## **CROWN TERRACE METHODIST CHURCH, ABERDEEN** ## **Trustees Report for the year ended 31 August 2025** **Scottish registered charity number: SC 007882** ## **Principal Address** 8 Crown Terrace, Aberdeen, AB11 6HE. ## **Trustees** Names of the charity trustees on the date of the approval of the Trustees’ Annual Report. |**Name**|**Office**|**Date if not for**
**wholeyear**|**Body entitled to appoint**
**trustee**| |---|---|---|---| |Rev Adam Stevenson|Superintendent of the
Scotland Circuit|from 1/9/25|Methodist Conference| |Rev Jon Garde|Minister in pastoral charge||Methodist Conference| |Deacon Douw Grobler|Deacon appointed to the
Circuit||Methodist Conference| |Rev David Bidnell|Minister appointed to the
Circuit|from 1/9/25|Methodist Conference| |Stephen Fowles|Circuit Steward|from 1/9/25|Circuit Meeting| |Jacqueline Potts|Secretaryto Church Council||Church Council| |Sarah Sim|Secretary of Pastoral
Committee||Church Council| |Alix Thom|Church Steward||Annual Church Meeting| |Joan Rae|Church Steward||Annual Church Meeting| |Treasure Mmerife|Church Steward||Annual Church Meeting| |Marjorie Dick|Church Steward||Annual Church Meeting| |BarrySturman-Mole|Church Steward||Annual Church Meeting| |Mavis Annan-Bonny|Treasurer||Church Council| |MercyIbrahim|Safeguardingrepresentative|resigned 11/2/26|Church Council| |Carol Reeves|Open House representative||Church Council| |Stanley Mmerife|Children’s ministry
coordinator||Church Council| |Samuel Danso|Secretary of Finance and
Propertycommittee||Church Council| |Willie Primrose|Congregational
Representative||Annual Church Meeting| |John Gordon|Congregational
Representative||Annual Church Meeting| |Elsie Dyer|Congregational
Representative||Annual Church Meeting| |Seyram Kanda|Congregational
Representative||Annual Church Meeting| |Lorna Herbert|Congregational
Representative|from 1/9/25|Annual Church Meeting| Names of all other charity trustees during the period, if any, (for example, those who resigned part way through the financial period). |**Name**|**Office**|**Date if not for**
**wholeyear**|
**Body entitled to appoint**
**trustee**| |---|---|---|---| |Rev Andrew Bryer|Superintendent of the North
of Scotland Mission Circuit|to 31/8/25|Methodist Conference| |Robert Kelley|Church Steward|to 31/8/25|Annual Church Meeting| |Oyaonu Olorunfemi|Congregational
Representative|to 31/8/25|Annual Church Meeting| ## **Governing document** The governing document of the Church is the Methodist Church Act 1976. ## **Trustees’ recruitment and appointment** The Church’s trustees are the members of the Church Council. The composition of the Church Council is set out in the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church of Great Britain (CPD). The Minister is appointed by the Methodist Conference. The Circuit Steward is appointed by the Circuit Meeting. Other members are elected by the Annual Church meeting or co-opted by the Church Council so that all areas of the Church’s life are represented. ## **Objectives** The charitable purpose of the Church is the advancement of religion – the Christian Faith. The mission of the Church is “To make the love of God in Christ known in Aberdeen and beyond through word and action.” Summary of the main activities in relation to these objects - Church services and other religious meetings. - Sunday school and other teaching activities. - Pastoral care of Church members and others. - Community outreach. - Charitable fundraising and giving. ## **Activities and achievements** Crown Terrace Methodist Church – also known as Aberdeen Methodist Church – is near the city’s centre and the congregation is ‘gathered’ from in and beyond the city of Aberdeen. Our regular Sunday congregation is a mixture of those who have spent their lives in this part of Scotland, and people brought up elsewhere in the UK, or in other countries, particularly Nigeria and Ghana. During the period covered by this report Aberdeen Methodist Church was one of three Methodist Churches in the North of Scotland Mission Circuit that extended to Peterhead and along the Moray coast. However, from 1[st] September 2025 the North of Scotland Mission Circuit combined with other Circuits in Scotland to form the Scotland Circuit. Services for worship were held throughout the year on Sunday mornings. During the year a small group has been meeting for Bible Study before the service. Aberdeen Methodist Church has a Covenant, for mutual benefit, with the St Peter Methodist Church in Accra, Ghana. We collect funds to assist in projects for St Peter’s and the local community in Ghana. Further opportunities for fellowship, learning and prayer have been provided by small groups meeting mid-week either online or in members’ homes. These have included prayer and Bible Study in fellowship with the wider Circuit on Zoom on Wednesday evenings during Advent and Lent, a weekly Thursday evening Discussion Group and a monthly group known as ‘Shaken and Stirred’. Throughout the year, Open Table has provided a hot, three-course meal on Sunday lunchtimes between 1-2pm in the church hall and Open House has met every day from Monday to Friday, 2- 4pm in the sanctuary. Open Table is well-supported by volunteers and by the congregation generally, enabling a community to develop for mutual support, serving around 30 meals each week. Open House provides food and activities as a basis for community. During the year the 21st Aberdeen Girls’ Brigade Company became affiliated with the church and began meeting in the church building on Tuesday evenings. The church’s table tennis club has continued to meet regularly and compete in the local table tennis league. Aberdeen Methodist Church has worked jointly with other churches in Aberdeen to make the love of God known in word and action. It has been represented on Aberdeen Churches Together, which took part in events such as a Walk of Witness on Good Friday and the Aberdeen Christmas Lights SwitchOn Parade organised by the City Council. ## **Financial Review** The accounts show an end of year deficit of approximately £2,400 in unrestricted funds. Restricted funds show a deficit of nearly £17,000. ## **Financial Reserves Policy** Our intention is to carry forward in September each year in unrestricted funds half (i.e. six months’ worth) of the budgeted expenditure from unrestricted funds for the year. The purpose of this reserve is to be able to continue meeting our financial obligations in the event of unexpected circumstances and also to smooth cashflow over the year. At 31 August 2025 the unrestricted reserves were £28,659, which is slightly less than six months’ expenditure from unrestricted funds. Signed _Jon Garde_ Date _26/5/2026_ Rev Jon Garde Chair of the Church Council and Trustee **----- Start of picture text -----**
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 Aberdeen Methodist Church
Unrestricted Restricted Totals this Totals last
SECTION A Funds Funds year year
£ £ £ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings and Tax recovered 50,838 0 50,838 53,410
a3 Bank and CFB interest and Investment income 0 859 859 957
a4 Lettings 3,330 0 3,330 3,925
a5 Other receipts 0 23,122 23,122 57,664 Note 1
a6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 54,168 23,982 78,149 (a7) 115,956
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 41,422 0 41,422 52,601
b3 Donations 0 0 0 0
b4 Repairs and Maintenance 2,860 0 2,860 15,399 Note 2
b5 Utilities (Insurances, water charges, heating & lighting) 11,243 6,268 17,511 23,432 Note 3
b6 Miscellaneous 1,049 0 1,049 1,511
b7 Other payments 34,467 34,467 65,011 Note 4
b8 TOTAL PAYMENTS 56,573 40,735 97,309 (b9) 157,954
SECTION C
c1 NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR (a6-b8) (2,406) (16,753) (19,159) (41,998)
c2 Total funds brought forward from last year 31,065 23,792 54,857 (c6) 96,856
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) 28,659 7,039 35,698 54,858
c4 Transfers and adjustments 0 0 0 (c7) 0
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) 28,659 7,039 35,698 (c8) 54,858 (c6)
Note 5
SECTION D
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Note 5
d (these amounts are not to be included in total receipts/payments figures above) £ £
d1 Balance brought forward from last year 0 0
d2 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 3,000 0
d3 Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations 3,000 0
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) 0 -
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL** ## **SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page** Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the District and connected District Organisations. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Net Receipts/ Opening Closing
INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances balances
e1 Shaken and Stired 0 0 0 0 0
e2 0 0
e3 0 0
e4 0 0
e5 0 0
e6 0 0
e7 0 0
e8 Sub total of Internal Organisations funds 0 0 0 0 0 (e11) 0 (e12)
Church accounts (totals brought forward from page 2 -
e9 totals column) 78,149 (a7) 97,309 (b9) (19,159) 0 (c7) 54,857 (c6) 35,698 (c8)
e10 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 78,149 97,309 (19,159) 0 54,857 (x) 35,698 (y)
Continue on a separate sheet if necessary and bring the TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL
totals forward PAYMENTS
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **SECTION F** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** |f1
f2
f3
f4
f5
f6
f7
f8
f9
g1
g2
g3
g4
g5|**CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025**
**SECTION G**
**OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES**
1
Other Assets
**TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH**
Investments (include Endowments)
Cash in hand
Bank Current Account
Bank Deposit Account
Central Finance Board
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Other funds
**SUB TOTAL - Church accounts**
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing balance total from above) (e12)
Land & Buildings (see notes re Insurance value)
Loan(s) - show amount outstanding at year end
Other Liabilities|**OPENING**
**BALANCES**
37,995
16,862
**54,857**
(c6)
**0** (e11)
**54,857**
(x)
At
September 2024
13,182
3,422,321
2,250|**CLOSING**
**BALANCES**
17,976
17,722
**35,698**
(c8)
**0** (e12)
**35,698**
(y)
At
31 August
2025
13,182
3,422,321
2,000| |---|---|---|---| f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board f5 Include only Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trusts accounts this is included in line f5 ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNT** ## **1. Other Receipts, Restricted Funds, comprises:** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Description 2024-2025 2023-2024
Donations, grants and fundraising for Open Table £1,000 £500
Donations, grants and fundraising for Open House £0 £0
Donations for the development of the church £0 £27,885
Grants to support mission £21,683 £9,000
Lewis Bequest £439 £344
Benevolence fund £0 £0
£23,122 £37,730
**----- End of picture text -----**
Other receipts include grants from the circuit, district, Oglivie and other to support Open House/Open Table, Chaplaincy costs, missions and children's work. The above amount excludes £3k received and passed on to external organisations noted in Section D ## **2. Repairs and Maintenance** Repairs and maintenance for the year related to general upkeep of the church as compared to the previous year which had £10,638 paid to John Still Steeple for Roof repairs. ## **3. Utilities** Total utilities for the year is £17,511.10, of which £6,268.22 has been charged to Open table/Open house costs. An application to the District was made to support utilities allocated to Opentable/Open House. This has been approved and expected to be received in the next financial year. ## **4. Other Payments, Restricted Funds, comprises:** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Description 2024-2025 2023-2024
Mission & outreach £31,842 £7,905
Publicity materials £0 £0
Extension fund loan repayments (from Buildings Fund) £250 £500
Building advice and planning (from Development Fund) £0 £53,631
Open table expenses £2,258 £2,265
Open house expenses £117 £261
Lewis Bequest £0 £400
Benevolence Fund £0 £50
£34,467 £65,011
**----- End of picture text -----**
Other payments include amounts of £12,356 for Chapliancy costs, £4,590 for children mission and £9,467 for property repairs and other related costs ## **5. Monies received and passed on to external organisations** This is made up of £3k received and passed on to The Methodist Church in Ghana ## **6. Analysis of Restricted Reserve** |||**2024-2025**|**2024-2025**|||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Restricted Fund Balances**|**Opening**|**Receipts**|**Payments**||**Closing**|| |||||||| |Open Table|£1,293|£1,000||£2,258||£35| **----- Start of picture text -----**
Open House £8,008 £0 £6,385 £1,623
Building Fund £13,909 £859 £250 £14,519
Development Fund £1,666 £0 £0 £1,666
Flower Fund £220 £0 £0 £220
Lewis Bequest £201 £439 £0 £641
Benevolence Fund £1,028 £0 £0 £1,028
Mission support £0 £21,683 £21,683 £0
Total £26,327 £23,982 £30,576 £19,732
**----- End of picture text -----**
Name of Church Crown Terrace Methodist Church ## **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 _Mavis Annan-Bonny_ Date _29/05/2026_ Name and address of treasurer Mavis Annan-Bonny 8 Crown Terrace, Aberdeen Post Code AB11 6HE ## **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 11th February 2026 Signature of the Chair of the meeting _Jon Garde_ Name of the Chair of the meeting Rev'd Jon Garde Date _25/05/2026_ 4 of 5 Accounts 2024-25 signature page.xls oscr Office of the Scottish Charlty R¢gulator Independent examlner's report on the accounts ¥2 R•port to the Chanty name tru8ts•slmgmb•rs of Crthvn Terrace MethcKJisl Church Reglst?red charlty SC(K)7882 numb¢r On the accounts of the charlty for the p•rlod Period slarl dale Period end dale Plonth Day Ywr 2024 D•y 01 31 08 2025 S•t out on pag jmniwit•r ￿ Indude pa99 #fa￿lor￿1 %h••til Resp•¢tiv• responslbllltl•s ol trustees and •xamln•r The charity's iruslees are responsib￿ for the prepaiatson of the accounts In a¢¢ordance with the lemis ol the Charities 8fKt Trusl8e Inveslmenl Iswtlandl 2005 Act and the Charities Accounts (Scollandl Regulations 2C()6. The charity Iruslees conslder that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(11 Id> of Ihe Accounts Regulation5 does nol apply. 11 is my responslbtlity lo examine the acrz•unls as required under section 44111 Ic) of Iho Act and to state whether particul8r fflatter8 have come to my attentK)n. Basls of Indepand•nt My examlnallon is cArried out in 8(urn. Th) matter has come to my attenlion. stalomont whkh gives me re880nable cause lo believe Ihal In any material respect the requlremenl$'. lo keep ac¢ounling reoxds in *c4ydance with seclh)n 4411) {al of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulatsons, and lo wepar& aco)unls wh￿h acuyd ￿th the ac￿unting records and comply ￿th R8gulal¢on 9 of (he 20C6 Accounts Regulations have nol been mel, or 2. to which, in my opinion. attention should be dr￿n in order lo enable 8 proper underslaThJin of the accwnls lo b8 reached. Dato: Sl9n•d: Name.. stephen Milne FCMA Relevant professlonal qualrficatlon{s) or body Chartered ManageuEnt Accountant Ilf any>: 12ttr. May 2026 Addr•ss: 30 Binghill Road Wesl Milltlmber Aberdeen AB13 DJB 'Please ddeteth&w￿ts in the brac*ets If Ihey th) nol ¥Wy.11 Ihtr do appty. Èertxrt I￿ mattws Iwe ￿rne io your attenlon on I page. Disclosure section Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlwJht material problems. Givè her8 briof datai18 of any it•m8 that lh• •xarninèr wishes to dlxclose