SUPERINTENDENT MINISTER'S TRUST

Registered charity 518173 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

We are the UK HQ of the Free Methodist Church with 25 Churches in GB, 5 in NI, 3 affiliates in England,1 in Eire. In 2016 we furthered our religious and charitable work by operationally, financially, and spiritually supporting new and existing churches in the UK, raising funds/volunteers for international childcare, a missionary hospital in Rwanda, other overseas mission and humanitarian relief .

Objects

THE FURTHERANCE OF THE RELIGIOUS AND OTHER CHARITABLE WORK OF THE CHURCHES OF THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA (UNITED KINGDOM DISTRICT) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DOCTRINES, DISCIPLINES AND USAGES OF THAT CHURCH FOR THE TIME BEING AS SET FORTH IN THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE.

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED

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

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Overseas Aid/famine Relief · Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£332k

Latest spending

£319k

Registered

1986

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that free reserves held at the year end were £388,711, with total unrestricted funds of £663,712. The charity reported an overall surplus of £12,897 for the year, with total income of £332,071 against expenditure of £319,175. The trustees consider the assets to be available and adequate to fulfil the charity's obligations.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: adequate funds to ensure that the charity is able to meet all current and known future liabilities within Charity Commission guidelines (held: £389k)

“The trustees have adopted a policy to ensure sufficient reserves are maintained and that there are adequate funds to ensure that the charity is able to meet all current and known future liabilities within Charity Commission guidelines.” — page 4

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Payments to trustees: Rev J M Townley received remuneration of £52,363 and the charity contributed £3,876 to his pension scheme as an employer pension contribution.

“Rev J M Townley received remuneration of £52,363 and the charity contributed £3,876 to his pension scheme as an employer pension contribution. (2024: £50,600 remuneration and £3,876 pension) This remuneration was in respect of his employment by the charity.” — page 14

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
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
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

Register events

Received assets from another charity (28/04/2022) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

Rev John Townleychair · trustee of 1 other charity
NORMAN WRIGHT
Rev Ian Clarkson · trustee of 1 other charity
Rev Pete Godfrey
Simon Burgess
Stephen Megrath · trustee of 2 other charities

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

Operates in: Bristol City · Bulgaria · Cheshire West & Chester · Cornwall · Essex · Greece · Hungary · Ireland · Lancashire · Northern Ireland · Pembrokeshire · Portugal

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£332k	£319k
31/12/2024	£309k	£295k
31/12/2023	£273k	£443k
31/12/2022	£283k	£290k
31/12/2021	£248k	£249k

Common questions

Is SUPERINTENDENT MINISTER'S TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that free reserves held at the year end were £388,711, with total unrestricted funds of £663,712. The charity reported an overall surplus of £12,897 for the year, with total income of £332,071 against expenditure of £319,175. The trustees consider the assets to be available and adequate to fulfil the charity's obligations. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.