CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature 31 St December 2024 Charity no {rfany) 1130022 Set out on pages 1-8 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (°the Trust") for the year ended 31112 12024. As the charity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the account8 in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act.). Responsibilities and basis of report 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent tr examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') 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 CharFties (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the aceounts giv¢ & true and fair view whlch is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 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. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 3011012025 Name: Karon McDonald Relevant professional qualification(s) or body MAAT IER Oct 2018
(if any): Address: 2 Foxleaze Cricklade Wiltshire, SN6 6ND Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. None IER Oct 2018
THE SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF MEDIEVAL LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE
(Registered Charity, no. 1130022)
c/o History Faculty, George Street, Oxford, OX1 2RL
Members of the Executive Committee and Trustees of the Society:
Prof. Alastair Minnis (Yale University), Hon. President Dr Sethina Watson (University of York), Vice-President, Hon. Secretary Dr. David Rundle (University of Kent), Journal Editor Prof. C. J. Saunders (Durham University), Journal Editor Prof. S. Huot (Pembroke College, Cambridge), Journal Editor Dr Stephen Mossman (University of Manchester), Journal Editor Prof. Anthony J. Lappin (Stockholm University), Monographs Editor Dr Kenneth P. Clarke (University of York), Monographs Editor Prof. John Hines (Cardiff University) Dr Julia Walworth (Merton College, Oxford) Dr Andrew Dunning (Jesus College, Oxford) Dr Richard Allen (Magdalen College, Oxford) Dr Sarah Bowden (King’s College, London) Dr Rachel Burns (Jesus College, Oxford) Dr Elizabeth Boyle (Maynooth University) Dr Christian Sahner (New College, Oxford) Dr Rebecca Thomas (University of Cardiff)
All queries about this Annual Report or enquiries about the Society should be directed to the Executive Officers, at ssmll@history.ox.ac.uk
THE SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF MEDIEVAL LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Overview of Activities in 2024
The Society continues to celebrate and support medieval studies by publishing the journal Medium Ævum , scholarly monographs, and by providing bursaries for research travel, conferences, and events. Highlights in 2024 included the Society’s Annual Conference on ‘Books Across Borders, held at Canterbury Cathedral and the University of Kent at which the Annual Lecture was delivered by Dr Sarah Bowden: ‘Shifting Landscapes: St Oswald of Northumbria in England and Germany’. Christopher Lu was awarded the 2024 Essay Prize for an impressive essay entitled ‘Learned humour, humorous learning: John Free’s Latin translation of Synesius’s Economium Calvitii (1461) and its transmission’. The Society’s Oxford Medieval Graduate Conference, on the theme of ‘Signs and Scripts’, attracted a hybrid audience of over 50 attendees.
Journal
Following his appointment in the summer of 2022, Dr David Rundle’s second year at the helm as Managing Editor saw the journal continue to thrive. All editors continued in their specialist areas: Dr Stephen Mossman edits Germanic languages, Prof. Sylvia Huot edits Romance languages, Prof. Corinne Saunders edits Old and Middle English, and Dr Rundle edits Latin, palaeography, and history. Dr Jackie Pritchard continued as Assistant Editor for the first half of the year, with Dr James Willoughby taking over the role following her retirement after the publication of 93.1. Dr Pritchard has given 27 years of sustained and superlative service to the journal and the Society is very grateful for her work over the years. Mrs Val Lamb typeset the journal, while Samantha MacArthy worked as Dr Rundle’s Editorial Assistant, and Ms Helen Lawson continued as Prof. Saunders’s Editorial Assistant. This year, two issues of Medium Ævum were dispatched to members and subscribers – issue 92.2 was dispatched to subscribers in spring and 93.1 was sent out in November. The publication schedule continues to run slightly behind while the publications schedule is reestablished following the death of former editor, Nigel Palmer.
Monographs
The Society published two new monographs in 2024: Bernhard Holl’s edition of Gutierre de Palma’s Breue reprehensorium ad quosdam fratres religiosos (https://mediumaevum.org.uk/ns46) and Shalom Shadik’s Natural Law: Medieval Translators and Commentators Facing Nichomachean Ethics, V . 7 (https://mediumaevum.org.uk/ns47). Prof. Anthony J. Lappin continues to chair the Monographs sub-committee. It was noticed that the back catalogue of monographs continues to offer an enduring appeal, remaining attractive to readers.
Financial Support for Medieval Studies
The Society continued to support PhD students and ECRs through travel bursaries and conference support. Several PhD students were able to undertake archival research thanks to the Society’s bursaries, with Jack Nunn travelling to Paris to consult manuscripts and early prints at the Bibliothèque National de France, and Simon Smets being able to inspect manuscripts in Florence. Jordan Skinner was able to spend a summer at the Centre for Medieval Studies in York, where, as well as doing archival work, he also benefitted from institutional support and mentoring. In line with previous years, we also supported graduate students through the Oxford Medieval Graduate Conference ‘Signs and Scripts’, with the Society’s funding going toward travel grants for six graduate students. In addition to the Society’s own conference in Canterbury on ‘Books Across Borders’, the Society also supported ‘Mysticism in Action’, the Mystical Theology Network’s Conference (St John’s College, Oxford); ‘Gender and Sainthood, 1100-1500’ (Oxford); Affiliations: Towards a Cross-Temporal Theory of Comparison (Oxford). Notably, many of these
events were organised by PhD and early career scholars, and many reached wider audiences by enabling both in person and virtual attendance. The Society prioritised offering support that would enable graduate students and ECRs to participate, whether through travel grants or the lowering of registration fees.
Following careful review of the Society’s financial situation (see below), the Society make the difficult decision to pause further bursary and conference support for the next two years. However, going forward, the Society remains committed to its annual conference and support of the OMGC and is exploring further funds for supporting graduate students in medieval studies. Further details of bursaries and conference grants are available on the Society’s website.
Governance
The Society’s Executive Committee followed the usual pattern of meeting three times, with meetings in January, June, and November, and the Annual General Meeting in September. Meetings were held in person, with hybrid access made available to all Committee members, and all meetings chaired by the President, Prof. Alastair Minnis. Prof. Jane Roberts, the Vice-President and Secretary came to the end of her term. The Society thanks her for all her work. Dr Sarah Bowden was elected Hon. Treasurer and Dr Andrew Dunning Hon. Secretary at the AGM. The President was delighted to welcome Dr Rachel Burns, Dr Elizabeth Boyle, Dr Christian Sahner, and Dr Rebecca Thomas as new Trustees this year. Two new graduate observers, Elina Caponetti and Lucy Turton were also welcomed. The Executive Committee, in its meetings, oversaw the Society’s activities in line with its Constitution and established Policies. Dr Hannah Ryley and Dr Anna Wilmore continued in their roles as co-Executive Officers. When Dr Ryley went on maternity leave in July, Dr Eleanor Baker stepped in.
Financial Overview and Outlook for 2025
As in 2023, in 2024 the Society again ran a deficit, though it was much reduced in comparison to the previous two years. In 2022, a substantial sum of money (£30,000) was transferred from the reserves, and this has covered our recent deficits. In light of this situation, together with increased production and administrative costs, the Society carefully reviewed its finances to safeguard its future, and undertook a variety of measures to ensure a more sustainable financial model. This ranged from an agreement to cut trustee expenses (aided by our ability to conduct hybrid meetings), a pause on conference and bursary support, and increased membership and subscription rates. The increased rates for commercial subscribers in 2024 began to have an effect, with the journal turning a profit in 2024. Increased rates for commercial subscribers and a raise in membership rates agreed at the 2024 AGM are helping to put the Society on a stronger financial footing for 2025. The sum of £15,000, as transferred from our reserves during 2024, will also help us to meet the challenges of 2025, including the costs of upgrading the Society’s website. The Society is committed to reviewing its finances at every committee meeting to monitor the situation, given production costs will only continue to rise. Under the present model, the Society is able to continue its support for the one-day conference and OMGC, and is exploring fundraising options to enable it to return to its support of graduate students. The journal and monographs are widely read and can be accessed in both physical and digital formats. The Society’s reserves remain strong, with over £55,000 in low-risk bonds and investment accounts, and over £20,000 in its current account.
Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature
(registered charity no. 1130022)
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS for the CALENDAR YEAR 2024
Summary of Accounts
| Balance by Activity | 2023 (£) | 2024 (£) |
|---|---|---|
| _Medium Ævum_Journal | -2460 | 3032 |
| Monographs | -1040 | -83 |
| Conferences and Events | -7482 | -2954 |
| Society | -6080 | -8754 |
| Interest & Yields | 1512 | 1887 |
| Impact on Reserves | -15550 | -6872 |
| Accumulated funds | ||
| Carried forward | 96560 | 81819 |
| Surplus for year | -15550 | -6872 |
| Post-accounts alteration | ||
| Total to carry forward | 81819 | 74947 |
| Represented by: | ||
| National Savings Income Bond | 50000 | 50000 |
| National Savings Investment (designated funds) | 20894 | 5894 |
| At Bank / Paypal | 10925 | 19053 |
| Post-accounts alteration | ||
| Individual Activities | ||
| _Medium Ævum_Journal | ||
| Receipts | ||
| Subscriptions / Backsales | 7428 | 15193 |
| Electronic Royalties | 4468 | 4233 |
| Adverts and Permissions | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 11896 | 19426 |
| Payments | ||
| Production | -8999 | -11205 |
| EU postage | -372 | -1476 |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial Postage | 0 | -81 |
| Assistant Editor | -3200 | -2400 |
| Typesetter / Editorial Help | -1785 | -1232 |
| Total | -14356 | -16394 |
| Surplus | -2460 | 3032 |
| Monographs | ||
| Receipts | ||
| Sales and Subventions | 3833 | 4161 |
| Total | 3833 | 4161 |
| Payments | ||
| Production and Development | -2673 | -3258 |
| Readers / various | -2200 | -986 |
| Total | -4873 | -4244 |
| Surplus | -1040 | -83 |
| Conferences and Events | ||
| Payments | ||
| Events Sponsorship | -3752 | -2192 |
| Oxford Medieval Graduate Conference | -750 | -750 |
| AGM and other Society Events | -2980 | -12 |
| Surplus | -7482 | -2954 |
Society |
||
| Receipts | ||
| Membership | 5592 | 5889 |
| Refunds for conference support | 500 | 500 |
| Total | 6092 | 6389 |
| Payments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Expenses to Trustees | -1405 | -263 |
| Executive Officer | -5667 | -8207 |
| Executive Assistant | -650 | -2805 |
| IT services | -1713 | -1156 |
| Accounting | -612 | -645 |
| Other Office Costs (Stationery &c) | 0 | 0 |
| Essay Prize | -936 | -738 |
| Bank & Paypal Charges | -245 | -279 |
| Research Travel Bursaries | -884 | -1000 |
| Membership refunds | -60 | -50 |
| Total | -12172 | -15143 |
| Surplus | -6080 | -8754 |