- Horfield Methodist Church Annual Report: September 2021 August 2022
Context
Horfield Methodist Church is part of the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Circuit, which includes over thirty churches across both local authority areas, led by a Superintendent Minister. This circuit is one of nine in the Bristol Methodist District, which also covers most of Gloucestershire and part of both Wiltshire and Somerset.
The minister appointed to Horfield has oversight of three other Methodist churches in the Circuit as well as Horfield, so about seventy percent of our acts of worship are led by one of his ordained colleagues or by a Methodist Local (lay) Preacher. We acknowledge the contribution that each of them makes to our core activity of Christian worship.
Year under review
After discussions it was agreed that the nearby Bishopston Methodist Church would merge with Horfield, but maintaining a presence on two sites. That took place on 1 September 2021. Representatives from Bishopston were immediately included within the cohort of trustees. There have been some tensions as the two sites work together as one church but such issues are probably inevitable in any such significant change, as people become used to each other and processes and policies are streamlined.
The year saw a re-start for community and outreach activities after Covid enforced breaks, including Messy Church, our toddler group, Film Club and coffee mornings on both sites.
Regular worship activities are in full swing on both sites. The main Sunday morning act of worship at Horfield is hybrid, in person and online via the Zoom platform. Online congregants are invited to participate in acts of worship, for example by pre-recording readings. Children’s Junior Church on Sunday mornings restarted.
The church joined the Inclusive Church organisation and registered the premises at Horfield for the solemnisation of marriages of same-sex couples.
The church was awarded a bronze and then silver level from the A Rocha Eco Church scheme. This scheme is the UK’s award scheme for churches wanting to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth. Among other activities and as part of the award the church offsets its emissions annually, has set up a drop off zone for printer cartridges at church, has arranged themed fund-raising events for eco projects and ensured that the environment and the climate crisis have been the focus for church services.
Unexpected property repair/replacement arose at Horfield with urgent repairs required to stained glass and the replacement of the boiler upstairs. Maintaining an ageing building after many years of basic repairs only is likely to continue to bring challenging decisions about prioritising expenditure.
The church has updated its Mission Statement and has developed an accompanying action plan for the next couple of years,
Rev Patrick Stonehewer
on behalf of the Managing Trustees, 8 February 2023
CHURCH (Short Fom)) RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS (SHORT FORM) Horfield and Bisho ston Methodist Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2022 Bristol & South Gloucestershire Circult Clrcuit no 712 Registered Charity - Charity Registration number 1191908 If not a registered Charity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number •IIIW 26699 (The HMRC number is equNalent to a registered charrty number in temis of eviden of charltable slalus and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wshing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charrties in Englaniy and Wales that are not registered chafities a expted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242} Minister. Rev Patrick Stonehewer Church Stewards: Lou Carias Rachael Tan Pauline Harris Hazel Thome Jennrfer McLaren Christine Williams Donna SharFe Treasurer" Helen WallbrKlge Church short Std lorm of acL*s 2012 R.P. 1 of4
Horfleld and Bisho ston Methodist th FL¥m A0Upr$ FOR THE YEAR ENDEO 31 SECnON A RECEIPTS Cxferi a) Tax ¥er&I 47 50.113 a4 Let 55.11 30.707 a5 Olhef recei TOTJL RECEIFrs 111E61 81813 a6 SECnON PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assesrtly Slwt Donations 570 Re Is a1 mteat 21213 7.854 11t5 In5uratK45. wai 1&715 74.73) Olher nwis b7 TOT PAYMEpirs 97,271 SECTON C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEIR 9881 113.4591 TDlal lurQ$ biou hl lorward Ir last 11&078 131.537 TOTAL FLIMDS AT END OF YEA l¢1 + (2J Stale here ihe tolalola stai8 hwe the totalol a l&¥ithsoI the 5ml.548 8X).Y8 ¢6 St41e here in5urJv¥ue Of Churth SECTION D AMALYSIS OF FUNDS d1 8alartces TkfP al 31 Au 31 8alartes CFB at 31 usl 31 Bank and rash LHknB5 ai 31 21217 TOTAL - Box ¢3 8&091 SECnON E FOR INFOAklATION ONLY: M014EY AECWVED AND PASSEDONTO EXTEF114AL ORGWISAIIONS Ithese arnunts are not 10 t kn¢e Èn low iigures ¥)m) Balar browhl lorwol hvm Lgst ifts . wi¥ed lor exlert e3 Olleri 10 exiwn atiar 5.441 BALANCE STILL TO BE P•JD ie14e2*31 e4 HLWtield & 2d4
Name of Church". Horfield & Bishopston Methodist No 712 Brislol & S Gloucestershire Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 Augusl 2022 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees. Signature of treasurer . Name and address of treaSur .. 116LE•(.h1.A.LL6¢.E....................................... .. Post Code. Presentation to the Church truste8s I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ende presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on ugust 2022 werelwill be" Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Horfield & Bishopston Methodist Church Charity Number n 1191908 Responsibilities and basis of report I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Horfield & Bishopston Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2022 set out on pages .1. to L As the Church's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wilh the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I'lhe A¢t'). I report 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 Charty Commission under section 14515)(b) of the Act. delete or circle as appropriate Chur¢h thort Std fi)m) r*fpths Fl P2012 Jk 3of4
Name of Church ..... Independent Exaffline¢s Statement I have completed my examination. I wnfimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination {other than that di$¢losed below") which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records We not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act. or the accounts (Jo not accord with the accounting records. Ithe Ithe I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this rewrt in order to enatrje a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I hgPlhave not. obtained independent vertfication of all investments Vth the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds al the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in eXsS of £10.000 (len thousand wundsl al the balance sheet date. Signature of indepEndent examiner Name of independent examiner Relevant professior)al qualtfication of independent examiner Address Post Code Date delete or circle as appropriate Cttuh $hort std lom) ol acds R.P2012.xls 4rf4