IPSWICH METHODIST CIRCUIT

Registered charity 1134363 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

PROVIDING PASTORAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO CHURCHES WITHIN THE IPSWICH METHODIST CIRCUIT

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 SUBSIDIARY 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

£596k

Latest spending

£393k

Registered

2010

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity's general fund reserves are significantly below its stated policy target, holding only 50% of the required amount. The trustees report that the Circuit has had to withdraw funds annually from the finite Circuit Model Trust to support normal activities, a practice anticipated to continue for the foreseeable future. While the charity remains solvent with net current assets, its long-term sustainability is described as uncertain due to depleted reserves and reliance on property sales.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: 6 months’ average expenditure (held: £65k)

“The Reserves Policy for the Circuit is currently to hold a minimum sum in reserve equivalent to 6 months’ average expenditure.” — page 8

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Going concern: noted by the trustees or auditor

“The Circuit has taken on responsibility for it from the beginning of the new Connexional year commencing 1st September 2025. It is unlikely that a suitable use for it as a place of worship will be found and it will most probably be sold once the approvals are received.”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: The Circuit is part of the East Anglia District and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference. The Circuit contributes to the District and Connexion.

“The Circuit contribution to the District and Connexion was 17.68% of total expenditure in the reporting year, a significant part of that contribution is used to fund the work of the wider Methodist Church.” — page 4

“Kirton Methodist Church was loaned £15,000 to cover the cost of improving their toilet facilities and disabled access. £2,280 has been repaid and it is anticipated that the balance will be recovered over the next few years.” — page 16

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Loans made to local churches (Kirton Chapel, Landseer Road) which are related parties within the Circuit structure.

“The Circuit contribution to the District and Connexion was 17.68% of total expenditure in the reporting year, a significant part of that contribution is used to fund the work of the wider Methodist Church.” — page 4

“Kirton Methodist Church was loaned £15,000 to cover the cost of improving their toilet facilities and disabled access. £2,280 has been repaid and it is anticipated that the balance will be recovered over the next few years.” — page 16

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Investments held with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP), a related party.

“The Circuit contribution to the District and Connexion was 17.68% of total expenditure in the reporting year, a significant part of that contribution is used to fund the work of the wider Methodist Church.” — page 4

“Kirton Methodist Church was loaned £15,000 to cover the cost of improving their toilet facilities and disabled access. £2,280 has been repaid and it is anticipated that the balance will be recovered over the next few years.” — page 16

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Letting income from manses, which are church properties.

“The Circuit contribution to the District and Connexion was 17.68% of total expenditure in the reporting year, a significant part of that contribution is used to fund the work of the wider Methodist Church.” — page 4

“Kirton Methodist Church was loaned £15,000 to cover the cost of improving their toilet facilities and disabled access. £2,280 has been repaid and it is anticipated that the balance will be recovered over the next few years.” — page 16

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Grants received from East Anglia District.

“The Circuit contribution to the District and Connexion was 17.68% of total expenditure in the reporting year, a significant part of that contribution is used to fund the work of the wider Methodist Church.” — page 4

“Kirton Methodist Church was loaned £15,000 to cover the cost of improving their toilet facilities and disabled access. £2,280 has been repaid and it is anticipated that the balance will be recovered over the next few years.” — page 16

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). 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.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2025)

Total income

£596k

Total spending

£393k

Reserves (reported)

£65k

Employees

7

Reported reserves equal ~2.0 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (61% 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: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Suffolk

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/08/2025	£596k	£393k
31/08/2024	£382k	£404k
31/08/2023	£367k	£415k
31/08/2022	£355k	£388k
31/08/2021	£559k	£397k

Common questions

Is IPSWICH METHODIST CIRCUIT financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity's general fund reserves are significantly below its stated policy target, holding only 50% of the required amount. The trustees report that the Circuit has had to withdraw funds annually from the finite Circuit Model Trust to support normal activities, a practice anticipated to continue for the foreseeable future. While the charity remains solvent with net current assets, its long-term sustainability is described as uncertain due to depleted reserves and reliance on property sales. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
THE JOSEPH RANK TRUST	1	£50k
THE BEATRICE LAING TRUST	1	£30k
THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED	1	£6k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with LAMBETH CIRCUIT METHODIST CHURCH.

LAMBETH CIRCUIT METHODIST CHURCH income £490k
WEALD OF KENT METHODIST CIRCUIT income £1.9m
CARDIFF METHODIST CIRCUIT income £419k
NORTH EAST SOMERSET & BATH METHODIST CIRCUIT income £704k
TELFORD METHODIST CIRCUIT income £318k
GOOLE AND SELBY METHODIST CIRCUIT income £267k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
IPSWICH METHODIST CIRCUIT	£596k	—	0	unclear	—	noted
LAMBETH CIRCUIT METHODIST CHURCH FY2025	£490k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
WEALD OF KENT METHODIST CIRCUIT FY2025	£1.9m	—	0	above	—	no doubt
CARDIFF METHODIST CIRCUIT FY2025	£419k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
NORTH EAST SOMERSET & BATH METHODIST CIRCUIT FY2025	£704k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
TELFORD METHODIST CIRCUIT FY2025	£318k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.