## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** 

**From 1/1/2024           Period start date   To 31/12/2024      Period end date Charity name: German Lutheran Congregation of St Albans/Luton** 

## **Charity registration number: 1096675** 

## **Objectives and Activities** 

|**Objectives and Activities**|**Objectives and Activities**|**Objectives and Activities**|
|---|---|---|
|SORP reference|||
|Summary of the purposes of<br>the charity as set out in its<br>governing document<br>Para 1.17<br>**The objective of the charity is holding**<br>**Lutheran church services in Germain in**<br>**St Albans and Luton**|||
|Summary of the main<br>activities in relation to those<br>purposes for the public<br>benefit, in particular, the<br>activities, projects or<br>services identified in the<br>accounts.<br>Para 1.17 and<br>1.19<br>**Monthly church services in German in**<br>**St Albans Cathedral on the last Tuesday**<br>**evening of each month**<br>**Monthly family-friendly church services**<br>**in St Mary’s Marshalswick on every**<br>**second Saturday afternoon of each**<br>**month**|||
|Statement confirming<br>whether the trustees have<br>had regard to the guidance<br>issued by the Charity<br>Commission on public<br>benefit|Para 1.18|**The trustees have considered the public**<br>**benefit requirement and believe that the**<br>**charity’s current activities are in line**<br>**with Charity Commission guidelines**|



## **Achievements and Performance** 

|**Achievements and Performance**|**Achievements and Performance**|**Achievements and Performance**|
|---|---|---|
|SORP reference|||
|Summary of the main<br>achievements of the charity,<br>identifying the difference the<br>charity’s work has made to<br>the circumstances of its<br>beneficiaries and any wider<br>benefits to society as a<br>whole.|Para 1.20|**As in previous years, the congregation**<br>**was able to hold Lutheran services in**<br>**German twice monthly: in St Albans**<br>**Cathedral on the last Tuesday of each**<br>**month, and more family friendly**<br>**services in St Mary’s Marshalswick on**<br>**every second Saturday afternoon**<br>**Services were generally well attended,**<br>**and a particular highlight was the**<br>**confirmation of two of our young people**<br>**in July.**<br>**We also continued to offer a monthly**<br>**bible group, which was also well**<br>**attended.**<br>**Our congregation is maintaining**<br>**ecumenical relationships within St**|





**Albans with other congregations via Churches Together, and in particular with the Abbey, where our pastor is ecumenical chaplain. The trustees are mindful of the relatively small size of the congregation and are therefore looking to increase cooperation with German Lutheran congregations in London, East of England and beyond.** 

## **Financial Review** 

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**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Review of the charity’s  Para 1.21  The charity has cash reserves of<br>financial position at the end  £83,533 and investment assets of<br>of the period  £31,370<br>Statement explaining the  Para 1.22  The reserves are considered sufficient<br>policy for holding reserves  but not excessive to meet the medium<br>stating why they are held  term needs of the charity over the next<br>5-10 years. Receipt of a legacy<br>increased the reserves by £20,000 this<br>year; the charity expects to spend this<br>legacy over the next few years<br>Amount of reserves held  Para 1.22  The charity has cash reserves of<br>£83,533 and investment assets of<br>£31,370<br>Reasons for holding zero  Para 1.22  The charity does not hold zero reserves<br>reserves<br>Details of fund materially in  Para 1.24  No funds are in deficit<br>deficit<br>Explanation of any  Para 1.23  No such concerns are noted<br>uncertainties about the<br>charity continuing as a going<br>concern<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>




## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

|Description of charity’s<br>trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document<br>(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**CONSTITUTION ADOPTED 25 OCTOBER**<br>**1956 AS AMENDED 28 JANUARY 1976,**<br>**26 OCTOBER 1993 AND 29 OCTOBER**<br>**2002. AS AMENDED ON 11 MAR 2017**|
|How is the charity<br>constituted?<br>(e.g unincorporated<br>association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**Unincorporated**|
|Trustee selection methods<br>including details of any<br>constitutional provisions e.g.<br>election to post or name of<br>any person or body entitled<br>to appoint one or more<br>trustees|Para 1.25|**Trustees are elected every 4 years at the**<br>**charity’s AGM**|



## **Reference and Administrative details** 

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Charity name German Lutheran Congregation of St Albans/Luton<br>Other name the charity uses<br>Registered charity number 1096675<br>Charity’s principal address  15 Great Meadow Way<br>Aylesbury<br>HP19 7FT<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>




## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** 

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Dates acted if not for whole  Name of person (or body) entitled<br>Trustee name  Office (if any)<br>year to appoint trustee (if any)<br>1 Dorothea Redpath  Chair  AGM<br>2 Sabine Forrest  Secretary AGM<br>3 Jochen Hoffmann  Hon Treasurer  AGM<br>4 Michael Gruetzner  AGM<br>5 Beate Wylie  AGM<br>6 Goetz Richter  AGM<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **Declarations** 

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

**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** 

|**Signature(s)**<br>**Full name(s)**<br>**Position (eg Secretary,**<br>**Chair, etc)**<br>**Date**||
|---|---|
||Dorothea Redpath|
||<br>Chair|
||1/10/2025|
||1/10/2025|





## **Income Statement - German Lutheran Congregation of St Albans / Luton** 

|**Income**<br>1. Congregation<br>1.10 Subscriptions etc<br>1.20 Income from Investments<br>1.30 Grants received<br>2. Parochial Share<br>2.10 Subscriptions etc<br>2.30 Grants received<br>2.40 Refunds<br>**Total Income**|**2024**<br>**2023**<br>£30,059.40<br>£10,452.31<br>£712.96<br>£667.49<br>£2,014.05<br>£1,650.00|
|---|---|
||£32,786.41<br>£12,769.80|
||£105.00<br>£18.63<br>£0.00<br>£275.00<br>£40.56<br>£0.00|
||£145.56<br>£293.63|
||**£32,931.97**<br>**£13,063.43**|



|**Expenditure**<br>3. Congregation<br>3.30 Office<br>3.40 Charitable Activities<br>3.50 Membership Fees<br>4. Parochial Share<br>4.10 Ministry<br>4.20 Buildings<br>4.30 Office<br>4.40 Charitable Activities<br>**Total Expenditure**<br>Revaluations<br>**Net Income**|£77.53<br>£82.42<br>£2,723.48<br>£1,704.79<br>£30.00<br>£30.00|
|---|---|
||£2,831.01<br>£1,817.21|
||£9,000.00<br>£8,867.73<br>£507.07<br>£539.95<br>£1,617.26<br>£1,438.26<br>£482.62<br>£481.14<br>£11,606.95<br>£11,327.08|
||**£14,437.96**<br>**£13,144.29**|
||£1,518.50<br>£3,323.72|
||**£20,012.51**<br>**£3,242.86**|





**Balance Sheet 31/12/2024 - Lutheran Congregation of St Albans / Luton** 

|**A Aktiva**<br>**A.10 Current Assets**<br>A.12 Current Account<br>A.14 Parochial Current Account Share<br>A.16 iZettle Holding Account<br>**A.20 Investments**<br>A.23 Fixed Rate Bonds<br>A.24 Mutual Funds<br>**A.30 Trade and other debtors**<br>A.31 HMRC<br>A.32 Unbanked membership subscriptions<br>**Total**<br>**P Passiva**<br>**P.10 Unrestricted Funds**<br>P.11 General Unrestricted Funds<br>P.12 Pastor Salary Fund<br>P.13 Building Maintenance Fund<br>**P.20 Current Liabilities**<br>P.21 Uncashed cheques<br>P.23 Collections to be forwarded<br>**Total**|**31/12/2024**<br>**31/12/2023**<br>£10,442.51<br>£9,907.53<br>£126.46<br>£2,530.35<br>£171.90<br>£249.53|
|---|---|
||£10,740.87<br>£12,687.41|
||£73,412.79<br>£52,699.83<br>£31,370.30<br>£29,851.80|
||£104,783.09<br>£82,551.63|
||£836.40<br>£932.31<br>£0.00<br>£50.00<br>£836.40<br>£982.31|
||**£116,360.36**<br>**£96,221.35**|
||£101,759.86<br>£81,747.35<br>£9,000.00<br>£9,000.00<br>£5,000.00<br>£5,000.00|
||£115,759.86<br>£95,747.35|
||£290.00<br>£0.00<br>£310.50<br>£474.00|
||£600.50<br>£474.00|
||**£116,360.36**<br>**£96,221.35**|





**Independent examiner's report on the accounts** 

## **Section A                        Independent Examiner’s Report** 

**Report to the** Charity Name **trustees/** German Lutheran Congregation St Albans **members of On accounts for** 31 December 2024 **Charity no** 1096675 **the year ended Set out on pages** 1-2 

**Respective** The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the **responsibilities of** accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not **trustees and** required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 **examiner** (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed. 

It is my responsibility to: 

   - examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, 

   - • to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and 

   - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention 

- **Basis of** My examination was carried out in accordance with general 

- **independent** Directions given by the Charity Commission.  An examination **examiner’s** includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and **statement** 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. 

1 

**December 2024** 

**IER** 



## **Independent examiner's statement** 

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: 

- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or 

- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or 

- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._ 

**Date:** 25/09/2025 

**Signed: Name:** Dr Lucie Abeler-Dörner **Relevant** Senior Scientific Manager **professional** University of Oxford **qualification(s) or body (if any):** ~~a~~ **Address:** 49 Stone Meadow Oxford OX2 6TD ~~BS~~ **Section B                        Disclosure R Give here brief** Charity Name n/a **details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose (only complete if applicable)** ~~a~~ 

**Section B                        Disclosure** 

2 

**December 2024** 

**IER** 

