## **St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church,**
( **Under the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch & All the East** ) **Northampton**
## **Trustee’s Report and Accounts for the year 1st April 2023- 31st March 2024**
**St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Northampton (Under the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch & All the East)**
## **Administrative Information**
**____________________________________________________________________**
## **BOARD OF TRUSTEES**
Rev. Fr. Jebin Ipe Mr. Anuroop Jacob Mr. Bijoy Thomas Mr. Eldhose Varghese Mr. Saibu Thomas Mr. Velson Thomas Mr. Johnson Pockayil Mr. Binu Jacob Mr. Thomas Daniel Mr. Manish Mathew Mrs. Shaiba Abraham
**VICAR & PRESIDENT**
Rev. Fr. Jebin Ipe
**SECRETARY** Mr. Bijoy Thomas
**TREASURER**
Mr. Eldhose Varghese
**AUDITORS**
Mr. Jomon Issac and Thomas Varkey
## **COMMUNICATION ADDRESS**
32, Oulton rise Northampton NN36 EW United Kingdom Email - stmarys.jsoc.northampton2015@gmail.com
## **WEB SITE**
www.jacobitechurchnorthampton.com
## **CHARITY NUMBER**
1162484
## **OUR BANK**
HSBC 22 Abington Street NORTHAMPTON NN1 2AN
**WORSHIP PLACE**
Victoria Road Congregational Church, Victoria Road, Northampton NN1 5ED
St. Mary’s Jacobite Church, Northampton **Annual report 2023-24**
The Trustees present their report and accounts for the period of 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024.
Let us thank God Almighty for guiding us through the last year and glorify his name. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I the Secretary, present the Annual Report of our parish for the year 2023-24.
## **Introduction**
## **Structure, objectives**
This Church is a part of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church and a Diaspora community of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, India. The supreme head of this Church is His Holiness Moran Mar Ignatius Aphrem II, The Patriarch of Antioch and all the East and his Successors. His Beatitude Aboon Mor Baselios, Catholicos of the East is the second highest hierarchical position of the Church. He is the Head of the Church in India. The Patriarch appointed a Metropolitan (called Patriarchal Vicar) from Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, His Grace Mor Osthatheos Issac who is the Bishop in charge of the Parish.
Church’s objective is to maintain the faith, traditions and doctrines of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church and to perform all the religious rites and sacraments to all its members in accordance with the ancient Syriac Orthodox traditions. And to help the poor and the needy.
## **Governance and Management**
This Church is a registered charity and therefore governed as per its governing laws. The Charity is run by the Board of Trustees who is elected by the Church General Meeting. The Trustees manage the administrative as well as the financial affairs of the Church. The Trustees meet regularly for taking decisions and monitoring the activities.
## **The Parish and membership**
During the report year, with the help of members, Board of Trustees and the Vicar, we have maintained our Parish register up to date. As per the current parish register, our total membership is 40 families.
## **The Vicar**
Rev Fr. Jebin Ipe is our Vicar. Vicar’s spiritual leadership has had great influence on our families. Vicar’s capable leadership has helped tremendously in the running of spiritual organizations like Sunday school, women's association, and student’s movement in the Church.
## **General Body Meetings**
The annual general body meeting (AGM) was held on 24th June 2023 to present and approve the annual report and accounts for the year 2023 - 2024. The general body approved the accounts with the audit report.
St. Mary’s Jacobite Church, Northampton **Annual report 2023-24**
## **Report year Board of Trustees (Managing Committee)**
1. Rev. Fr. Jebin Ipe 2. Mr. Bijoy Thomas 3. Mr. Eldhose Varghese 4. Mr. Johnson Pockayil 5. Mr. Binu Jacob 6. Mr. Anuroop Jacob 6. Mr. Saibu Thomas 7. Mr. Manish Mathew 8. Mr. Thomas Daniel 9. Mr. Velson Thomas 10. Mrs. Shaiba Abraham
Vicar & President Appointed Secretary Elected Treasurer Elected Council member Elected Committee member Elected Committee member Elected Committee member Elected Committee member Elected Committee member Elected Committee member Elected Committee member Elected
Mr. Jomon Issac and MR Thomas Varkey are the auditors for the report year.
## **Activities**
Our Holy Services are on second and fourth Saturday morning of every month. We would like to thank all the Priests who conducted Holy Mass over the past years in our Church, all altar boys who helped in Church services and the choir members.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Trustees of Victoria Road Congregational Methodist Church, Northampton for providing Church premises for all our services.
## **Parish Day & Annual Feast (St. Mary’s Day)**
Annual day of the Church celebrations were held on 22nd and 23rd of Sept 2023. Services were led by our parish priest Fr. Jebin Ipe along with Fr. Geevarghese Palikkadath and Fr. Jacob Mathew Komadatthuserril Cor Episcopa.
On Friday 22nd Sept 2023 Parish Day proceedings started with flag hosting, evening prayer followed by Gospel preaching and Benediction.
On Saturday 23rd Sept 2023 on the main feast day, proceedings started with morning prayer followed by special Holy Mass. Chief celebrant was Fr. Jacob Mathew Komadatthuserril Cor Episcopa. and co celebrant was Vicar Rev. Fr. Jebin Ipe and Fr. Geevarghese Palikkadath. Holy Mass was followed by a sermon which was a blessing to everyone who attended. There was Procession afterwards in the traditional way and cultural activities followed. Prizes were distributed for Sunday school children who won in the cultural competition which was held in the summer. Nercha and a traditional Kerala meal was given to all who attended the feast.
St. Mary’s Jacobite Church, Northampton **Annual report 2023-24**
## **Great Lent and Passion Week**
Our parish observed Great Lent was held face to face from 1st April till 8th April in year 2023, services were led by His Grace Dr Mathews Mor Anthimos who is the bishop in charge of the Parish. For year 2024 from March 23rd till March 30th, services were led by our His Grace Mor Osthatheos Issac who is the current Bishop in charge of the Parish. During lent our vicar Fr Jebin Ipe had conducted the house visit among parish members. As part of charity collection during lent we had organized the Food Drive.
## **Baptism**
This year our parish was blessed to conduct baptism service for a young boy in the parish. The service was led by Vicar Rev Fr, Jebin Ipe which was a blessed occasion for all members who witnessed.
## **Church Kalolsavam**
We conducted our church Kalolsavam on 13th Jan 2024. The event included various competitions for children which was eagerly participated by our Sunday school students. We would like to thank Sunday school teachers and parents for preparing kids for the event. First and second prize winners got qualified to represent our Church in the Midland Zonal Kalolsavam.
## **Harvest and Food Festival**
Harvest and food festival was celebrated in our parish on 25th November 2023 at Victoria Road Congregational Church. The day started with morning prayer followed by Holy Mass and then we auctioned the products brought by our church members and then everyone had the opportunity to taste the home delicacies cooked by Women’s association members which was the main highlight of the event. Thanks to our women’s association members for yet another successful celebration of harvest festival.
## **Carol Virunnu**
Our church choir team participated in Carol Virunnu conducted by MSOC in December 2023.
## **Christmas Carol & Special service**
To commemorate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ we were able to conduct home carols for our church members. It was held on 08th Dec,09th Dec and 10th Dec 2023. Thanks to all members who participated carols.
St. Mary’s Jacobite Church, Northampton **Annual report 2023-24**
## **House Blessing**
House Blessing During the report year, several of our members have acquired new homes and the Vicar had conducted house blessing services at the new homes.
## **Spiritual Organization’s**
## **Sunday School**
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” - Matthew 7:24. Our Sunday school classes are conducted after Holy Mass. To educate our children spiritually and morally, in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the faith and traditions of the Syrian Orthodox Church and to develop our children the habit of attending church regularly, studying the Scriptures, and participating conscientiously in the worship and sacramental life of our Church.
Sunday school annual exam was held face to face, which helped children to showcase the knowledge gained over the year. Our children are very talented, in addition to the Bible studies we gave importance to teach extracurricular activities for the youth development. The hard work of the head teacher and all other teachers are greatly appreciated.
## **Vacation Bible School (VBS)**
Vacation Bible School (VBS) was held on 27th and 28th Oct 2023. On Friday 27th Oct 2023 VBS started with registration at 9.00 AM followed by different activities and classes. On Saturday 28th VBS closing ceremony and rally was conducted after the holy Mass. Thanks to all Sunday School teachers and parents who prepared the children for the occasion.
## **Women’s Association (Marth Mariam Vanitha Samajam):**
With the Motto of “Pray, Act and Illuminate”, the Women’s prayer group of the Church meet once in a month online. Their activities are prayer, singing devotional songs, Bible reading, conducting bible quiz, Chain prayer, Bible classes and presentation etc. Parish members often send prayer requests to women’s association.
Women’s association is functioning under the able leadership of Rev Vicar, Secretary Mrs. Shaiba Abraham and Treasurer Mrs. Bindu Johnson.
St. Mary’s Jacobite Church, Northampton **Annual report 2023-24**
## **Other activities**
## **Charity**
We had donated **£4000** to one of our church members relative who was undergoing critical illness treatment. We also had donated **£1130** to St: Thomas church Karikode back in India for renovating the church.
## **Website**
The Parish website is http://www.jacobitechurchnorthampton.com/ and Facebook account which is regularly updated with useful information for our church members.
## **Financial activities**
This year total income from various incoming resources was £ **63,111.00** and total expenses was £ **35,590.00** , By adding up the retained surpluses from the previous years of £ **73,527.00** current total retained surplus for the period is £ **101,048.00.**
## **Future Developments**
With the enormous support from our members, we would like to extend our activities which include that to find a permanent place for Worship.
## **Conclusion**
By the grace of our heavenly Holy Father, our savior Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, we have completed yet another blessed year. Words are not enough express our gratitude and submission to our Lord. During the year through the regular holy worship services, prayer meetings, special events and activities we have experienced God’s abiding presence and Grace.
On behalf of the Managing committee and for the parishioners, wholeheartedly express and reaffirm our sincere allegiance and loyalty to the Holy Throne of Antioch & All the East, our Patriarch His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, to our Catholicos of the East His Beatitude Baselios Thomas I, to our Patriarchal Vicar His Grace Mor Osthatheos Issac and their prayers be with us.
We are indebted to all our parish members for their generosity and active participation in all the programs. The executive committee extends our
St. Mary’s Jacobite Church, Northampton **Annual report 2023-24**
heartfelt appreciation to the Vicar and all spiritual organization office bearers for their prayerful support towards spiritual growth. We are also grateful to the families who volunteer regularly to provide refreshments on Saturdays after the holy service and on special occasions. Also, all our members and friends who supported the work of the Parish with their prayers and generous financial support.
The intercession of Holy Mother Mary, our Patron Saint and all other saints are always the constant inspiration and enlightening guidance for our parish. Let us continue the communion with them. May our Lord lead us in light to accomplish the best for the Church in the days to come. May the Lord Almighty bless our Parish to make all our efforts for the Glory of His Kingdom.
Thank you On behalf of the Board of Trustees,
## **Bijoy Thomas**
Northampton
## **Hon. Secretary**
## **Approval**
This report was approved by the annual General Meeting on 25th May 2024. This is a true copy of St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Northampton Annual Report.
|**St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church**|**St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church**|**St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church**|**1162484**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Receipts andpayments accounts**||||
|**For the period**
**from**|01/04/2023|**To**|31/03/2024|
**CC16a**
## **Section A Receipts and payments**
|**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Donations|**24,212**||**-**||**-**||**24,212**||**-**|
|Offertory|**11,109**||**-**||**-**||**11,109**||**-**|
|Monthlysubscription|**8,895**||**-**||**-**||**8,895**||**-**|
|Christmas celebration receipts|**1,585**||**-**||**-**||**1,585**||**-**|
|Receipts bychurch organisations|**330**||**-**||**-**||**330**||**-**|
|Harvest festival collections|**3,373**||**-**||**-**||**3,373**||**-**|
|Bank interest income|**894**||**-**||**-**||**894**||**-**|
|Tax refund from HMRC|**12,713**||**-**||**-**||**12,713**||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for_
_AR)_|**63,111**||**-**||**-**||**63,111**||**-**|
|||||||||||
|**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**||||||||||
||**-**|||||||||
||**-**||||||||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**|**-**||||||||**-**|
|**_Total receipts_**
**A3 Payments**||||||||||
||||||||||**-**|
|||||||||||
|Refreshments|**11,191**||**-**||**-**||**11,191**||**-**|
|Vicar / Priest allowance|**9,300**||**-**||**-**||**9,300**||**-**|
|Rent,rate and tax|**3,106**||**-**||**-**||**3,106**||**-**|
|Donationspaid|**5,130**||**-**||**-**||**5,130**||**-**|
|Expenses incurred by church organisations|**965**||**-**||**-**||**965**||**-**|
|Church council expenses|**2,005**||**-**||**-**||**2,005**||**-**|
|Altar itemspurchased|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Travellingexpenses|**135**||**-**||**-**||**135**||**-**|
|Miscellaneous expenses|**1,276**||||||**1,276**|||
|HSBC bank charges|**87**||||||**87**|||
|Printingand stationary|**2,395**||**-**||**-**||**2,395**||**-**|
|**_Sub total_ **|**35,590**||**-**||**-**||**35,590**||**-**|
|||||||||||
|**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**||||||||||
||**-**|||||||||
||**-**|||||||||
|**_Sub total_ **|**-**||||||||**-**|
|**_Total payments_**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**_Cash funds this year end_**||||||||||
||||||||||**-**|
|||||||||||
||**27,521**||||||||**-**|
||**-**||||||||**-**|
||**73,527**||||||||**-**|
||**101,048**||||||||**-**|
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
18/01/2025
1
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B3 Investment assets**|Cash in hand
Cash at bank-General
**Details**
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))|Cash in hand
Cash at bank-General
**Details**
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**827**||**-**||**-**|
||||**100,221**||**-**||**-**|
||||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||||**101,048**||**-**||**-**|
||||||||OK|
||||||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
||||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||||**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**Details**
**Details**||**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**||**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||||||**-**|
||||||||**-**|
||||||||**-**|
||||||||**-**|
||||||||**-**|
||||||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||||**-**||**-**|
||||||**-**||**-**|
||||||**-**||**-**|
||||||**-**||**-**|
||||||**-**||**-**|
||||||**-**||**-**|
||||||**-**||**-**|
||||||**-**||**-**|
||||||**-**||**-**|
||Signature
**Details**||**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
Anil Mathew
Saibu Thomas||||**When due**
**(optional)**|
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
||||||||Date of
approval|
||||Anil Mathew||||23/12/2024|
||||Saibu Thomas||||23/12/2024|
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
18/01/2025
2
St. Mary's Jaeobire Syriall Orthodox Church, Northampton
Independent Examiner'5 Report on the Aceounts
Reporl lo ihe Trusi¢es/memberJ vfsl. Jocobile Sj'riuv Orihvdox Churt.h, Northomplon
fchority Ivo.. 1162484) ON ihe accoumtsfor tliÉyÉar ended 31 hlurcli 2024.
Res
tive res
115ibiliries of trusiee5 and examiners
The charity's Irusiees are rcsponsible for the preparntion of the ac¢ounts in accordan with the
Charities Act 2011 {the Act). The charit) s tTUStees consider thal an dudit is not required for thi5 ycar
under section 144 of ihe Act and an indcpcndent exatnination is n¢¢d¢d.
It is our responsibility to".
xamin¢ the accounts under section 145 of the Charities A¢t,
tii follow the applieable Directions given by the Chariiy Commission (under section 145(5)
(b) of the Aci. and
to stale whether partacular tnatters hav¢ ¢om¢ to my attention.
Busis of IndÉpendenl exuminer's slulemeHI
Our examination was carried oul in ac¢ordanc¢ with the general Direction given by the Chariiy
CotniT]isqion. An examination inclu£*s a review of th¢ accounting records kept by ihe charity and a
compatisvn (Ff the accounts preseniec Miiih those records. It also includes consideration of an5, unusual
iieins or disclosures in the a¢¢ounts, and seeking explanatsons froin thc trustees concerning any such
atters. "l lie procedures undertaken lo not provide all the evidenee thai would be required in an audit,
and consequently no opinion is gii'cn as to whether the accounts present a 'truc and fair view and the
report Is limited to those inattets set out in th¢ stat¢Jn¢nt below.
Inde
emdenl examiner'j &Yalemen¢
In connection with our ¢xamination, no mat¢rial matters have come to our att¢ntion which ¥ives us
Cause to bclicvc that in, any material Irspecr..
the accounling records were Dot kepl in accoidance with section 130 of the Chariti¢s Act; or
the accounts did not accord M'ith ihe accountinA records: or
the accounts did not Comply with the applicable requirements eoneerning the forn) and
content uf accounts set out in the Ch3rili¢s IAccounts and Reports) Regulations 200R other
tlian any r¢qLiirement that th¢ accounts ¥ive a 'iru¢ and fair vicw whirh is not a Inatt¢r
eonsidered as
art of an inde
endent examination.
W¢ have no concems and have coine aLross no other inalte in Co[eCtion with Ihe examination to
,hich att¢tttion should be drawn iIi th15 report in order to enabl¢ a proper understandin¥ of the a¢¢ounts
to be reached.
Mr. Jomon IsaAc
Mr. Thomas Vgrkey
(Hon. Irldependeiit EXnIner)
(Hon. Independent Examiner)
D4ted:1510112025