Marlow Methodist Church Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31-August 2024 Marlow Methodist Church (registered Charity No. 1199146 is situated in Spittal Street Marlow, SL7 3HJ Mlsslon Statement We embrace Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Through a variety of Worship. prayer and Servi we encourage spiritual grO%h and nurture a caring fellowship that reaches out to the wider mMunIty. Worshlp Our minister, Rev Kate Strange has been instrumental in guiding us thrgh new initiatives in all areas of our worship. Regular Sunday morning worship c£)ntinue although there is an increasing reliance on Ial lay preachers and local arrangements due to the fact that our minister has commitments to her other churches. The Wednesday fellowship continues to meet most weeks and there are other additional services to mark special occasions. especially around Christmas and Easter. The Sunday servIs continue to be streamed online via the Church webslte and we are aware that the online congregation is growng. Thé Ark Cafe The Ark café continues to be highly successful as a pla of hospitalty. welcome and friendship in a wam 'safe space.. Its location in the centre of Madow puts it in an unrivalled position to offer these benefits to the general public. The use of students with learning challenges as volunteer helpers continues to mark the café as a truly cx)mmunity driven enterprise. The Ark Café Management group meet regularly to oversee the running of the Ark Café and have now settled with a team of paid staff such that the will be 2 paid staff on duty at any one time (one in the kitchen and one Yront of house,) to take swnsibility and guide the volunteers. The Ark has now started to run Ix)mrnunty lunthes tsvice a month. Chlldren's Work The church eMyS a part time Children and Families worker who started in July 2023. Her work is focussed on building relationships between the church and young families. She promotes and leads activities aimed at helping them grow in the Christian Faith. Pastoral Care
Pastoral care of the Church family (tinUeS to be provided by the minister and a team of pastoral visitors. Church members and others are visited should they be unable to attend church in person because they are elderly. sick (at home or in hospital). The pastoral18aders provide SUPFM)rt in many ways, spiritual or otherwise. Fellowshlp Groups Small groups meet on a regular basis, either in the Church premises in memberfs homes for the purposes of prayer. Bible Study or other religious and educational activities. Groups meet regularty and the is a monthly 'church lunth,. Use of Premlses for the Publlc Benefft The hall and ancillary rooms are extensively used by local community organisations, these include parent and toddler groups, Clra[ Socisty rehearsals, Camera dub, Pilates. Dementia group, arts society and 'Sing Your Pain Away music group. Governan The Governing bcKly of Marfow Methodist Church is ts Church Council. the members of which are its Trustees. The thncil indudes ex4)fficio members by virtue of the office they hdd within the church. Representatives of Church organisakn'ons and members are appointed at et Annual General Church Meeting. The Church Council appoints Church Stewards who. together with the minister form the Leadership Team. Trustees automatically change as members of the Church Council changes from time to time. The Church Council act as managing Tnjstees for the Church buildiro. which is held on Model Trusts. The custodian trustees holding legal tide for the propety are the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (fMCP). The Church is part of Ihe High Wy(x)mbe Methodist Circuit. a group of Methodist Churches in the Hh Wycombe area The church has a websste." ww.marfowmethodistchurch o Information about its services and adivities can be found. .uk on which detailed Trust••s The names of Trustees during the year were: Rev Katie strange Hazel (fina) Ashbumer Valerie Cameron Robert Crawshaw Steven Crawshaw James Casper Rosaline Drew Michael Wright Jacqueline Duxbury Susan Gallaugl
Annie Roy Barker Victoria Everitt David Duxbury Mithael Standell Carolyn Lusrnbe Eryl Walker Irene Bell Judith Elliot Ellizabeth Riches Linda Lovell Paul Strange Malcolm Shergdd Robert Gallaugher Financlal Revlew The Examined Accounts for FY 2023-2024 are attached and show a gross income from all sources (including Lettings and Café income) of £235.180 and a net deficit of £60,6641. The deficit was mostly made up through ourspendingof the previous year's 'windf8ll' on upgrading the heating system within the main sanctuary. Receipts and Payments Analy$ls The signed and agreed accounts below are in the standard form prescribe d byThe Methodist Church. Re3eNe3 and other Policies and Funds The Reserves Policy as agreed by the Church Council dated Novemb8r 2023 is attached below.
CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 Circuft Clrcuit no. 2327 Règistered Charity - Charity Registration number 1199146 If not a registered charity His Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered chartty number in terms of evidence of charilable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist chanties in England and Wales that are not reglstered charities are excepted from registration under Stalutory Instrument 2014 No.242) Minister". REV KATE STRANGE Church Stewards.. Mrs Ros Drew Mr James Casper Mrs Susan Gallaugher Mrs Annie Roy-Bakcr Treasurer". Mr Mike Wright Madow SOFA Aug 2024 1of5
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Church Unrestrlcted Restrieted Funds Funds Totals this yèar Totals last yèar SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note a2 Offerin s and Tax re(x)vered Bank and CFB interest and Investment Income 62,526 10,197 72.723 88,953 7,178 7.178 16,851 138,428 235,180 3,080 15,402 119,369 226,804 a4 Lettin 16,851 8,881 95,436 a5 Other re[pts TOTAL RECEIPTS 129.547 139.744 la71 SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 49.800 49,800 35,200 b3 Donations 9.828 9,828 8,330 Re airs and Maintenance utilities (lnsurans. water char es, healin hlin 10,132 56,652 66,784 19 893 b5 13,654 2.2 15.854 17,256 b6 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 12.667 140.911 199.763 153,578 295,844 80 6S8 b8 96,081 Ib91 161,347 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 a6-b8 645 60,664 65,457 Total funds brought forward from last year 77,105 87.405 164.510 ¢6 99,056 c3 Sub total ¢1+¢2 76.460 27,386 103.846 164.513 Transfers and ad uslments 18.238 18,238 c7 c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR Ic3+c41 58,222 45,624 103,846 {c8} 164,510 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Ithese amounts are not to be Includ8d in total receiptslpa ments fi urns aboyel d1 Balance brou ht forward from last d2 Offerin sIGifts- received for extemal or nIsatnS 12,730 25,426 d3 OfferingslGifts - passed to external OrganisatrIS 12,730 25,426 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID {d1+d2-d3) 2of5 MBrlow sor.A Au82024
¢hurc YOFCH RCHACC MCIL SECTION E ubjan Surnmary oflhe Churth account5 f£Y the yew ended 31 Auw5l2024 and Iré¥n¥ organbS rwbr4J tothe ChLKth ¢tKChutE Meetyry Noie that the ol an1nternal organut)rn yuld noTraIlY be Restxied ft)S Un kclearty shcvwn thaity Crjts be used foi any mEtrst purpDse Th15 section rnusl be crthpleted to arrive at tre gross incoThe ano eX)IUle ¢Ien If]Ye%¢ee¢s mek¢ru then the AccruaL% rnetd daccountsng ANDA DIFFERENT FORM must i used Pkne trtrjtsgwjar rwAe5 tW4¥iffj tsan$l¢ts bdb¥een Distrti INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Nel Rew0 0[n9 Clctsl b¥8nce8 ¢5 e7 Sub total of Inleinal Or aTrisalKJns fvnd5 es 012 Church xcouThts (totals bft)ught foTh¥ard from pA 2-totals column) 235.180 295.B44 160.6641 Ic7) 164,510 Ic61 103,846 eYcHURCH 2J5,180 295.844 160.6641 164,510 103,848 Conbnu8 a 8epatateshEet IfneCe5Saryar bnng totsls fmvard TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL PAYMENTS SECTION F CLOSIF4G 8ALANCES CHURCH- CASH FUNDS HELD •tJl t 2024 Cash In hand Debtors 1.990 ¥nk CLVTEnl Account 5.898 5.992 Bank IAccount f4 Central Fance Board .164 88.166 OtherfvtKts In p¥$88nt PLAI 62,450 7.700 sue TOTAL- Church ac¢tyS 103,846 Totsifund$ hdd by IntÈmai Ow8n¢•trm (the(w TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 1U.510 103,846 SEenoN G Al 31 August 2024 OTHER ASSETS and LLrnES 1nvesltnents EthsThents 415 415 Land & BLibJ see nosre Insu0rV 4 267 165 4 373 809 OtherAssets 140881 Loa Olhgr LIabe5 14 Ie Funds held at the¢enty Fin¥fe 8oat IS Include oity Fund$ 10 at T<LteestsMeth)JtCrCh Fe5 30f5
Name of Church . ..Marlow Mehtodistchurch.................. No 2327......... Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that Ihese Receipt and Payment based accounts for Ihe year to 31 August 2024 have been epared from the Tecords of the Church and th* they include all funds undef the control of the Church trustees. Signatureof 1reaSur................. Name and address of treasurer Mike Wnght. 54 Seymour Park Road, Martow, SL7 3EP Postcode........... Presentstion to the Church tnteeS I confimi that the annual rewrt and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 werthill be" presented to the meeting of the Church trustees hekl on Signature of the Chair of the meeling Name of the Chair of the meeting Rev Kate Strange............ .. Date........................ Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the MARLOW METHODIST CHURCH Chaiity Number 1199146 Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on ry examination of the accounts of the Marlow Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages 1 to 4. As the Church's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wrlh the requirements of the Chanties Act 2011 I'the Act'i. I report in respect of my examination of Ihe Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my exarninat, I have followed all the applble Directions given by the Charlty Commission under SeCtn 145{5){b) of the Act delele or circle as approprBte marftrwsoFA 2024 4of5
Name of Church.. Marlow Methodist Church..... No. .2327 Independent Examlner's Statement I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below.) which give me cause to believe that in. any material respect.. the 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 this port in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I I]haVe not. obtained independent verrfication of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts. bank balanS and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner CHARLOTTE REDCLIFFE................... Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner Name of fimi (where appropriate) 4 Westminster Close, High Wycombe. HP11 1QR Post Code Date 4}S ........................ delete or circle as appropriate Marfow SOFA Aug 2024 Sof5
Marlow Mothodist Church Reserves Pollcy November 2023 Aims of th reserv To secure and sustain the viabilty and future of Marlow Methodist Church., and To give reassurance to members of the Church, and to the general public. that the Church (which is a charity) intends to use all of the money given to it for the purposes of its work. Missi Statement: We embrace Jesus as Lord and Saviour, through variety of worship. prayer and service we enwurage spiritual growth and nurture a caring fellowship in the church that reaches out to the wider community. Aims: Provide an all inclusive variety of w0h1p and teaching to addsS the needs of all people. Share and demonstrate our faith so that others find their way to God through Jesus. Provide the opportunity to develop spiritual growth ft)r all. Encourage spiritual development arKI F)nd to the needs of children and young people. Provide a network for pastoral care. Promote a Christian understsnding of daily living within the wider community. Assist in meeting the needs of the community. Share mission and worship with other churches in the area. Encourage and develop an open and welcoming fellowship. Manage our r&8ources for the benefit of all. To run a not-for-profit community café. FlnanGial li To prepare an annual budget which indudes.. Income from weekly collections arid planned giving; Other income from lettings. wedding and funeral fees, donations, fundraising. deposit interest and Gift Aid: The Circuit Assessment, which is agreed on an annual basis: A contribution to the 'Outreach Fund" for donations to Connexional funds, to Methodist charities and to local charities" The costs of heating, lighting, insuring. deaning and mainlaining our building. and Printing and other sundry costs relatiNJ to the continuation of our work and witness in Marlow. The annual statement of incorne arKI expenditure and the balance sheet are examined by an Extemal Examiner and are presented to the Church Council. which is the managing trust for the Church.
We have a total of 8 funds". General lund (unrestricted) We have an obligation to meet the quartety payment of the Circuit Assessment in advance and to meet the costs of running and maintaining our building and resourcAng our work and witness. Our policy is to hold in our General Fund reserves of approximately six months expenditure. Children and Young People's Worker Fund (restricted) This fvnd is eannarked for income and expenditu associated with the employment of a Children's and Young People's Worker. Outreach Fund (unrestricted) An agreed amount from the General Fund is allocated each year for donations to Methodist charities and other national and local charities. A small amount of fundraising is also carried out. Ten Year Plan (unrestricted) - Propety Maintenan(x Provision. An amount is transferred each year from the General Fund to provide for unexpected or exceptional expenditure rdating to ts chUh propety and its fixtures, fittings and equipment. Premlses Project Fund. (Restricted) This fund was opened in Nov 2018 to hold income and expenditure connected with the Vision and Mission premises project. It will hold monies identified for the project and ralsed through fundraising, direct donations. regular giving, grants and approved transfers from the general fund and 10 Year Plan. Expenditure will be that directly lated to the PmiseS Project. Wednesday Fallowshlp Fund. Thls fund receives Ino)me from donations during the group's activities. Its expenditure is for expenses related to its activities and donations to chosen outreach aclivities. Coolnda Fund. This fund receives income from donations during the group's activities. Its expenditure is for expenses related to its activities and donations to chosen outreach activities. Ark Café. (Restricted) Whilst recognising that the Ark Café is a part of the church and its mission, the accounts for the café will be treated as separately as possible in a sub-fund in order that its financial wability can be easily seen. The café fund will contribute to church general expenditure where deemed appropriate (eg deaning contract, utilities and waste disposal). This fund was made restrl¢Xed following the Church C(wnd in July 2023. Mike Wright Treasurer Confinn by Church Council 1 14ovember 2023