Registered Charity No. 1193107
THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Legal and Administrative Information | 3 |
| Trustees’ Report | 4 - 7 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 8 |
| Receipts & Payments Account | 9 |
| Statement of Assets & Liabilities | 10 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 11-15 |
2
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| Principal Office: | Emmanuel Methodist Church |
|---|---|
| Huddersfield Road | |
| Barnsley S75 1DT | |
Registered Charity Number: |
1193107 |
| Trustees: | |
| Minister | Revd Louise Carr –deceased Dec 2024 |
| Revd Claire Rawlinson - appointed Jan 2025; resigned Aug-25 | |
| Revd Elieen Sanderson–appointed May 2025 | |
| Lay Pastoral Worker | Eleanor Peet |
| Treasurer | Revd Mick Neal |
| Safeguarding | Hilary Simmons |
| Circuit Leadership Team Rep | Michael Sanderson |
| Representatives from each chapel: | |
| Pilley | Barbara Tewson |
| George Tewson | |
| Hoyland and Birdwell | Margaret Beardsall |
| Cathie Fisher –appointed Jan 2025 | |
| Mavis Kitchen | |
| Kathleen Bodill –deceased Dec 2024 | |
| Wombwell | Leslie Cooling |
| Mary Ellis | |
| Margaret McHale | |
| Darfield Wesley | Alice Gledhill |
| Judith McFarlane –appointed May 2025 | |
| Margaret Prescott | |
| Great Houghton | Amelia Chambers |
| Joan Haywood | |
| Joan Mynett | |
| Principal Bankers: | HSBC |
| 5 Market Hill | |
| Barnsley S70 2PY | |
| Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church | |
| 9 Bonhill Street | |
| London EC2A 4PE | |
| Independent Examiner: | Angela Hayes |
| Community Accountant | |
| 22 Brocklehurst Avenue | |
| Barnsley S70 3EE |
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
The Trustees of The Methodist Church Barnsley South submit their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025. The Trustees have prepared the accounts on a Receipts and Payments basis, in accordance with the provisions of the Charities Act 2011, pertaining to smaller charities.
The Methodist Church Barnsley South was registered with the Charity Commission on 13[th] January 2021, registered charity number 1193107. Previously the Church was exempt from registration with the Charity Commission, under Statutory Instrument Number 2655 of 2007.
Structure, Governance and Management
As part of the Methodist Church, the charity is governed by the Deed of Union (1932) and the Methodist Church Act (1976). The governing documents are contained in “The Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church”.
The Methodist Church Barnsley South consists of five chapels in the communities of Birdwell, Darfield, Great Houghton, Hoyland, Pilley and Wombwell.
The Trustees of the charity are the members of the Church Council. The Church Council has authority and oversight over the whole area of the ministry of the church, including the management of its property. The Council is responsible for leadership and the determination and pursuit of policy and the deployment of available resources.
Trustees are elected to the Church Council at the General Church Meeting and eligibility for appointment is set out in the Constitution.
The Trustees who served during the period, and to the date of signing of this report, are listed on page 3 of this report.
Charitable Objectives
The purposes of the Methodist Church are, and shall be deemed to have been, since the date of the Union:
The advancement of:
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a) The Christian Faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and discipline of the Methodist Church.
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b) Any charitable purpose of any connexional district, circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church.
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c) Any charitable purpose of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.
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d) Any purpose of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.
Public Benefit
The trustees have taken due regard of guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in planning the objectives and activities for the year.
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Related parties
The charity is part of the Methodist Church and is a member of the Barnsley Methodist Circuit (registered charity number 1135240). The Methodist Circuit provides resources and employs the ministers and lay workers. The Circuit also maintains the fabric of the properties and arranges the finances for the maintenance of the member churches. The charity contributes to the cost of the Circuit through a levy known as the Circuit Assessment.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Methodist Church Barnsley South is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ by encouraging, resourcing and enabling the people and chapels of the area to serve their communities and the wider world.
We will do this by:
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Seeking to be a welcoming presence within our local communities.
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Offering worship that is accessible, appropriate and relevant in which the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed.
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Offering space and opportunities for fellowship through spiritual and secular activities.
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Ensuring our premises are well maintained and available for use by the community.
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Offering support and care through our pastoral ministry and rites of passage.
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Supporting the wider church through our ecumenical partnerships.
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Committing to give active and practical support to the needs in the wider world.
Activities and achievements during the year
The Methodist Church Barnsley South seeks to share the gospel of Christ in the communities it serves. It maintains a Christian presence in the communities of Birdwell, Darfield Wesley, Great Houghton, Hoyland, Pilley and Wombwell. The church organises itself to carry out its stated aims and objectives by:
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Holding 4 meetings of the Church Council each year to oversee the work of the Church, Health and Safety, Safeguarding and identify opportunities for mission.
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Maintaining a Christian presence in local communities through our worship and by making premises available for wider use, including uniformed organisations, chapel groups, choirs, bands and recreational groups.
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Holding regular worship in our chapels with occasional shared services.
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Sharing information about the needs of the communities we serve and events in the wider world.
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Joining in ecumenical partnerships in Hoyland and Birdwell, Wombwell and Darfield.
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Providing a safe space for community drop-ins.
In all this, members comply with the safeguarding and GDPR principles laid out by the Methodist Church.
At the end of August 2021, the Hoyland chapel closed and the congregation joined with Birdwell who together formed the Hoyland and Birdwell Chapel from September 1[st] . This has been a year for integration and development and we have seen positive progress in the growth of the congregation and new work supported by the Community Link Work.
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YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued
As we have come out from the Covid restrictions each chapel has looked at the activities they are able to offer and still maintain some restrictions for the safety of congregations and user groups. While this has meant that in some cases our congregations have not fully recovered many group activities were up and running by the end of the year.
Sadly, at a chapel meeting in December 2021 the members of Valley Darfield Chapel made the difficult decision to close. Financially the chapel was in a difficult situation and although members felt they could address this in the immediate term there was not sufficient people or energy to be sustainable in the long term. There was a good congregation for the final service held at the end of February 2022.
We have continued to maintain regular contact with all our members through our Pastoral Visitors and regularly review the pastoral needs of our congregations. We are pleased to record that at Hoyland and Birdwell, Wombwell and Great Houghton we have received new members during this year who are all making a valuable contribution to our church life.
We have joined the Circuit in following the Holy Habits Programme and have also tried to become involved in the Circuit Mission Plan.
The Church Council continues to make sure that regular reports about property are received and that any maintenance work is completed as required.
The success of the Hoyland and Birdwell Drop-in continues and new activities and worship have been added to the weekly meeting,
Policy on reserves
The trustees have established their mission aims, taking into account all of the resources available, in terms of people, property and money. Mission initiatives/projects have been costed to take into account the needs of the buildings and the requirements of the Quinquennial Inspection Reports.
The trustees feel it prudent to ensure that there are reserves to cover costs for 6 months. Based on anticipated levels of spend, the Church will work to maintain reserves of approximately £66,000. At the end of the financial year the reserves stand at £142,703, giving surplus reserves of £76,703. (In the previous year reserves were £116,397).
The trustees plan to use reserves to resource mission and to strengthen relationships within the multi-site Barnsley South Methodist Church as follows:
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Ensuring all five chapel buildings are fit for purpose and meet health and safety requirements.
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Funding resources for worship, study and training where required.
The financial resources of all five chapels are held in a central bank account. The trustees are discussing how to share resources in a way which equips each chapel for mission in its local community and also enables the church to jointly fund shared initiatives.
Risk management
The Trustees are responsible for identifying and managing risk. The Trustees monitor and review the activities of the charity to ensure that risks are identified and that procedures have been put in place to mitigate those risks.
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Financial review
The financial statements are set out in pages 9 to 15. The Receipts and Payments Account shows a surplus for the year of £24,797 (2024: £21,822). The total funds of the charity at yearend stand at £146,884 (2024: £122,087). The reserves of the charity, represented by unrestricted funds, stand at £142,703 (2024: £116,397). The increase in reserves is due to the receipt of the Bequest of £27,965, recognised in the Receipts and Payments account as an unrestricted fund.
Statement of Trustee responsibility
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the provisions of the trust deed.
The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Statement of disclosure to Independent Examiner
The Trustees certify that:
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So far as we are aware, there is no relevant information of which the Independent Examiner is unaware; and
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As the Trustees we have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the charity’s Independent Examiner is aware of that information.
The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees:
Date: 27 January 2026
Revd Mick Neal, Treasurer
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025, which are set out on pages 9 to 15.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,
or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and I 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: Dated: 27 January 2026
Angela Hayes, FMAAT Community Accountant 22 Brocklehurst Avenue, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 3EE
Angela Hayes is licensed and regulated by AAT under licence number 1006755
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| Unrestricted Funds Note £ Receipts Voluntary Receipts: Offerings & tax recovered 2a 56,164 Grants 2b - Donations & appeals 2c 4,019 Legacies/bequests 2d 27,965 Receipts from fundraising activities 2e 19,545 Receipts from Church activities 2f 30,898 Receipts from investments 2g 5,267 Other receipts 2h 477 Total Receipts 144,335 Payments Church activities 3a 111,529 Capital projects & major works 3b 8,515 Other payments 3c - Total Payments 120,044 Excess of receipts over payments 24,291 Transfers & adjustments 2,015 Net movement in funds 26,306 Total funds brought forward 9 116,397 Total funds carried forward 9 142,703 |
Restricted Funds £ - 2,700 - - - 4,241 - - 6,941 6,435 - - 6,435 506 (2,015) (1,509) 5,690 4,181 |
2025 2024 Total Funds £ £ 56,164 58,323 2,700 3,145 4,019 4,194 27,965 - 19,545 19,931 35,139 38,723 5,267 4,903 477 24,479 151,276 153,698 117,964 122,396 8,515 9,480 - - 126,479 131,876 24,797 21,822 - - 24,797 21,822 122,087 100,265 146,884 122,087 |
|---|---|---|
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| Note Monetary Assets Cash in hand Bank Current Accounts Central Finance Board TMCP Total Add Funds held by internal organisations 7 Less funds held on behalf of external organisations 8 TOTAL Represented by: Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds TOTAL |
2025 £ - 20,699 72,526 51,093 144,318 2,670 (104) 146,884 142,703 4,181 146,884 |
2024 £ - 22,893 46,824 48,939 |
|---|---|---|
| 118,656 3,431 - |
||
| 122,087 | ||
| 116,397 5,690 |
||
| 122,087 |
Approved by the Church Council and signed on their behalf by:
Date: 27 January 2026
Revd Mick Neal, Treasurer
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
1. Accounting policies
Basis of the preparation of the accounts
The financial statements have been prepared using the Receipts & Payments basis, and in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the requirements of the Charity Commission. This form of accounts is available to non-company charities with an annual income less than £250,000.
Receipts & Payments Accounts are statements that summarise the movement of cash into and out of the charity during the financial year. In this context, ‘cash’ includes cash equivalents, for example bank accounts where cash can be readily withdrawn to pay for debts as they become due.
Funds Structure
Unrestricted funds
Represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the members in furtherance of the objects of the charity.
Restricted funds
Restricted funds are those funds that have been provided to the charity for particular purposes and which may only be spent for the purposes for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of the year is carried forward as a balance on the fund, unless permission is given by the funder to remove the restriction on the balance outstanding.
Restricted funds are linked to specific Chapels and are to be used as set out by the funder/donor.
Endowment funds
The Church has no endowment funds at the present time.
Income
All incoming resources are recognised when they are receivable and are accounted for gross.
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
2. Analysis of Receipts
| Note 2a Offerings & Tax Recovered Regular giving Collections Baptism/wedding collections Gift Aid Tax Recovered Total Other Voluntary Receipts 2b Grants 2c Donations & appeals 2d Legacies/bequests Total 2e Receipts from Fundraising Activities Fundraising Total 2f Receipts from Church Activities Lettings & fees Internal organisations Total 2g Receipts from investments Interest received 2h Other receipts Valley Darfield costs reimbursed Pension Fund refund Rebates & miscellaneous Total Total Receipts |
2025 Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ 15,682 - 15,682 27,999 - 27,999 1,428 - 1,428 11,055 - 11,055 56,164 - 56,164 - 2,700 2,700 4,019 - 4,019 27,965 - 27,965 31,984 2,700 34,684 19,545 - 19,545 19,545 - 19,545 30,898 - 30,898 - 4,241 4,241 30,898 4,241 35,139 5,267 - 5,267 - - - - - - 477 - 477 477 - 477 144,335 6,941 151,276 |
2024 Total Funds £ 16,125 28,608 1,088 12,502 |
|---|---|---|
| 58,323 | ||
| 3,145 4,194 - |
||
| 7,339 | ||
| 19,931 | ||
| 19,931 | ||
| 33,817 4,906 |
||
| 38,723 | ||
| 4,903 | ||
| 7,303 16,807 369 |
||
| 24,479 | ||
| 153,698 |
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
3. Analysis of Payments
| 2025 Unrestricted Restricted Total Note Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ 3a Cost of Church Activities Missionary & charitable giving 226 - 226 Connexional funds 1,247 - 1,247 Circuit Assessment 61,400 - 61,400 Heating & Lighting 22,185 - 22,185 Insurance 7,390 - 7,390 Water rates 2,259 - 2,259 Repairs, maintenance & cleaning 14,272 - 14,272 Grant expenditure - 1,433 1,433 Admin expenses 1,606 - 1,606 Funeral fees 160 - 160 Grant monies returned - - - Internal organisations - 5,002 5,002 Other payments 784 - 784 Total 111,529 6,435 117,964 3b Major Works New Boiler - Hoyland & Birdwell 3,825 - 3,825 Redecoration (external) 4,690 - 4,690 Major Roof Repairs - Darfield - - - Total 8,515 - 8,515 3c Other Payments - - - Total - - - Total Payments 120,044 6,435 126,479 |
2024 Total Funds £ 180 1,687 58,460 26,905 7,219 1,942 12,747 2,434 1,813 1,420 227 5,047 2,315 |
|---|---|
| 122,396 | |
| - - 9,480 |
|
| 9,480 | |
| - | |
| - | |
| 131,876 |
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
4. Trustees’ remuneration, benefits and expenses
There was no remuneration, expenses or benefits made to trustees during this or the previous accounting period.
5. Related party transactions
During the year the charity paid the Circuit Assessment, to Barnsley Methodist Circuit, of £61,400 (2024: £58,460). There were no other transactions with any person or party closely related to a trustee, during this or the previous financial period.
6. Land & buildings
Church buildings are the property of the Methodist Church and are therefore not recognised in the accounts of the Methodist Church Barnsley South.
7. Funds held by internal organisations
| Darfield Wesley - Companions Darfield Wesley - Flower Club Darfield Wesley - Almost New Total |
Opening Balance £ 1,095 256 2,080 3,431 |
Receipts £ 548 439 3,254 4,241 |
Payments Closing Balance £ £ (563) 1,080 (439) 256 (4,000) 1,334 (5,002) 2,670 |
|---|---|---|---|
Internal organisations are groups that are part of the Church and report to the Trustees. The transactions are included in the accounts of the Methodist Church Barnsley South and recorded as restricted funds.
8. Funds held as custodian trustee
| Balance brought forward Offerings/Gifts received for external organisations Offerings/Gifts passed on to external organisations Balance carried forward |
31/08/2025 31/08/2024 £ £ - - 1,730 929 (1,626) (929) 104 - |
|---|---|
Funds received through offerings and gifts collected on the behalf of external organisations. The income does not belong to the Church and therefore is not included in the Receipts and Payments Account.
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THE METHODIST CHURCH BARNSLEY SOUTH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
9. Movement in Funds
| Opening balance £ Unrestricted funds General Reserves 116,397 116,397 Restricted funds Internal organisations (see note 7) 3,431 BMBC: Ward Alliance Grant - Gaming Club 528 Asda Foundation Warm Places Grant (GH) 323 BMBC: Household Support Grant 1,031 Rebecca Guest Robinson Charity 377 Mission Grants - Coronation Celebration - 5,690 Total Funds 122,087 |
Incoming resources £ 144,335 144,335 4,241 - 800 1,400 500 - 6,941 151,276 |
Resources expended £ (120,044) (120,044) (5,002) - (383) (788) (262) - (6,435) (126,479) |
Transfers £ 2,015 2,015 - - (740) (1,275) - - (2,015) - |
Closing balance £ 142,703 142,703 2,670 528 - 368 615 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,181 | ||||
| 146,884 |
10. Fund Transfers
The fund transfers represent the contribution to energy costs for the use of the building.
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