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2025-03-31-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period start date Period end date Period end date
Day 01 April 2024 Day31 March 2025
**From ** To

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name[ST.GREGORIOS INDIAN (MALANKARA) ORTHODOX ] CHURCH. LONDON

Other names charity is known by

1000423 Charity's principal address St. Gregorios Church, Cranfield Road London Postcode SE4 1UF ~~—~~

Registered charity number (if any) 1000423

Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for
**whole year **		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (ifany)
Fr. Nithin Prasad Koshy Chair Diocesan Bishop
Mr.Jacob Parakkala Mathew Treasurer General body
Mr. George Jacob Thengumtharayil Secretary General body
Mr. Saji Jacob Trustee General body
Mr N M Thomas Trustee General body
Mr. Baiju Daniel Trustee General body
Mr. Jose Panicker Trustee General body
Mrs. SenyJones Trustee General body
Mr. Sisan Chacko Ex- Officio General body
Mr. Biju Kochunnooni Ex- Officio General body

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year ~~——~~ TAR 1 March 2025 2025

March 2025 2025

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser
Name
Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Governing documents as Constitution passed by the church 2[nd] July 1989 Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Society How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Elected managing committee members are the trustees Trustee selection methods

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

Trustees are elected from the eligible members at the Annual General Body meeting in March each year, which is followed by a joint meeting between the outgoing trustees and the incoming trustees. The formal handover of the reports and accounts takes place in this joint meeting as well as a briefing is given to new trustees emphasising their duties and responsibilities.

The Indian Orthodox Church, also known as the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, is an Autocephalous Orthodox Church with its central office in the Indian state of Kerala. The IOC is autonomous church and headed by the Catholicose. Its present primate is Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose III, Catholicose of the East. The structure of St. Gregorios Church, London is also episcopal polity. Churches in UK, Europe and African Diocese is currently under pastoral care of diocesan bishop His Grace Abraham Mar Stephanos

The chairperson of the charity is the Vicar, who is normally appointed by the Diocesan Bishop for a period of three years.

Trustees are the managing committee members. Their term of office is one year. The managing committee is responsible for maintenance of the church and day to day administration. The trustees meet at least once a month. Risks are mitigated by a careful evaluation and budgeting of the income and expenditure at the start of the financial year. Misuse of funds and church property are safeguarded by strict adherence to the rules and regulations by all the trustees and church members.

Section C Objectives and activities

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The principal object of the charity is advancement of Christian religion and particularly Orthodox faith, enabling as many people as possible to worship in our church and become part of our parish community.

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

The primary objective of the St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church is the manifestation of faith in the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) in accordance with the Apostolic and ancient traditions of the Malankara Orthodox Church. Our services and worship put faith in to practice through prayer and scripture and sacraments. The church shall enter into any activity to provide for the religious, educational and cultural needs as proper to the life of a Parish Church with the approval of the appropriate authorities and also benefiting the wider community.

When planning our activities for the year, the trustees have considered the commission’s guidance on public benefit and in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish, through the Holy Eucharist, learning about the Gospel and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus Christ. The church as followers of Christ, tries to carry out the mission given to us by caring for the marginalised, less fortunate in the society. The disabled, diseased deprived people are supported with humble efforts.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

Holy Eucharist is celebrated all Sundays and on every main Christian festival such as Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas, enabling people from all communities join these services.

Pastoral care is an integral part of the whole ministry of the Church. Having a great variety of expressions, it focuses appropriately on the needs of individuals and social groups within the Church and wider community, irrespective of religious and cultural barriers.

The church is keen to offer a range of services during the week and over the course of the year that our community find both beneficial and spiritually uplifting. The Patron Saint’s day celebration on 10[th] November,24 comprising of devotional addresses, folk dances depicting Christian themes and Holy Eucharist rejuvenate the Christian fellowship and oneness in Christ.

The church offered a range of services over the course of the year that our community find both beneficial and spiritually uplifting.

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Ecumenical Relationships.

The church is a member of the Churches together in Britain and Ireland and Oriental Orthodox Churches and Brockley local churches.

The Church encourages all members to take part in the church activities in some form or the other. The large gathering of the faithful in these events imparts positive network of family and friends within a spiritual atmosphere enhances personal, socio-cultural and spiritual development.

St Patrons Day – 10th Nov 2024

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

London Indian Orthodox church is named after St Gregorios of Parumala or Parumala Thirumani. St. Gregorios of Parumala, born in 1848 in Kerala, India, exhibited early signs of spirituality and dedicated his life to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. This year’s auspicious occasion of Parumala Perunal,H.G. Seraphim Thirumani, was our chief guest of the Patron’s day celebration. The memorial feast of Saint Geevarghese Mar Gregorios or Parumala Thirumani is started on 3rd November 2024 with Perunal Kodiyetu, followed by various spiritual organisations meeting including Young couples, senior citizens, youth and MMVS. The Perunal Retreat was conducted on 3rd November, led by Fr. Mobin Varghese. On 9th November, the Parish members participated in the Perunal Padayathra in the morning, followed by Punya Smrithi in the evening. On the 10[th] November, Perunal was made even more attractive with the vibrant Chendamelam and witnessed huge participation from believers of Parumala Thirumani from different parishes across the UK. The Perunal concluded with a final Benediction, a fellowship meal, and the ceremonial flag lowering.

Charitable activities.

In addition to advancing Christian religious faith, the church supports variety of charity work. In the reporting year a total of Nine Thousand Seven hundred and five British Pounds were dispersed to various charitable activities in India and U.K. Food bank for local community needs were undertaken with the generous contribution of the members.. The policy on grants is very transparent. The application for grants are thoroughly vetted by the trustees and vicar and an appropriate amount is allocated based on the circumstances without any involvement of a third party agency and thus avoiding any overhead expenses.

Section D Achievements and performance

CHRISTMAS CAROL

The Youth members orchestrated a heartwarming door-to-door Christmas carol event in the Kent area, home to the St. Marys prayer group. Gathering in front of the church and parsonage, approximately 60 participants embarked on a joyous journey in cars through the neighbourhood, spreading festive cheer with traditional carols and merry melodies. Their caravan of goodwill made stops at around 20 houses, where their harmonious tunes were met with warm receptions and generous donations. The collective effort resulted in a total contribution of approximately £1000.00 for the church, showcasing the community's spirit of giving and solidarity during the holiday season

BAITHO-6[th] July 2024 ( Day Out in Summer)

The Baitho event was held at St James Marthoma Church , Eltham and was attended by around 250 members. The day began with morning prayers and the lighting of the lamp by Fr. Nithin Prasad Koshy, followed by a keynote speech from Fr. Sojan of the Marthoma Church.The youth arranged an engaging ice breaker session, setting a joyful tone for

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Section D Achievements and performance

the day. Numerous outdoor activities, including cricket, badminton, football, various games, and tug of war, were organized for all age groups. The children especially enjoyed the bouncy castle. Throughout the day, participants were provided with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as evening refreshments. After lunch, indoor activities such as musical chairs and Anthakshari were held, adding to the fun and excitement. Medals were awarded to all participants, and the winners of the Tug of War received Nadan (Kerala) Pazhakulas, which stood out as an interesting and exciting prize.The event concluded with an evening prayer, leaving everyone with a sense of community and joy. The SGIOC London MGOCSM/Youth members worked diligently to make the event colourful and entertaining for all. The coordinator for the event, Mr. Vincent Mathew, played a pivotal role in ensuring its success.

FLAVOURS OF GIVING (BIRIYANI CHALLENGE)

Youth wing orchestrated a heartwarming event called "Flavours of Giving," a charity initiative held within the church premises. The centrepiece of the event was the sale of delectable boxes of chicken biriyani, each priced at £7, providing attendees with a Savory treat while contributing to a noble cause. Thanks to a generous sponsorship of £1300.00, the biriyani was procured and prepared with care, ensuring a delicious culinary experience for all participants. The event proved to be a resounding success, with over 270 biriyani boxes sold, and the collective efforts of the community resulted in an impressive charity profit of approximately £2157.00. Through this exemplary display of generosity and unity, OCYM London demonstrated their unwavering commitment to serving those in need and making a positive impact within their local community

PARISH DAY 2024

We celebrated Parish Day on Saturday, 12th October 2024, at Harris Academy, Kendra Hall Road, South Croydon. The event, coordinated by Mr. George Jacob, began with a prayer and the lighting of the lamp by Vicar Fr. Nithin Prasad Koshy. This year's Parish Day was highlighted by a musical treat from Grace Voices, led by Mr. Wilson Piravom. The event featured a variety of cultural programs, including dances and songs performed by children, youths, and older adults from our church. It was a vibrant event organized by various spiritual organizations within our church. The visual appeal of Parish Day was enhanced by an LED screen that showcased the various cultural performances, including dance, skits, and songs. A special highlight was a well-prepared skit performed by our youth team. Participants were served delicious food, including snacks, making the day even more enjoyable.

FOOD BANK

As a service to our local community, instead of donating canned and non-perishable food donated by parish members, this year the Church has donated £1000 to the Lewisham council food bank as a local charity.

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Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

The church has membership of nearly 290 families, many of whom are residents in other part of U.K but our services are open to all, We enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. There were 4 baptisms, and through baptism we thank God for the gift of life.

The Church realizes that the children are the foundations of the future society and hence great emphasis is given to provide for the development of their character enabling them to achieve and contribute to the society.

Regular Sunday school classes were conducted every Sunday for the children. The school follows the curriculum of the Orthodox Sunday school Association of the East. The curriculum focuses on lessons and thoughts from the Bible, history and traditions of the Church, prayers and offices of liturgy as well as activities including singing and drama, to promote self-development and social interaction. Through this, the Sunday School aims to provide a proper understanding of human values and how the Christian way of life can provide a caring and compassionate outlook to the society.

The church lays strong emphasis in the organizing of the Orthodox Vacation Bible School. This is an intensive programme aimed towards the children. Church members volunteer to organize the various activities as a part of the programme. OVBS itself is centred around the children of our church, with the aim of teaching them about our Orthodox faith & deepening theirs. The youth helped with several activities during the day, starting with icebreakers. We separated all the kids and parents into groups of 4 around the church and played several games with them. In addition, personality development sessions were held for the benefit of the young children. We have developed our Safeguarding Policy a mandatory requirement and the volunteers who deal with children are all vetted by CRB checks

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Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the

charity’s policy on reserves

Total receipts of funds were £253,885 and total expenses were £287,689 The policy of the church is to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds which equates to at least three months unrestricted payments, equivalent to £25,000 to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time.

Details of any funds materially

in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

Principal source of the funds of the church is from voluntary contributions of membership and donations.

You may choose to include of membership and donations. additional information, where The expenditure is budgeted ,spread in proportion to the needs of the various relevant about: activities

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)

Full name(s) Mr. Jacob Parakkala Mathew Mr. George Jacob Thengumtharayil Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Authorised person etc)

Date 31/12/2025

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ST.GREGORIOS INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ,LONDON No (if any) 1000423 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To — ~~_===E~~ from 01/04/2024 31/03/2025

Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment funds
Total funds
Last year
to the nearest £
to the nearest £
to the nearest £
to the nearest £
to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
VoluntarySubscription
77,155
77,155
63,899
VoluntaryDonations
82,340
15,426
97,766
109,143
Activities forgeneration of funds
24,046
24,046
26,666
Gift Aid HMRC
47,207
47,207
41,396
Cultural events
-
Sundry (Property)
-
SundaySchool
2,896
2,896
1,959
Interest/refunds
4,815
4,815
211
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)238,459
15,426
-
253,885
243,274
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sub total -
-
-
- -
Total receipts
238,459
15,426
-
253,885
243,274
~~=== ===~~
~~——————~~
A3 Payments
Wges(NI, Taxes)
14,173
14,173
14,140
Grants and Donations
10,000
10,000
Mission of Congregation
9,705
9,705
12,062
PropertyMaintenance
32,503
32,503
21,618
Runningcosts
105,828
105,828
93,414
Statonery,Printing, Utilities
3,129
3,129
1,464
Cost of fund rasing
4,113
4,113
3,251
Cultural events
12,554
12,554
8,889
Ecumenical &Organisational
10,300
10,300
5,000
Travel reimbursement
1,196
1,196
1,123
St.Andrews Church
Diocese Clergy, visitingdignatories
38,524
38,524
11,855
Sundyschool activities
5,936
5,936
2,677
Vicars exgratia,solicitors fees,visa,
3,956
3,956
Parsonage mortgage, expenses,bills
35,772
35,772
37,754
Sub total 287,689
287,689
213,247
~~aluee~~
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
Parsonage Purchase
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sub total -
-
-
-
-
Total payments
287,689
-
-
287,689
213,247
Net of receipts/(payments)
- 49,230
15,426
- - 33,804
30,027
A5 Transfers between funds
-
-
-
-
A6 Cash funds last year end
102,736
47,521
-
150,257
120,135
Cash funds this year end
53,506
62,947
- 116,453
150,162
~~S555~~		 30,027
-
120,135
150,162
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets
B3 Investment assets
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
B5 Liabilities		 Details
Cash Funds
Reserve Fund
Icons, Puthuran etc
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details
Details
Details
St. Gregorios Church Building
Parsonage
Furniture and Fixtures
Other assets for church services
Details
Signature		 Unrestricted funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
13,842
86,440
746
15,426
100,282
16,172
Agreement Error
Agreement Error
Unrestricted funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which asset
belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
Fund to which asset
belongs
Cost (optional)
1,000,000
395,000
35,000
10,000
-
-
Fund to which liability
relates
Amount due
(optional)
-
-
-
Print Name
Mr Jacob Parakkala Mathew		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
Current value
(optional)
1,250,000
420,000
20,000
900
-
-
When due
(optional)
Date of
approval
Mr Jacob Parakkala Mathew 30/11/2025

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ ST,GREGORIOS’ INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, LONDON members of ~~a~~ On accounts for the year 31/03/2025 Charity no 1000423 ended (if any)

Set out on pages

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

1 3(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) ~~po~~ The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

Independent examiner's statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): ~~a~~ Address:

1

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