## **Wesley Place Methodist Church, Alsager Registered Charity No:1142234** ## **TRUSTEES` ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st AUGUST 2023** ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** Wesley Place Methodist Church is based in Alsager, Cheshire. Opened in 1869 Wesley Place celebrated its 150[th] Anniversary in 2019. The Church was built to provide for a growing population in Alsager made popular by the advent of the railway and to supplement the original one room Methodist Chapel in Hassall Road Alsager built in 1834 and extended in 1852. As the congregation grew in 1969 Wesley Place added a modern extension building to accommodate its growing Sunday School in 1969. Wesley Place Methodist Church Alsager is part of Cheshire South Methodist Circuit. Varying styles of Sunday Worship are offered from traditional to a shorter reflective devotion in addition to a brunch, messy church and an opportunity to learn new hymns and songs. On Wednesday Morning we meet in fellowship and share Holy Communion. The Church Hall and additional buildings are used extensively for our own mission activities and by others or hired out for a wide range of community purposes throughout the week. `` _1_ ## **Managing Trustees 2022/23:** Rev Robert Hilton Peter Morris Isabel Brislen Janet Keen Margaret Keeling Jonny Newbould Lesley Elizabeth Peake Catherine Bowen-Fanstone David Michael Crompton Helen Robertson Sandra Fawley Moors Alison Jane Steele Celia Mary Crompton Harriet Emily Weatherby Crompton Dorothy Anne Milner Alicia Rose Weatherby Crompton Valerie Snowden Andrew Dale Shaw Gwynneth Proudlove Natasha Jane Walker Sarah Simpkin Sandra Laura Rawlinson Carol Challinor Daniel Mark Keen Christianne Morris ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** During the Covid pandemic the Church buildings remained closed but pastoral care continued and online Zoom services on a Sunday replaced in person worship. Observing COVID restrictions the Church continued to connect with the membership and pastoral roll but in 2022 when the Church reopened the Sunday congregation was much reduced. Covid had taken its toll. However, the Church has set about new mission objectivities focused upon community outreach and has continued to successfully build and expand its activities, Dinner Hub Youth work The Ark Hope Journey Christmas Tree Festival Action for Children Saturday Coffee Monday Games `` _2_ ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **FINANCIAL REPORT** The method of accounting used is that of Receipts and Payments and the Methodist Standard Form of Accounts, which is attached to this report, summarises the Receipts and Payments for the year ending **31 August 2023.** The Church finances and congregation were depleted because of the pandemic lockdowns and restrictions between January 2020 and July 2021 but have since shown a gradual improvement. Our largest outgoing was the Circuit Assessment which amounted to **£42,333** which included a 25% discount provided by the Circuit to its churches to assist them in their recovery from the impact of the Covid pandemic **.** Total Church receipts amounted to **£72,726** and Payments came to **£69,104** leaving a surplus of **£3,622.** Our offerings and Tax recovered in the year totalled **£51,109, a** little down on the previous year as were the room lettings which came to **£7,355.** Fundraising receipts from our Christmas Tree Festival in November 2022 amounted to **£5,391** . Our Church members and volunteers continue to put considerable effort into fundraising events and seeking grant support to secure the finances required to support mission outreach. ## **RESERVES** A Reserves Policy has been prepared. On 31 August 2023, the General Fund held £ **14,006** and our restricted funds a sum of **£49,540** reserved **for** a future mission-based building project. A draft Budget for 2023/24 has been prepared with expenditure forecast at **£95,309,** and with income behind it at **£69,256.** We have been unable to rebuild our reserves where we aim to hold up to 50% of our annual expenditure. ## **THE FUTURE** We are conscious that without the Circuit Assessment discount our small surplus for 2022/2023 would have been wiped out and we expect a particularly challenging year financially when the Circuit Assessment returns to normal levels. Further during 2023/2024 our energy contracts negotiated 3 years ago expire so we anticipate significantly higher energy costs when new contracts are arranged. The forecast budget for 2023/24 shows that we expect to be in deficit at year end, so as well as fund raising, we will be seeking grants to enable our mission work to continue. ## **DECLARATIONS** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees' report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees: `` _3_ Signature Full Nam8 Postbon Dat8 CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Wesley Place Methodist Church, Alsager Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2023 Cheshire South Circuit Circuit no. 11118 Registered Charity - Charity Registration number If not a registered tharity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered tharty number in tenns of evm1en￿ of ¢haritable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wshing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charihes in England and Wa￿S that are not registered charities are excepted from registrats'on under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) 1200390 Minister. Rev'd Rob Hilton Church Stewards: Dot Milner Lesley Peake - Senior Sandra RavAinson Catherine Bowen Fanstone Andrew Shaw Harriet Crompton Alicia Crompton Natasha Walker Treasurer: David Crompton churthes-receipts-and-payments-2023 (2> 1ofS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 Wesley Place Methodist Church, Alsager Church Unrestrlcted Restricted Totsls thls Funds Funds year Totals last year SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note a2 Offerin s and Tax recovered Bank 2nd CFB interest and Investment income 51,109 51.109 52,896 83 1.689 1,689 7,355 12,573 72,726 203 a4 Lettin 7.355 8.392 a5 Other reeeipls TOTAL RECEIPTS 12,573 72,726 26,845 88,336 a6 la7 SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 42,333 42,333 56,443 50 b3 Donations 1,772 4.492 1,772 4,492 b4 Re airs and Maintenance Ulililies Ilnsurances, water charges. heating & lighlingl 8,630 b5 11,089 11,089 10,259 bs b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 9.418 69,104 9,418 69,104 7,064 82,446 b8 Ib91 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 a6-b8 3,622 5,890 Total funds brought forward from last year c2 59.924 59,924 c6 54,035 c3 Sub total c1 *c21 63.546 63,546 59,925 Transfers and ad uslmenls c7 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c41 63.546 63,546 (¢81 59,925 Ic5} SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO &XTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Ith¢se amounts arg not to be includgd in total receiptslpaymgnts figures above) d1 Balance brou hl forward from last ear 601 601 d2 Offerin s/Gifts- receNed for extemal o anisations 154 192 d3 OfferingslGifts passed lo extemal organisalions 154 192 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID Id1 +d2431 1601 1601 2of5 churehes.rece1pts-4nd-pxyn￿ft￿202J {21 CH SECMOM E Summary ¢rtr* cnuich tr￿Fe[￿￿ 31 Au9uSt 2023 Irrt￿￿ 1>Yan￿al￿$ to it* Cwrvvchurth Ih3tth8 fvn¢y ol DBbYtOryanukns Ck)wrvJ organtsat*￿$fvnd5 Church XCOLrylts li(4alA 2-tOts￿ ethumnl 7In6 6*104 1¢71 59.924 BY CHURC 71726 69,104 89,924 cL￿n*￿a separ*8 she rf￿￿e￿aryoThd bnDg totals f￿r4 TOTAL RÈCEWS TOT*L PAYIIEPIts SE¢noN F ¢LO*NG BALANCES CHURCH-CASH FLINDS TrELD *31 t 3J23 Castt fft ttand Bank CUrr8mAo)J￿rt 12.072 14,oce Central ecord 47.851 49.$40 SU8 TOTAL. Chur¢h •¢couNs funds ￿ by In*m¥ (tr*l￿ baL¥i¢ebwi trixn aL*)vel ie121 59,923 ILS} 63,646 Icel TOTAL CASH FUNDS WELD BYCTrAMCH 59.923 83,546 SECMON G 31 sMKJu5t2023 Land & Buk1ry$ (see rKte5 ￿ knwwcevak*l 3.￿7.5¥ 4.188.357 Llabhie f4 kndude onty Fund$tdd atlho Contr* Fhi•¥* 8o¥d 3d5 Declarations and Scrutiny I confim that these Receipt and Payment based ac￿nts for the year to 31 August 2023 have been prepared from the re￿5 of the Church and that they indude all funds under the control of the chU￿h trustees. Signature of treasurer Name and address of treasurer. David Crompton,21.Stakn Road.Alsager.Stoke On Trent ST7 2PJ Pre8enlation to the Church trust I confimi that the annual report and accourts for the year ended 31 August 2023 werthMII be. p￿sented lo the meeting of the Churth trustee$ held on 25 OCto￿r 2023 Signature of the Chair of the meets.ng Name of the Chair of the meetr"n9 Independent Examinefs Report to the Trustees of the Wesley Place Methodlst Church, Alsager Charity Number 12(#)Ml Re8pon8lb1lltl￿ and basis of feport I report to the trustees on my examinab.on of the accounts of Wesley Plxe Methodist Churth, Alsager for the year ended 31 August 2023 set out on pages 1 to 3 . As the Church's trustees. you are responsible for the prepara.on of the accounts in ￿c0rdan￿ wilh the requirements of the Charities kt 20111'the Ad). I report in respect of my examination of the Church's a¢¢ourrts carned oui under section 145 of the Act af￿, in carying out rny examination, I have folkywed all the applicab￿ Directiong given by the Charity Commission under sethon 145t5)Ibl of the Act. ' delete or arcle as appropriate 4ofS Name of Church .. Wesley Place Methodist Church, Alsager Independent Examiner's Ststement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect- the accounting records were not kept in accordan￿ 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 report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I hwelh0¥￿8¥ebtaIned independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in eX￿sS of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner Roger Pask Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner Reb"red Compnay Director Name of firm (where appropriate) Address 36,Wesley Avenue AEsager Cheshire Post Code ST7 2NG Date delete or circle as appropriate Fcrrn klty43 churehes-receipts-and-payrnents-2023121 5of5 ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **FINANCIAL REPORT** The method of accounting used is that of Receipts and Payments and the Methodist Standard Form of Accounts, which is attached to this report, summarises the Receipts and Payments for the year ending **31 August 2023.** The Church finances and congregation were depleted because of the pandemic lockdowns and restrictions between January 2020 and July 2021 but have since shown a gradual improvement. Our largest outgoing was the Circuit Assessment which amounted to **£42,333** which included a 25% discount provided by the Circuit to its churches to assist them in their recovery from the impact of the Covid pandemic **.** Total Church receipts amounted to **£72,726** and Payments came to **£69,104** leaving a surplus of **£3,622.** Our offerings and Tax recovered in the year totalled **£51,109, a** little down on the previous year as were the room lettings which came to **£7,355.** Fundraising receipts from our Christmas Tree Festival in November 2022 amounted to **£5,391** . Our Church members and volunteers continue to put considerable effort into fundraising events and seeking grant support to secure the finances required to support mission outreach. ## **RESERVES** A Reserves Policy has been prepared. On 31 August 2023, the General Fund held £ **14,006** and our restricted funds a sum of **£49,540** reserved **for** a future mission-based building project. A draft Budget for 2023/24 has been prepared with expenditure forecast at **£95,309,** and with income behind it at **£69,256.** We have been unable to rebuild our reserves where we aim to hold up to 50% of our annual expenditure. ## **THE FUTURE** We are conscious that without the Circuit Assessment discount our small surplus for 2022/2023 would have been wiped out and we expect a particularly challenging year financially when the Circuit Assessment returns to normal levels. Further during 2023/2024 our energy contracts negotiated 3 years ago expire so we anticipate significantly higher energy costs when new contracts are arranged. The forecast budget for 2023/24 shows that we expect to be in deficit at year end, so as well as fund raising, we will be seeking grants to enable our mission work to continue. Wesley Place Methodist Church, Alsager Financial Report Charity Commission Annual Return 2023