2023-12-31-accounts

Registered charity number 1192993

Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol

Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended

31 December 2023

Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol Report and accounts Contents

	Page
Charity information	1
Report of the Trustees	2-4
Independent Examiner's Report	5
Statement of Financial Activities	6
Statement of Financial Position	7
Notes to the financial statements	8-10
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities	11

Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol Charity Information

Trustees

Fr. C I Moldovan Mr T A Prelici Mr M Sulugiuc

Independent examiner

Alexander Accountancy 12 Granary Wharf Business Park Wetmore Road Burton upon Trent Staffordshire DE14 1DU

Bankers

Barclays Bank Plc 4-5 Soutgate Street Bath BA1 1QA

Contact address

St. Thomas Church Thomas Lane Bristol BS1 6JG

Registered charity number

1192993

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Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol Registered charity number: 1192993 Report of the Trustees

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Aim and purposes

The Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol (ROCB) was registered in January 2021 as a Charitable Incorporated Organization (C.I.O.). The incorporation of the charity into a C.I.O. was to formalize the previous charitable activities into a more structured framework. The bank balance from the previous organization was transferred into the new C.I.O.

ROCB has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent priest, Father Ioan Claudiu Moldovan in order to advance the Orthodox Christian religion in Bristol and the surrounding area, in accordance with our objectives, by providing a place for regular worship and prayer, raising awareness and understanding of Orthodox Christian beliefs and practices, and carrying out religious services, pastoral and outreach work.

Objectives

As set out in Charity’s governing document our objectives are:

• To advance the Orthodox Christian religion in Bristol and the surrounding area for the benefit of the public i accordance with the doctrines and the canons of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate and with the statutes of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, particularly, but not exclusively, by providing a place of worship, raising awareness and understanding of Orthodox Christian beliefs and practices, and carrying out religious acts, missionary and outreach work

• To advance such other charitable purposes (according to the law of England and Wales) as the trustees see fit from time to time, in particular but not limited to the preservation of Romanian cultural traditions, the advancement of children’s and adult education in a Christian spirit, and the relief of those in need.

When planning our activities, the incumbent and the trustees are mindful of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of the religion. In particular we aim to enable members of the public to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:

• Providing a regular place for parishioners to gather in worship and prayer and to strengthen their faith and place withi the Romanian Orthodox Christian Family

•Providing pastoral care (visiting sick, bereaved or vulnerable) for people living in the parish and surrounding area

•Providing missionary and outreach work within the community

•Providing youth education in a Christian spirit

•Advance charitable purposes (according to the laws of England and Wales) as trustees see fit from time to time

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Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol Registered charity number: 1192993 Report of the Trustees

Achievements

The parish has held regular Sunday morning Liturgies as well as Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals, in St Thomas Church. All services are open to all member of the public. These services were celebrated in a mixture of English and Romanian (the traditional language of the Romanian Orthodox Church). During 2023 we held 121 baptisms, 9 weddings and 1 funeral.

We are using WhatsApp Group for the community to provide mutual spiritual support and attend evening prayers via Zoom.

January: Bristol Parish priests visited more than 100 households for blessing of parishioners’ houses.

May : We celebrated Annual Parish Festival.

In his activity of archpriest, Fr. Ioan Moldovan is supported by parish members in identifying and deploying new parish communities where necessary in South-West.

The parish through priests and councillors is involved in charity initiatives at local level as well as in Romania and at the time being for Ukraine.

Fundraising

Funds raised come from Sunday collections, private donation, fundraising events, online and Facebook fundraising. We continued to use the ChurchSuite platform for online donations and encouraged members of the community to donate small amounts on a monthly basis. In 2023 we had 58 new givers and 132 monthly contributors. The general donation fund is primarily used for paying rent and additional expenses as well as build a reserve to allow us to purchase a worship place in the future.

In the addition to the above, in 2023 we fundraised for financial support for families in desperate need.

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Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol Registered charity number: 1192993 Report of the Trustees

Youth education (Scoala Bucuriei)

February : Annual Pilgrimage to Saint David’s site in Llathony, Wales, where we met again with our English Ortdodox community from Bristol. We participated to Divine Liturgy, had a “bring and share” lunch and a hiking activity.

April: Children were involved with singing in the church during Palm Sunday celebration. The children have visited the Big-Pit Museum in Wales, where they have learnt a life lesson about the hardship of people and children from that time who were working in mines.

June: Camping at Mendip for two days. Children were involved in lots of activities, such as team games, portrait competition, organizing meals and hiking.

September: Visit to The Model Village, Burton on the Water, followed by a bring and share lunch.

December: A Christmas concert was prepared and presented in the church to gather funds for people in need. All the funds collected were used to help homeless people from St Julian’s Trust (food, sleeping bags, warm clothing)

Structure, guvernance and management

The method of appointment of ROCB trustees is set out in the Constitution of Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The board of trustees consist of the incumbent (Father Claudiu Ioan Moldovan) and another two appointed members.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 20 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

Fr. C I Moldovan

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Independent Examniner's Report to the Trustees of Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the 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 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. the accounts do 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.

Wayne Penlington FCCA Alexander Accountancy 12 Granary Wharf Business Park Wetmore Road Burton upon Trent Staffordshire DE14 1DU

20 September 2024

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Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2023

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies Total EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Administration costs Governance costs NET INCOME RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	Unrestricted Funds £ 134,855 134,855 20,667 28,191 984 85,013 113,493 198,506	Restricted Funds £ 10,000 10,000 - - - 10,000 10,000 20,000	2023 Total Funds £ 144,855 144,855 20,667 28,191 984 95,013 123,493 218,506

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Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol Statement of Financial Position as at 31 December 2023

Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 3 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 4 Net current assets/(liabilities) Total assets less current liabilities NET ASSETS FUNDS Unrestricted funds 7 Restricted funds 7 TOTAL FUNDS	2023 Unrestricted Funds £ 181 181 199,243 199,243 (918) 198,325 198,506 198,506 198,506 - 198,506	2023 Restricted Funds £ - - 20,000 20,000 - 20,000 20,000 20,000 - 20,000 20,000	2023 Total Funds £ 181 181 219,243 219,243 (918) 218,325 218,506 218,506 198,506 20,000 218,506	2022 Total Funds £ 271 271 124,104 - (882) (882) 123,493 123,493 113,493 10,000 123,493

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 20th September 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

Fr. C I Moldovan Director

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Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023

1 Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulative depreciation and any accumulative impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset evenly over its expected useful life, as follows:

Fixtures and fittings over 5 years

Stocks

Stocks are measured at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost is determined using the first in first out method. The carrying amount of stock sold is recognised as an expense in the period in which the related revenue is recognised.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

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Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

2 Trustees' Remuneration and Benefits

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Trustees' expenses

During the course of the year the trustees have been reimbursed for expenses incurred whilst performing duties for the charity.

3 Tangible fixed assets

Cost At 1 January 2023 At 31 December 2023 Depreciation At 1 January 2023 Charge for the year At 31 December 2023 Net book value At 31 December 2023 At 31 December 2022	Fixtures and fittings £ 452 452 181 90 271 181 271	Total £ 452 452 181 90 271 181 271

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Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 December 2023

4 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Other creditors and accruals	2023 £ 918 918	2022 £ 882 882

5 Reserves Policy

It is ROCB policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds of £5,000 (if possible) to cover rent and emergency situation for 6 months. Funds are also being increased towards the eventual purchase of the charity's Church.

6 Income

Donation income during the year included £13,702 (2022 - £28,023) from a previous organisation known as "Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol" which was used prior to the formation of this charity.

7 Funds Fixed Assets Current Assets Creditors	Restricted Unrestricted £ £ - 181 20,000 199,243 - (918) 20,000 198,506	Total £ 181 219,243 (918) 218,506

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Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2023

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies Plate Collections Other Donations Donation from Romanian Orthodox Church Bristol Restricted income - Church purchase EXPENDITURE Charitable activities: Purchases Events Donations Administration costs: Rent Repairs and maintenance Bank charges Stationery and printing Telephone and internet Subscriptions Software Light and heat Cleaning Travel and subsistence Sundry expenses Depreciation Governance costs: Accountancy fees TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME	2023 £ 59,529 61,624 13,702 10,000 144,855 6,677 4,572 9,418 20,667 6,666 - 548 16 234 - 239 85 145 6,793 13,375 90 28,191 984 984 49,842 95,013	2022 £ 55,198 43,834 28,023 10,000 137,055 8,689 9,093 10,889 28,671 8,500 4,390 589 488 204 502 1,198 41 36 486 12,248 90 28,772 954 954 58,397 78,658

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