Registered Charity Number 1197538
9:Q
Barts Choir
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
UNAUDITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended
31 December 2025

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Annual Report 2025
Registered Charity Number:
1197538 (a Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
Registered address:
7 Bell Yard
London
WC2A 2JR
Trustees:
Susan Shale, Chair
Linda Harland, Secretary
Graham Rowbotham, Treasurer
Penelope Andrews
Philip Murphy
Frances Reynolds
Richard Vaughan
Susan Vickers
Jenifer Young
Independent Examiner:
Anson Clark FCA
Bankers:
CAF Bank Ltd
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JQ
Lloyds Bank plc
25 Gresham Street
London
EC2Y 7HN
President:
The Master of The Musicians, Company
Conductor/Musical Director:
Ivor Setterfield
Assistant Conduttor:
Jordan Theis
Website:
www.bartschoir.com

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Annual Report 2025
Page
Report of the Trustees
Independent Examiner's report
Statement of financial activities
Balance sheet
Notes to the financial statements
9- 15

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31 December 2025
Report of the Trustees
The Trustees submit their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025. The
Trustees confirm that the reported financial statements of the charity comply with the requirements of the
Charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and the provisions of "Accounting and Reporting by
Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in
accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)"
effective l January 2019 (Charities SORP FRS 102).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and what the charity does to achieve them
The objectives of St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society ( the Choir ) are set out in its constitution and
are:
To promote, improve, develop and maintain education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of
choral music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts and by such other ways as the Choir
through its Committee shall determine from time to time. and
To advance other charitable purposes by applying all or part of the profits of the said public concerts and
other activities by making donations to such other registered charities, especially those of a medical
nature, as the Committee may select from time to time.
The Choir's members, who are not auditioned, form what is believed to be the largest regular amateur choir
in London. The Choir's main purpose is to prepare for, promote and perform in public concerts. These
concerts are usually held once a term. There are three terms in a calendar year.
The Committee is keen to retain Choir members who enjoy singing in the main Choir but also wish to be
involved in more challenging works. To this end the Choir runs a Chamber Choir, and, after a successful
audition, members are offered the opportunity to join this choir. Participation in Chamber Choir concerts is
conditional upon singing with the main Choir in at least one of their performances in the preceding, current
or following terms. The Chamber Choir gave its first post-pandemic concert in June 2024. There was no
concert in 2025, but plans are in hand for a concert by the Chamber Choir in 2026.
The Choir selects a charity to work with to help fulfil the second charitable aim of our constitution. The
objective of the relationship is to enable the chosen charity to extend its profile through the Choir and the
Choir's performances, and to raise money at the Choir's events. We also aim to make direct donations to the
charity where finances permit. The Choir's current charity is Barts Charity, a relationship which will last until
June 2029.
Significant activities/operations during 2025
Having re-established a full programme of rehearsals and concerts in 2022, the Choir was able to continue a
regular level of activity in 2023 and again in 2024 and 2025. At the same time, we have sought successfully
to rebuild Choir numbers back to the levels we had seen before the pandemic struck. This helps improve the
Choir's finances through increased subscription income and the hope has been that in turn this would help
drive greater audience turnout at our concerts and reduce the need for the Choir to subsidise events.
Page I

St Bartholomews Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31 December 2025
Report of the Trustees
The first concert of the year in April 2025 in the Royal Festival Hall focused around the ever-popular Carmina
Burana by Carl Orff, the performance of which brought the audience to its feet. The Choir was supported by
the Trafalgar Sinfonia and soloists. This was supplemented in the first half by Vaughan Williams's early choral
work Toward the Unknown Region and his popular Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis for string orchestra.
The summer concert took us back to Cadogan Hall where for two nights we performed two standards of the
choral repertory, Mozart's Requiem and Haydn's Nelson Mass. We were supported by the Trafalgar Sinfonia
and soloists who helped us give excellent performances.
The winter concerts in Holy Trinity Sloane Square contained a varied programme of shorter pieces. The
Charpentier Messe de Minuit was familiar to the Choir, but other pieces by Barber, Rutter, Dove, Forbes
L'Estrange (who attended the first evening) and Esenvalds were new to us. We were particularly pleased that
we were joined by Michael Higgins for a performance of his Christmas Fantasy for organ and brass quintet.
The Choir and audience gave rousing renditions of well-known carols to complete the evening.
2025 was distinguished by a number of very successful smaller-scale performance activities, supplementary
to the main termly concerts. In anticipation of later concerts Come and Sing events for the Mozart and Verdi
requiems were held and proved to be very popular. For many of us the highlight of the year was a
performance of Mozart's Requiem in Saint Sulpice in Paris. Despite limited rehearsal time, an unfamiliar
venue and a sultry evening, the Choir gave a capable performance to a large and appreciative audience. Near
the end of the year the Choir supported the annual Service of Remembrance organised by Barts NHS Trust in
St Paul's Cathedral, which is always a rewarding experience.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
Subscription income from between 250 and 300 members joining the Choir variously for three terms
throughout the year was sufficient to cover rehearsal costs and, together with generous donations received
during the year, also more than covered all ongoing annual running costs.
The financial performance of the three main concerts in 2025 showed a distinct improvement over 2024.
Expenditure exceeded income by £6k (£37k in 2024), so the subsidy required from non-concert income and
from reserves was only a very modest one. The financial performance of the smaller scale performance
activities was, however, excellent and produced a surplus of £IOk.
The year's non-concert income (principally members, subscriptions and associated Gift Aid) exceeded non-
concert expenditure by nearly £35k. In last year's report we thought that the programme for 2025 with some
of the most popular choral works in the repertoire would give us the opportunity to be in a more favourable
position in 12 months, time. This has turned out to be the case with an overall surplus in 2025 of £41k.
The key components of the results for 2025 are as follows:
2025
2024
Subscriptions to the main Choir less rehearsal costs
Net results of concerts
Donations received
Surplus on sale of scores
24,043
(5,913)
5,084
634
15,965
(37,120)
2,231
(296)
Page 2

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31 December 2025
Report of the Trustees
Net result of other events
Gift Aid
Interest received
Administrative and sundry costs
Charitable donation
10,898
17,732
1,545
(10,620)
(2,000)
(2,501)
12,990
1,869
(12,723)
41,403
(19,585)
The Choir's main sources of income are subscriptions from members and revenue from the sale of tickets for
concerts the Choir promotes. Subscriptions are set taking into account the overall financial state of the Choir
and not just left at a level to cover rehearsal costs. Until 2020, main Choir subscriptions increased annually
in September, but no change was made in either 2020 or 2021. In December 2021, the Committee approved
an increase effective l January 2022 and in subsequent years membership rates have been reviewed by
Trustees, taking into account published CPI inflation rates. The current rate per term is £110 for full members
(£100 if paid early). A concessionary rate is paid by members not in receipt of income from employment, new
members may pay a much-reduced subscription for their first term to introduce them to the Choir and
similarly young people under 25 and full-time students benefit from a reduced rate.
Many members choose to round up their subscription payment to an even total or, indeed, make a larger
separate donation. In 2025, members donated a total of £5,084 (2024 £2,231), for which the Trustees are
most grateful. The figure for 2025 includes regular monthly contributions made by Choir members under the
Patrons, Scheme which was introduced in October. Continued recruitment of new members, particularly
younger singers, is vital for the future of the Choir and various initiatives are undertaken to encourage this.
Subscription income is importantly supplemented by Gift Aid. The ability to collect Gift Aid payments online
has greatly assisted cash flow and the increased level of Gift Aid received has also improved our position.
Members claiming Gift Aid for their subscriptions are now able to claim for the full value of the subscription
income. Total Gift Aid for 2025 was £17,732.
Reserves policy
A reserves policy was agreed at the June 2002 Committee meeting, in line with Charity Commission Guidance
Notes. It was agreed that we should aim to hold in reserves an amount equivalent to a realistic proportion of
the highest concert budget the Choir might consider undertaking, in order to provide working capital for
concerts and to cover the risk that a concert was cancelled at a late stage and that insurance failed to cover
the cancellation cost. The minimum reserve level is currently set at £50,000, but it will be reviewed annually
in the light of increasing costs.
At the end of the year, the Choir had resources (unrestricted funds) of £119,045 (2024: £76,642).
The Choir aims to keep as much as possible of its assets liquid, held either on current account or short-term
deposit, to enable it to operate efficiently and meet all liabilities as and when they fall due, since it may need
to access funds with limited or no notice.
Charitable donations
In both 2024 and 2025 the Choir's supported charity was Barts Charity, the fundraising entity of Barts NHS
Trust. The Choir's support for the charity takes a number of forms. Bake sales throughout 2025 raised £577.
Choir members, participation in Hike for Health raised £2,290. In addition, Barts Charity collectors at the
Page 3

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31 December 2025
Report of the Trustees
concerts at Cadogan Hall collected donations of £733 from audiences. For the Royal Festival Hall event (where
charity collectors are not allowed) a £1 supplement was added to the price of the programme for donation
to the Charity; this raised £477. Having reviewed the financial outcome of all of the Choir's performance
activities in 2025, the Choir donated a further £2,000 directly to the charity.
The total amount raised for Barts Charity in 2025 was £6,077.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
Since 17 January 2022 the Choir, St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society, has been a charitable
incorporated organisation (CIO) entered onto the Charity Commission's Register of Charities with the
Registered Charity Number 1197538. Prior to incorporation, the Choir had been, since 1977, an
unincorporated association, registered with the Charity Commission, Number 273180. The Choir is also
known as Barts Choir and, when the Chamber Choir is performing, as Barts Chamber Choir" It is governed
by its Constitution, which dates from 2022 and which lays down that the Choir's policies and management
shall be in the hands of a committee elected by and from the Choir's members. The committee has had due
regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit. Members of the committee are
also the Trustees of the charity.
Policies for recruiting, inducting and training new Committee members
When a vacancy arises or exists on the committee, the remaining committee members assess the skills which
should be sought in a replacement with the aim of maintaining a balance of talents. New committee
members are given an induction pack, which includes a copy of the constitution, the latest accounts, relevant
policies and the latest committee minutes. New committee members are referred to information about their
responsibilities on the Charity Commission website and sign the required declaration. A handover is arranged
with the departing committee member wherever appropriate. Training is given to committee members as
and when appropriate.
The Trustees who served during the year to 31 December 2025 and their current roles are:
Susan Shale
Linda Harland
Graham Rowbotham
Penelope Andrews
Philip Murphy
Frances Reynolds
Richard Vaughan
Susan Vickers
Karen Wheeler
Jenifer Young
Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
elected 8 September 2025
resigned 8 September 2025
elected 8 September 2025
Risk assessment
The main riskthe Choir has always faced is the late cancellation of one of our concerts. As members of Making
Music, we participate in an insurance scheme which provides some cover against this eventuality. The
Page 4

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31 December 2025
Report of the Trustees
Committee regards this cover as adequate, but it is under continuous review.
The other significant operational risk is that the membership dwindles as this would impact the Choir's ability
to sell tickets for concerts as well as on levels of subscription income and Gift Aid income. The Committee
seeks to ensure that this does not happen by continued efforts to recruit new members and to make the
rehearsals and concerts enjoyable events.
Approved by order of the board of Trustees on 20 July 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
Susan Shale, Chair of Trustees
Page 5

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Annual Report 2025
Independent Examiner's Report
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of St Bartholomew's
Hospital Choral Society for the year ended 31 December 2025.
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 your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145
of the 2011 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 in any material respect
that:
l accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the
Charities Act. or
2 the accounts did not accord with those records. or
3 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:
Acia
Date: 8 May 2026
Anson Clark FCA
11 Dean Bank Lane
Edinburgh
EH3 5BS
Page 6

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Yearended 31st December 2025
Statement of Financial Activities
Note
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
TOTAL
2025
TOTAL
2024
Income and endowmentsfrom
Donations, grants and legacies
Investment income
93,379
1,545
93,379
1,545
76,992
1,869
Charitable activities
Choral Music
184,226
184,226
105,814
Total income
279,150
279,150
184,675
Expenditure on
Charitable activities
Choral Music
237,747
237,747
204,260
Total expenditure
237,747
237,747
204,260
Net income / (expenditure)
41,403
41,403
19,585
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Transfer between funds
77,242
400
506
(400)
77,748
97,333
Total funds carried forward
12
119,045
106
119,151
77,748
Page7

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31st December 2025
Balance Sheet
Notes
2025
2024
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
800
1,600
Current assets
Stocks
Debtors
Cash at bank
4,709
29,163
95,616
129,488
8,059
27,444
42,400
77,903
10
Creditors- amounts falling
duewithin oneyear
(11,137)
(1,755)
Net current assets
118,351
76,148
Net assets
119,151
77,748
Funds
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
12
119,045
106
77,242
506
Total funds
119,151
77,748
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue
on 20 July 2026 and weresigned on its behalf by:
Susan Shale-chair of Trustees
Graham Rowbotham-Trustee & Treasurer
Page8

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31st December 2025
Notesto the financial statements
Accounting policies
Basis of preparing the financial statements
Thefinancial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance
with thecharities SORP (FRS 102)'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice
applicableto charities preparingtheir accounts in accordancewith the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the
UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l January 2019),, Financial Reportingstandard 102 'The Financial
Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and the Charities Act 2011. Thefinancial statements
have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Thefinancial statements are presented in sterlingwhich is thefunctional currency of the charity. The principal address of
thecharity and nature of thecharity's operations aregiven in the Report of theTrustees.
Financial reporting standard 102- reduced disclosure exemptions
The charity has taken advantage of the following disclosureexemptions in preparingthesefinancial statements, as
permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reportingstandard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland,: the requirements
of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows.
Income
Total income as shown in thestatement of Financial Activities istheturnover of the charity. It represents thevalue of
concert ticket sales, members, subscriptions, sales of music and donations receivable in the ordinary course of activities.
Voluntary income received by way of donations and gifts to the charity is included in full in thestatement of Financial
Activities when received.
Membership subscriptions becomeduethreetimes per year, at the beginning of each term. Thetax recovered on these
subscriptions undertheGift Aid scheme is included in theaccounts in theyear to which it relates.
Incomefrom thesale of concert tickets and programmes is included in thefinancial statements in theyear in which the
event took place. Investment income is included in thefinancial statements in theyear in which it is earned.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon asthere is a legal or constructive obligation committingthecharity to
that expenditure, it is probablethat a transfer of economic benefitswill 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 costs related to the category. Charitable expenditure includes the costs of concerts and other
eventswhich took placeduringtheyear. Governance costs includethe cost of the independent examination of the
accounts.
Concerts and other fund-raising events
Each event is separately identified and all relevant income and expenditure allocated thereto.
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St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31st December 2025
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Accounting policies (continued)
Donationsto charity
Thesociety makes donations to its chosen charity for theyear based on an assessment of the overall financial position at
theyearend.
Tangible fixed assets
All fixed assets are initially recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided at thefollowing annual rates in order to write off
each asset over its estimated useful life.
Equipment-straight line over 3 years
Stocks
Stocks arevalued at the lower of cost and net realisablevalue, after making due allowancefor obsolete and slow moving
items.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitableactivities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordancewith the charitable objectives at thediscretion of thetrustees.
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 natureand purposeof each fund is included in the notes to thefinancial statements.
Foreign currencies
Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies aretranslated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balancesheet
date. Transactions in foreign currencies aretranslated into sterling at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of
transaction. Exchange differences are taken into account in arriving at the operating result.
Irrecoverable VAT
The charity is not registered for VATand as such all VATIS irrecoverable. VATIS included with the coststo which it relates.
Debtors and creditors receivable/ payable within one year
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within oneyear are recorded at transaction
price. Any losses arisingfrom impairment are recognised in expenditure.
Page 10

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31st December 2025
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Donations, grants and legacies
2025
Unrestricted
2025
Restricted
2025
Total
2024
Total
Main choir subscriptions
GiftAid
Patronsscheme
Donations
Grants-vaughan Williams Foundation
70,563
17,732
3,050
2,034
70,563
17,732
3,050
2,034
60,154
12,990
2,231
1,617
Total donations, grants and legacies
93,379
93,379
76,992
Donations and legacies comprise membership subscriptions and thetax recovered under the Gift Aid scheme, together
with donations received during theyear which were not made in relation to a particular event.
Investment income
2025
2025
2025
Total
2024
Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
Bank interest
1,545
1,545
1,869
1,545
1,545
1,869
Income from charitable activities
2025
Unrestricted
2025
Restricted
2025
2024
Total
Total
Activity
Sales of music and
other goods
Main choir concerts
Other functions
Choral music
Choral music
Choral music
14,992
140,143
29,091
14,992
140,143
29,091
13,269
85,845
6,700
184,226
184,226
105,814
Music sales
Thechoir buys its music scoresfrom appropriatesources and obtains a modest discount to the list price. It isthen ableto
sell music to members at a discounted rate. It is also ableto savethe postagecoststhat memberswould incur with
online purchases.
Pagell

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31st December 2025
Notesto the financial statements (continued)
Charitable activities
Unrestricted
Restricted
2025
Total
2024
Total
Cost of main choir concerts
Rehearsal costs
Website and IT
Other events
Accountancy
Subscriptions, Insurance and other costs
Bank charges
Cost of music and other goods sold
Charitable donation
Depreciation
Marketing & advertisi ng
146,056
46,520
2,522
18,192
780
146,056
46,520
2,522
18,192
780
123,965
44,191
2,572
8,231
683
6,450
69
6,450
69
4,305
60
14,358
2,000
800
14,358
2,000
800
13,565
4,467
2,221
237,747
237,747
204,260
6 Trustees, remuneration and benefits
Noneof thetrustees received any remuneration or benefitsfor theyear ended 31st December 2025, nor for theyear
ended 31st December 2024.
Trustees, expenses
None of thetrustees received payment for any expenses for theyear ended 31st December 2025, nor for theyear ended
31st December 2024.
Net income / (expenditure)
2025
2024
Net income/ (expenditure) is stated after charging/ (crediting):
Fees paid to Independent Examiner
Depreciation - owned assets
300
275
4,467
800
Page12

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31st December 2025
Notesto the financial statements (continued)
Tangible fixed assets
Equipment
Cost
At 1st January 2025
Additions
At 31st December 2025
13,969
13,969
Depreciation
At 1st January 2025
Charge for theyear
At 31st December 2025
12,369
800
13,169
Net bookvalue
At 31st December 2025
800
At 31st December 2024
1,600
Stocks
2025
2024
Stocks
4,709
8,059
Stocks represent the cost of stocks of music in hand at the year end date.
10 Debtors: amountsfalling due within one year
2025
2024
Prepayments
Accrued income
23,337
5,826
22,839
4,605
29,163
27,444
Page 13

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31st December 2025
Notesto the financial statements (continued)
11 Creditors: amountsfalling due within one year
2025
2024
Trade creditors
Accruals
Deferred income
10,787
350
1,755
11,137
1,755
Deferred income comprises prepayments by members for purchase of Verdi scores at theend of December 2025.
12 Movement infunds-currentyear
01-Jan
2025
Incoming
resources
Resources
expended
Transfe rs
31-Dec
2025
Unrestricted Funds
General fund
77,242
279,150
(237,747)
400
119,045
Restricted Funds
Restricted Fund
506
(400)
106
Total funds
77,748
279,150
(237,747)
119,151
Restricted Fund
A balance of £506 of a grant of £1,500 awarded by thewalton Trust to enablethechoir to offer bursariesto young
peopleto join the choir, train and sing at a major concert was carried forward to 2025. Of this balance bursaries totalling
£400 were offered to young singers during theyear.
Page 14

St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society
Year ended 31st December 2025
Notesto the financial statements (continued)
Movement in funds- Prior Year
01-Jan
Incoming
resources
Resources
expended
Transfe rs
31-Dec
2024
2024
Unrestricted Funds
General fund
95,833
183,058
(202,249)
600
77,242
Restricted Funds
Restricted Fund
1,500
1,617
(2,011)
(600)
506
Total funds
97,333
184,675
(204,260)
77,748
13 Contingent liabilities
At the end of theyear therewere no capital commitments, contingent liabilities or other financial commitmentsfor
which full provision has not been made in thesefinancial statements (2024: £nil).
14 Related party disclosures
During the year the charity received donations and subscriptions from trustees and related parties of trustees to the sum
of £2,034 (2024: £2,231). Thesedonations and subscriptionswere received without conditions attached.
15 Analysis of net assets between funds
2025
2025
Restricted
funds
2025
Total
funds
2024
Total
funds
Unrestricted
funds
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
800
800
1,600
76,148
77,748
118,245
119,045
106
106
118,351
119,151
Page 15