Perfomiance of fundrwsiTh3 activits'es agair*t otyectsves sel Weekly and mcmthty contrilyjtions from rnembers and the congregation tg9ether wrth letting incomc aim lo cover the man orerational exrenses. induding tt circurt asseSs￿￿nI. operats.onal expenditure and routine ptoperty maintenance. Fundrasing events are generally appeals for e￿ernal ￿ganISatI0r￿. All Sainls ha5 receNed 9er*rous bequests lolalling £5.000 in 2024-25 (and £14.G63 in 202&241 A further bcquesi of just under £1,(￿ was r￿1Ve￿ in 202&26. However, given a fall in cor#Jregabonal giving in 202>24 aThJ ccrtinuing or*ralional costs. as we sadly losi church members. there wa$ concern over a ￿rge budgeled shonfall In 202 25 A Gift day raiscd £6,520 ((x £7.888 including related Gift kn1). Some church memtW5 have also kindly rewewed their regular giving We are graleful to thurc memb￿$ for the￿ response aTrJ generow. See also the FmarKial Revie*V below. Investrnent perfonnarKe against ottyectsves Investments ate held centrajty by the Ctriral Finan￿ Bo¥d of the Methodist Church. Other Financial Review l Review of the ¢hanly's finanual position at the end of the perisxl Parn121 mam ￿go￿lj ol wKome is through offerings. including Sunday collections and donations by regular bank standing orders which need to Support largely fixed costs All Saints are very fortunate with the continued 9enerosily ol Churcn member5 aewrte the joss ot several memL*rs In recent years. As noted above. In respow to concems ov¥ a budgeted shortfall for 2024-25. the cororegation generally responded to the Gift Day appeal raisirrfJ £7.888 (Including gift ai¢y) a number of Lhurch mernber5 InLYeased regular Ivin Collections for the year totalled £55. 183 (2023124 £51.948) The level of bank standiTrJ ordefs irueased lo £43,715 {2023124 £42.4751. having fallcn 61JA in the previous year and the level ot envelope gmng increased 17% to £9.33B {2023124 £7.968), having fallen 35% in the previous year. Loose cash increased to £2, 13012023124 £1.5051. The annual amourrt recoverÈd through grft aid on the sU￿laY collectsons was £11,943 {2023124 £12.692) The total for these donati￿ and thc associated g aid was up 4% lo £67.126 {2023124 £G4.641), having fallen 11 % in ihe prevFOUS year. 80th the Juty and Aug￿1 2025 9rft clairns were reGwed po* year*nd (usualty onty the August gift aid daim) Bequests 01 £5.00012023124 £14,663) were receNed in the year and are held locally. in accorda￿ WTth a diffeclion Ir(Kn TMCP A further bequest of lust under £ 7.(M)O was received In October 2025 These amounts are hekd in the Depogl Fund ai the Central Finan¢x Board ol the MethtsJist Chufc*I v¥hich eams interest. The 2023r24 bequests have been used lo part lund the sound syslwn (total costs £17,677 over 2023124 3r¥J 2024125). Other memorable donaknons of £1.050 (202W 24 £1CQ) were also recwed. The other main source of income is lettsngs to conmunty groups. LettirKJs Éncome totalled £13,824 {2023124 £14.513', 2022123 £18,408) The fall over the past coupSe of years athbutabse mainly lo the fact thai pr school movegj rls premises after December 2023. Hov4ever. lettings frLNn hErers havo shielded the Impact. TFwe was an increase in iniere5t income to £3.037 (2023124 Q.519) refleding increased furKts despte tsMir¥J interest rates. The largest Ètem ot Op￿al￿1 exDenditure is rhe f.irrJJit ￿e￿$Mont of £50.75912023124 £50.512). ofher operational costs totalled £7.877120231 24 £8.4941. The overaFI reduction in operational costs refiects a signtfic3nt fan in independeni exarniner costs followng a change of fim. offset by increases In other cosi caiegones. induding the co of the admintstr3lnr *pnd4ry <>n nobceboards. music 5tan¢Js and smdl fumtture. Maintenance exréndrture ot £18.230 {2023J 24 £18.303} was incurred. £60 garden wasle costs have bcen reclasgfEd to Ufilrties In p[￿r year. previously shown as repairs and maintenan￿. Maintertance expenditure included £11 784 to complete the upgrad¢ of the sour•d system (2023124 £5,892 inttial spend on the sound system and £3,960 hall redecoration) These amounts were part tunded by bequests. Otherwtse, costs fell. with generalty lower costs of serviceslparts for fire protectson. electrKal and gas safetythiler checks. CleaniryJ costs fell lo £5. 100 (2023124 £5,823). v•th lower hours required after pre-school left in De￿rnber 2023. Utsltb'es expenditure arKI insurance fell lo 10 £6.47712023124 £8.SS41 Th V￿le0Me fall was attributable to lowèr enenjy costs reversng the rise in utilffy costs in the prior year. In faa, lot31 ublty Costs are lower than in 2022123 The levd of ongoing income has enabled Afi Saiftls lo contsnue to donate to Central Methodrst fuThJs and other charrties. In 20241 25. givin9 £6,60612023124 £6,248) wilh £2.946 {2023124 £4 196) 10 Methc*Jist Church funds arhy affiliated or9anisation5 aTrJ £3.661 120231 24 £2.0521 other donabons to charilable organisabons regulaty sup￿rted by the church. The inryeased PrOPOrt￿n of donations lo n0￿meth(￿jist charities retlects Ihe fact that the circuil assessment indudes a ¢ontributKn to the Meth¢#Ji4 Church FuThJ. so the amounts paid directly by the church were redu¢e¢. The amounts to non-methodisl Church charrties also It￿uded £1.134 rdating to 2023124 budgeted allo&*ions. In addrtion lo i￿e donations. £2.273 (2021124 ¢1,925) has been raised aTrd £2,282 12023124 £1.855) disburs&d for extemal Cryan￿ns thrO￿h appeals and ev￿￿5 The Church achieved a surplus of £8.419 {2023124 ¢5,035) The Church intemal organisati¢)ns made a surplus of £176 (2023124 £28 defi(X) Jusl Women remains active. mebng regularfy arwj hokjing speaker events. Churth lunds of £102.146 (2023124 £93.727) logether wth funds ol Church intemal organJ-_7tion5 of P?00 (20231 24 £1141 totalled £102.43612023124 £93:841) These are hekl prèdominanty in bank accourrts or in deposrt funds at ihe Central Finan￿ Board of the Methc*Yrst Church or Tr￿￿ee5 for Methodisl Churth Purposes (TMCP) aTrJ £219 {2023124 £431 in l¢)ose cash hcld by iniemal organisat￿nS. Restncted funds- the living legacy of £13. 150 (2023124 £13,166) Increased by allocated interest incc#ne net of organist fees char9ed to this reseNe. This iJ¢xab¢Jn is re*ncled for specific use. Io sUPPOrt ar*y ￿rich the worship lrfe of the church (and ￿1 for recurrent exper>drture and Maintenan￿). The amounts available in the Richard Cox bequest, which is unrestricted, totall&J £9 712 {2023124 £9.299) with the accreiion due to inlefesl Inwne. The Church counol has previousty dccide(I that ¢S.OCK) should be retsirtd tor fufure Mission Inrtiatives. The restrves wlicy approved by the Church Counal Is that retained funds (unfestrrted reserves). excl￿31n9 the Richard Cox Beq￿t (currerrtly £9.712). should noi exceed 9 nK)nths expenditure and Ihat there shouhj be a mjnimum reswe5 level of £30,C￿. Action wli I be needed to reduce discrebonary donations or rajse funds rf reserves fall be￿W that level. The unrestricted reseNes of £79,284 on this basis represented around 10.5 monlhs of 2024125 actual expenditure and 11.5 months of 2025126 budgeied expermyilure (which ex￿L￿e the costs of bJiSer fepkcement which may be nplemented Jn 202Y 26). Restricted reseThes comprise mainly the living legacy of £13,150- whth supports worship and is teing used to fund organi* cosis. The Church Counol has previously decided that £S,CQD of the Richard Cox bequesi sh)uld be used for mission a￿￿￿e$. Consideration of the adequacy of reserves is aEso informed by the levels of exp&ded c2Prtal p.x￿ndrf¢UrÈ. the expeciatson of Conbnued cost-infialion {aThd volatility) on operational costs which are drfficult to redts￿. On the incoffie side. thwe is greater volablty in lettin9 income which ha5 reduceLI in f￿nt years. althowh thwe B now a broader group of hiw5. IAoreover, with an older congwation thor¢ r¢matr Statement explaining the policy for hokling resep4CS 5tats.ng why Ihey are held unpredictatslrty over the level of fulure givirvj arKI rt Is expected that in the mediurn temi, ovtgoiNJs will exceed IncomiTh3 resources on an annual bags. The surpluses in 2024125 and 2023124 have arisen due to recepts from bequests. memorable donatFons and the grft day In their absen￿, there would have been deficits. Reserves are held to safeguard agarnst unforeseen expendrture. this can be tt case particularfy in respect of prope costs. and tho impact of Inflati(￿. partsculady on the level of circurt assessm￿. energy costs. administrator costs arKI deaning Costs {with enefgy costs exFe¢led to remain volab"lel. In It next year or so. rt will be necessary io replace the boiler. with an estsmaled cost of bets￿n £9.OCKJ and £10,OLK) It hoped that the costs bMII be partly defrayed rf successful In grant applicaiions bul a net redL￿10n in reserrfes is anticipated. Churrh members have continued lo be gener¢kn in their 9iving throughout 20241 25 and have responded very generousty to a Gift Day ￿[d tn c￿mber 2024 ra￿ng £7.888 including grft aid as wel as Increasing Congregational giving. The Churth has received jusi over £20.000 bequests since 1 October 2023 (of which £14,oc￿ have already been utRlised to fund propety.rdaied pfoJects). These amounts are hetd kjcally at the intwesl- beanng deposil fuTrJ of the Central Finance Board of the Methtxlist Church, as permrtted by a directK)n from TMCP Amouftt of rv6efves held P*¥122 At 31 Au9USt 2025. Church funds include: £88.996 {2023124 80.561} (unrestricted) £13.150 (202& 24£13.166) {reslricled) £102.146 {21Y23124 £93.727) (total) Funds of Churth organisations (restncted) total £290 (2023124 ¢114) The unrestncted reserves are £79.284 {2023124 £71.262) exduding the Richard Cox Wuest NIA Reasons for holding zero reserves Dclails of lund materially in P•v• 124 NIA Explanation of any un￿rtaintieS about the charty conts.nuiw as a goirKJ NIA eortcp.rn Additional infomiation (option￿) Ytyj ma th￿Se lo indude further statwnents Whe￿ relevanl abouL" Weekly and monthly ofierirys from members and ad￿rents, lax recovery from gifi4 lettings arKI donations FuThJ raising events {aIt￿lugh these are usually for appeals for ex1emal organisalions). A Grft Day was hekl in December 2024 to raise funds ts Ihe Chur¢h Occasional bequests. Grants for building projeos (when applicable Investmcnts ￿ held centralty by Ihe Methodist Church and Investrnent rM)liGtes are laid down by the meth&S￿ Confefen as ¢amc4 OLrt by Ihe Central Finance Board. The charty's prinopal I sources of funds (includi any fvrtdrafyng} P￿1.￿7 lrtvesimenl poficy and obJ"ethves Including any social inveslff*rt pol adop P¥* 1.46 Ail Saints holds funds In rts own bank accounts. At 31 Augu* 2025. funds of £29, 164 (2023124 £28,848} are held in All ' Saints own bank accounL This bank acc(yJnt can be used for online payments. The Central Financ* Board deposit fund amounts to £63,20312023124 £55.580). The Richard Cox Bequesl Mon￿5. totalling £9,712 {202 24 £9,299) are held by the Trustees for Methodist Churth Purposes {Custodian Trustec) on behalf of AFI Saints, as requred by slandir¥J orders. Risk Register & Regular Risk Review prccess - finanual" propetyffire; safeguarding. health and safety. and actNrtylevenls risks. sks are d￿cussed by Churth Councl. A description of the pn'ncipal ' Pw* 1.46 risks fa¢irKJ the chanty The Churth lakes professional *Jvice as , required. Safeguarding policEs and ' procedures are in place. Specffic risks of concem In the medium texm, P0￿bIe dedine in Church mernbership and attendance leading lo loss ot Income from collec*cKts. comts.ned with hi ab.onal costs. Other Structure. Governance and Management Dexription of ¢harrty's Type of goveming document P￿125 Deed of UnK>n (19321 arKI Methoclst Church io dee.'l 1-,5'31 Ghartwl Act (1976) The ConstrtLrtional Pradice and Discipline ot the Methodist Church All Saints Meihodist Church Abingdon reports to ￿ Warrtage & Atsngdon Methodist Circurt. The Govemiry Body ol The Wantage & Aknngdon Method￿t CiroJil arhy of the Methodist Church 15 the Meth￿1￿1 Conference The authonfy under which the Meth¢>Y¢￿ Conference acts Is gNen by The Methc*Jist Church Act 1976. Local church constrtuted under Deed of Union and Siandiry ￿¢Yers. Forms part of Methodist Church connexion in Ihe UK. How is the charty consliluted? 1.25 oralod Trustee selection nwtho induding details of any constitLrtional provIs￿nS e.g. elcclion lo post or name of any person or body enDUed to appoinl one or mcye trnsiees Appointed by Church Coun(ii, General Church Meeting or ex.officio. Additional inforrnation (optional) You ma choose to i￿lude further statemwrts vthere relevanl about Policies and Procedures for Trustees {members of Churth Cc4Jncil) are laid down inthe constit1Ai￿ol PraCt￿e *KI Discipline of the Methodtst Church {CPD vol. 2) and training rnaierials are located al htlps lknv.methodisI org uKlft>r- '. Churd)esJoffictrhoklers/managi￿Tr -tru5teesl All Saints Methodist Church Abingdffi (-A Saints") is one ot 7 congregations comprising The Wantage & Atsngdon Methodist Circuit 1-circu￿) and the Circuit is within the Northampton Distr￿ ol the Methc*Jtst Church in the UK. Al Sainls. like all Ic¢al churches Is accountsble lo the ethodist Conference Church Coun¢41 is IfE man deci&on-making bc*ay of All Saints Church Council is SUPPOrted by a numter of committees that a¢fvise and undertake the work of the Church, including Finan Commrttee. Pasi¢yal Commrttee. and Famfy Lommrttee which rewt to the Church Counctl meetings The Presbyter and Cha of the Man4in9 Trustees of ihe All Saints Churth Council ts tne Rev. Georgina BoTrJzi- Simpson. The Se 93.7ZT Icl) IK146 114 93.841 102A36 SECThJN G $14WW25 2.401.2￿2 1JJ 136.212 iaaTr155. 14.313 2.7 f4 ¥tr*C•rttr¥ All S¥nts metI￿j￿t Church (No. 11841151 Notés to Ihe accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 l. GoiA8 concern The Trustees. haviry regard to the available cash rexwrres aNI budBeted income and expenditure for the year 202>26. have a reasonable expettaiion that the Church will contTrn￿ in operational exsstence 35 a gO¥nE concern and meei its lidbilities as Ihey fall dve. The Tnjstees dre ihanktul for the ge￿rOuS gr11r￿ by church members and legac*s rnade by former church Mefftbe￿. Budgeted expenditure ind[*5 dI￿retIonary donations to Methodist and other charitable oreanisations which coukl be phased il thecessary. l Other notes Other incc¥me ￿￿¢￿e$ grft day la￿1 related gfft aKJ) receots of £7 888 (202>24 £ndl. b¥uests of £5,CW1202>24 £14.6631. M￿¢Nable ￿atIonS of £1.0501202>24 £1LX)) coffeeloth dO￿Tr)n$ of £44312023-24 £710). R¥airs and mointenance Ind￿je £11 784 S¢yJnd systÈm12023.24 £9.852 systemhall redecofalel £60 Co$￿ (etsbng io waste m 2023-24 we T￿lasse4 from rewrs m3intenaTr lo utsh￿S. lTrJerthdwi examiner fees wwe £6001202>24 £2.7(KIl. A p￿ment C*f £61 was made towards a retirement C￿lection fc* circuit rnintsterw le￿ memters {also Church trustees} In appretsabon ol tr￿1r c¢￿tril￿1* 4of6 Naffle of Church .... . - 1184115...- Declarations and Scrutiny I confmn Recew •nO Pawwni based xcounts yearty 31 AL8USt 2f25 ha￿ teen preojred frorn ￿told$ ofthe •nd thaf they indude all tunos the ctrfml ol Ch4trtth trwe6. $IAnatyr8 of treasuw................ Post Cojp OX12 2CKJ I confrn that fv atYts?I iepyt afvj ateouhts Ic< lh¢ ¢rbY¢d 31 Awsi 202S ￿$