Royston Methodist Church Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31st August 2025
Contents
Charity Information ................................................................................................................................. 3 Report of the Trustees ............................................................................................................................ 4 Statement of Financial Activities ............................................................................................................ 8 Notes to the Financial Statements .......................................................................................................... 9 Declarations and Scrutiny ..................................................................................................................... 14 Independent Examiner’s Report ........................................................................................................... 15
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Charity Information
Trustees
Minister Revd Charity Nzegwu Stewards Gill Grainger James Hindley Geoff Grainger Dave Aggett Margaret Tillson Sue Walter Treasurer James Browne (appointed 1[st] September 2024) Other Members of Church Council Ann Keep Jennie Harris Sue Watson Cathy Black Joan Germany (resigned 20[th] February 2025) Joyce Goodall Laura Hindley Paul Harris Jeff Maddin Tony Garrick Tess Maddin Joan Munden Karen Shepherd Brian Norwood Nick Keep
Non-trustee Members of Church Council Elsie Salmon (Circuit steward)
Charity registration number: 1207017
Independent Examiner: The Accountancy Practice, Royston
Bankers: Barclays PLC Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes Central Buildings Oldham Street Manchester Ml IJQ Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church 9 Bonhill Street
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London EC2A 4PE
Report of the Trustees
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] August 2025.
The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Deed of Union and Methodist Church Act, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective I January 2019).
Background
This is the annual report and financial statements of Royston Methodist Church in Royston, Hertfordshire.
Achievements and Performance
Royston Methodist Church had a membership of 66 with 47 adherents. We have welcomed new members who have moved to the area or transferred from other churches and held baptisms. The normal attendance at our main Sunday Service at 10.30 (based on the October 2024 count) is 62. This includes the people attending on Zoom. We transmit most of our services and have a few people attending 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. Our minister, Rev Charity Nzegwu, returned from sabbatical leave in November 2024.
We have an active programme of Youth Work using self-employed Professional Youth Workers to run a monthly Messy Church, weekly First Friends (Carer and toddler group) and a Holiday Club in October half term. We continue to hear many reports of how families have been helped and supported by attending the First Friends group and they recommend it to their friends. Messy Church continues to be a popular and accessible form of worship.
We run a number of activities: coffee mornings on Saturdays as well as after the service on Sunday, a monthly Sunday Lunch, Ladies Group, a regular singing group (Andante) and Bible study on Zoom. The premises are let to a number of charities, organisations and businesses including AA, Homestart, Guides and exercise and dance classes.
The church has undertaken a refurbishment project over the past few years. The last phase, installing a larger refitted kitchen, was completed this year. The new facilities have been well received by our church family and the local community.
Financial Review
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For the year ending 31st August 2025, the trustees were required to prepare receipts and payments accounts, as its income was below the threshold for accruals accounting. This is likely to be the case for next year.
The church made a deficit on the General Fund of £6,983 (2024: £1,109). Unrestricted reserves at 31st August 2025 were £74,682 (2024: £100,659). Total reserves stood at £75,189 (2024: £118,956). Balances on the Restricted Funds at year end 2025 were: Benevolence Fund £508, Property Fund £0.
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Reserves Policy
Royston Methodist Church adopted a Reserves Policy in 2024. 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 £ 29,000 We aim to maintain a Property Reserve of £20,000.
The church exceeded this balance at all times in 2024-25. A similar policy will be proposed for 2025-26 at the November Church Council Meeting.
Aims, Objects and Organisation
Our objectives are summarised in our mission statement:
Royston Methodist Church proclaims the message of God’s love through Christ by worshipping, growing and learning as a community of disciples. 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 minister who chairs the Church Council, the governing body. The members of the Church Council, excluding representatives of external organisations, are the trustees of the charity. Members of the Church Council are chosen by one of the following processes; (I) Ministers appointed to the church by the Methodist Church (2) ordinary members elected by the annual General Church Meeting (3) stewards of the church, elected by the annual General Church Meeting (4) ex officio officers of the church, such as the treasurer, who are appointed by the Church Council itself (5) representatives from the Methodist Church in the local circuit.
The Church Council normally meets four times a year and receives reports from officers and organisations within the church. Day-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 with Methodist standing orders.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued 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 Preston [2013] UKSC 27.
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Stat¢ment of Tryslees ResPOn5ibilliies
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Statement of Financial Activities ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 202$ Royston Methodist Church U•reslrfct•d Totals IhlJ Funth FuThd• Tol•l¥ last SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Noi8 Offerin s and Tax re<ered Bank and CFB intere51 and Investrftnl Income 47.512 2.603 50,118 111.357 2.663 7.372 6,141 63,6B8 4.6$9 7.682 Letbn 7,372 18,954 79,lOS Other receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 12.813 IS,416 34.442 158,140 la71 SECTIOFI b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Sharo 42,588 280 42,S88 40.010 2.001 131.775 Donations 1.528 50.672 airs and Maintenan utsirties Ilnsurances. water cha e5, heati Youlh work 9.652 60,324 7.089 5.349 5,714 70,671 6.920 5.766 6.504 192,976 b7 Other panIS TOT PAYMENTS S,714 122,871 S2,200 Ib91 SEenoN C NET REcEIPTSAYmENTS 6.983 36.784 34,836 Total lund$ brought forward from last y83T 100.659 118956 ¢6 153.793 Sub total cl+c2 93.676 18.487 Transfers and ad usbnenls 18,994 18.994 ¢7 TOT FUNDS AT END OF YEAR 1¢3c41 746B2 $08 7S,189 Ic81 118,956 SECTIOFI D FOR INFORMATION ONLY.. MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS th898 amounts aro [tIO b8 Included In totsl r8c81 nts ur88 gbove d1 Balan brou hl forward from last ar d2 OFTerin IGifts- re1ved for exteFnal o nisations 67 407 (t3 OfferingslGift5 - passed to extemal organisations 67 407 BALANCE STILL YO BE PAID d1d2-d3
Notes to the Financial Statements
- The Accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
The Restricted funds are:
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Benevolence Fund holds money from which the Minister can make donations to individuals in need as set out in the Constitution, Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church (CPD) Section 651 (2025 Edition).
Sundry Donations Fund holds restricted donations and grants for church activities such as Pastoral Care, Junior Church and minor property projects that 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 is transferred to the General Fund (or Property Fund in the case of some legacies).
Property Fund holds donations and grants and makes expenditure for specific property projects. At the end of the project the Church Council normally resolves to remove any deficit in the Property Fund from the General Fund.
JMA Fund holds donations and proceeds from fundraising made for Junior Missions for All (https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/junior-mission-for-all/). The balance is sent to the Methodist Fund for World Mission, normally at year end.
2. Offerings and tax recoverable
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 contribute on a more irregular basis. “Donations at Events” covers the money donated at events where a charge is not made, such as coffee on Saturday and Sunday, Messy Church and First Friends. This is eligible for Gift Aid Small Donations. It does not include activities with a ticket price such as the monthly Sunday Lunch.
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General Fund 2024-25 2023-24
General Donations (Cash and Cheques) £ 7,276 6,795
Standing Orders £ 26,595 26,930
Donations at Events £ 4,540 4,483
Tax reclaimed £ 9,101 9,673
TOTAL £ 47,512 47,881
Restricted Funds
Property Fund
General Donations £ 0 52,739
Tax reclaimed £ 0 9,138
Sundry Donations Fund
General Donations £ 1,500 250
JMA Fund
General Donations £ 1,103 1,348
Benevolence Fund
General Donations £ 0 2
OVERALL Restricted TOTAL £ 2,603 63,477
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3. Interest. The General Fund Interest was from the CFB Deposit Account.
4. Other Receipts
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General Fund 2024-25 2023-24
Fund Raising Receipts £ 6,121 5,500
Other Income £ 20 127
TOTAL £ 6,141 5,627
Restricted Funds £
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Property Fund
Fund Raising Receipts £
Grants Received £ 12,023 28,000
Legacies £
Sundry Donations Fund
Fund Raising Receipts £
Grants Received £
Legacies £ 461
JMA Fund
Fund Raising Receipts £ 290 353
Benevolence Fund
Grants Received £ 500
OVERALL Restricted TOTAL £ 12,813 28,814
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Fund Raising Receipts include income from events such as the monthly Sunday Lunches, May Fayre, Tunes and Spoons and the Aquathon.
Other income in 2024-25 includes payments for private printing.
5. Related Parties and Trustee Payments (Circuit Assessment or Share)
8 Trustees were reimbursed for receipted expenses, totalling £3,593 in 43 transactions. This mostly relates to raw materials for catering, but includes other items, for example for property repairs, books and flowers
No trustee received a salary, honorarium, travel expenses or payment for services.
However, our largest payments from the General fund (Total £42,588) are to the Cambridge Methodist Circuit (Related Party – Charity no 1134226). 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 £12,023 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 1129451), who in turn make a contribution to the Methodist Church in Great Britain (Related Party – Charity no 1132208). Some of Trustees are also Trustees of the Circuit, District and Methodist Church in Great Britain. Ministerial Trustees of the Circuit usually chair the Church Council in the absence of the Chair of Trustees.
The Methodist Insurance Company (Insurers), All We Can (the operating name of Methodist Relief and Development Fund (Charity 29161)), and Action For Children (Charity 1097940) have historic and ongoing links with the Methodist Church in Great Britain.
6. Donations
The donations from the General Fund are: Everychild £180 and Homestart £100 (From Tunes and Spoons Event). The Donations from the Restricted Funds are £1,393 from the JMA Fund to the Methodist Fund for World Mission and £135 from the Benevolence Fund.
- Property Costs ( Repairs and Maintenance and Utilities)
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The church changed gas and electricity suppliers from EOn to Octopus Energy on 1 April 2025. The underpayment for gas usage highlighted in last year’s report was addressed at the end of the contract with an additional payment of £1,996. We are yet to be billed by Octopus for our usage since April so there remains a significant underpayment for gas and electricity.
The Restricted Fund Expenditure in Repairs and Maintenance relate to the Property Fund.
Most of this relates to the Property project, which was carried out in two Phases over JulySept 2023 and 2024. This falls awkwardly for year end, but minimised the disruption to our lettings and youth activities which mainly take place in school terms. For information, below is set out the expenditure in phases over multiple financial years.
The remaining £8,960 of Restricted Fund Expenditure in Repairs and Maintenance in 202425 relates to the replacement of the boiler which took place in October 2024.
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Expenditure Income
Donations and Fund Grants Transfer Transfer Total
Gift Aid Raising From From income
Bequest General
Fund
Design
2018-19 £300 £3,290 £3,590
2019-20 £5,481 £398 £5,161 £5,559
2020-21 £7,520 £3,852 £3,852
TOTAL £13,001 £13,001
Balance in Property Fund £0
Phase 1 Unisex Cubicles, 2nd Accessible Lavatory, Platform Lift
2021-22 £0 £160 £160
2022-23 £44,657 £28,120 £899 £10,000 £56,750 £95,769
2023-24 £75,763 £18,000 £18,000
2024-25 £6,491 £6,491
TOTAL £120,420 £120,420
Phase 2 Expanding Kitchen into Ladies Lavatory
2023-24 £48,588 £61,877 £10,000 £1,356 £73,233
2024-25 £41,712 £12,023 £5,044 £17,067
TOTAL £ 90,300 £ 90,300
Phase 1 £ 210,720 £210,720
and 2
Total
Balance in Property Fund £0
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8. Other Payments
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General Fund 2024-25 2023-24
Catering £ 2,677 2,636
Photocopying and Printing £ 1,016 1,490
Worship Expenses (Candles, Licences etc) £ 549 1,261
Telephone and Broadband £ 925 871
Admin Expenses £ 200 200
Postage £ 68 36
Fund Raising Costs £ 178 10
Other Costs £ 100
TOTAL 5,714 6,504
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Other Costs in 2024-25 represents a donation from the church towards the Superintendent’s leaving gift.
9. Transfers Between Funds
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From Sundry Donations Fund 2024-25 2023-24
To Property (Bequest) £ 1,356
To General (Donation for Youth Work) £ 500 250
To General (Grant for Materials for Youth £ 40
Work) (Barnados/HCC)
To General (Grant for new shed for Toys) £ 100
(Ensum Brown)
To General (Donation towards cost of £ 1,000
defibrillator)
From General Fund 2024-25 2023-24
To Property (contribution from general £ 20,494
fund towards Property Project and boiler
replacement)
TOTAL £ 21,994 1,746
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10. Agency Collections
Cash Collections were made for the following causes and passed on by cheque. Some donations were made by cheque direct to the charity by the donor. These are not included here as they did not pass through the accounts.
Action For Children (Christmas Card) £67 TOTAL £67
11. Internal Organisations
The Ladies House Group collects 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.
12. Building Valuation
The value of the buildings is shown at the Insurance Value recommended by the Methodist Insurance Company. A Risk Management Surveyor from MIC last visited in May 2023 and MIC increases the value in line with their assessment of inflation of costs.
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Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm thai these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 Augvsr 2025 have been prepared from the records of ihe Church and tha¢ they include all funds under Ihe con¢rol of the Church iru51ee5. Si8nature of Treasurer Dote i/io12G2S Narne and addre55 ofTrÈèsurer'. James Browne 16 Laysion Pèrk, Roysron Presentation to the Churth trustees. l confirm thai the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 werelwilw prÈsented to the tneeting of the Church trusrees held on 20 November 2015 Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name ol IhÈ Chair of the meeting.. Rev Kevin Hi8hfield Date-. 111112s 14
Independent Examiner’s Report
- delete or circle as appropriate
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