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
1
**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
2
**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.
3
**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
4
## **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
5
## **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|
|---|---|---|---|
6
## **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
7
**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.
8
## **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|
|---|---|---|
9
## **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|
|---|---|---|
10
## **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**|
|---|---|---|
11