2025-03-31-accounts - St. Peter And St.paul S' Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church Oxford, England UK

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year From 01 APRIL 2025 To 31 MARCH 2025

Section A Reference and administration details

ST. PETER AND ST.PAUL S' JACOBITE SYRIAN Charity name ORTHODOX CHURCH OXFORD, ENGLAND UK

Other names charity is known by

Registered charity number (if any) 1162922

Charity's principal address

8 ABBOTS WOOD HEADINGTON OXFORD

Postcode : OX3 8TR

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 (ifany)
Rev Eldhose Koungampillil
BinoyVarghese
Abi Kuriance
Tecil Chandy
Ajith Adai
Jishi John
JOBY JOHN
Praseeda Mathew Kalayipparampil
Ajeesh Thomas Abraham
SANU ARECKEKUDY
Vinjosh Varghese
Varghese Skaria
Bindu Jose

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Dates acted if not for whole year

Name

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)

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

How the charity is constituted

(eg. trust, association, company)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

Our Church ST. PETER AND ST.PAUL S' JACOBITE SYRIAN You may choose to include ORTHODOX CHURCH OXFORD is additional information, where an integral part of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church led by the relevant, about:

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.

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;

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, auditor 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 auditors. The tenure of the elected managing committee is 2 years.

relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

The managing committee meets regularly at least once in three months to deliberate and make decisions regarding the day to day affairs of the church. 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 auditors, who are elected by the annual general body meeting.

Section C Objectives and activities

The most important object of our organisation is to advance the religion of Christian faith especially that of the ST. PETER AND ST.PAUL S' JACOBITE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OXFORD, Oxfordshire 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.

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its Our objects include raising funds to organise activities for community governing document 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 Oxford and surrounding areas of Oxfordshire. 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. Summary of the main activities undertaken for the The parish members in difficult situations such as sickness, public benefit in relation to bereavement, depravity, poverty and family problems etc. are given these objects (include within special care through the house visits, counselling and prayers by our this section the statutory priests and trustees. Sacraments such as anointing of the sick are done declaration that trustees have on such occasions. had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity The poor and needy in the society (of any religion or community), Commission on public especially in India are given financial support. The collections from benefit) 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 1[st] and 3rd Saturday of every month, 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.

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

The Annual General Body meeting was conducted in the month of May Summary of the main 2024, presided by the Vicar/President , Rev Fr. Abin Markose. The achievements of the charity meeting had an appraisal of all activities of the church, including the during the year progress of 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 1[st] and 3rd Saturday every month. Christmas Programme: During Christmas celebrations, Carol visited Parishioners’ homes during different days in December 2024. On 24th evening Christmas Mass and the Holy Eucharist were conducted by Vicar, Rev. Fr. Abin Oonnukallinkal. 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 meet 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.

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

The church reserves are held to fund its current and future activities. 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 in deficit

There are no funds in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

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

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Our principal source of fund is the monthly subscription from members and voluntary donations and contributions on special occasions like Passion Week, Christmas and Parish Day.

The church is run by volunteers who are not entitled to any remuneration, except the Vicar’s/priests’ allowances for pastoral services.

The church does not have sufficient funds currently to invest in long term investments. The available funds are held as cash in mainstream Bank, as Savings Account (Building Fund). We keep this fund in savings account with an aim of building or buying a Church of our own or on leasehold basis.

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

s trustees

Binoy Varghese	Abi Kuriance
Trustee	Secretary
01/14/2026	15/01/2026

Charity Name No (if any) ST. PETER AND ST.PAUL S' JACOBITE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 1162922 OXFORD, ENGLAND UK

Receipts and payments accounts For the period Period start date To from 01/04/2025

Period end date To 01/04/2025 31/03/2025

CC16a

Section A Receipts and payments

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Unrestricted Endowment
Restricted funds Total funds Last year
funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Subscription(Members) 12,400 - - 12,400 11,200
Refreshment(Donation) 10,271 - - 10,271 4,814
Offertory 6,296 - - 6,296 7,386
Donation(Charity) - - - - 895
Donation(Ninveah Convention) 887 - - 887 1,133
Holy Quarbano Donation - - - - 250
Perunnal(Church Annual Day Donation) - - - - 1,011
MJSSA Zonal Kalolsavam - - - - 796
Donations(Lelam) 245 - - 245 -
Donation(House Blessing) 100 - - 100 100
Walsingham church trip 3,394 - - 3,394 -
Donations(Christmas) 1,103 - 1,103 1,050
Gift Aid 8,509 - - 8,509 6,705
Deposit Refund 50 - - 50 500
Donations(Holy Week) 450 - - 450 3,031
VBS 610 - - 610 469
Donation Church Building - - - - 501
Family Conference 965 - - 965 675
Carol Competition Prize - - - - 701
Quiz Competition Prize - - - - 800
Perunnal Share 2,525 - - 2,525 3,301
Special Mass 725 725
Sub total (Gross income for AR) 48,530 - - 48,530 45,318
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see
table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 48,530 - - 48,530 45,318
A3 Payments
Vicars Allowance 4,850 - - 4,850 4,775
Ninaveh Convention 1,504 - - 1,504 1,556
Church Rent 2,105 - - 2,105 1,550
Hall Rent 839 839 578
Insurance 213 - - 213 313
Printing & Stationery 85 - - 85 72
Grocery(Church Functions) 586 - - 586 379
Bank charge 91 - - 91 80
MSOC Council 2,225 - - 2,225 2,185
Sunday School Bakalolsavam 1,304 - - 1,304 820
Perunnal (Church Annual Day) 2,148 - - 2,148 2,816
Parish Day - - - 1,524
Charity Donation 485 - - 485 1,000
Seminary scholarship 350 - - 350 -
Holy Week 1,025 - - 1,025 4,538
Church account subscription 150 - - 150 -
Walsingham church trip 3,300 - - 3,300 -
Refreshments 9,942 9,942 5,017
Website renewal 53 53 55
Gift Expenses 313 313 300
Christmas Expenses 1,757 1,757 1,654
Parish day hall advance 538 538 -
MJSSA Zonal Kalolsavam 626 626 1,843
Church Assets 1,370 - - 1,370 -
Church maintenance - - 218
Carol Competition gift - - 350
Quiz competition gift - - - - 480
VBS 1,040 1,040 603
Family Conference 140 140 660
Professional fees 300 300
Student movement 297 297
Vanitha Samajam 233 233
Sub total [ 37,869 ] - - 37,869 33,366
A4 Asset and investment purchases,
(see table) 1
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----- Start of picture text -----
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 37,869 - - 37,869 33,366
Net of receipts/(payments) 10,661 - - 10,661 11,952
A5 Transfers between funds - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 68,401 - - 68,401 56,449
Cash funds this year end 79,062 - - 79,062 68,401
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrestricted Restricted funds Endowment funds
Categories Details funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds HSBC CURRENT AC 78,981 - [ - ]
HSBC SAVINGS AC
- - [ - ]
CASH BALANCE
81 - [ - ]
Total cash funds 79,062 - -
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s)) OK OK OK
Unrestricted Restricted funds Endowment funds
funds
Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets - - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
Fund to which
Details asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional)
B3 Investment assets - -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Fund to which
Details asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the - -
charity’s own use - -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Fund to which Amount due (optional) When due (optional)
Details liability relates
B5 Liabilities
-
-
-
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name Date of approval
14/01/2026
Binoy Varghese
Abi Kuriance 15/01/2026
2
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name ST. PETER AND ST.PAUL S' JACOBITE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH members of OXFORD, ENGLAND UK On accounts for the year 31 March 2025 Charity no 1162922 ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 March 2025 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”).

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 I have completed my examination. I 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:

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 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.

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.


Signed:		Date:	15/01/2026


Name:	Seejo Tony



Relevant professional	IFA
qualification(s) or body
(if any):


Address:	58 Highbury Grove

	Portsmouth PO6 2RS

Oct 2018

IER

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 .

Oct 2018

IER