Registered Charity Number: 1121760
THE COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY MARTYR THE GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH
KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY OF ST ELIZABETH ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
THE COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY MARTYR THE GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY OF ST ELIZABETH
CONTENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
| Page | |
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| Community Information | 1 |
| Trustees Report | 2 - 4 |
| Independent Examiners' Report | 5 |
| Receipts & Payments Account | 6 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 7 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 8 |
THE COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY MARTYR THE GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY OF ST ELIZABETH
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Address Rocks Farm Ewhurst Green Robertsbridge East Sussex TN32 5RJ Trustees The Very Reverend Archpriest Maxim Nikolsky Nun Martha (secular name: Olga Persianinova) Kateryna Cherkas (Treasurer and Administrator) Charity Number 1121760 Treasurer Kateryna Cherkas Bankers Lloyds 82 High Street Honiton Devon EX14 1JJ Independent Examiner John Caladine FCCA CTA FCIE Caladine Limited Chartered Certified Accountants Chantry House 22 Upperton Road Eastbourne BN21 1BF
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THE COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY MARTYR THE GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY OF ST ELIZABETH
TRUSTEES REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their Report and the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022.
1 Objects and Constitution
The Trust is governed by a Trust Deed dated 4 July 2007 and registered with the Charity Commission No. 1121760. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Trust Deed, the accounting policies set out on page 8 and applicable law.
The Trust continues its objective to advance the Orthodox Christian faith, in particular by the formation of a monastic community, or more than one such community and to provide for members of the Orthodox Church and others a place of prayer and worship and hospitality.
2 Public benefit
The Trustees consider that the objectives as described above and activities listed below fulfill the requirements of the Charity Commission's public benefit disclosure.
3 Organisation
Trustees were in contact regularly during the year to oversee the work of the trust.
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Archpriest Maxim Nikolsky
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Nun Martha (secular name: Olga Persianinova)
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Kateryna Cherkas
4 Review of Activities
- (a) Monastic and Liturgical Life
Mother Martha lives in the Sisterhood full time and follows her monastic rule. The services without a priest are held from 6am to 8.30am and from 5pm until 7pm Monday to Friday; between 7am to 9am and 6pm to 8pm on Saturday.
The services are conducted predominantly in English and Church Slavonic.
Over 100 people are fairly regular visitors to the Sisterhood.
During Covid-19 pandemic the access to the Sisterhood was restricted as per the requirements of the Government.
When it was allowed, after services the Sisterhood organises charity lunches for all visitors.
(b) Spiritual Activities and missionary work
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Web site and Facebook page provide information regarding the calendar of events and services, reviews of the Orthodox web sites in English, information on pilgrimages to British and Irish Holy places.
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THE COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY MARTYR THE GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY OF ST ELIZABETH
TRUSTEES REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
4 Review of Activities (continued)
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Books. We offer books in English and in Russian. Although the turnover is very small, we consider it necessary to continue it being one of the ways of educating our parishioners and giving them opportunity to learn more about Orthodoxy, its services and its saints.
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Library. Our parishioners use our library which includes books on Orthodoxy, lives of British and Russian Saints, Orthodox magazines in English and Russian, service books, DVDs etc.
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Psalter. Psalter is read daily, during the prayers sick and those in need are remembered.
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Church choir. Chanting is an important part of the Orthodox service and, therefore, the choir plays a major role in church services. Our choir mistress holds choir practices at least twice a week. In addition she provides one-to-one lessons for singers who need them.
(c) Missionary Outlook
The Sisterhood has a missionary outlook.
Many people attending services have rather little experience of regular church life.
We organise and take part in the pilgrimages to the places connected with early Christian British and Irish saints and encourage our parishioners to learn more about early Christian tradition and saints who lived on the British Isles.
In 2022, nun Martha organised pilgrimages to the holy places in the UK and she does extensive work on promoting their lives and educating parishioners of the Sisterhood on the history of pre-norman England.
Our priests, nun and readers are ready to help people who require information about Orthodox teaching and practice.
The Sisterhood continues to have good relations with the local Anglican priest and parishioners.
The Sisterhood plays an important role in supporting and developing the local Orthodox community in Kent and East Sussex.
(d) Receiving Pilgrims
The Community welcomes pilgrims and helpers, many have contributed to voluntary work in the garden and helping with the church decoration, cooking, cleaning and other duties.
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THE COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY MARTYR THE GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY OF ST ELIZABETH
TRUSTEES REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
4 Review of Activities (continued)
(e) Stewardship of the land and property.
The Land and agricultural work.
The Sisterhood, with the help of pilgrims and helpers, continue growing vegetables; these are housed in the autumn and winter in the cellar built by the Sisterhood. It is very important for the Sisterhood to grow vegetables as they are used for community meals after services.
The Sisters look well after the orchards.
The fields too are well looked after.
The Property.
The property is kept in good order and minor repairs were made in the rooms for pilgrims and sisters.
The Garden.
The garden that is around the property is also well looked after
5 Financial Review and Reserves Policy
The Community had a deficit on General Fund for the year of £2,160 (2021: £2,748). The Community seeks to retain reserves when possible but not to the detriment of the work of the Community.
6 Risk Management
The Trustees have examined the major strategic business and operation risks which the Trust faces and confirm that systems have been established to enable regular reports to be produced so that the necessary steps can be taken to lessen these risks.
Rocks Farm Ewhurst Green Robertsbridge East Sussex TN32 5RJ
On behalf of the Trustees
Kateryna Cherkas Trustee
Date: 2 January 2024
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THE COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY MARTYR THE GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY OF ST ELIZABETH
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY MARTYR THE GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Community Of The Holy Martyr The Grand Duchess Elizabeth. ('the Charity') for the year ended 31 December 2022, which are set out on pages 6 to 8.
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’).
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:
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(1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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(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 this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
JOHN CALADINE FCCA CTA FCIE
Caladine Limited Chartered Certified Accountants Chantry House, 22 Upperton Road Eastbourne, BN21 1BF
Date: 2 January 2024
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THE COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY MARTYR THE GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY OF ST ELIZABETH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
| Receipts Gifts and donations Gift Aid recovered Other income Total receipts Payments Motor and travel expenses Household costs Building costs Garden costs Mobile and landline telephone Church consumables Stationery and postage Expense allowance Bank charges Accountancy Council tax Donations and gifts Miscellaneous Total payments Net receipts / (payments) in the year Cash funds at start of year Cash funds at year end |
£ £ £ £ 34,251 29,040 - - - - 34,251 29,040 3,427 3,544 15,108 14,513 7,133 2,455 256 350 1,674 1,585 - 3,668 71 227 3,000 3,000 151 17 180 261 2,456 1,032 350 495 2,605 642 (36,411) (31,788) (36,411) (31,788) (2,160) (2,748) 3,454 6,202 1,294 3,454 2021 2022 |
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| 3,427 15,108 7,133 256 1,674 - 71 3,000 151 180 2,456 350 2,605 |
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There are no restricted funds.
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THE COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY MARTYR THE GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY OF ST ELIZABETH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
| Cash funds Bank Balance in Current Account Bank Balance in Building Works Account Bank Balance in Account No. 2003155 Bank Balance in Business Instant Access Account Petty cash balance Liabilities Accountancy Freehold Property See note 2 |
2022 £ 908 109 106 171 - 1,294 840 - |
2021 £ 137 133 2,905 271 7 |
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| 3,454 | ||
| 1,623 | ||
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Approved by the Trustees on 2 January 2024 and signed on its behalf by
Trustee Kateryna Cherkas
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