Royston Methodist Church Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31st August 2024
Contents Charity Information..............................................................................,...............................,.................. Report of the Trustees.......................................... Statement of Financial Activities Notes to the Financial Statements..........,.......,................... Declarations and Scrutinv. Independent Examiner's Report. .10 .14 .15
Charity Information Trustees Minister Revd Charity Nzegwu Stewords Gill Grainger James Hindley Geoff Grainger Dave Aggett Margaret Tillson Sue Walter 8essie Doughton fresffqned Iolh February 2024J Malcolm McKimmie {rp.%igned 1st May 20241 Karen Shepherd {re5igned 1st Moy 2024) Ireasurer Nicholas Keep gther Members of Church Council St Janet Blair (term o[office ended l Mily 20241 Jennic Harris Sue Watson Cathy Black Rosie Austin (resigned 30, June 2024) Ellie Browne {re5igned 24, July 2024) Joan Germany Joyce Goodall Laura Hindlev Paul Harris jeff Maddin Tony Garrick Tes5 Maddin Joan Munden Ann Keep Brian Norwood ((yppointed I" ML7y 2024J Karen Shepherd lappointed 18, August 20241 Non-trustee Members of Church Council Elsie Salmon Icircuit stewardl Chality reElStration nurnber: 1207017 Independent Examiner: The Accountancy Practice, Roy5ton Bankers.. Barclays PLC Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes Central Buildin8S Oldham Street Manchester Ml IJQ
Central Finance Board of the Methodist church 9 Bonhill Street London EC2A4PE Report of the Trustees The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31" August 2024. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Deed of Union and Methodist Ctrturch Act, and Accounting and Reportlll8 by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their account5 In accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 (effective l January 20191. As a result Of last year's income exceeding EIOO,000, due to phase l of the Building Project the Charity Commission was asked for an exception to registration. Policy at the Charity CommissiDn had changed since a similar request was made the previous year, so the request was declined. A team led by the Church Council Secretary successfully registered the Church as a separate Charity. Previously we had been an Excepted Charily under the Charities (Exception from Registration) Regulation5 1996 and subsequent modifying Statutory Instruments. Thi5 IS therefore our first annual report to the Charity Commission. Similar accounts have been presented to the Circuit Meetin8 and Church Council in previous years and an annual report of our activities has been presented at the Annual church Meeting, The report to the Church Meeting was both more extensive and less formal than the report made here. Background This is the annual report and financial statements of Royston Methodist Church in Roy5ton, Hertfordshire. Achievements and Performance Royston Methodist Church had a membership of 74 in March 2024. The nom)al attendance at our main Sunday Service at 10.30 (based on the October 2023 countl is 45. This includes the people ttending on Zoom. We transmit m05t of our services and have a few people attencling each week by Zoom. These people vary and are normally members of our own congregation who are feeling less well or unable to travel to the service that day. We also have a number of extra services mostly in Advent, Lent and Easter. Unusually, the Mayor of Royston asked us to host the Civic Service in May 2024. Our minister, Rev Charity NzeEwu, was on sabbatical from the middle of July 2024. We have an active programme of Youth Work using self-employed Professional Youth Workers to run a monthly Messy Church lattendance around 55 people), weekly First Friends Icarer and toddler group,. attendance artsund 45 children plus carers) and a Holiday Club Sn October half term lattendance around 25 children).
We run 3 number of aclivities,. coffee mornings on Saturdays as well as after the service on Sunday, a monthly Sunday Lunch, Ladies House GrDUP and Craft 'n' Chat. The premises are let to a number of charities, organi5ations and businesses including AA, Homestart, Guides and exercise and dance classes. The church is currently in a two-phase refurbishment project where in Summer 2023 the Gents lavatory was converted to 3 UniseK cubicles, a new accessible toilet and baby change was built in the entrance area and a platform lift installed between the worship area and the rest of the premises. Some of this expenditure fell in the current reporting year. In Summer 2024, the Ladies lavatory was removed and amalgamated into a larger refitted kitchen. This project was close to completion at year end but transactions were not complete. Financial Review For the year ending 31st August 2024, the trustees were required to prepare recelpts and payments accounts, as income wa5 below the threshold for Accruals accounting. This is likely to be the case for next year. The church made a small deficit on the General Fund of El,10912023.' £5,667 surplus). Unrestricted reserves at 31st August 2024 were £100,65912023'. £101,378). Total reserve5 stood at £118,956 12023.'£153,7921. Balances on the Restricted Funds at year end 2024 were Benevolence Fund £143, Property Fund E18,154. We expect to spend more than the balance of the Pruperty Fijnd to complete the Property Project. Reserve5 Policy Royston Methodist Church adopted a Reserves Policy in 2023. The Royston Methodist church policy document itself sets Out the rationale for the reserves policy and identifies the requirement for two reserves.. a General Reserve and a Property Reserve. In summary, the policy is that.. We aim to maintain a General Reserve of about six months expenditure, or £ 26,000 We aim to maintain a Property Reserve of £20,000. The church exceeded this balance at all times in 2023-24. A similar policy will be proposed for 2024-25 at the November Church Council MÈeting. Aims, Objects and Organisation Our objectives are summari5ed in our mission statement.. Royston Methodist Chtjrch proclaims the message of God's love through ChTlSt by worshipping, growing and learning as a community of dlsciples. We aim to be open and caring, responsive to each other and to local and global concerns. We seek to build a closer partnership with other churches both locally and within the wider Methodist family. Royston Methodist Church is governed and managed in accordance with the standing orders of the Methodist Church. The church is led by a miriister who chairs the Church Council, the governing body. The member5 of the Chijrch Council, excluding representatives of external organisations, are the trustees of the charity. Members of the Church Council are choseii by one of the following proce55e5,'111 Ministers appointed to the church by the Methodist Church121 ordinary members
elected by the annual General Church MeetinE131 stewards of the church, elected by the annual General Church Meeting141 ex officio officers of the church, SL¢ch as the treasurer, who are appointed by the Church Council itself151 representative5 from the Methodist Church in the local The Church Council normally meets four times a year and receive5 report5 from officers and organisations within the church. Dèy-to-day management is devolved to the minister, stewards, the Finance & Property Committees, the Pastoral Committee, and the officers of the church, such as Pastoral Secretary, Treasurer and Property Steward. Trustees other than the minister must all be members of Royston Methodist Church. They serve for a maximum of six years in a role, but may be appointed beyond this time by annual election with a 75% majority, in accordance wilh Methodist standing orders. The trustees have paid due regard to guidance i55ued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in deciding what activities the Church Should undertake. Key Management Personnel The trustees consider they are the key management and are not remunerated. In accordance with Methodist Discipline, all ministers are provided with a manse and a stipend by the circuit to which they are Stationed. The stipend and manse are the means to provide the minister with the material support necessary to fulfil God's mission. The provision of a stipend and manse is not considered to be a personal benefit or payment for services provided, but must be declared. For further details please see - President of the Methodist Conference v Preston120131 UKSC 27. Statement of Trustees Responsibilities The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a Trustees, annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practicel. The law applicable to charities in England and Wales require5 the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which 8ive a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charilv and of the incoming resources, and application of resource5, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to.. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently,. obseNe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP,. make judgement5 and estimates that are reasonable and prudent,. state whether applicable accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures that must be disclosed and explained in the financial statements,. prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unle55 It is inappropriate to presume that the cl)arity will continue in business. The trustees are respDn5ible for l<eeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the. charity and to enable them to ensure that the fit7ancial statements comply with the Charitie5 Act 2011, and applicable Charities IAccounts and Report51 Regulations, and the provision of the Deed of Union. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the trustees on 13 NUQ, Id24 and signed on their behalf by Trustee
Statement of Financial Activities ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGLIST 2024 Royston Methodist Church SEcfioN A FuTrds year year RECEIPTS Note a2 otfeiings and Tax reCOled Bank and CFB interest a InSlent incomè 47.881 63,477 111,358 75.396 a3 4.6D5 4,659 7.682 4.072 Lellings Other receipts TOTAL RECEiprs 7.6B2 10.788 5,627 65.795 28,814 92.345 34,441 158,140 18,381 1D8,637 a6 SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 40.010 40,010 37,333 Donalions 280 1.721 2.001 1,717 Repairs and M3iTTrlenance 7,536 124.239 131,775 48,925 b5 chargcs. heating & Iighlingl Youth Wort 6,808 112 6,920 4,470 b6 5.766 5,766 5.628 b7 Other p&ymenls TOTAL PAYMENTS 6,5Q4 66,904 6,504 192,976 6,506 104,579 126,072 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMEIITS FOR THE YEAR c1 laG.b81 (33.7271 134,8361 4,058 Total lunds brought forwaid trom last y&ar c2 101,378 52.414 153,792 Ic61 149,734 c3 Sub totsl c14c21 10D,269 18,687 11B.956 153,792 Transf8ts and adjuslmenls 390 13901 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR IcY+c41 100.659 18,297 11B,956 IG81 153,792 Ic61 SECTION O FOR INFORMATION ONLY.. MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSEtJ ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (these amouvtsare not to be included in total r6ceiptWpaym£nts figuras d1 8alante bioughl fow8id frcth last ye81 d2 OfferingslGifts rÈteNE(I for exleinal organlsalions Se@ NolE 10 407 356 d3 ottÈring51Gifts passed lo eKlemal organis81ions 407 356 d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID Idf+d2-d31
sloll Melhodisl su YOFtHU upirs AND ERNAIORGAt4is ONS REPORT NGTOT ECHUR¢ CObHttIL SECTION É Sumnary Of1(jreh acco15 ts [byar1ed 31 Au]JsI 24 orlSLi0 Iyilifo IDI1 ch¢tIllQIWCl1 Wole Ihp-. IIIB s |rtemdlO.oaNs41.1vrJjldmrtrtl1y les Il clo&tr th Cld bÈusgll loraThy Methtdlst,YSo Ilia 0511 fftJsI CDmi£lEQloa(d%e Fl IhètyOSS InC[e&exFIlUrO l¢r45 OfthQ(rth I1955 Inr(Mnè4XCQEd& Ill&Atal5 lhSkld, Ilw IMAcGrLWs DI accounliwAKDA tHfrr.EREMt I"ORkl mu51 IhF 1& lsetrmEIIslS1ig PleB5erto re1) IrfÈr1&rSoe[Wee IhB Thsltcl [ksbl OwRTr5alions. INTERNAL ORQINISATIONS Rp1S1 mBnis oPr tlanCe Ats Cknsl bal? ublrAthofirfnal r49&.1( (L$ 163 brou9btt0ard from 1£I140 192,97B Icn 15J,792 118,956 AL CASHFUNDS TrIELD BYCHURCII 183.194 13(BB41 153 955 119.071 corrI1oTra$ÈpÈ8 shp Ifno¢ossfjry ?nd bhwtne TOTAL BÈtPTS ¥OTAI PAYMENTS SEtrTION F STATEMBII OPA88ETS APIDLIALI7 OPENING B4NcEs CLOSIN BALANCES ¢HURCW-CASH FUNDSIIÈLtrat31 Augus12024 CashiThh CthTuiIiAcCrnl Bank Osil cÈr*ia Flnanrp.P¢9rd 20.791 SUB TOTAi-Churcli I0vlS In131ra%Ions Uliè LO51 lEKe IC¢ trurtafthelle121 IS3 792 5S 163 TOTAL CASW FUADS HELD B¥CWRCH 153,955 SECTIQN ts 1 S8Ptéftitw2023 31 A4NJ51 W24 OTh£RASSETS ind LIAWL1ES nckvJB i%epNto f2 1 477 333 1 990559 18rAssfjls Lo earend 141nc11 Fund¥ pl IhcCtsrlTrl ord¥ Furt¥ hEld al Trtl5 forMÈlMdisIOiwcn Purws& 91 llFIn¥51E5%s{¢lheQB5I1Y10rntt olTMCP liQkls aEcourts Ili15 15 Inclthqainlina
Notes to the Financial Statements l. The Accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis. cheques issued but not cleared on 31, August 2024 are included in the statement. Thi5 is our first report to the Charity Comm155ion, bul similar accoLJnts have been presented to the Chlfrch Council and Circuit Mecting in the past. Compared to last year's report, 'Donations at Events" have been moved from "Other Receipts" to "Offerings and Tax recovered" as Gift Aid can potentially be claimed on them. Last year's income has been restated in the same way. The Restricted funds are Benevolence Fund holds money from which the Minister can make donation5 to individuals in need as set out in the Constitution, Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church ICPDI Section 65112024 Edition) Sundry Donations Fund holds restricted donations and grants for church activities such as Pastoral Care, Junior Church and minor property project5 thai fall on the General Fund. It also acts as a holding fund for legacies as the spending of these is restricted by having to apply to TMCP. When the Specified expenditure has occurred, the amount 15 transferred to the General Funcf lor Property Fund in the case of some legacies). Property Fund holds donations and grants and mal(es expenditure for specific property project5. At the end of the project the Church Council normally resolve5 to remove any deficit in the Property Fund from the General Fltnd. JMA Fund holds donations and proceed5 from fundraisin8 made for Junior Missions for All www.methodist.or .uk for-churches unior-mi55ion-for-all The balance is sent to the Methodist Fund for World Mission. normally at year end. 2. Offerings and tax recoverablè Since March 2020 we have not taken a weekly collection at services. Most people donate by standing order, others give regular monthly cheques and others coritribute on a more irregular basis. "Donations at Events" covers the money donated at events where a charge is not rnade, such as coffee on Saturday and Sunday, Me55y Church and First Friends. Thi5 15 eligible for Gift Aid Small Donations. It does not include activities with a ticket price such as the monthly Sunday Lunch. General Fund Gene.ral Donation5 (Cash and Chequesl Standing ordp.rs Donations at Events Tax reclaimed TOTAL Restricted Funds Property Fund General Donations Tax reclaimed Sundry Donations Fund General Donations JMA Fund General Donations Benevolence Fund General Donations OVERALL Restricted TOTAL 2023-24 6.795 26,930 4,483 9,673 47,881 2022-23 6,708 26,215 4,378 8,474 45,775 52,739 9,138 27,120 250 1,235 1,348 1,253 13 29,621 63,477 io
- Interest. The restricted Interest was on the Bequest in the Sundry Donations Fund held by Trustees For Methodist Church Purposes. The General Fund Interest Wa5 from the CFB Deposit Account.
- Other Receipts General Fund Fund Raising Receipts Other Income TOTAL Restricted Funds Property Fund Fund Raising Receipts Grants Received Legacies Sundry Donations Fund Fund Raising Receipts Grants Received Legacies IMA Fund Fund Raising Receipts OVERALL Restricted TOTAL 2023-24 5,500 127 5,627 2022-23 5,083 5,091 899 10,000 1,000 28,000 788 461 353 28,814 13.290 Fund Raising Receipts include income from events such as the monthly Sunday Lunches, May Fayre, TLJnes and Spoons and the Aquathon. Other income in 2023-24 includes payments for private printinE, external catering and a refund of a small part of the insurance premium1£151.
- Related Parties and Trustee Payments (Circuit Assessment or Share) 8 Trustees were reimbursed for receipted expenses, totalling £3571 in 52 transactions. This mostly re5ates tD raw materials for catering, but includes other items, for example for property repalrs, books and flowers No trustee received a salary, honorarium, travel expenses or payment for services. However, our largest payments from the General fund (Total £40,010) are to the Cambridge Methodist Circuit (Related Party- chartY no 11342261. This is in part to pay for the salaries, travel expense and accommodation of the Ministers in the Circuit which include the Chair of our Trustees. We received a Grant of £18,000 from the Cambridge Methodist Circuit (from the proceeds of churches and manses that have been sold) towards the Property Project. If the Royston Methodist Church were to be dissolved, then the remaining assets would normally revert to the Cambridge Methodist Circuit. The JMA Fund pays to a Fund of the Methodist Church In Great Britain. The Cambridge Methodist Circuit pays a contribution to the East Anglia District of the Methodist Church (Related Party- Charity no 11294511, who in turn make a contribution to the Methodist Church in Great Britain (Related Party- Charity no 11322081. Some of Trustees are also Trustees of the CircLJit, District and Meihodist Church in Great Britain. li
Ministerial Trustees of the Circuit usually chair the Church Council in the absence of the Chair of Trustee5. The Methodist Insurance Company IlnsL¢rersl, All We Can Ithe operailng name of Methodist Relief and Development FLJnd (Charity 2916111, and Action For Children (Charity 10979401 have historic and ongoing links with the Methodist Church in Great Britain. 6. Donation5 The donations from the General Fund are.. Everychild £180 and Homestart £100 (From Tune5 and Spoons Event). The Donatlons from the Restricted Fund5 are £1701 from the JMA Fund to the Methodist Fund for World Mission and £20 from the Benevolence FL¢nd. 7. Property Costs (Repairs and Maintenance and Utilities) Gas and electricity are paid by monthly direct debit and the amounts taken represent the estimated usage by the utility company. The gas estimation is poor and we have probably under paid over the period since we reopened after lockdown by between one and two thousand pounds. At some point the gas supplier will work out how to bill more accurately. The Restricted Fund Expenditure in Repairs and Maintenance a nd Utilities all relate to the Property Fund. The £112 in Utilities relates to an increase in insLJrance premium due to the building work. The Property project has been carried in two Phases over JLtly-Sept 2023 arid 2024. This fa115 awkwardly for ye¢Jr end, but minimises the disruption to our lettinBS and yoijth activities which mainly take place in school terrlls. For information, below is set OEJt the expenditure in phases over multiple financial years. We a re expecting about another E38,000 expenditure in 2024-25 on Phase 2. Expenditure Income Grants Donations and Gift Aid Fund Raising Transfer From Bequest Transfer From General Fund Total income Design 2018-19 £300 E3,290 £5,161 £3.590 £5,559 2019-20 £5,481 £7,520 £13,001 £398 2U20-21 £3,852 TOTAL £13.001 £0 Balance in Property Fund Unisex Cubicle5, 2nd Acce55ible Lavatory, Platform Lift £0 E160 Phase I 2021-22 £160 £95,769 £18,000 £113,929 2022-23 £44,657 £75,763 £120,420 £28,120 E899 £10,000 £18,000 £56,750 2023-24 TOTAL Phase 2 Expanding Kitchen into Ladies Lavatory £48,588 £61,877 To come 2023-24 £10,000 El,356 £73,233 2024-25 TOTAL £48,588 £73,233 12
Phase I and2 Total £169.008 £187.162 Balance in Property Fund £18,154 8. Other Payments General Fund Catering Photocopyin8 and Printing Worship Expenses (Candles, Licences etc Telephone and Broadband Admin Ixpenses Poslage Fund Raising Costs TOTAL Sundry Donations Fund TMCP Charge12023-24 £2.40 netted off against interest) OVERALL TOTAL 2023-24 2,636 1,490 1,261 871 200 2022.23 2,450 2,025 731 790 295 54 36 io 6,504 6,345 160 6,505 9. Transfers Between Funds From Sundry Donations Fund To Property IBequestl To General (Donation for Youth Workl To General (Grant for Materials for Youth Workl IBarnados/HCCI To General IGr3nt for new shed for Toys) (Ensum Brownl TOTAL 2023-24 1,356 250 40 2022-23 56,750 2,023 460 loo 1,746 59,233 10. Agency Collections Cash Collections were made for the following causes and passed on by cheque. Some don(Itiuns were made by cheque direct to the charity by the donor. Thesè are not included here as they did not pass through the accounts. All We Can (Harvest) Action For Children (Christinas Card) Cambridge Circuit (Administrator Leaving Giftl Christ13n Aid TOTAL £179 £44 E65 £119 £407 11. Internal Organisation5 The Ladies House Group and Craft 'n' Chat collect small amounts of money at their meetings to cover costs such as speaker expenses or materials. They present a simple form of accounts to the Church Finance Committee. 13
- Building Valuation The value of the biJilding5 15 shown at the Insurance Value recommended by the Methodist Insurance Company. A Ris1( Management Surveyor from MIC last visited in May 2023 and MIC increases the value in line with their assessment of inflation of costs. Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm 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 ,II,.LL /y Date 18libl24 Name and address of Treasurer.. Prof Nicholas Keep 46 Briary Lane, Royston, Herts, SG8 98U Presentation to the Church trustees. I confirm that the annual report and accoLJnts for the year ended 31 August 2024 were/wi114e' presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on Zfy November 2024 1$ Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name ofthe Chair of the meeting.. Rev charity Nzegwu Date.. 11. ,IOgLk 14
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Royston Methodist Church Charity Number 1207017 Responsibilities and basi5 of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Royston Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2024 set out on pages 8 to 14. As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirement5 of the Charitie5 Act 20111'the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent Examiner's Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to mv attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below I which Eive 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 thi5 report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I Iw/have not obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trust5, bank balances and fund5 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 indepe dent examiner ame of independent examiner.. John David Froggett Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner.. F.A.l.A Name of firm (where appropriatel.. The Accountancy Practice Address-. 41 High Street, Royston, Herts, SG8 9AW Date * delete or circle as appropriate 15