PEAK METHODIST CHURCH Trustees, Annual Re ort on Finance and Governance Charity Number: 1210821 Year ended 31 August 2025 (Peak Methodist Church is part of Peak Methodist CircuiL Circuit Number: 25113 Charity Registration Number: 1135656) The Charity's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 have been prepared in accordan with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice 2015. Principal Office: Bakewell Methodist Church. Haddon Road, Bakewell, Derbyshire. Staff: Superintendent Minister= Rev. Julie Letts (retired 31 August 2025) Rev. Tim Morris (appointed 1 September 2025) Children & Families Worker: Pioneer Minister: Peak Wesley Way Manager Dr. Karen Pery Rev. Jonathan Brook (resigned 31 May 2026) Ms Alex Harrtson Administration: Treasurer.. Mr Malcolm Letts (resigned 24 September 2025) Mr Phil Sharp (appointed 15 November 2025) Dr. Karen Perry Administrator. The Treasurer acts as the principal officer overseeing the day-to-day financial management and accounting for the Church. Names of Mana in Trustees The Peak Methodist Church is a multi-site church that was fomied on 1 September 2024 from the merger of the following individual Methodist churches within the Peak Methodist Circutt.. Bakewell, Bamford, Bradwell, Calver, Castleton, Edale, Hope, Woodlands and Youlgreave. The trustees are the minister and appointed representatives of the individual churches. A full list of trustees is shown as Appendix A to this report. Bankers: CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4JQ Central Finan Board, 9 Bonhill Street, London. EC2A 4PE Investment Mana ers: TMCP, Central Buildings, Oldham, Manchester, M1 1JQ
Inde endent Examiner: Andrew John Wood. Enovion Ltd. Ashlea. High Street, Calver, Hope Valley S32 3XP Mission Ststement: The Peak Methodist Church is an inclusive group of churches seeking to live and share life in all its fullness as offered by Jesus Christ. We will encourage and help enable personal growth in discipleship, listening to God and using the gifts and talents of disciples to support and develop opportunities to share lrfe in all tts fullness as offered by Jesus Christ. s of Workin The Trustees meet on a bimonthly or quarterly basis as neSSary to discuss work across the Church Individual churches have their own leadership teams who meet as and when required to discuss matters of local context The Church fonns a major and integral part of the Peak Methodist Circuit and as such benefits from the organisation and governan of the Circurt. Please refer to the Circuit's annual report for further detail. Risk Mana ement: The major risks have been identified and recorded by the Circuit Finan and Propety Committee with professional advice considered and taken as required. There is a regular annual review prOsS of monitoring income and expenditure in total with the approved annual budget and budget forecast to detect trends as part of the risk management process. Safe uardin Every person has a value and dignty which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God's own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God's re-creation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from ham. "Methodist Connexional practi outlines commitment to the following principles: • the care and nurture of, and respecttul pastoral ministry with, all children, young people. and adults . the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people, and adults when they are vulnerable . the establishing of safe, caring communitres which provide a loving environment where there is infomied vigilance as to the dangers of abuse. . We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with Safer Recruitment principles. including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes.
We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child, or young person may have been hamied, cooperating with the poli and local authority in any investigation. . We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care. . We will seek to challenge any abuse of power. especially by anyone in a position of trust. . We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person. or vulnerable adult. In all these principles we will follow legislation. guidance and recognised good practice The Peak Methodist Church commits itself to ensuring the implementation of the Connexional Safeguarding Policy. government legislation. guidan, and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches. The Peak Methodist Church commtts itself to the provision of support. advi and training for lay and ordained people that will ensure people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibilibes in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of hildren and adults who may be vulnerable. This training is to be overseen by the Safeguarding team for the Peak Methodist Church and the Circuit Safeguarding Officer. This team has been formed with support from the District Safeguarding Officer (DSO). This will lead to a comprehensive Safeguarding Audit. Review of ro ress and achievements: 1. On 1 September 2024, following the decision of the Circuit to move towards multi-site way of working and combine individual churches wrthin the Circuit into one, the Peak Methodist Church was fomied. All churches in the Circuit agreed to merge, apart from Hathersage and Sparrowpit. Fountain Square Church (FSC) agreed in principle to join but, being an LEP (Local Ecumenical Partnership) with the URC (UnÉted Reformed Church), there are additional complexities that need to be considered and will take time to work through. Trustees were appointed to meet bi-monthly to, in effect, be the Church Council for the multi-site churches. Whilst the Peak Methodist Church is in tts infancy, it is believed that it will help develop not just a sustainable way forward but a way foward that will enable growth and freedom for members to engage in mission, as well as develop personal discipleship. This is to be done through reducing the number of Offi holders required. and developing teams with particular skills to work across all locations e.g. The Safeguarding Team and Discipleship Team. 2. Examples of the ongoing work of the Church are:
a. At Bakewell Academy, there is a ministerial Foundation Governor. A local church member serves as a Foundation Govemor also. Collective worship and chaplaincy continue. b. At Bamford, the work of 'Story Keepers. wtth primary schwl children continues to thrive. 'Godly Play, is another valued outreach, and this is held in the school. This work is led by the Children and Families Worker. For older people, a fortnightly social gathering when a film is watched or a speaker is invited, continues to be steady, attracting new people. A further development has been the development of closer working together with the local Anglican Church. Joint services of worship are held weekly, alternating between the chapel and the church, under the umbrella name of Willage Church., Both congregations are looking to promote activities, outside of Sunday worship, under the same umbrella. c. In Hope, at the Hub, the presence of the Pioneer Minister. Rev Jonathan Brook. continues to attract all ages to the point where a toddler group and youth group are established, as is the Sunday gathering. The sense of family is enhanced by a WhatsApp group which is constantly reIving new members. Thoughts are now taking place as to how the chapel building can be re-structured to meet the needs of the growing mission work. d. In Bakewell, the outreach group continues to be quietty effective in the town. The long-standing healing ministry has now developed into Healing on the Streets when. on the first Sunday each month, a trained team offer ministry to the public as they pass by the Padlock Bridge. The wami spa continues to thrive. 3. 'The Peak Wesley Way., a walking pilgrimage btheen Matlock and Edale, which was launched as a Circuit inttiative has made a successful start. A Pilgrimage Manager is in post, a websrte and Fabook page established, guidebooks and joumals created, volunteer welcomers recruited from church and village communities. The increasing bookings reiVed indicate the pilgrimage is going to be a viable outreach both in terms of discipleship, working with the wider communities. and providing income. Responsibility and fInanS for this project were transferred from the Circuit to the Church at the end of the year. Financial Review". This is the first year of the combined Peak Methodist Church but the individual churches that have merged to fom it have bn in existence for many years. As explained in the notes to the accounts proforma comparative figures have been included to show what the financial position was at the date of the merger and to show of what the prior year's figures would have been had the combination taken pla a year earlier. The 2024 figures included below are the proforma comparative figures. In the year ended 31 August 2025 the Church had receipts of £192,201 (2024: £233,637) and made payments of £208,224 (2024: £235,097). Payments exeded receipts by £16,023 (2024: £1,460). Total funds at the end of the year were £190,869 (2024.. £206,8g2).
So, while the past two years have seen a depletion in reserves, at the end of the year reserves are still sufficient to cover 11 months of expenditure at 2025 levels. Income Trends: The Church's main sources of income are from offerings and lettings. Receipts from offerings have seen a pleasing increase and receipts from lettings are fairly stable. Other reiptS are subject to greater fluctuation and are down on the prior year mainly due 2024 reip1S being inflated by grants received in connection with Edale's renovation project. Ex enditure Trends: Circuit Assessment, being the amount paid to the Circuit towards the its costs including those of the Minister and District and Connexional support, have remained stable as have utility costs. Repairs and maintenance costs are down year on year due to less being spent on Edale's renovation project but partly offset by higher costs in other locations. Other payments are also down due to a greater proportion of lay salary costs being paid by Circuit in 2025. Reserves Polic The Reserves Policy of the Church is to hold a minimum sum equivalent to 4 months, average expenditure. Plans for 2025-26 A new Superintendent Minister will repla the Superintendent who will be 'sttting down, at the end of the Connexional year. Pioneer Worker and Children & Families worker to continue in the Circuit. Current staff levels to be maintained. Continue to develop 'The Peak Wesley Way.. Develop the strategy for the Hub at Hope and the chapel building. If agreed. this is likely to see significant building work being undertaken. Sale of Bradwell Bethlehem Sunday School and potentially Bakewell manse to financially facilitate proposed initiatives. Aims and or anisation. Charity objective is to act as a Resource provider within the area of the Peak District for the Methodist Church. The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been sin the Date of Union the advanrnent ot. a) The Christian faith in accordan with the doctrinal standards and discipline of The Methodist Church. b) Any charitsble purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District. Circuit, local or other organisation of The Methodist Church.
c) Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution, subsidiary, or ancillary to The Methodist Church. d) Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charty subsidiary or ancillary to The Methodist Church. The organisation and resourcing of regular public acts of worship open to members of the church and non-members alike. The teaching of Christianity through sennons. courses, or small groups. The resourcing of pastoral work including visff(ing the sick and bereaved. Taking religious assemblies in local schools. Promotion of Christianity through the staging of events and Seices. Provision of chaplaincy services to local educational institutions. Public Benefit We confirm that the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidan on public benefrt. Structure Governance and Mana ement The governing document for the Church is the Deed of Union (1932) and Methodist Church Act (1976) Detailed governan arrangements are outlined within the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church by order of the annual Conferen (CPD). Day to day management of the Church is undertaken by Trustees working closely th the Circuit Leadership Team (CLT) and Circuit Ministers. Trustee Trainin A range of guidance prodUd by Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the Circuit, specifically the leaflet 'The Role of a Trustee in The Methodist Church, is glven to all new Circuit meeting members as an induction to their role as trustees. Related Parties The Church is part of the Peak Circuit which is part of the Sheffield District and is accountable to the Methodist Conferen. The following Methodist Churches are also part of the Circuit- Hathersage. Sparrowpit,. and Fountain Square Church Tideswell. Great Longstone and Baslow have aSed worshipping are included in the Peak Wesley Way as 'champing' venue. Litton has also aSed worshipping.
Approved by the Peak Methodist Church and signed on its behalf by, Superintendent Minister Treasurer Name: Rev Tim Morris Name: Mr Phil Sharp
APPENDIX A Peak Methodist Circuit- Chari Number 1135656 List of Mana in Trustees servin and throu h to tha date of this re throu hout the ear ended 31 Au ort exce t where otherwise noted ust 2025 NAME Jonathan Brook (resigned 0910712026} Susie Brook Kate Burnett Aline Danks Tom Donoghue David Dowr Jennifer Fox Fran Johnson Graham Johnson Julie Letts Malcolm Letts rim Morris (appointed 02110120251 Ire5igned 10107120251 (resigned 31108120251 (resigned 24109120251 (appointed 01109120251 Alison Mullins Andy Roberts Gill Sharp Phil Sharp Graham Souch Sue Souch lappointed 02110120251 (resigned 02110/20251 Ireappointed 09107/20261 lappointed 22101120261 Jean Strath HeatherThomas
CHURCH (Short Form) RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS (SHORT FORM) Peak Methodist Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025 Peak Circuit Circult no 25113 Registered Charity - Charity Registration number 1210821 If not a registered charity His Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid nurnber (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in temis of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) Minister. Rev rim Morris Church Stewards" The Church Trustees are respo.nsible for its oversi9ht. The Trustees are listed in the Annual Report. Treasurer= Mr Phil Shar PMC Accwnts 202¥25.xlsx 1of6
Church Short Fomi Peak Methodist Church RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 Profornw ligurns- see Note 2 Yèar ènd 31Au $t 2024 Yoar ttndèd 31 Au ust 2025 SECTION A a1 RECEIPTS Note a2 Offerin and Tax e0Vered 74.630 64,215 a3 Bank and CFB interest & inveslment income 5,980 7, 722 a4 Lettin 85 Other Feceipts 71,660 121, 173 TOTAL RECEIPTS 192,201 233.637 a6 SECTION b1 PAYMENTS b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 58.938 59, 144 Donations 1.178 7,351 Re airs and Maintenan 73,437 b5 Utilth'es In8ur8nces. water ehar es, heab"n htin 10 40.344 41, 124 Other payment5 TOTAL PAYMENTS 11 34.327 53. 186 b7 208,224 235,097 SECTION C 01 NET RECEIPTSIIPAYMEwfsi FOR THE YEAR 86-b7 116.0231 (1.460) ¢2 Tot81 funds brou ht foFward from last 208,892 208,352 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR Icl + c21 190,869 206.892 ¢5 st8te herb the total of an liakn.1.es ol the Church 12 30,(X)O SECTION D ANALYSIS OF FUNDS d1 Balances held at TMCP at 31 Au ust 31.037 50.376 d2 Balances held at CFB at 31 Au ust 86.534 lQ).941 d3 Bank and cash balanS at 31 August 73.298 55.575 190,869 206,892 d4 TOTAL {- Box G31 PMC ACts)ts 2024-25xlsx 2016
Name of Church- Peak Mathodist Church No 1210821 Declarations and Scrutiny I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 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.. Name and address of treasurer- Mr Phil Sharp 9 Gorse Ridge Drive, Baslow, Bakewell Post Code- DE45 1SL Presentation to the Church trustees I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 were presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on 9th July 2026 Signature ofthe Chair ofthe meeting Name oflhe Chair of the meeting- Rev Tim Morris Date... Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of the Peak Methodist Church Charity Number 1210821 Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Peak Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2025 set OLrt on pages .1. to ts. As the Church's trustees, you a responsible for the preparation of Ihe acwunts in accordance bwth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Church's accounts carried out under seclion 145 of the Act and, in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. 3of6
Name of Church- Peak Methc*Jist Church No 1210821 Independent Examlnels Statement I have compleled my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wlh the examination {other than that disclosed below'} which give me cause to believe that in. any material respect= the accounting records were not kept in accordance wtth 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 examinalson to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper underslanding of the accounts to be reached. I l)avélhave not. obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methixlist Church Purposes or held in other trusts. bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individualty in excess of £10,000 {ten thousand pounds) at the balan sheet date. Signature of independenl examiner Name of independent examiner Relevanl professional qualification of independent examiner Name of fimi (where appropriate) Ovi +J Address Post Code Date delete or circle as appropriate PMC Accounts 2LY24-25.xlsx 4of6
Peak Methodist Church Charity Nurnber 1210821 Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31 August 2025 1 Basls of Preparation of Accounts As permitted under the Chariknes Act for a charity oflhis srze. these accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis. 2 Fomiation of Peak Methodist Church and Cornparative Flgures The Peak Methodist Church is a mulit-stte church that was fomied on 1 Septernr 2024 from the merger of the followng individual churches within the Peak Methodist Circurt". Bakewell Methodist Church Bamford Methodist Church Br8dwell Methodist Church caer Methodist Church Caslleton Methodist Church Edale Methodist Church Hope Methodist Church Woodlands Methodist Chureh Youlgreave Methodist Church Due to their size, none of Ihese indwidual churches were previousty required lo register separatety with the Charrties Commission but instead followed the internal financial reporting requirements of the Methodist Church. The gross income of the combined churches is however over the threshold for registration with the Charities Commission. So the merged Peak Methodist Church is required to register and has to report in accordance with the Charib"e5 Act from ils formation on 1 September 2024. On 1 September 2024, reponsibilty for the all the fvnds. propety and liabilib-es of the individual churches listed above became that of the Trustees of the newly fomied Peak Melhodisl Church. In order to provide better contexl for the first yearfs figures for Peak Methodist Church, proforma comparative fi'gures have been included showng what the Peak Methodist Church's receipts and Payments would have been for the prior year had the merger taken place on 1 September 2023. These figures aiso set out the combined funds, property and liabilities of the Individual churches as at 31 August 2024 that were transferred over lo Peak Methodist Church on 1 September 2024. 3 Offerlngs and Tax recovered This consists of cash offerings made at church services and offerings paid direct into church bank accounts together wrth associated Gift Ard receipts. 4 Bank and CFB Interest and investment income Peak Methodist Church ("PMC"I holds funds in bank current and deposf( accounts. It also has deposits w¢th the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church I'CFB") and the TruStS for Methl$t Church Purposes {'TMCP"l. This is the interest income derived from these deposits and credited to PMC'S accounts in the year. 5 Lettlng8 PMC licen$ the use of its various premises to Ihird party groups. This beneffts the local community in 8¢cordance with PMC'S objecbves and also provides an important SOU of inctjrne. PMC Accounts 2024-25.xl$x 5of6
Peak Methodist Church Chartty Number 1210821 Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31 August 2025 (continued) 6 Other receipts other receipts are mainly from ftjnd raising acbvibes. donations and grants. The amount was unusually high for the year prior lo the merger due to grants received by Edale Methodist Church which is undergoing a substantial renovation project. 7 Circuit Assessment or Share PMC pays an assessment to Peak Methodist Circurt towards the cost ministerial and lay staff who are empbyed by the Circurt and the costs of Sheffield Methodist District and the Methodist Connexion. 8 Donations Where ftjnds are raised for other specific charitable causes and passed on lo them directly. they are not included in these accounts. However, where funds raised more generally and then donated lo chosen causes. they are included here. 9 Repairs and Maintenance This is Ihe cost of repairing and maintaining the fabric of our churches, their Contents and equipment including any improvements. The churches are subject to regular professional independent inspection and prorammes of work follow their recommendations. The main expenditure this year and last was in connection wth the renovab.on project * Edale Melhcxjist Church. 10 Utilities This is payments made to ulility companies and insurers for energy. water, communications and insurance. 11 Other payments Other payments include payments necessary for the tunning of the churches including administration costs, supplies and resources. It also includes payments lo Peak Merthodist Circuit for staff working directly on PMC Church project5 up until 31 May 2025. These include childrens and family work al Bamford and pioneer ministry at Hope. From 1 June 2025 the employment of all lay stsff previousty employed by Peak Methodist Circuit was transferred to Peak Methodist Church. 12 Liabilitles Edale Methodist Church was granted £30.000 by way of loan from Sheffield Methodist District on 13 November 2023 in connection wth its renovation project. The loan is interest free and due for repayment by 31 December 2027. 13 Church premises PMC'S church premises are legally osvned by the TMCP but PMC is responsible for their maintenance and PMC retains any letting income derived from them. These accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis and as such no property valuation is included. PMC Accounts 2024-25.xisx 6of8