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2023-03-31-accounts

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1111562

St. George Indian Orthodox Church Receipts and payments accounts For the year ended 31 March 2023

XAVIERS ACCOUNTANTS LIMITED

Chartered Certified Accountants Suite 3J Recycling Lives Centre 1A Essex Street Preston PR1 1QE

St. George Indian Orthodox Church

Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2023

Page
Trustees' annual report 1
Independent examiner's report to the trustees 8
Receipts and payments accounts 9

St. George Indian Orthodox Church

Trustees' Annual Report

Year ended 31 March 2023

Vicar's Message

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

I take this time as a good opportunity to thank all those people who have played their own important parts in Our Church Life during the past one year as I feel it is important for everyone to realise how much they are appreciated in whatever they do, separate to these remarks which are more of a reflection of where we have been and for us all to think about our future. Our Church members are actively involved in serving God by their kindness, prayer and love also by spending their time, talent, energy, experience and money, in such a way that should give us great confidence and encouragement for the future.

I also take this occasion to particularly thank Trustee, Secretary, Managing Committee Members and all the Spiritual Organization Leaders for your continued support and prayer.

Romans 15: 5-7: - ''May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.''

May God Bless you all.

Rev.Fr Eldo Parakkottil Varghese

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St. George Indian Orthodox Church

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name St. George Indian Orthodox Church Charity registration number 1111562 Principal office Belgrave street Bolton BL1 3RF The trustees Mr Biben John Mr George Verghese Mr Shaji Varghese Mr Roy Samuel Independent examiner Mijos Xavier ACA FCCA Suite 3J Recycling Lives Centre 1A Essex Street Preston PR1 1QE

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St. George Indian Orthodox Church

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Structure, governance and management

The trustees present their annual report and the receipts and payments account of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. We continued to meet the primary mission of the church, to meet the spiritual necessities of our community in the area. We continued pursuing our vision, notwithstanding the worldly challenges facing us, reflecting Faith, Hope and Charity at all times.

Governing document

The trust is an unincorporated trust, constituted under a constitution adopted on 24 April 2005 and is a registered charity, number 1111562. The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 2.

Objectives of the Charity

Charity's objective is to promote the Orthodox Christian faith. In setting our objectives, and planning our activities, we have given careful consideration to Charity Commission's guidelines on public benefit.

Vicar

Under the leadership and guidance of Rev. Fr. Eldo P Varghese., we were able to complete a full year with Qurbana being celebrated on all Sundays and all the Moronoyo Feasts.

Holy Qurbana

This is first Year where we were able to celebrate the Holy Qurbana's on all Sundays with every 4th Sunday of the month was celebrated in English to nurture our younger Generation. All the Moronoyo feasts were also celebrated during the liturgical calendar.

Prayers for birthdays, wedding anniversaries, sick and the departed were offered during the Qurbana's. Online form submission for members and worshippers to include prayer requests when unable to attend was continued.

Acolytes

On behalf of all the members of the Church, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the dedicated service rendered by all the church acolytes. I would also like to express gratitude to those Acolytes who visited our Church during feasts and special occasions.

General Body

Our Church is governed by the General Body directives in accordance with our Church Constitution. At the General Body meeting on 20th March 2022 election was conducted to elect the new committee and office bearers for the forthcoming financial year of 2022-23. The G.B. and election were presided over by Rev. Fr. Eldo Varghese. The following were elected as the new Managing Committee -

Office Bearers

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St. George Indian Orthodox Church

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Managing Committee are as follows:

In total, there were 3 General Body Meetings held along with an Interim Meeting to elect the Parish Diocesan Representative. The following were the dates GBM's held.

Managing Committee Meetings

There were a total of 6 Committee meetings held in the Financial year. The dates were as follows:

IMPORTANT G.B. DECISIONS TAKEN IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR OF 2022-2023

  1. The GB proposed to increase Vicar's remuneration from July 2023.

  2. The GB approved a Budget of £25,000 to £30,000 with a variation of 10% + or -, and authorised the committee to acquire the quotes, approve and proceed with the works for the Roof, Exhaust, fans, and redecorating.

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St. George Indian Orthodox Church

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

  1. Alarm system and CCTV upgrade also was approved to install a new control panel in the Hall to give access to Cleaners.

  2. The remuneration and travelling allowance of invited Clergy was also reviewed and approved.

  3. The GB authorised the payment of monthly Salary via PAYE for all future vicars with any additional expenses the Church to bear.

Objectives and activities

Activities of the Charity - Special church events

The Great Lent

The Great Lent started on 28th of Feb 2023. There were daily evening prayers Online from Sunday to Friday, and Saturdays the prayers were in the Church. The Prayers were led by Rev. Fr. Eldo Varghese.

Great Lent Retreat

Mid Lenten retreat was conducted on the 4th March 2023. The retreat was led by Rev. Fr. Jeeson P Wilson - General Secretary MGOCSM. The retreat was followed by Holy Confession and Evening prayers.

Passion Week

The Passion Week services commenced in the beginning of the financial year. We had the 40th Friday service, Hosanna, Pesaha Vyazhan (Maundy Thursday), The Good Friday, The Good Saturday and Easter services were led by our Vicar Fr. Eldo Varghese.

St. George's Feast

The Feast of the Patron saint was celebrated on the 7th & 8th May with Flag Hoisting, Devotional Speech and Evening Prayers on the 7th May and the Holy Qurbana and Perunal Sushroosha on the 8th of May followed by Nercha appam brought in by all the families of the Church.

Pratheeshta Perunal

The 6th Anniversary - Pratheeshta Perunal was celebrated on the 28th and 29th of May 2022, with prayers and devotional talk on the 28th of May and the Holy Qurbana on the 29th led by Rev Fr. Saji John.

Pentecostal Feast

The Pentecostal Feast was conducted on the 5th of June 2022 Led by our Vicar Rev. Fr. Eldo Varghese.

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St. George Indian Orthodox Church

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

OVBS

The OVBS was a spiritually enriching program with plenty of learning, fun and good fellowship and it was a positive experience for the children who attended and the Teachers who led. OVBS was held from 27th October 2022 to 31st October 2022. The theme of OVBS was "Jesus Heals" -St. Luke 4:40. We had 76 children, 15 teachers and 30 Volunteers.

This year we were blessed with the presence of our Vicar Rev. Fr. Eldo Varghese for the entirety of the event. On 28th of October as planned the day started with the registration and the inauguration ceremony which was commenced with the lighting of the lamp ceremony. Rev. Fr. Eldo Varghese gave us a theme-based speech and Mr Joshi Eapen taught us the prayer which kids all participated in actively. Following that day, they had a sing and praise session by the teachers. After that, they had their classroom activities, and of course the game session and the afternoon action song session which I believe the kids enjoyed.

On Day 3, Rev Fr Josen John joined as the Guest clergy and conducted the classes and also the confession for the older Kids. OVBS concluded on day 4 with English Qurbana celebrated by Rev. Fr. Josen John on Sunday.

St. Gregorious Feast (ParumalaThirumeni's Feast) & Harvest Festival (Adhiphalam)

Harvest Festival was conducted on the 13th of November. This year part of the proceeding was donated to Charity and the other part is to be used for the maintenance of the Cross area towards the North of the church. We managed to raise £6,745.17.

Talent Competition

The Annual Talent Competition was held on the 7th of May 2022 as a Live event in our Church after the Co-vid pandemic. This year was the commencement of Quiz programme as well.

Christmas Carol Visits

This year our community was able to return to our live Carol visits to almost all of the members houses. The carol started from 26th November, The Visits were conducted over a 5-week period on weekends covering the various areas in and around Manchester from where our members hail from. The Carols completed on the 15th of December.

Christmas and New Year Services

The Christmas Service was commemorated on the 24th of December and the New Year service was led by our Vicar Rev. Fr. Eldo Varghese. We were also able to conduct the Annual Christmas and New Year get together on the 7th of January in our Church Parish Hall. There were variety of performances by the different spiritual wings and individuals. Rev. Fr. Thomas Baby (Vicar of Tabore Marthoma Church, Manchester) was the Guest Speaker. There were varieties of programmes followed by dinner.

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St. George Indian Orthodox Church

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Food Festival

Our Christian values teach us to help others in a time of need. Keeping this core value at heart, the MOMS wing conducted a Food Festival on the 5th of Feb 2023, where variety of food were sold, and funds raised for a charitable cause. We raised £2716.10 from food sales, which was divided into 2 and donated to the applicants for charity from India.

Other Church Events

Metropolitan's Visit -

This financial year our parish was blessed with the visits by two Metropolitans, the outgoing Metropolitan H.G Mathews Mar Timothios celebrated the 8-day Lent Qurbana on 7th of September.

Our present Metropolitan H.G. Abraham Mar Stephanos led the evening prayers on 19th November and celebrated the Qurbana on the 20th of November 2023. The youth Charity hike collections were donated to the Manchester Childrens Hospital in the presence of our Metropolitan.

Youth Charity hike (September 2022)

The Sunday School and Youth came together to organise a charity hike in the Peak District, where we walked 10km to raise money for the Manchester Children's Hospital Charity. We were able to raise £2740 and were fortunate enough to present this with our Thirumeni to one of the members of the Children's Charity.

Financial Review

The charity's principal funding source is from donations and from other activities.

Reserve policy

It is policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted funds at a level which equates to approximately six months unrestricted expenditure. This provides sufficient funds to cover management and administration and support costs.

The trustees' annual report was approved and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

Mr George Verghese Trustee

Date: 15 October 2023

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St. George Indian Orthodox Church

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of St. George Indian Orthodox Church

Year ended 31 March 2023

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of St. George Indian Orthodox Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records.

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

Mijos Xavier ACA FCCA Independent Examiner

Suite 3J Recycling Lives Centre 1A Essex Street Preston PR1 1QE

Date: 22 October 2023

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ST. GEORGE INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ST. GEORGE INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ST. GEORGE INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ST. GEORGE INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ST. GEORGE INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 1111562 1111562 CC16a
Receipts andpayments accounts
For the period
from		 Period start To Period end date
01-Apr-22 31-Mar-23
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
Subscription-Current Year 31,695 - - 31,695 24,310
Subscription-Last Year 1,665 - - 1,665 525
Offertory 22,522 - - 22,522 12,132
Christmas Donation 3,316 - - 3,316 335
Diocese Day Collection 425 - - 425 215
Diocese Day Collection - Last Year 310 - - 310 110
Catholicate Day Collection 455 - - 455 210
Catholicate Day Collection - Last Year 380 - - 380 110
Food & Refreshments-Donations 14,920 - - 14,920 10,175
Food & Refreshments-Lastyear 300 - - 300 -
Birthday 1,950 - - 1,950 1,875
Wedding Day Offerings 730 - - 730 530
Passion Week Donation 470 - - 470 325
Marthamariyam Samajam 3,802 - - 3,802 1,783
OVBS 2,040 - - 2,040 480
Sunday School Receipt 930 - - 930 1,060
Other Donations 976 - - 976 3,345
Church Building Fund Donations 1,680 - - 1,680 540
Contribution For Church Accessories 400 - - 400
Gift Aid 16,074 - - 16,074 7,600
Harvest Festival 7,052 - - 7,052 6,745
Harvest Festival - Lastyear 295 - - 295 65
Interest Received 97 - - 97 3
Baptism 110 - - 110 95
Charity Donations 1,330 - - 1,330 550
Wedding Registrations - - - - 150
Burial Plot Receipts 3,932 - - 3,932 7,383
Auction - - - - 21
Emergency Family support Fund-
Repayments		 1,500 - - 1,500 -
Raffle ticket Receipts 3,313 - - 3,313 -
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)		 122,668 - - 122,668 80,671
A2 Asset and investment
sales, (see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 122,668 - - 122,668 80,671

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----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A3 Payments
Vicar's Salary 17,250 - - 17,250 13,566
Payments to visiting clergies 2,775 - - 2,775 1,046
Christmas Expenses 730 - - 730 1,176
Diocese Contribution 650 - - 650 900
Catholicate Day Donation Paid 650 - - 650 650
Refreshments 24,109 - - 24,109 10,575
Gifts & Presentation - - - - 2,193
Sacremental Expenses 3,200 - - 3,200 614
Passion Week Expenses 470 - - 470 62
Marthamariyam Samajam 1,085 - - 1,085 763
OVBS 3,329 - - 3,329 1,039
Sunday School Expenses 2,631 - - 2,631 1,848
Miscellaneous Expenses 732 - - 732 15
Water 340 - - 340 306
Gas & Electricity 3,580 - - 3,580 4,828
Insurance 953 - - 953 860
Harvest Festival - Expenses 577 - - 577 483
Printing, Stationery & Postage 553 - - 553 405
Telephone 842 - - 842 864
Repairs & Maintenance 2,668 - - 2,668 674
Groceries 2,495 - - 2,495 686
Seminari Day Contributions 250 - - 250 250
Travelling Expenses 521 - - 521 118
Bank Charges - Card Payment Fee 451 - - 451 340
Mission Sunday Contribution 250 - - 250 250
Fixtures & Fittings 2,976 - - 2,976 2,457
Light & Sound System Expenses 818 - - 818 354
Waste Collection 828 - - 828 561
Accounting Charges 300 - - 300 300
Rent 450 - - 450 -
Video Conferencing Subscription
Zoom 20 - - 20 -
Incidental Expenses 217 - - 217 36
Diocese Welfare Fund 250 - - 250
Construction Work-Landscape - - - - 25,003
Accommodation 105 - - 105 230
Benevolent Fund 5,000 - - 5,000
Sports Club - - -
Bank Charges - HSBC 257 - - 257 43
Alarm Monitoring & Service 1,237 - - 1,237 492
Burial Plots - - - - 15,408
Charity 3,200 - - 3,200 500
Sub total [ 86,748 ] - - 86,748 89,895
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 86,748 - - 86,748 89,895
Net of receipts/(payments) 35,921 - - 35,921 - 9,224
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 61,749 - - 61,749 70,973
Cash funds this year end 97,670 - - 97,670 61,749
----- End of picture text -----

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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories Details Details Details Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Cash in hand 138 - -
Cash at the Bank - Card Account - - -
Cash at the Bank - Current Account 74,695
Cash at the Bank - Building Fund &
Family Support		 22,838 - -
Total cash funds 97,670 -
OK		 -
(agree balances w ith receipts and payments
account(s))		 OK OK
Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 Endowment
funds
Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets - - -
- - -
- - -
Details Fund to which
asset belongs		 Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B3 Investment assets - -
- -
- -
Details Fund to which
asset belongs		 Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use		 Church building - Purchase cost Unrestricted 90,224 -
Church building - Construction Unrestricted 246,553 -
Church building - Professional fees Unrestricted 11,883
Church building - Security & CCTV Unrestricted 8,234
Church building - Electricals Unrestricted 7,119
Church building - Landscape Unrestricted 57,312
Church building - Decoration Unrestricted 14,065
Church building - Accessories Unrestricted 8,291 -
Church building - Appliances &
Furniture		 Unrestricted 9,528 -
Church building - Sound system Unrestricted 9,232 -
External hard disc. Camera, laptop Unrestricted 3,803 -
Details Fund to which
liability relates		 Amount due
(optional)		 When due
(optional)
B5 Liabilities -
-
-
Signed by trustees on behalf of all
the trustees		 Signature Print Name Date of
approval
Mr George Verghese 15-Oct-23

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