**Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2024** **Charity Number: 1202520** ## **1. Reference and Administrative Details** Name of Charity : Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church Charity Number : 1202520 Address : Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church, Bowthorpe Road, Norwich NR5 8AB Managing Trustees: The church is managed by the Church Council, which acts as the managing trustee body under the constitution of the Methodist Church in Britain. Members of the Church Council during the year were: Man Shan Hilda Lai Chi Wai Lai Chau Lui Lam Kai Chiu Liu San Peng Tan Yuen Chui Minister in Pastoral Charge: Ka Fai Stephen Lau Independent Examiner or Auditor: Fung Yee Chan, 38 Aspen Drive NR18 9FT Bankers: HSBC UK, 18 London Street, Norwich NR2 1LG ## **2. Structure, Governance and Management** Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church is part of the Norwich Methodist Circuit. The Church is governed by the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church (CPD) and is an exempt charity under the Charities Act 2011. The Church Council is the managing trustee body and meets at least three times a year. The council members are appointed by the church members every two years and are given guidance on their responsibilities. ## **3. Objectives and Activities** The primary purpose of Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church is the advancement of the Christian faith through worship, fellowship, mission, service, and outreach in the local community and beyond. ## **The Church seeks to:** - Provide regular worship services - Engage in pastoral care and community service - Support spiritual growth through Bible studies and fellowship groups - Promote ecumenical partnerships - Provide space for community activities and organisations ## **4. Achievements and Performance** ## **Worship & Fellowship:** - Chinese and English weekly Sunday services, plus a combined Chinese and English Holy Communion services once a month. In addition, special services at Christmas, Easter, and Church Anniversary - Sunday schools take part during the Sunday services. - Weekly bible studies and other fellowships, serving different subsets of our church community - Fellowship serving the university students from University of East Anglia and young professionals. - Annual Youth Summer Camps and Vacation Bible School in the summers ## **Community Engagement:** - Weekly coffee mornings involving our local communities, organised by our volunteers. Every year they will organise collection for Foodbank and Shoe box collections for Christmas gifts to children overseas. - Hosting of community groups in church premises (Girl Guides) ## **Pastoral and Spiritual Care:** - Ongoing pastoral care for members and the wider community - House groups and prayer meetings (in-person and/or online) ## **Mission & Outreach:** - Support for Chinese Methodist Mission, Mission Fund of the Norwich Circuit and various mission organisations. ## **5. Financial Review** During the year, income was generated from collections, donations, lettings, and fundraising activities. Expenditure was directed towards ministry, maintenance of the church building, and mission work. Summary of Financial Position: - Total income: £ 172,616 - Total expenditure: £ 140,884 - Net surplus: £ 31,732 - Reserves at year-end: £ 211,493 The church seeks to maintain a prudent level of reserves to ensure sustainability and meet unforeseen expenses. ## **6. Reserves Policy** The Church Council aims to maintain unrestricted reserves equivalent to at least 6 months of normal operating costs. This is reviewed annually and adjusted as necessary. ## **7. Plans for the Future** Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church remains committed to: - Strengthening its witness and outreach in the Bowthorpe community - Enhancing its worship and spiritual life - Exploring ways to engage younger people and families - Improving the use of the church premises for mission and community service - Continuing to maintain and improve the church buildings ## **8. Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved this trustees’ report. Signed on behalf of the Trustees, Ka Fai Stephen Lau Chair of Church Council Date: 31 May 2025 CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS B0￿HoRPE ROAD m￿HoDIST Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED Saturday, August 31, 2024 NORWICH Circuit Clrcult no. 1134358 Registered Charity- Charity Registration number If not a reglstered chanty His Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift number (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in teTms of evidence of charitable slalus and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation'5 charitable status. Methc•Jist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No242) 1202520 Mintster. Ka Fai Ste hen Lau Church Stevrdrds: Man Shan Hilda Lai Chi Wai Lai Chau Lui Lam Kai Chiu Liu San Peng Tan Yuen Chui Treasurer. Chi Wai Lai BOMffHORPE ROAD METHODIST ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Church Unrestricted Re8trfcted Funds Funds Toials th18 y￿r Tctsls last year SECTION A RECEIPTS Nole a2 Offerin s and Tax recovered Bank and CFB Inleresl 8ncS Investrnenl Income 132,621 132.621 5.435 34.560 5.435 2.536 34,790 a4 Lettln a5 Other ￿Ce1 Is TOTAL RECEIPTS a6 172,616 172.616 1071 161.694 SECTION b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment orshare 62,700 Danations 1,gQO 503 Ra Irs and Malnt•nane Utilrties Ilnsurances. water char es h881in 876 878 b5 14,87S b7 Other ments TOTAL PAYMENTS b8 140,884 40,884 Ib9 131,642 SECTION C NET RECEIPT8IPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 a6-b8 30,052 T¢l$l lund$ brouohl lorn?rd from last year 179,761 170 761 149,709 8ub total 1+¢2 211493 211,493 179 781 Transférs and ad Ugtmnts c7 TOTAL FUNDS AT END QF YEAR Ic3+c41 211,493 211,493 Ic81 179,761 Ic61 SECTION D FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PAsseD ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (the$* amounts •r• not to b• Ineluded In total recèl payrnentB figurns above) Balance brou hl forward from last ear d2 Offerin sIGlfts. re￿IVed for exlem810 anisations d3 Offerin s/GIfts . ssed to external o ani8alion8 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID d1*d2-d3 BowfHORPE ROAD METHODISTchurch CMACC SECTIONE ptea5plol l•f• thLs DADIFFERENTFORMmwibeweatoYWtheatL￿kn{5ee PkwrEfBrlits INTERNa ORGANISAYIONS QK*Ar e2 t5 t7 ubtty •1 ChUrchac￿uThtr IlQl¢ bWQUghtfoNM￿ rrom w9• In616 179 761 211493 HELD8YCIlu￿ 171611 14¢.1•4 Ji.n2 179 761 211493 TOTALIIEC8PT5 TOTAI PArt4erns ecT¥)N P ' OPEN*4G CLO$Na L•ACÉ$ CHURCH-eMH FUNDS MllLDaiJ1 $12W4 Intond CLY1•￿￿￿•j￿I SUB TOr￿-Ch￿rth1<¢￿ 179 781 211A93 YOTALCA8H FUNDS NEiD8YCIWA¢H 179 761 211 93 SECTrON O 31 AuoLtyt2024 QTHERAqSETS•ffld UAOILme8 InththETrJ LQan r￿& 15kndwlowWFuntt5hda&1T￿$teaJI￿￿etr￿￿j￿cIRythF￿PD Name of Church '. Bowlhorpe Road Methodist Church No .' 1202520 Independent Examinerfs Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examinakn.on which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounts.ng 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 concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawm in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 1 *8Yelhave not. obtained independent verification of all investments the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Meth¢Jdist Church which are individually in excess of £10,oIXJ (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner Name of fimi (where appropriate> Address Post Code Nk!I SF/. Date delete or circle as appropriate Name of Church '. Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church No: 1202520 Declarations and Scrutiny I confim that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2024 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they Include all funds under the control of the Church trustees. Signature of treasurer . Date... .7 .IlFI.2o3 Name and address of treasurer . Chi Wai Lai at 26 Sorrel Grove, Cringleford, Norwich Post Code .' NR4 7WR Presentation to the Church trustees I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 werelwill be" presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on .£.. o.L l. :?nEÈ Signature of the Chair of the meeting Narne of the Chair of the meeting k. a'ste 1¢ Date ... Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Bowthorpe Road Methodlst Church Charity Number 1202520 Responsibllitles and basls of report I report to the truslees on my examination of the accounts of the Bowthorpe Road Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages . I to . 3 As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with Ihe requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1.the Act,). I report in respect of my 8xamination of the Church's accounts catried out urKler section 145 of the Act and, In carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Dlrectlons given by the Charity Commission under section 14515)(b) of the AGt. delete or circle as appropriate