2023-12-31-accounts

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag Trust

A Charitable Incorporated Organisation charity no. 1171904

Annual Report 2023

The trust was established as a charity on the 6[th] March 2017. The trust became the legal owners of the Chapel and its site on 26[th] April 2017. This annual report covers the period 1[st] January to 31[st] December 2023.

Section 1: Objectives and Activities

The charitable objectives of the trust are, as listed on the Charity Commission website:

Our primary purpose is to manage the preservation, improvement and maintenance for the public benefit of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag in Abbey Road, Knaresborough and surrounding land as owners and guardians of its cultural and religious heritage. By doing so we shall be preserving a landmark of historical, religious, cultural and social significance and advancing (a) the chapel’s function as a religious site for pilgrimage and prayer, and (b) the education of the public in the heritage, culture and history in the town of Knaresborough. Our secondary objectives are such other purposes as are exclusively charitable in accordance with the laws of England and Wales as the trustees may from time to time decide.

These are the approved activities as listed on the Charity Commission website, which meet the above charitable objectives:

Our primary purpose is to preserve and maintain the historic grade 1 listed building, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag in Abbey Road, Knaresborough (and its surrounding land), for public benefit. We welcome visitors by regular opening during the summer months, facilitating all year-round pilgrimage and prayer, and teaching visiting groups about the history and heritage of the chapel.

The trustees have cross-referenced these objectives and activities with the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.

Our activities for 2023, listed on the table below, can be summarised under the following headings:

• Preservation and maintenance of the chapel and its site.

• Opening the chapel to the public and for prearranged visits.

• Fundraising.

Section 2: Nature of Governing Document

The Trust is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and has used the Charity Commissioners’ template for its governing document.

There were four trustees with another trustee nominated by Knaresborough Town Council. Therefore, at the start of 2023 there were five trustees, all of whom were active. The governing document allows for the recruitment of trustees to a maximum of twelve by a quorate meeting of the trust. The quorum for a trustees’ meeting is two. All trustees must be at least 16 years of age and at least one trustee must be at least 18 years of age. There is only one space for a nominated trustee.

Section 3: Reference and Administrative Details

The charity is known as ‘The Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag Trust’. Its charity number is 1171904. The address of the site is The Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag, Abbey Road, Knaresborough HG5 8HY, and the official business address for correspondence is Marie Linfoot, 5 Alexandra Grove, Knaresborough HG5 0PH, telephone number 07561 235855, email address: [e-mail]

The trustees at the end of 2023 were:

Julie Clark (Chair); Marie Linfoot (Treasurer); Anna Diamond (Secretary); Peter Thornes and Margy Longhurst (Knaresborough Town Council Nominee).

Review of Activities 2023

Review of Activities 2023
Activity	Date	Details
Preservation/Maintenance
- Of Chapel	All year	Monitoring of chapel structure, as it is liable to corrosion on the outside; cleaning.
- Of Site	All year	Regular clearing and cleaning; planting of new shrubs; monitoring of site safety.
Opening
- To the general public - Arranged visits		Sundays 2-4 p.m. from the beginning of April to the end of September Opening of the chapel outside public opening times for prearranged visitors.
Fund-raising
- Visitors		Donations are taken at one-off opening times and from regular supporters.

FInan￿￿ R￿aW 2023 Sub4otal SulAo Inv Balttnce Donations GrftAld Interest 1704.19 392.01 4.63 1699.56 392.01 32.52 32.52 Irtsuran Auditor 431.03 431.03 -200.00 -124.74 124.74 212&72 1368.32 Assets @ 0110112023 1794.59 1368J2 3162.91 3111212023 Arfj >1 £Y S7trartkr J4oAJ F(Aogi i-stf -z4