THE METHODIST CHURCH, WEST OXFORDSHIRE CIRCUIT

Registered charity 1134159 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE METHODIST CHURCH, WITNEY AND FARINGDON CIRCUIT, WEST OXFORDSHIRE METHODIST CIRCUIT, WEST OXFORDSHIRE METHODISTS, WITNEY AND FARINGDON METHODIST CIRCUIT

Act as an umbrella for the local churches within the Circuit. Provision of services for them, eg preparation of preaching plan, organisation of pastoral care within the communities covered, organisation of events, etc.

Objects

The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the date of union the advancement of -(a) the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church;(b) any charitable 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 subsiduary or ancillary to the Methodist Church;(d) any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.

Area of benefit: UNDEFINED. IN PRACTICE, LOCAL.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£276k

Latest spending

£681k

Registered

2010

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves were £124,737, providing approximately 3.5 months of expenditure cover, which is below the stated policy target of 3 to 6 months. The charity reported a net operating deficit for the year, with total expenditure of £516,715 against incoming resources of £275,663, largely due to significant property sales proceeds in the prior year not being repeated.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Assessments from churches (37% of income)

“Circuit income continues to be primarily drawn from the assessment paid by the circuit churches which, this year totalled £213,726, representing 37% of the total incoming resources.” — page 4

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £125k; policy: three to six months' average expenditure)

“As at 31 August 2025 the net unrestricted current assets of the Circuit were £125k, which is held in easily accessible accounts, gives approximately 3.5 months cover for expenditure.” — page 4

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Shaw Gibbs (Audit) Limited. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Complaints policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2024)

Total income

£812k

Total spending

£465k

Cost of raising funds

£3k

Reserves (reported)

£127k

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~3.3 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 7.1 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Other (69% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 0.3% of total income — below the median for charities its size (3.0%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Rev Andrew Paul Biggs BEd MScchair
Alan Robert Souch
Andrew John Gower · trustee of 2 other charities
BEATRICE MARY Willis
Bruce Anderson
CHARLES HENRY Simpkins · trustee of 2 other charities
Carol Ann Port
Claire Louise Walton
DAWN ELIZABETH ELLEN HALEY
Derek Charles Leonard Jerome
Douglas Brian Paxton
EDWIN CHARLES FOWLER
Elizabeth Kilpatrick · trustee of 1 other charity
Graham John Leonard Kew
Helen Joyce Blight
Helen Louise Adams RGN Dip He
Ian Frederick Cotton
JANET IRENE HILTON
JUDITH ANNE BUCKNALL BA
Jacqueline Ann Milner
John Cecil Bentley FCCA · trustee of 1 other charity
Jonathan Andrew Alastair Miller
Julie Margaret Biggs
KATHLEEN MILDRED ALBERT
Karl Kevin Williams
Keith Early Crawford · trustee of 2 other charities
Linda Margaret Souch
Martin Hannant
Mary Henderson McDougall
Matthew Wareham
Nigel James · trustee of 2 other charities
Raena Elizabeth Farley
Ramon Vaughan Gater
Rev Kathryn Ann Flynn
Rev Susan Nerissa Jacobs · trustee of 1 other charity
Richard Bowler
Robert David Ayers
Rosemary Jane Britton B Sc
Sonia Duraturo · trustee of 1 other charity
Stella Georgina Bristow

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Oxfordshire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/08/2025	£276k	£681k
31/08/2024	£812k	£465k
31/08/2023	£298k	£454k
31/08/2022	£259k	£361k
31/08/2021	£251k	£496k

Common questions

Is THE METHODIST CHURCH, WEST OXFORDSHIRE CIRCUIT financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves were £124,737, providing approximately 3.5 months of expenditure cover, which is below the stated policy target of 3 to 6 months. The charity reported a net operating deficit for the year, with total expenditure of £516,715 against incoming resources of £275,663, largely due to significant property sales proceeds in the prior year not being repeated. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Shaw Gibbs (Audit) Limited.