# **Wesley Place Methodist Church, Alsager Registered Charity No:1142234** ## **TRUSTEES` ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st AUGUST 2024** ## **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. Wesley Place Methodist Church Alsager is part of Cheshire South Methodist Circuit. Varying styles of Sunday Worship are offered from traditional to 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 2023/24:** Isabel Brislen Carol Challinor David Michael Crompton Celia Mary Crompton Harriet Emily Weatherby Crompton Alicia Rose Weatherby Crompton Catherine Bowen-Fanstone Rev Robert Hilton Margaret Keeling Daniel Mark Keen Andrew Dale Shaw Sarah Simpkin Valerie Snowden Alison Jane Steele Andrew Tyrell Natasha Walker Janet Keen Dorothy Ann Milner Sandra Fawley Moors Peter Morris Christianne Morris Lesly Elizabeth Peake Gwynneth Proudlove Sandra Laura Rawlinson Helen Robertson **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** The Church has continued with its mission objectives focused upon community outreach successfully building and expanding its activities including: - Dinner Hub Youth Club Activities The Ark Hope Journey Action for Children Saturday Coffee Monday Games Wednesday Morning Service Christmas Tree Festival `` _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 2024.** The Church finances and congregation were depleted because of the pandemic lockdowns and restrictions between January 2020 and July 2021. Since the end of the Pandemic the congregation has started to return and new mission initiatives commenced. Although the Church remains financially challenged the congregation is currently stable as is the revenue stream. Our largest outgoing was the Circuit Assessment which amounted to **£55,745** , much higher than in the previous year when we had benefitted from 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 **£88,368** and Payments came to **£95,480** resulting in a deficit of **£7,112.** Our offerings and Tax recovered in the year totaled **£47,009, a** little down on the previous year but the room lettings increased to **£7,820.** Fundraising receipts from our Christmas Tree Festival in November 2023 amounted to **£5,500,** a little higher than in 2022. 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 2024, the General Fund held **£6,336** and our restricted funds a sum of **£50,098** reserved **for** a building refurbishment project. A draft Budget for 2024/25 has been prepared with expenditure forecast at **£79,904,** and income payments at **£83,770,** so exceeding payments **.** We have been unable to rebuild our reserves where we aim to hold up to 50% of our annual expenditure. ## **THE FUTURE** Last year we were conscious that without the Circuit Assessment discount our small surplus for 2022/2023 would have been wiped out. We expected a particularly challenging 2023/2024 year financially, when the Circuit Assessment returned to its normal level, and as forecast a year end deficit was realised. `` _4_ Anticipating then the heightened risk of running out of funds in 2024/2025 we have negotiated a 10-year interest free loan of **£17,420** from Cheshire South Circuit **,** representing the first four monthly Circuit Assessments commencing 1 September 2024. The capital is repayable over 10 years by annual instalments of **£1,742** commencing September 2025. This loan will relieve the pressure on our finances whilst we continue our mission in the community and look to grow both our Church congregation and income.. ## **DECLARATIONS** The trustees declare that they have approved of the trustees' report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees: Signature Full Name Position Date `` _5_ CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Wesley Place Methodist Church.Alsager Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2024 Cheshire South Circuit Circuit no. 11118 Registered Charity - Charity Registration number If not a registered charity His Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number {The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see eviden￿ of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are ex￿pted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242} 1200390 Minister.. Rev d Rob Hilton Church Stewards.. Alicia Crompton - Senior Steward Harriet Crompton Catherine Bowen- Fanstone Natasha Walker Andrew Shaw Sarah Simpkin Treasurer.. David Crompton Wesley Place Methodist ChurchAJ Alsager SFA 2023 -2024 1of5 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Wesley Place Methodist Church,Alsager Church Unrestrictsd Restricted Funds Funds Totals thls yaar Totals last yèar SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note a2 Offerings and Tax recovered Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 47.009 47,009 51,110 a3 123 2,533 2,656 7.820 1,689 7,355 12,573 72.727 a4 Lettings Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 7,820 28,683 83,636 a5 2,200 4,733 30.883 88.368 (a7) SECTION 8 b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 55.746 428 55.746 42,333 b3 Donations 428 1,772 4.492 Repairs and Maintenance Ulililies (Insuran￿9, water charges, healing & lighting} Other Regular Running Costs Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 5,649 5.649 b5 19,223 10,978 19.223 14.434 11.089 3,456 3,545 5,873 69.104 b7 b8 92,024 3,456 95.480 Ib91 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 {a6-b81 {8,3881 1,277 (7,1111 3,623 Total funds brought forward from last year 63,546 59,924 Sub total {c1+c21 18.388} 1,277 56,434 63.546 Transfers and adjustments {c71 c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR le3+c4) 18,3881 1,277 56.434 Ic81 63,546 {c61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EKfERNAL ORGANISATIONS {theso amounts arg not to be included in totsl receiptslpayments figures above) d1 Balance brought forward from last year 160} d2 OfferingslGffts- received for external organisations 524 d3 OfferingslGifts - passed to extemal organisations 524 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID {d1+d2-d31 160} 2of5 We5￿ Place m&h￿l$te.hllrCh.J AIs48¥r SPA 2023-2024 We$￿Y Pla* Methodk%t Churd).NJ8ager Chwrh SUMMARYOF CH RCH IN THE CHURCH COUNCIL SECTION E Pleaspfollowthg Guidance Notestocom Summary ol the Church arLountsftyihe yearenoed 31 Awusi 20Z4 and irfemal Organisat￿5 reFthin91o ChU￿h COutriVChu￿ MeeiiNJ N￿e th81 thefunds of an Ini*rnal OrganL43bon véouid normally be ReslriGted fund5 tJ￿￿591tC0Uk$ be cjearfy that ￿eY ¢ovld be uaed lor any MelA￿ls1 purpDse This seGtioD rnusl be Tnple￿ lo attivè aitrÈgrossincome aTKSexpwditurelolaI5 of theChur(*i. If gr05S ￿KDrne ex￿O￿l￿￿A¢¢￿aL% thresydd. then ￿e Accrua15 Thetmdof accounbng ANDA D1FFERENT FORM musi be useo 10 ￿p)rtIhe ￿thnI$ (see Meihothsi Aease referkn the gUIdanr￿ notes reoarding i￿nsIerS beiween Disirict and (thne¢ted DistrktOrganisatK)ns INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Nel Rece Payments Owing balances Paymep)ts Adjustm￿ts clo￿￿￿ ba￿l￿e8 e5 e7 Organ￿lK)nS fufids ChU￿h accounts It4Jt¥l$ broryht Iorwsrd fr*)m page 2-totals column) 88,368 95.480 {b9} Ic71 56.434 {£8) 8YCHiIRCH 88,368 95A80 IY.1111 Conbnue on a sewarateshOSt rf rwessary and brin9 the totsi¥f(wrd TOTAL RECEIPTS TofAL PAYMENTS SECMOM F TATEMENT OF ASSETSAND LIABILITI OPENING BALANCES CLIYJING BALANCES CHURCH- CASH FVNDS HELDat 31 Au ust2024 Ca3h in 14.006 5.311 8ank CLWTentActs)unt 1.025 8ank Dew41A¢(J>Jnl f4 Cenbal Firbsn* Board InvestmentAC￿nt 48.638 50.098 TNsleesforMetl¥)thsl Churth Purm$ 0lher1u￿ts CFB PrQio¢tAw￿nt SUB TOTAL-Church actounls 63,546 $6h34 Ic61 Total funds The￿j Oy Iniwnal organ￿a10r￿ Ilhec105i baL￿n￿total from abovti ie121 18121 TOTALCASH FUNDS HELD BYCHURCH 63,546 $6.434 SECTION G At Al 1 Septsmber2023 31 A￿U312024 OTHER ASSETS and L￿81￿￿Es In¥eslmenis (include EtKknWffl￿ts1 Land & (see ro 4,188.3SY 4,17e,192 tJhBrM$e Loanlsl- sh￿al￿)Unt wlSWdiNJ St￿9r¥￿￿￿ (Xher Lia￿li￿e5 14 ITh￿￿¢￿ only Funds held allhe Central Fillan￿ 8oaNI 15 IDdu¢konly Fundshekl at Trustee5 formethodisl Chuich Putkw)5es 01 Indudts any Olher ￿yeS￿￿￿ {fiotlhe Lash de[n￿10fTMCPl[u5ts a￿(￿nts i1H5 56 in lir* IS W£￿ryP1K