# _**Charity No 1199372 Annual report and accounts 2024/2025**_ ## **Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 August 2025** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Contents Page Number
Introduction by Superintendent Minister 2
Review of the year 3
Our plans for 2025/26 5
Mission statement 6
Governance Detail
Legal structure and arrangements 7
Structure, Governance and Management and Public Benefit test 9
Risk Management, Reserves Policy 10
Safeguarding 11
Financial statement preparation 12
Detailed Accounts 13
Notes on the Accounts 15
Independent examiners report 26
Appendix A Trustee details 28
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page 1 ## **Welcome by the Superintendent of the Northampton Methodist Circuit and Minister with Pastoral Charge of Northampton Methodist Church** I am pleased to present the **2024/25 Annual Report and Accounts** for Northampton Methodist Church. This year has been a significant period of transition and growth as we continue to implement the "Stepping Out" proposals and further our mission across Northampton and the surrounding areas. Over the past twelve months, we have begun to see the emerging fruit from the changes that have been made. A significant highlight was the inauguration of the **Park Grove Worshipping Community** in July 2024, a bringing together of the Queensgrove and Park Avenue communities on the Abington site. Additionally, we formally recognised the Kingsthorpe Worshipping Community as a separate society as it became part of Kingsthorpe Community Church, a Baptist-Methodist Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP), in March 2025. Our commitment to mission and outreach in the community remains steadfast. Notable moments include: - **Community Support:** In partnership with the Northampton Hope Centre, we hosted a 7-day-a-week winter night shelter to support those facing homelessness. - **Environmental Stewardship:** We have made great strides in the **A Rocha Eco-Church scheme** , with Great Billing and St Andrews both achieving Bronze awards. - **Celebration of Heritage:** We celebrated 100 years of worship at the Methodist Church at Park Avenue (now Northampton Methodist Church at Park Grove). Our financial position remains stable, with **free reserves covering 4.5 months of expenditure** , meeting our policy requirements. Looking ahead to **2025/26** , we have several exciting projects on the horizon: - **Building Improvements:** Construction is scheduled for the Harpole building extension, and we aim to install solar panels at multiple sites. - **Refurbishment:** Plans are being finalised for major works at the Towcester Road and Park Grove buildings, targeted for 2026-2027. - **Youth and Family Ministry:** We look forward to the support of a new circuit lay worker to develop our work and engagement with children, young people, and families. As we move forward, we continue to place our faith in Jesus Christ, seeking to be an open, inclusive, and creation caring church. Thank you to all the trustees, volunteers, and members for their faithful dedication. ## **Reverend David J Speirs** Superintendent Minister, Northampton Methodist Church. Page. 2 ## **Review of the year** The second anniversary of the formation Northampton Methodist Church was celebrated at a combined act of worship held on the 1[st] September at which the Revd Daniel Pratt Morris-Chapman of Wesley House Cambridge gave a clear challenge to be intentional in our mission actions and offered the assurance of Christ’s presence with us as we journey forward. Through the year a focus on 100 years of worship at Park Avenue was celebrated with a number of previous ministers invited to lead worship along with other celebration events. From September 2024 the Kingsthorpe worshipping community was formally recognised as a separate society as a prelude to the formal creation of the Kingsthorpe Community Church, a Baptist/Methodist LEP in March 2025. Steady progress was made on delivering the “Stepping out” proposals with the sale of the Queensgrove building providing the initial funding for the planned building refurbishment programme. To further our response to The Methodist Conference Statement “Hope in God’s Future” all our worshipping communities have enrolled for the A Rocha UK award scheme for churches in England and Wales and by September 2025 both Gt Billing and St Andrews had achieved the bronze award and were working towards the silver award. It is pleasing to report the continued strength of the fellowship and bible study groups across the worshipping communities and as a response to our mission priorities the Holy Habits group study material “Making More Disciples” was used for the Lent study groups. There was continued development of the church website https://northampton-methodist-church.org.uk which provided links to each worshipping community and provided a single presence for the church on the internet. During the year the trustee body meet on a regular basis both to oversee governance arrangements, facilitate the consolidation of the concept of a multi-site church, while seeking to encourage each worshipping community to focus on further developing its missional aspirations. Page. 3 ## **Review of the year** ## **Financial performance for the year** ## Transfer out of the Kingsthorpe Society The accounts for the year record the transfer out of Kingsthorpe worshipping community to a separate society from the 1[st] September 2024, with consequent reductions in income and expenditure recorded within the NMC accounts. Transfers out reflect the formal recognition of the transfer of related fund balances including the “Kingsthorpe futures fund”. In total the impact sees a reduction of offering income of £22k and a similar reduction in circuit assessment along with related reductions in both income and expenditure for the Kingsthorpe linked groups.. ## Income General collection income including gift aid reclaims £209k remained in line with previous year after reflecting the Kingsthorpe status change, this was particularly encouraging given the closure of the Queensgrove building. Specific donations were higher at £17k (£12k in 2023/4). There were no new legacies received in year. Letting income in comparison saw a reduction down to £57k (£67k in 2023/4) reflecting the reduction in locations being offered, including the un-availability of the Harpole site following the building being flooded. ## Expenditure The main item of expenditure “The Circuit assessment” to fund the provision of ministry to the church was set at the same level as in 2023 – 24., Building repairs were significantly reduced, being generally kept to priority requirements only whilst the longer term challenges related to both backlog maintenance requirements and future improvements were determined. The most notable impact of inflation being on utility costs where a number of contracts saw considerable tariff increases. Net movement in funds Overall the General Fund balance at the end of the financial year was £125k, the churches free reserves equate to 4.5 months expenditure cover in line with the reserves policy. Page. 4 ## **Futures plans** ## **Plans for 2025/26** In September 2025 celebrations are planned to mark the 150 years of worship at the Roade site. Planned building work is scheduled to commence in September at Harpole to provide additional storage space such that the main hall can be fully used. Work is anticipated to install solar panels at a number of sites in response to the “Hope in God’s future” initiatives with grant support from the District. To further the development of work with families and young people it is anticipated that the lay worker recruited by the Circuit will support this work. Formal commencement of the refurbishment projects for Towcester Road and Park Grove buildings is targeted to commence during 2026. Plans are currently being progressed for the closure and sale of the Kingsley Park building with final worship planned to be held in April 2026. Page. 5 ## **Mission statement** ## _**The table below shows the key action points identified in the churches mission plan**_ **Develop, support and encourage work with children and families.** Encouraging ongoing work Developing new initiatives **Making disciples of Jesus and deepening discipleship** Engaging with new people and sharing the Gospel Sharing and studying the word Hosting bible studies in welcoming venues **Develop, support, and encourage ongoing work with older people.** Effective pastoral support Providing opportunities for fellowship **Strengthening the ecumenical witness in the local community** Seeking to be activily involved with the local geographic “Churches together group” within which each worshipping community is situated **Engaging with and welcoming new residents within our communities** Seeking to learn from the Overstone pioneer worker experience to develop approaches to outreach in new build areas within the town. **Seeking to be an open and inclusive church** Being an intergenerational church Providing a variety of worship styles Creating space _for_ sanctuary and retreat Being a supportive and friendly church _for_ those with special needs. **Responding to the “Hope in God’s future” initiative seeking for the church to become Carbon neutral** Progress the A Rocha UK award scheme across our worshipping communities Page. 6 ## **Governance Arrangements** ## **Basis of preparation and legal framework** The Charity’s annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice 2015 as applicable to the Financial Reporting Standard FRS102. The Charity’s report and accounts include all the separately established funds for which Northampton Methodist Church has taken on responsibility for following the formation of the merged church. Full Name of Charity: Northampton Methodist Church Registration Charity Number: 1199372 The principal office is at: Harpole Methodist Church School Lane Harpole Northampton NN7 4DR The members of the Northampton Methodist Church Council are the Charity Trustees and are listed in Appendix A. which is attached. The Church is part of the Northampton Methodist Circuit Mr Keith Brooks acted as the principal officer overseeing the overall financial management and accounting for the Charity. The accounting records and the day-to-day administration of the funds are supported by the Financial steward in each worshipping community. The advisors and administrators used by the Charity during 2024/25 were: Bankers Lloyds Bank 2 George Row, Northampton Natwest Bank The Drapery, Northampton HSBC Bank Abington St, Northampton Barclays Bank Wellingborough Road, Northampton Page. 7 ## **Governance Arrangements** Solicitors Anthony Collins Solicitors 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham B3 2ES Independent examiner Miss C Haynes (ACA) 4 Delamere Road Northampton Investment Managers Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes . Page. 8 ## **Governance Arrangements** ## **Structure, Governance and Management** Northampton Methodist Church is the registered charity for all of the Methodist worshipping communities within Northampton and the surrounding area. It provides both worship, fellowship and pastoral care from its various buildings within the town. The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the Date of Union the advancement of: a) The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and discipline of The Methodist Church; b) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit. local or other organisation of The Methodist Church; c) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church; d) Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church. ## Public Benefit We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. Page. 9 ## **Governance Arrangements** ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The governing document for the Church is the Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976) Detailed governance arrangements are outlined within the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church by order of the annual conference (CPD). Day to day management of the Church is undertaken by the Church Council along with the Church Leadership team and the Finance and Property Committee . Each worshipping community also has a local teams structure organising and co ordinating the work in that location.. ## **Trustee Training** A range of guidance produced by Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the Church is used including the leaflet 'The Role of a Trustee in The Methodist Church' has been shared with each church council members to support induction to their role as trustees. Ongoing further training is also provided using trustee training material provided by the charity commission. ## **Risk Management** The major risks have been identified and recorded by the Finance and Property Committee with professional advice taken as required. There is a regular annual review process undertaken of all buildings and reported to the Church Council. Income and Expenditure is being monitored in total and is compared with the approved annual budget on a quarterly basis to detect trends as part of the risk management process to avoid unforeseen calls on reserves. ## **Reserves Policy** The Reserves Policy for the Church is to hold a minimum sum equivalent to 4 months' average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure on properties and / or to be able to continue, in the short term, funding planned activities in the event of any inability to maintain regular giving and other income of the various worshipping communities. Page. 10 ## **Governance Arrangements** ## **Safeguarding** _It is the Methodist Church’s intention to value every human being as part of God’s creation and the whole people of God. At the heart of the Methodist community is a deep sense of the place of welcome, hospitality and openness, which demonstrates the nature of God’s grace and love for all._ _Our church communities are called to be places where the transformational love of God is embodied and life in all its fullness is a gift, which is offered to all people._ Methodist Connexional practice outlines commitment to the following principles: - the care and nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and adults - the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable - the establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where there is informed vigilance as to the dangers of abuse. - We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with Safer Recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes. - We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and local authority in any investigation. - We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care. - We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust. - We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult. - In all these principles we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice Page. 11 ## **Financial Statement preparation** ## **Basis of preparation** As treasurer I confirm that I have prepared the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 from the consolidated records provided by each Worshipping community and that they include all funds under the control of the Church Council. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Signature of W K Brooks Date 10 March 2026
Treasurer
Name W K Brooks ACMA
Address 2a Stanfield Road
Duston
Northampton
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Presentation to the Church Council for approval.** I confirm that the Accounts have been presented to the Church Council Meeting on 10 March 2026 and were approved. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Signature of the Chair of the meeting Rev David Speirs 10 March 2026
Name of the Chair of Rev David Speirs
the meeting
Date 10 March 2026
**----- End of picture text -----**
___________________________________________________________________________ Page. 12 ## **Statement of Financial Activities** ||**Note ref**|**Unrestricted funds**|**Unrestricted funds**|**Restricted Funds**|**Restricted Funds**|**Endowment Funds**|**Endowment Funds**|**Total**|**Total**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||**2023/24**|**2024/25**|**2023/24**|**2024/25**|**2023/24**|**2024/25**|**2023/24**|**2024/25**| |||£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£| |**Income and Endowments from:**|8||||||||| |Collections and tax credit||231,810|207,038|1,917|2,233|||233,727|209,272| |Donations& grants||11,962|17,309|-|-|||11,962|17,309| |Legacies||-|-|38,972|-|||38,972|-| |Fund raising||12,430|14,138|-|-|||12,430|14,138| |Lettings||66,756|56,895|-|-|||66,756|56,895| |Investments||4,394|3,485|145|47|3,843|3,407|8,383|6,939| |Other||4,893|4,789|-|-|||4,893|4,789| |Internal organisations receipts|||-|58,587|52,534|||58,587|52,534| |**Total**||**332,244**|**303,654**|**99,622**|**54,814**|**3,843**|**3,407**|**435,709**|**361,875**| |||**2022/23**|**2023/24**|**2022/23**|**2023/24**|**2022/23**|**2023/24**|**2022/23**|**2023/24**| |||£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£| |**Expenditure on:**|9||||||||| |Salaries,NIC&Pension costs|6|12,748|7,842||-|||12,748|7,842| |Circuit Assessment||204,717|173,907||-|||204,717|173,907| |Repairs and maintenance||34,031|21,640|5,330|9,276|||39,361|30,916| |Insurance||25,426|20,541|-|-|||25,426|20,541| |Utilities||49,528|60,348|-|-|||49,528|60,348| |Internal organisations||-|-|56,630|46,003|||56,630|46,003| |Grants and Donations||1,722|1,188|2,119|1,288|||3,841|2,476| |Other expenditure||33,796|31,388|-|-|207|236|34,003|31,624| |**Total**||**361,968**|**316,855**|**64,079**|**56,566**|**207**|**236**|**426,254**|**373,657**| ||||||||||| |**Net income/(expenditure)**||**(29,724)**|**(13,201)**|**35,543**|**1,753**
**-**|**3,636**|**3,171**|**9,455**|**(11,782)**| |**Transfers between funds**||9,479|8,343|(5,844)|(5,172)|(3,636)|(3,171)|**0**|-| |**Transfer out Kingsthorpe Soc**||0|(33,786)|0|(6,945)|0|0|0|(40,730)| |**Recognition of buildings **||0|(550,000)|0|0|0|0|0|(550,000)| |Gains/(Losses)on investment assets||||352|123|95|122|95|245| |**Net movement in funds**||**(20,245)**|**(588,643)**|**30,051**|**(13,746)**|**95**|**122**|**9,902**|**(602,267)**| |**Reconciliation of funds:**|||||||||| |Total funds brought forward||3,036,631|3,016,386|84,311|114,363|72,630|72,725|3,193,572|3,203,474| |**Total funds carried forward**||**3,016,386**|**2,427,743**|**114,363**|**100,617**|**72,725**|**72,847**|**3,203,474**|**2,601,207**| Page. 13 ## **Balance Sheet** |||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Restricted**|**Endowments**|**Endowments**|**Total**|**Total**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||**Note ref**|**31-Aug-24**|**31-Aug-25**|**31-Aug-24**|**31-Aug-25**|**31-Aug-24**|**31-Aug-25**|**31-Aug-24**|**31-Aug-25**| |**Tangible Fixed Assets**||**£**|||£||**£**||**£**| |Land & Buildings|12|2,850,000|2,300,000|||||2,850,000|2,300,000| |Equipment|12|5,109|4,598|||||5,109|4,598| |Investmentproperties|12||||||||| |Investments|13|||||72,725|72,847|72,725|72,847| |**_Total fixed assets_**||2,855,109|2,304,598||-|72,725|72,847|2,927,834|2,377,445| |**Current Assets**|||||||||| |Stock|||||||||| |Debtors and Prepayments|14||||||||| |Cash at Bank and in hand|15|108,085|84,107|100,266|72,264|||208,351|156,371| |Trustees for Methodist Church
Purposes deposits||||5,052||||5,052|| |Central Finance Board Deposits||73,210|59,338|8,352|28,353|||81,562|87,691| |BuildingSocietydeposits||4130||692||||4,822|| |**_Total current assets_**||185,425|143,445|114,362|100,617|||299,787|244,062| |~~**Creditors and Accruals (due in**~~
**under 1yr)**|16|24,146|20,300|||||24,146|20,300| |**Net current assets(liabilities)**||161,279|123,145|114,362|100,617|||275,641|223,762| |**_Total assets less current_**
**_liabilities_**||3,016,388|2,427,743|114,362|100,617|72,725|72,847|3,203,475|2,601,207| ||||||||||| |**Loans and creditors due after 1**
**year**|||||||||| |Provisions
for
liabilities
and
charges|16||||||||| |**_Net assets_**||3,016,388|2,427,743|114,362|100,617|72,725|72,847|3,203,475|2,601,207| |**Funds of the Church**
17|||||||||| |General fund||137,796|124,557|||||137,796|124,557| |Designated funds||28,592|3,187|||||28,592|3,187| |Propertyreserve||2,850,000|2,300,000|||||2,850,000|2,300,000| |Restricted funds||||114,362|100,617|||114,362|100,617| |Endowment funds||||||72,725|72,847|72,725|72,847| |**_Total Funds_**||3,016,388|2,427,743|114,362|100,617|72,725|72,847|3,203,475|2,601,207| Page. 14 ## **Notes on the accounts** ## **1 Basis of accounting** The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the 2015 version of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102 – the Charities SORP (FRS102) and taking note of the Update Bulletins 1 and 2. ## **2 Funds** The funds held constitute: a General Fund held for any purpose of the Church which is Unrestricted, this fund being created at the point of consolidation of the constituent church societies and a property fund which representing the current assessed value of the church properties. There are a number of Designated funds which are being held for specific purposes which technically are part of the General fund but retain the specific purpose identification they had at 31 August 2022. There are a number of Restricted funds which include the internal organisations of the church which are formally also under the direct control of the church council, There is one Endowment fund that the income from it can be used for the upkeep of the Kingsley Park building. Any funds may be represented by more than just cash. Details of all funds is given in note 17. ## **3 Accounting policies Basis** These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost except that the church buildings are included at assessed valuation agreed by the trustees based on professional surveyor advice. ## **Incoming Resources** Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the Church becomes entitled to the resources, and the trustees are reasonably certain they will receive the resources; and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. ## **Resources Expended** This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, that results in the payment being unavoidable. Liabilities are recognised as soon as an outflow of economic benefit is considered more likely than not under the legal or constructive obligation committing the Church to pay out resources. Utility costs are recognised at the point of invoicing. ## **VAT** VAT incurred on the cost of purchases for the running of the church is charged as a cost of operation,. Page. 15 ## **Notes on the accounts** ## **Tangible fixed assets for use by the Church** Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £500. At the point of formation all fixed assets within each building were considered to be fully depreciated. New items of equipment purchased during the year have been treated as additions on a case by case basis. The freehold property is shown in the accounts at assessed values, of which the land component is deemed to be £1,000,000. No depreciation is provided on the buildings because the trustees consider the current residual fair value of the buildings (on the assumption that it had reached the end of its useful economic life by the year-end) to be not less than its current value. Any depreciation would not be material. The properties will be periodically reviewed for impairment. ## **Investments** Investments are valued in the balance sheet at market value at the year end. Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable and any gains or losses on revaluation at the year end are shown in the SOFA. ## **Debtors and Prepayments** Debtors are only recognised when an amount can be specifically recognised. ## **Creditors** Creditors are only recognised when they relate to a specific service or supply of goods. No attempt has been made to quantify utility supplies not invoiced. ## **Realised gains and losses** All gains and losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise. Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and opening carrying value (purchase date if later). Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the market value at the year end and opening carrying value (or purchase date if later). ## **4 Payments to trustees** There were no payments made to trustees for additional services provided to the Church **.** ## **5 Fees for audit of the accounts** There was no fee charged for the independent examination of these accounts. Page. 16 **Notes on the accounts** ## **6 Paid employees** Staff Costs paid during the year were: ||2023/24|2024/25| |---|---|---| ||£|£| |Gross wages|12,748|7,486| |Employer’s NIcosts||356| |Pension costs||| |Total staff costs|12,748|7,842| |||1
0.3| |No of employees|2|1| |Average number of full-time
equivalent employees in the
year were:|0.5|0.3| ## **7 Capital Commitments and Contingent Liabilities** At the 31st August 2025 there are capital commitments of £48,000 for the Harpole building extension. There were no contingent liabilities identified at 31st August 2025 . Page. 17 ## **Notes on the accounts** ## **8. Analysis of Unrestricted income by Worshipping community general funds and designated funds** |Currentyear 2024 - 25|Currentyear 2024 - 25|Astcote|Gt Billing|Harpole|Kingsley|Kingsthrp|Park Ave|Queensgrove|Roade|St
Andrews|Towcester
Road|
Church
Fund|Designated
funds|
**TOTAL**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**RECEIPTS**||£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£| |Offerings||6,371|5,497|4,902|16,008|0|72,037|0|9,715|34,146|14,115|4,105|0|166,895| |Donations||110|5|185|2,345|0|399|0|2,878|170|640|76|0|6,809| |Grants||0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|10,500|0|10,500| |Gift aid received||1,831|3,054|1,286|2,972|0|13,804|0|4,555|8,283|3,459|899|0|40,143| |Investment income||0|209|0|203|0|2,248|0|201|395|0|114|115|3,485| |Lettings||1,300|1,712|2,319|5,583|0|15,159|725|10,759|7,491|5,797|6,049|0|56,895| |Fundraisingactivity||496|74|2,430|5,187|0|979|0|1,849|808|2,315|0|0|14,138| |Other receipts||1,282|651|1,939|223|0|80|0|0|413|201|0|0|4,789| |Groupdonations||0|0|(50)|3,172|0|1,433|(7,478)|0|976|2,662|7,478|150|8,343| |**TOTAL**||11,390|11,202|13,011|35,693|0|106,139|-6,752|29,957|52,682|29,189|29,221|265|311,997| |||||||||||||||| |Previous year 2023 - 24||Astcote|Gt Billing|Harpole|Kingsley|Kingsthrp|Park Ave|Queensgrove|Roade|St
Andrews|Towcester
Road|
Church
Fund|Designated
funds|
**TOTAL**| |||||||||||||||| |**RECEIPTS**||£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£| |Offerings||6,913|4,804|5,283|17,994|18,520|55,650|24,263|9,894|30,983|13,396|2,931|0|190,631| |Donations|||165||6,665||200|1,060|960|410|1,395|907|200|11,962| |Gift aid received||1,906||1,187|4,171|4,049|12,724|8,060||6,110|2,440|531|0|41,179| |Investment income|||230||218|556|1,605|331|221|433|116|1|683|4,394| |Lettings||1,479|1,714|4,141|5,680||16,126|4,997|12,562|8,617|5,009|6,431|0|66,756| |Fundraisingactivity||942|42|684|4,738|48|81||1,917|1,377|2,501||100|12,430| |Other receipts||1,184||3,140|55||300|214|||||0|4,893| |Groupdonations|||||3,636||1,392|-555||1,307|2,944||755|9,480| |**TOTAL**||12,424|6,955|14,435|43,157|23,174|88,078|38,369|25,555|49,237|27,802|10,801|1,738|341,724| Page. 18 ## **Notes on the accounts** ## **9. Analysis of Unrestricted expenditure by Worshipping community general funds and designated funds** |Current year 2024 - 25|Current year 2024 - 25|Astcote|Gt Billing|Harpole|Kingsley|Kingsthrp|Park Ave|Queensgrove|Roade|St
Andrews|Towcester
Road|
Church
Fund|Designated
funds|
**TOTAL**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||||||||||||||| |**PAYMENTS**||£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£| |Circuit Assessment||||||||||||173,907||173,907| |Donations||578|0|315|0|0|30|0|120|115|30|0|0|1,188| |Repairs||987|1,684|434|4,282|0|5,288|0|2,709|3,103|2,555|599|0|21,640| |Cleaning||110|90|0|2,572|0|383|0|831|3,437|3,043|1,106|0|11,572| |Insurance||632|441|485|5,329|0|5,764|845|2,713|1,677|1,814|841|0|20,541| |Utilities||1,852|1,149|4,065|11,648|0|17,790|1,710|4,580|7,785|4,846|4,923|0|60,348| |Worshipcosts||938|136|481|2,705|0|1,415|0|0|628|417|372|0|7,092| |Otherpayments||475|0|156|430|0|3,922|0|193|1,909|278|4,680|681|12,724| |Total||5,572|3,500|5,936|26,966|0|34,592|2,555|11,146|18,654|12,983|186,428|681|309,013| |||||||||||||||| |Previous year 2023 - 24||Astcote|Gt Billing|Harpole|Kingsley|Kingsthrp|Park Ave|Queensgrove|Roade|St
Andrews|Towcester
Road|
Church
Fund|Designated
funds|
**TOTAL**| |||||||||||||||| |**PAYMENTS**||£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|£| |Circuit Assessment||||||||||||204,717||204,717| |Donations||165|135|255|||25||457|60|25||600|1,722| |Repairs||942|206|2,250|6,266|120|2,678|2,832|5,354|4,892|4,955|1,016|2520|34,031| |Cleaning||50|63|||||2,070|879|3,158|3,352|2,370|0|11,942| |Insurance||613|427|485|6,223|1,154|5,612|4,249|2,447|1,629|1,769|819|0|25,426| |Utilities||2,920|876|3,362|7,385||11,214|4,099|4,718|6,998|2,116|5,840|0|49,528| |Worshipcosts||1,031|194|784|2,613|370|1,434|737||932|396|368|0|8,859| |Salaries|||||||12,748||||||0|12,748| |Otherpayments||554|78|214|665|218|4,531|1,737|126|2,452|2,380|41|0|12,996| |Total||6,275|1,979|7,350|23,152|1,861|38,243|15,724|13,981|20,121|14,993|215,171|3,120|361,968| Page. 19 ## **Notes on the accounts** ## **10. Transfers between funds** The income generated by TMCP holdings is transferred to the General fund net of the related administration charge. All other transfers relate to either payments for building usage or alternatively support with start up costs for a new project or initiative. The transfers related to the creation of Kingsthorpe Society are separately shown. The movements in the property reserve reflect the identification and transfer into the Circuit Accounts of properties which have been identified for sale during the financial year. Page. 20 ## **Notes on the accounts** ## **11. Depreciation** Depreciation was calculated on the fixtures and fittings at a rate of 10 percent of current value. ## **12.Operational Fixed Assets & Land and Buildings** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Valuation at Valuation at 2024 -25 Valuation at Accum
2023 -24 Dep'n Dep'n Revalution NBV 31
31 August 31 August transfers 31 August Dep'n
additions 2023-24 2024-25 Aug 2024 Aug 2024
2023 2024 out 2024 August 22
Land & buildings £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Astcote 50,000 0 50,000 0 50,000 0 0 0 0 50,000
Gt Billing 50,000 0 50,000 0 50,000 0 0 0 0 50,000
Harpole 50,000 0 50,000 0 50,000 0 0 0 0 50,000
Park Avenue 600,000 0 600,000 0 600,000 0 0 0 0 600,000
Kingsley 350,000 0 350,000 0 350,000 0 0 0 0 350,000
Kingsthorpe 200,000 0 200,000 -200,000 0 0 0 0 0 0
Queensgrove 350,000 0 350,000 -350,000 0 0 0 0 0 0
Roade 250,000 0 250,000 0 250,000 0 0 0 0 250,000
St Andrews 400,000 0 400,000 0 400,000 0 0 0 0 400,000
Towcester Road 350,000 0 350,000 0 350,000 0 0 0 0 350,000
Wootton 200,000 0 200,000 0 200,000 0 0 0 0 200,000
2,850,000 0 2,850,000 -550,000 2,300,000 0 0 0 0 2,300,000
Fixtures & fittings 200,000 5,109 205,109 0 205,109 200,000 0 502 0 4,607
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page. 21 ## **Notes on the accounts** ## **13. Investments** The M E Gregory endowment is invested primarily in the TMCP Trustee Interest Fund along with a small holding of Lloyds Bank Group shares. ## **14. Analysis of current assets Debtors under 1 year** There were no debtors identified at the end of the financial year. ## **15. Analysis of cash at bank and in hand** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Balance at 31 Balance at 31
Aug 2024 Aug 2025
£ £
Balance with Barclays bank 48384 24250
Balance with Co-op bank 4628 5862
Balance with HSBC bank 29212 18409
Balance with Lloyds bank 42591 24594
Balance with NatWest bank 13313 18927
Balance with Santander plc 4013 755
Cash 281 2076
Linked groups fund holdings 65928 61497
208350 156370
**----- End of picture text -----**
The high cash balance in 2025 relates to collections received on the 31[st] August. Page. 22 ## **Notes on the accounts** ## **16. Analysis of current liabilities and long-term creditors** |Trade Creditors
Other Creditors Northampton Circuit
Other Creditors Connexional Funds|**As at 31**
**Aug-24**
**£**
15000
22,646
0
24,146|**As at 31**
**Aug-25**
**£**
1,500
18,800
0| |---|---|---| |||20,300| The trade creditor reflects estimated non billed electricity costs for Astcote during 2025. Other creditors represent sums owed at the year end by the charity to related parties, the Northampton Circuit in respect of assessment due but not paid until September 2025. There are no identified long term creditors. Page. 23 ## **Notes on the accounts** ## **17. Analysis of movements of all funds under the oversite of the NMC Church Council by category for the past two years** ||**Balance at**
**31st August**
**2023**|
**Income**
|**Expenditure**|**Transfers**|**Balance at**
**31st August**
**2024**|
**Income**
|**Expenditure**|**Transfers**|**Balance at**
**31st August**
**2025**|
**Fund purpose**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||||||||||| |**Unrestricted Funds**|||||137,795
2,850,000
_555_
_24,992_
_3,045_||||124,558
2,300,000
_25 _
_0 _
_3,160 _|| |General Fund|156,658|331,260|358,848|8,725||303,539|316,174|(602)||_General purposes of NMC_| |Property reserve|2,850,000|0|0|0||0|0|(550,000)||_Property reserve_| |||||||||||| |Designated Funds||||||||||| |_NMC Youth Fund_|_0_|0|0|555||0|680|150||_To support future work in Kingsthorpe_| |_Kingsthorpe futures_|_24,739_|653|600|200||0|0|(24,992)||_To support future work in Kingsthorpe_| |_Kingsley project (roof)_|_5,237_|330|2,522|0||115|0|0||_To be used for maintenance of Kingsley building_| |**_Total unrestricted_**|**3,036,634**|**_332,243_**|**_361,970_**|**_9,480_**|**3,016,387**|**_303,654_**|**_316,854_**|**_(575,444)_**|**2,427,743**|| |**Endowment Funds**|||||_72,725_||||_72,847 _|| |_Kingsley Gregery legacy_|_72,630_|_3,938_|_207_|_(3,636)_||_3,529_|_236_|_(3,171)_||_Interest to be used for maintenance of Kingsley buildiing_| |||||||||||| |**_Total_**|**72,630**|**_3,938_**|**_207_**|**_(3,636)_**|**72,725**|**_3,529_**|**_236_**|**_(3,171)_**|**72,847**|| |**Restricted Funds**|||||_2,526_
_122_
_10,899_
_301_
_774_
_3,595_
_239_
_0_
_0_
_24,539_
_4,901_
_150_
_387_
65,930||||_2,895 _
_80 _
_2,366 _
_0 _
_0 _
_3,595 _
_239 _
_0 _
_735 _
_28,822 _
_0 _
_0_
_387 _
61,498|| |_Benevolent fund_|_2,459_|_1,255_|_1,224_|_36_||_1,975_|_973_|_(633)_||_For relief of identified hardship or need_| |||||||||||| |_Astcote charity collection_|_280_|_302_|_460_|_0_||_258_|_300_|_0_||_Holding fund for collections for other charities_| |_Harpole legacy_|_0_|_13,972_|_3,073_|_0_||_0_|_8,533_|_0_||_Legacy received for use at Harpole chapel_| |_Kingsthorpe charity collection_|_373_|_360_|_360_|_(72)_||_0_|_0_|_(301)_||_Holding fund for collections for other charities_| |_Kingsthorpe youth fund_|_800_|_0_|_62_|_36_||_0_|_0_|_(774)_||_Support of youth work at Kingsthorpe worshipping community_| |_Park Avenue Drop in centre_|_3,595_|_0_|_0_|_0_||_0_|_0_|_0_||_Dormant fund_| |_Park Avenue Trade craft_|_239_|_0_|_0_|_0_||_0_|_0_|_0_||_Dormant fund_| |_Park Avenue Security camara_|_1,150_|_0_|_0_|_(1,150)_||_0_|_0_|_0_||_Closed fund_| |_Park GroveYouth Fund_|_0_|_0_|_0_|_0_||_6_|_0_|_729_||_To be used for future youth work at Park Grove_| |_Park Grove Development fund_|_646_|_25,000_|_2,257_|_1,150_||_0_|_743_|_5,026_||_To be used for development at Park Grove_| |_Park Avenue Unconditional gift_|_4,550_|_489_|_13_|_(125)_||_162_|_16_|_(5,047)_||_Closed fund_| |_Park Avenue Bennett bequest_|_150_|_8_|_0_|_(8)_||_2_|_0_|_(152)_||| |_St Andrews craft group_|_387_|_0_|_0_|_0_||_0_|_0_|_0_||_Funds held for St Andrews craft group_| |||||||||||| |Internal Groups|69,682|58,588|56,629|_(5,711)_||52,535|46,005|_(10,962)_||_See next table_| |||||||||||| |**Total**|**84,311**|**99,974**|**64,078**|**(5,844)**|**114,363**|**54,938**|**56,570**|**(12,114)**|**100,617**|| |||||||||||| |Total|**3,193,575**|**436155**|**426255**|**0**|**3,203,475**|**362121**|**373660**|**(590,729)**|**2,601,207**|| Page. 24 ## **Notes on the accounts** ## Details for all internal groups shown as total line on previous table **----- Start of picture text -----**
Balance at Balance at Balance at
31st August Income Expenditure Transfers 31st August Income Expenditure Transfers 31st August Fund purpose
2023 2024 2025
Internal group funds
Harpole BB 983 0 0 0 983 0 0 0 983 Dormont residual balance
Kingsthorpe GB 4744 4828 5423 0 4149 0 0 (4,149) 0 Children and youth work Girls Brigade
Kingsthorpe catering 521 597 435 0 683 0 0 (683) 0 Catering group linked to Kingsthorpe
Kingsthorpe Badmington 324 953 722 (200) 355 0 0 -355 0 Sport group
Kingsley Junior Church 765 0 237 0 528 0 291 0 237 Children and youth work
Kingsley GB 3047 1365 1979 0 2433 3001 2608 0 2826 Children and youth work Girls Brigade
Kingsley BB 14779 1354 532 0 15601 1236 439 0 16398 Children and youth work Boys Brigade
Park Avenue Toddlers group 49 284 42 (130) 161 215 158 (100) 118 Under 5's group
Park Avenue Youth Group 174 0 174 0 0 0 -37 (37) 0 Dormant fund
Park Avenue Choir 32 0 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 Closed fund
Park Avenue 15 club 31 312 165 (130) 48 64 48 0 64 Fellowship group
Park Avenue Womens fellowship 1577 2099 1048 (1,000) 1628 1917 1042 (1,000) 1503 Fellowship group
Park Avenue Netw ork 3147 19361 18703 0 3805 21173 20373 (1,000) 3605 Fellowship group
Park Avenue BB 357 1832 1865 0 324 1526 1357 0 493 Children and youth work Boys Brigade
Queensgrove Tuesday ladies 1185 1060 1025 0 1220 0 1220 0 0 Fellowship group
Queensgrove BB 5062 5062 0 0 0 0 0 0 Children and youth work Boys Brigade
St Andrew s BB 23472 13983 13380 0 24075 15226 13769 0 25532 Children and youth work Boys Brigade
St Andrew s Tuesday club 442 1520 618 (932) 412 1747 713 (696) 750 Fellowship group
St Andrew s craft 460 375 400 (375) 60 400 50 (280) 130 Craft based fellowship group
Tow cester Rd BB 5139 5573 3857 (800) 6055 1958 2582 (650) 4781 Children and youth work Boys Brigade
Tow cester Rd Bow ls 2468 2030 780 (1,000) 2718 2505 932 (1,000) 3291 Sport group
Tow cester Rd Knit and Natter 924 1062 150 (1,144) 692 1567 460 (1,012) 787 Craft based fellowship group
0 0 0
0 0
0 0
Total 69682 58588 56629 (5,711) 65930 52535 46005 (10,962) 61498
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page. 25 ## **Independent Examiners Report** This Report is on the Northampton Methodist Church Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2025 and Is carried out under Sections 145 of the Charities Act 2011. ## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner** As Trustees, you 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(2) of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination is needed. The charity is preparing accrued accounts and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales. It is my responsibility to: to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 act; and to state whether any particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of Independent Examiner's Report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 you as 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 matter has come to my attention: (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: Page. 26 ## **Independent Examiners Report** - to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act ; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the - accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or . - (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding - of the accounts to be reached. - (3) I have not obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist - Church Purposes ("TMCP") or held in other Trusts, Bank balances and Funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church ("CFB"), which are individually in excess of £10,000 at the balance sheet date. Name Miss C Haynes ACA 11 May 2026 Qualification reference ACA ICAEW 7945127 Address 4 Delamere Road Northampton NN4 8QG Page. 27 ## **Appendix A Membership of Church Council** ## CHAIR Rev David Speirs SECRETARY Miss Sarah Eason MINISTERS Rev Dr Samantha Gillard Rev Ian Forsyth STEWARDS Mrs Pat Oliver Ms Linda Caines Ms Rachel Pell Mrs Fran Perry Mrs Kate Stretton Mrs Hilary Walden Ms Charmaine Wareham Voyce ## REPRESENTATIVES Mr Keith Brooks Mrs Jenny Brooks Miss Pam Kirkland Dr Hellen Okello Mr Phillip Leeson Miss Laura Ferris Mr Paul Deakin Mrs Jenny Richardson Ms Julie Kerry Page. 28