THE TEMPLAR PILGRIMAGE TRUST (OTJ) TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE PERIOD 1 JANUARY 2021 – 31 DECEMBER 2021
Reference and administration details
Patron Alistair McCabe President The Grand Prior of the Order of Knights Templar in the United Kingdom
Trustees Sorin Ionut Balaban John Culley (Chair) Anthony Cuthbert Cicelyn Hinds (Hon. Secretary) Mavis Jacobs Jeremy Lee (Hon. Treasurer) Rev. Canon Philip Norwood Rosemary Nutt (died 24 January 2022)
Charity number 1191505 Contact address 28 Clifford Road, South Norwood, London SE25 5JS
The Trust
The object of the Trust is the advancement of the Christian religion by helping people make journeys of pilgrimage to recognised Christian shrines and helping young people make educational visits to recognised places of Christian worship or learning. The shrines and places of worship may be in this country or overseas.
The Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (‘CIO’) whose only voting members are its charity trustees. The Trust’s governing document is a CIO Foundation Constitution, registered on 28 September 2020.
The Trust succeeded the Templar Pilgrimage Trust (OTJ), charity number 326561, which was established in 1984 under a deed of trust. That charity was closed in November 2021, its funds being transferred to the Trust to enable the continuation of its charitable work. The period covered by this Report, therefore, includes some activities of the previous charity as well as activities of the Trust.
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The Trust was originally founded in the 1980s by members of the Knights Templar and most current donors are Members of the Grand Priory of Knights Templar in the United Kingdom (‘the Grand Priory’ / ‘GPUK’). The Trustees, therefore, consider it appropriate to maintain close links with the Grand Priory and a Memorandum of Understanding dated 20 July 2021 sets out the basis on which the two organisations aim to work together.
The Trustees
The Trust is managed by a board of seven trustees. Currently, four Trustees are Members of the Grand Priory and three are independent of the Grand Priory. The Trustees come from different Christian denominations: the board includes members of the Church of England, the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
The Trustees’ names are set out on page 1. The Trustees whose names are marked with an asterisk are Members of the Grand Priory. Anthony Cuthbert, the serving Grand Prior, is the Trust’s President. The other Trustees are independent of the Grand Priory.
Stephen Britt-Hazard, who became a Trustee of the previous charity in 2011, was regrettably unable to continue as a Trustee for health reasons. The Trustees wish to record their appreciation of his years of service and of his contribution to the Trust.
With deep sadness, the Trustees report the sudden death of Rosemary Nutt shortly after the end of the year under review. Rosemary had been a Trustee of the previous charity since 2018. The Trustees greatly valued her experience and knowledge of the pilgrimage and travel sectors. She will be sorely missed.
The Trustees met four times during 2021. Because of the COVID pandemic and government restrictions, all the meetings took place by videoconference. The Trustees also maintained contact by e-mail between meetings.
The Trust’s Activities
The Trust’s main activity is making grants to groups and individuals planning to make pilgrimages. Without the Trust’s financial support, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for them to do so. Like so many other organisations, the Trust found its activity during 2021 remained affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Although 2021 saw fewer periods of lockdown than in 2020, with more travel generally as a result, the Trust’s activities remained relatively low. During the year, the Trust made three grants (2020: 12), which together amounted to £1,900 (2019: £4,450). The Trust assisted an ordinand going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a priest walking to Canterbury and a group walking a path in Argyll following the steps of St Columba. The Trust’s finances are covered in more detail on page 3.
The Trustees also considered actions to raise funds from other sources, with a view to providing a larger and broader income base. They concluded such action would be better postponed for a year and intend to address fund raising again in 2022. The Trust continued producing its general newsletter, with three editions giving details of the Trust’s work, illustrations of the benefits to pilgrims and reference to broader aspects of pilgrimage, such as travelling in a more environmentally conscious way.
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During 2020, following a review of the Trust’s governance, a new CIO had been formed and approved by the Charity Commission. The change of structure was completed by transferring assets to the new CIO and closing the previous charity in November 2021.
The Trustees confirm they referred to the guidance from the Charity Commission on public benefit when reviewing the Trust’s governance, as well as when considering its activities, aims and objectives.
Finances
The Income and Expenditure Account for 2021 is attached as an appendix to this Report. At the beginning of the year, the General Fund stood at £21,919 (2020: £24,143). At the end of the year, it stood at £24,014 (2020: £21,919). Disbursements of grants amounted to £1,900 (2020: £4,450). Having agreed it would be appropriate to use capital to increase the amounts paid in grants, at the beginning of the year the Trustees had set a budget for grant payments above the level of donations they expected to receive.
Departing from their previous practice, the Trustees planned for grants in 2021 to be capped at or about the level of the Trust’s projected donations, with a view to breaking even over the year. This change from previous practice was agreed following the fall in applications and general uncertainties connected with the COVID pandemic. The Trustees were pleased to see one-off factors such as the increase in the Accumulation Fund and insurance compensation produced an excess of income for 2021.
Donations in 2021 were £2,226 (2020: £1,849). The increase in the value of the Accumulation Fund during 2021 was £1,277 (2020: £659). One grant of £250 was returned (2019: £0). The Trust also received £300 compensation arising out of a complaint against insurers. As a result, the excess of income over expenditure for the year was £2,095 (2020: excess of expenditure over income of £2,228).
The Trustees intend to continue a cautious approach in 2022, waiting to see how broadly and quickly the effects of the pandemic recede.
The Trustees wish once again to record their thanks for continuing donations from Members of the Order and from friends of the Order. They wish to thank donors who have covered costs relating to the operation of the Trust. They also take this opportunity to confirm that Trustees do not receive any remuneration from the Trust, nor do they claim travel or other expenses incurred in attending meetings.
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THE TEMPLAR PILGRIMAGE TRUST (Registered Charity 1191505) INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2021
| Income | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Donations received | 2226 | 1849 |
| Returned Grants | 250 | 0 |
| Gift Aid Reclaimed | 249 | 218 |
| Interest on Investment account | 2 | 34 |
| Accumulation Fund increase in value | 1277 | 659 |
| Compensation Re Insurance | 300 | 0 |
| 4304 | 2760 | |
| Expenditure | ||
| Insurance | 309 | 309 |
| Website | 0 | 129 |
| Grants | 1900 | 4550 |
| 2209 | 4988 | |
| Excess of Income over Expenditure | 2095 | (2228) |
| Assets | as at | as at |
| 31.12.21 | 31.12.20 | |
| LLOYDS Current Accounts | 4390 | 3574 |
| COIF Deposit Fund | 10957 | 10955 |
| **COIF Accumulation Fund *** | 8667 | 7390 |
| 24014 | 21919 |
I have examined the books and records of the Trust and confirm that these accounts are in agreement herewith
A.K. HODGE (INDEPENDENT EXAMINER)
The Trustees would like to record their thanks for those who have given time and resources without charge to help with the work of the charity
J. LEE
(TREASURER)
- Money transferred to new ethical fund
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The Trustees confirm they approved this Report at their meeting on 8 March 2022
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Signature:
Full Name: JOHN ANDREW CULLEY
Position: CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
Date: 8 March 2022
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