2024-03-31-accounts - St.thomas (Jacobite) Syrian Orthodox Church, Portsmouth, England, UK

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date 01 04 2023 31 03 2024

From

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name

St.Thomas (Jacobite) Syrian Orthodox Church, Portsmouth, England. UK

Other names charity is known by

	Registered charity number (if any) Charity's principal address	Registered charity number (if any) Charity's principal address	1159301 32 Spitalfield Lane Chichester West Sussex Postcode PO19 6SQ ~~—~~	1159301 32 Spitalfield Lane Chichester West Sussex Postcode PO19 6SQ ~~—~~	1159301 32 Spitalfield Lane Chichester West Sussex Postcode PO19 6SQ ~~—~~
	Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
	Trustee name	Office (if any)		Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any)
1	Fr. Petar Kuriakose	President			General Body
2	Mr. James Thadathil	Vice President			General Body
3	Mr. PolyVarghese	Secretary			General Body
4	Mr. JoyP. Jacob	Treasurer			General Body
5	Mr. Ebin Varghese				General Body
6	Mr. Gibin Varghese				General Body
7	Mr. Diji Markose				General Body
8	Mr. Renjit John				General Body
9	Mr. Madhu Mamman				General Body
10	Mr. Biju Varghese				General Body
11	Mr. Rinish Kurian	Internal Auditor			General Body
12	Mr. Arun Jose	Internal Auditor			General Body
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20	~~S=S~~
	Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)		Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
	Name			Dates acted if not for whole year

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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

The Church’s Bylaw/Governing document is the constitution that has been Type of governing document submitted to the Charity Commission

(eg. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is constituted Unincorporated charity (eg. trust, association, company) Managing Committee members/ Board of Trustees are elected by the Trustee selection methods Annual General Body meeting

(eg. trust, association, company)

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

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

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Our Church St.Thomas Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Portsmouth is an integral part of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church led by the Patriarch, the Supreme Head of Antioch and all the East, currently, His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II reigning the Apostolic throne of St.Peter. The Church also owes its allegiance to His Beautitude Mor Baselios Thomas I, the catholicos of the east (Malankara/India) and his successors, the regional head of believers. The Patriarchal Vicar (metropolitan in charge of UK) in consultation with the Patriarch governs and guides our church in the matters of faith.

The vicar/priest of our church is appointed by the Patriarch through the Patriarchal Vicar. Vicar is formally elected as the president by the General Body. The Annual General Body/meeting elects all the office bearers including secretary, treasurer, internal auditors and other managing committee members/board of trustees. All administrative and financial affairs of the church are managed and administered by the managing committee/board of trustees. The maximum number of trustees will be 10 excluding one or two internal auditors. The tenure of the elected managing committee is 2 years.

The managing committee meets regularly at least once in two months to deliberate and make decisions regarding the day to day affairs of the church including the approval of new membership applications and financial matters. A half-yearly general body meeting is also convened regularly.

Strict rules are set out by the trustees for the spending and to regulate the use of funds. All Income and expenditure is budgeted at the beginning of the financial year. The accounts of the church are internally audited by the internal auditors, who are elected by the annual general body meeting.

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Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document 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)	The most important object of our organisation is to advance the religion of Christian faith especially that of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in Hampshire, West Sussex and the adjoining areas of south part of England. To maintain the faith, traditions and doctrines of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and to perform all the religious rites, Holy Eucharist, and the Holy Sacraments to all its members and the regular worship services. Our objects include raising funds to organise activities for community development, religious and charitable activities for the welfare of the church members and also for the poor and needy in a wider society. To organise and conduct Sunday school, prayer meetings, family camps & retreats and to promote youth association and women’s association/Vanitha samajam. To buy, rent, lease or acquire property and manage it for the church. To relieve poverty and sickness.
	Our worship services include gatherings of all believers from Hampshire, West Sussex and the southern parts of England. In these gatherings we pray to God, learn Bible, the faith and traditions of our Church through the informative sermons of our priests and lay leaders. We teach our forthcoming generations about these through Sunday School lessons, youth and women’s association meetings. In these worship services the most important sacraments of Holy Eucharist, baptism and wedding are administered as well. Our worship services finish with agape meals offered by families to foster the aspect of sharing between us. The parish members in difficult situations such as sickness, bereavement, depravity, poverty and family problems etc. are given special care through the house visits, counselling and prayers by our priests and trustees. Sacraments such as anointing of the sick are done on such occasions. The poor and needy in the society (of any religion or community), especially in India are given financial support. The collections from Christmas Carol services are reserved for this purpose, in addition to the voluntary contributions or donations to the charity fund. The applications come through the parish members from the needy in their home towns in India and decisions over them are taken in the regular committee/trustee meetings. At present the Holy Eucharist is celebrated every 2ndand 4thSaturday of all the months, in addition to the special services of Christmas , Passion Week and Parish day celebrations. The Sunday School lessons, Youth Associations and Vanitha Samajam (Women's Association) meetings are regularly organised after the worship services. Prayer meetings are conducted every Sunday and retreats are organised occasionally.

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

The most important object of our organisation is to advance the religion
of Christian faith especially that of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
in Hampshire, West Sussex and the adjoining areas of south part of
England.
To maintain the faith, traditions and doctrines of Jacobite Syrian
Orthodox Church and to perform all the religious rites, Holy Eucharist,
and the Holy Sacraments to all its members and the regular worship
services.
Our objects include raising funds to organise activities for community
development, religious and charitable activities for the welfare of the
church members and also for the poor and needy in a wider society.
To organise and conduct Sunday school, prayer meetings, family camps
& retreats and to promote youth association and women’s
association/Vanitha samajam.
To buy, rent, lease or acquire property and manage it for the church.
To relieve poverty and sickness.

Our worship services include gatherings of all believers from Hampshire,
West Sussex and the southern parts of England. In these gatherings we
pray to God, learn Bible, the faith and traditions of our Church through
the informative sermons of our priests and lay leaders. We teach our
forthcoming generations about these through Sunday School lessons,
youth and women’s association meetings.
In these worship services the most important sacraments of Holy
Eucharist, baptism and wedding are administered as well. Our worship
services finish with agape meals offered by families to foster the aspect
of sharing between us.
The parish members in difficult situations such as sickness,
bereavement, depravity, poverty and family problems etc. are given
special care through the house visits, counselling and prayers by our
priests and trustees. Sacraments such as anointing of the sick are done
on such occasions.
The poor and needy in the society (of any religion or community),
especially in India are given financial support. The collections from
Christmas Carol services are reserved for this purpose, in addition to the
voluntary contributions or donations to the charity fund. The applications
come through the parish members from the needy in their home towns in
India and decisions over them are taken in the regular committee/trustee
meetings.
At present the Holy Eucharist is celebrated every 2ndand 4thSaturday of
all the months, in addition to the special services of Christmas , Passion
Week and Parish day celebrations. The Sunday School lessons, Youth
Associations and Vanitha Samajam (Women's Association) meetings are
regularly organised after the worship services. Prayer meetings are
conducted every Sunday and retreats are organised occasionally.

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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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

We give donations to applicants recommended by parish members, only after proper verification of the genuineness and their existing financial status. The applications are placed at the committee/board of trustees meeting and decisions are made after detailed discussions. The amount of payment is decided at the committee meetings. The volunteers sometimes give donations to the church for charity purposes, in certain special cases.

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

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Section D Achievements and performance The Annual General Body meeting was conducted in the month of May, Summary of the main presided by the Vicar/President , Fr. Petar Kuriakose. The meeting had achievements of the charity an appraisal of all activities of the church, including the progress of during the year Sunday school, youth association and women’s association (Vanitha Samajam). Our church has successfully welcomed many new families as our members and volunteers during the last year. The holy communion services were conducted regularly on every 2[nd] and 4[th] Saturday of all the months. Passion Week Services: Two holy week services were held successfully in this financial year, first one during the Second week of April 2023 with Maundy Thursday services in the night of 5[th] April 2023 followed by Good Friday and then Easter services in the night of 8[th] April 2023. The Second holy week was conducted during the fifth week of March 2024 with Maundy Thursday in the night of 27[th] March 2024 followed by Good Friday and Easter services in the night of 30[th] March 2024. The Holy weeks were a great success and hundreds of believers attended the services including church members and people from other Christian denominations. Parish Day and remembrance of St. Thomas: Parish Day celebrations were on 7[th] and 8[th] July 2023 led by the chief guest, Bishop, Issac Mor Osthatheos (Patriarchal Vicar) who was leading the holy communion services on Parish Day. The Holy Mass was followed by the holy communion and special devotional message, Prayers with incense, procession, benediction & love feasts. The Sunday school, Youth and women’s association (Vanith Samajam) annual day celebrations were successfully conducted in the evening of 8[th] July 2023. Christmas Programme: During Christmas celebrations , Carol visited Parishioners’ homes on 9[th ] and 16[th] December 2023. On 24th evening Christmas Mass and the Holy Eucharist were conducted by Vicar, Rev. Fr. Petar Kuriakose. He gave a Christmas message to parishioners followed by carol singing competitions by the Sunday School Students and youth. Sunday school: We conducted Sunday School classes regularly after the Holy Mass. The Sunday school takes initiative to educate children with spiritual guidance and moral aspects of life in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the faith & traditions of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The students are encouraged to attend church regularly and to study the scriptures. Annual arts and cultural competitions were conducted and prizes were distributed to winners. Youth Association: The Youth Movement members meets after the Holy Mass and have good discussions about issues involving moral ethics leading to personal spiritual development which helps them to be good future citizens. Vanitha Samajam (Women’s Association): The Women’s Association is a prayer group of women and they meet after the Holy Mass. It also has a secretary as a leader. Their activities include prayer, singing devotional songs, Bible readings, conducting Bible quiz, chain prayer, Bible presentations and classes. We have made a charity donation of £ 400 to a cancer patient this year.

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Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the The church reserves are held to fund its current and future activities. charity’s policy on reserves We are raising a building fund also in Bank Savings Account with an aim of building or buying an own Church (or for a long term leasing of a Church or a property which can be used for Church/worship services)
Details of any funds materially There are no funds in deficit
in deficit ~~ae~~
Further financial review details (Optional information) Our principal source of fund is the monthly subscription from members
You may choose to include and voluntary donations and contributions on special occasions like
additional information, where Passion Week, Christmas and Parish Day.
relevant about:  the charity’s principal The church is run by volunteers who are not entitled to any remuneration, sources of funds (including except the Vicar’s/priests’ allowances for pastoral services. any fundraising);
how expenditure has The church does not have sufficient funds currently to invest in long term investments. The available funds are held as cash in mainstream Bank,
supported the key objectives as Savings Account (Building Fund). We keep this fund in savings
of the charity; account with an aim of building or buying a Church of our own or on
investment policy and leasehold basis. objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
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) JOY PALIKODATH JACOB Poly Varghese Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Treasurer Secretary etc) Date 18/11/2024

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Charity Name No (if any) St.Thomas (Jacobite) Syrian Orthodox Church,Portsmouth,England,UK 1159301 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Period start date Period end date For the period from To ~~——~~ 01/04/2023 31/03/2024 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 9,200 - - 9,200 7,730 Offertory 3,652 - - 3,652 2,949 Donations & Contributions 7,691 - - 7,691 4,129 Holy Mass Donation & Special 850 - - 850 725 Sacramental Donations Family Camp Donation 314 - - 314 - Building Fund 550 - 550 1,200 Interest 1,015 - 1,015 235 Gift Aid 4,263 - - 4,263 6,055 Sub total (Gross income 25,970 1,565 - 27,535 23,023 =—==—== for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - - Sub total - - SS Total receipts 25,970 1,565 - ~~S~~ 27,535 23,023 A3 Payments ~~5~~ 5 Printing, Stationery & Postage 116 - - 116 33 Church Properties 1,440 Vicar's/Priests' Allowances 4,800 - - 4,800 4,100 M.S.O.C.Contribution & Rent 3,090 - - 3,090 2,060 Passion Week, Christmas & Parish Day Expenses 7,262 - - 7,262 3,854 Charity Payments 400 - - 400 500 Family Camp & Retreat,Sunday School & Youth Association 2,221 - - 2,221 1,286 Church Consumables, Food, Travelling Exp.& Bank charges 235 - 235 701 Misc. Expenses, Gifts etc. 295 - - 295 1,182 Sub total [ 18,419 ] - - 18,419 15,156 ====== A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - - - Sub total [ - ] - - - Total payments 18,419 - - 18,419 15,156 Net of receipts/(payments) 7,551 1,565 - 9,116 7,867 A5 Transfers between funds - 9,950 9,950 - - A6 Cash funds last year end 17,212 51,494 - 68,706 60,840 < Cash funds this year end 14,813 63,009 ~~=~~ 77,822 68,706 CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 1 07/09/2024

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

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|||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted funds|Restricted|Endowment| |Categories|Details|funds|funds| |to nearest £|to nearest £|to nearest £| |B1 Cash funds|Cash in Hand|540|-|-| |Bank Current Account| |14,273|-| |Bank Savings Account (Building Fund)|63,009|-| |Total cash funds|14,813|63,009|-| |——=S==>=>| |(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))|OK|OK|OK| |Unrestricted funds|Restricted|Endowment| |funds|funds| |Details|to nearest £|to nearest £|to nearest £| |B2 Other monetary|-|-|-| |assets|-|-|-| |-|-|-| |-|-|-| |-|-|-| |-|-|-| |==| |Fund to which asset|Current value| |Details|belongs|Cost (optional)|(optional)| |B3 Investment assets|-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |_—or7| |Fund to which asset|Current value| |Details|belongs|Cost (optional)|(optional)| |B4 Assets retained for|-|-| |the charity’s own use|-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |ose| |Fund to which liability|Amount due|When due (optional)| |Details|relates|(optional)| |B5 Liabilities|-| |-| |-| |-| |-| |Signed by one or two trustees| |on behalf of all the trustees|Signature|Print Name|Date of approval| |JOY PALIKODATH JACOB|18/11/2024| |ae|Poly Varghese|20/11/2024| |CCXX R2 accounts (SS)|2|07/09/2024|

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_y~ Ee CHARITY COMMISSION | Independent examiner's report on the (a3) _ FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts

Section A

Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of St.Thomas (Jacobite) Syrian Orthodox Church,Portsmouth,England,UK On accounts for the year | 31 March 2024 Charity no | 1159301 ended (if any)

| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 March 2024

Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act’).

| 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, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent |! have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have
examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
e the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or e 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.
| 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.

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Signed:
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Date: | 26 November 2024
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Name: | Seejo Tony
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Relevant professional |AAT qualification(s) or body (if any):

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Address: | 58 Highbury Grove
Portsmouth PO6 2RS
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IER

Oct 2018

Section B

Disclosure

Only complete if 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.

IER

Oct 2018