2024-08-31-accounts

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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth Annual Report 23/24

Bringing people closer to Jesus Christ through His Church

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Prayer of St Edmund of Abingdon Patron of the Diocese

Lord, into your hands and into the hands of your holy angels, I entrust this day my life, my relatives, my benefactors, my friends and my enemies, and all your people.

Enlighten my heart with the grace of your Holy Spirit; grant that I may ever be obedient to your commandments, never let me be separated from you, who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Amen

	Contents
	About The Diocese	4
	From The Bishop	6
	From The Chief Operating Ofcer	12
	Faith in Action:
	Closer To Christ Campaign Raises More Than £11.6 Million	16
	More Than Just Reading – The Work of A Lay Reader	18
	Seeds of Hope – Our Schools’ Achievements	20
	Singing For The Future – The National Schools Singing Programme In Our Diocese	22
	Ongoing Formation For All – The Work of The Bishop’s Spiritual Formation Team	24
	A Focus On Mission and Service – Training Our Deacons	26
	What Does It Mean To Be Human? – Diocese’s Symposium On Modern Medical Ethics	28
	Never More Needed – The Story of Andover Food Bank	30
	Becky’s Legacy Lives On – A Fundraising Success	32
	Ministering In Life and Death Situations – Hospital Chaplaincy	34
	A Helping Hand – The Work of Our Ethnic Chaplaincies	36
	Fifty Years of The Bamenda Partnership	38
	Estates – New Team Rises To The Challenge	42
	Care After A Lifetime Of Service – The Priests’ Retirement Fund	44
	Safeguarding – Everyone’s Responsibility	46
	Managing The Money – A Look At The Pivotal Role of Parish Finance Committees	48
	Our Year In Numbers	50
	Our Finances At A Glance	51
	Stewardship of Resources –Financial Review	52
	Structure, Governance and Management– Financial Review	66
	From the Auditors	75
	Statement of Financial Activities	79
	Balance Sheet	80
	Statement of Cash Flows	81
	Statement of Accounting Policies	82
	Notes to the Accounts	86
	Thank You and Acknowledgements	105

2 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

About The Diocese of Portsmouth

Our Diocese is spread across five counties on England’s South Coast, and the Channel Islands. We are the local church for the whole of Hampshire, Berkshire, the Isle of Wight, Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey as well as the southern part of Oxfordshire and the eastern part of Dorset.

Charity Name	Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth
Charity Number	1199568 (England) 457 (Jersey) CH263 (Guernsey)
Sole Member	Bishop of Portsmouth Rt Rev Philip Anthony Egan
Charity Trustees	Bishop of Portsmouth Rt Rev Philip Anthony Egan
	Rev Gaston Forbah Afah (appointed 02 May 2024)
	Rev Mr Gerard Dailly (term ended 07 June 2024)
	Mr Bernard Davis (term ended 26 September 2024)
	Mrs Anne-Marie Eden (appointed 30 July 2024)
	Mr Michael Elks
	Rev Christopher Heaps
	Rev Mark Hogan (term ended 31 March 2024) Mr Paul Kilduf
	Dr Catherine Knowles
	Rev Canon James McAuley
	Rev Canon Paul James Smith
	Mr Richard Taylor (appointed 04 October 2024)
	Rev Benjamin Theobald
	Rev Canon Simon Thomson
	Mr Chris Trickey
Senior Ofcers	Rev Mr Anthony Darlison, Secretary to Trustees Mrs Heather Hauschild, Chief Operating Ofcer
	Mr Clive Field, Director of Finance
Registered Ofce	St Edmund House, Bishop Crispian Way, Portsmouth, PO1 3QA
Auditors	HaysMac LLP 10 Queen Street Place, London, EC4R 1AG
Bankers	Lloyds Bank PLC 2-4 Palmerston Road, Southsea, PO5 3QH
Solicitors	Stone King LLP Upper Borough Court, Upper Borough Walls, Bath, BA1
	1RG
Investment Managers	Evelyn Partners, 45 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7BG
Principal Insurers	Catholic Insurance Services Suite 5, Oxford House, Oxford Road, Thame,
	OX9 2AH
Financial Year	01 September 2023 – 31 August 2024

4 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

From The Bishop

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Anniversaries are always important. From a personal perspective, August 2024 marked the 40th anniversary of my ordination as a priest. I have much to thank God for, many experiences, many memories, many people I have loved and served. The priesthood is not mine, of course, but Christ’s: I am only a vehicle. It is His priesthood that we celebrate.

But this year in our Diocese has been punctuated with numerous anniversaries. 2024 was the Golden Jubilee of our special link with the Archdiocese of Bamenda in Cameroon. This link continues to flourish after 50 years. During this time, parishioners from across our Diocese have raised more than £1 million for projects in Bamenda in faith, health, education and welfare. It was my predecessor Bishop Derek Worlock who first proposed the link to the then Bishop of Bamenda, Paul Verdzekov. Bishop Worlock had been inspired by the words of Ad Gentes 38 that bishops have a responsibility not only for the Diocese entrusted to them but for the universal Church. Consequently, in 1974, Father Ron Hishon and Father Michael Peters from our Diocese of Portsmouth volunteered

to work in Bamenda as Fidei Donum priests. Eight other priests followed in the succeeding decades. In recent times, this has worked the other way round too with five priests from Bamenda currently working over here. Bishops Worlock, Emery and Hollis made visitations to Bamenda. I myself made a brief visit in 2017 but my main memories of Bamenda come from the week-long visit in 2014 coinciding with the 40th anniversary of our link. In 2024 the Golden Jubilee celebrations culminated in July with a special Mass in our Cathedral attended by Archbishop Andrew Nkea of Bamenda, Father Bernardine Nsom and hundreds from within the Cameroonian community in the UK.

Bamenda Portsmouth 50th Anniversary

Not all anniversaries are as triumphant. On 6th June 2024, I along with the Cathedral Dean – who himself celebrated the milestone earlier in the year of installation as new Canon of the Chapter – represented the Diocese at the national commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Southsea Common in the presence of their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla. It served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by so many to safeguard the freedoms we enjoy today and of the existential threat to humanity that still pervades from conflicts and divisions that dominate our headlines, whether in Ukraine, the Middle East or elsewhere in the world.

Bishop Philip Egan and Bishop Johnathan Frost (Anglican Bishop of Portsmouth) at the 80th Anniversary D-Day Celebrations

Milestones often present particular challenges. 2024 was a year in which the States of Jersey legislature came closer than ever to legalising euthanasia and assisted suicide on the island. In an impassioned Pastoral Message to Catholics in Jersey, I appealed to them to mobilise and speak out against proposals which, however finely crafted, are totally incompatible with the fundamental role of medical staff, doctors and nurses to preserve human life. I urged them to redouble their efforts in compassionate, palliative care for

the frail and terminally ill, a field in which the UK has a deserved, worldwide renown.

A few months before the publication of this Report, MPs in Westminster had voted in favour of proposals to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would make it legal for over-18s who are terminally ill to be given assistance to end their own life. Although not unexpected, this vote poses a grave danger with Britain crossing a line from which there will be no return.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “ Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia, … putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons ... is morally unacceptable. An act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God… (2277).”

As the Bill now faces many more months of review and scrutiny, I have issued a plea to our worshipping community to pray earnestly and work tirelessly to contain its range and its reach. Indeed, given that some politicians who voted in favour are now wavering in their support, it is more important than ever for people to contact their MP and ensure that their voices are heard.

Critical conversations on the subject of medical ethics and religion formed the basis of a Symposium that the Diocese organised in March 2024 in Winchester. The title was: ‘What does it mean to be Human?’ Against the backdrop of a challenged and overstretched Health Service, we brought together healthcare practitioners and people of all faiths and none to explore what prominent exponents in faith and medicine could discover from one another. There were two keynote two presentations: What does it mean to be a Human Being? by Mgr. Michael

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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

From The Bishop

Nazir Ali, former member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and Chair of its Ethics and Law Committee and How significant is the Sexual Revolution? by Ryan Christopher, Policy Officer and Director of ADF UK and co-founder of Humanum Institute. 120 people took part and joined a series of six workshops on current topics. By the end of the day, I believe we succeeded in helping ‘moral strangers’ begin to become ‘moral friends’, irrespective of their religious beliefs, with a far better understanding of one another and a real sense of mutual respect and appreciation.

What does it mean to be Human?

Visit to Springhill Catholic Primary School

For our 69 Catholic Schools (including 13 Independent schools for which we have canonical responsibility), this year has been a watershed moment. Following a period of review, our Board of Trustees approved a plan for the full academisation of our maintained schools into two Catholic Academy Trusts. We believed we had an ambitious plan that worked for all and which, we prayed, would enhance the ‘Catholicity’ of our schools, be advantageous to them, raise standards even higher and guarantee a solid basis for the future. Although changes in government funding have currently impacted on the ability to deliver on this policy, the Trustees remain committed to academisation and collective working approaches that ensure that no school is left unsupported. I have enormously enjoyed undertaking a school visits programme throughout the year and have been struck by the prayerful engagement of the children and young people during our period of lectio divina and eucharistic adoration. Our schools continue to be a great source of inspiration as they spread the Good News of Christ to many who encounter His message for the first time.

The Diocese of Portsmouth covers 2,500 square miles and so there are always challenges for the Bishop to connect and engage with the clergy, religious and faithful

Mission Development will support parish priests in the ‘new’ parishes to become more missional in their focus and ministry. He will work with Pastoral Areas and parishes to offer support, guidance and wisdom in assisting the parishes implement the Diocesan Ten-Year Mission-Plan, You Will Be My Witnesses , signposting them to resources, opportunities and support. He will also work with 5 or 6 parishes where the parish priest in the new parish has a passion to lead in a missional way, hosting monthly online “parish priest cohorts,” arranging termly in-person gatherings, meeting annually with each priest in their local context to help review the year and plan for the following year, and with the various parish leadership teams.

throughout the mainland and on the islands. In 2024 we celebrated publication of the 450th edition of my weekly e-News, the digital round-up of stories, teachings and events from across the Diocese. I am very proud of the breadth of stories covered every Tuesday showcasing the vitality of our worshipping community from contributors across the parishes. Special mention must go to Deacon Craig Aburn, Bishop’s Executive Assistant, who does such a good job in assiduously putting e-News together every week.

It was also a year that marked changes to the Diocesan Board of Trustees. Hereward Drummond recently completed his term as Secretary to the Trustees and Father Mark Hogan stepped down as a Trustee. We are most grateful to them for their years of faithful service in their respective roles. Hereward Drummond’s successor is Deacon Tony Darlison, from St Peter and the Winchester Martyrs parish and I have appointed Father Gaston Afah, parish priest of Reading English Martyrs, as a Diocesan Trustee and as Episcopal Vicar for Evangelisation. Meanwhile, I have asked Father Mark to take on a new role as Episcopal Vicar for Parish Mission Development. The Episcopal Vicar for Parish

There were changes too in the Vocations Vicariate where Father Christopher Heaps has taken on the role of Vocations Director from Canon Gerard Flynn after more than twenty years’ excellent stewardship in that role.

No greater milestone exists on the road to priestly discernment than ordination. In July, the Diocese was blessed with two ordinations to the priesthood and three to the diaconate. Father Thomas Hiney and Father Ambrose Chou were ordained as

Seminarians Gathering, 2024

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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

From The Bishop

priests in the Cathedral and went on to serve as assistant priests in the Cathedral and in Jersey respectively. Rev. Stephen Patterson and Rev. Zacharias Parambi were ordained to the diaconate in the Cathedral and went on to serve respectively in the Windsor and Ascot Pastoral Area and the Portsmouth Pastoral Area. Rev. Ryan Browne, a student for the priesthood, was ordained by me to the diaconate at the English College Villa at Palazzolo. He has started serving in the Cathedral parish at the beginning of 2025.

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Ordinations, July 2024
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Fr Thomas Hiney & Fr Ambrose Chou
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Dcn Stephen Patterson & Dcn Zacharias Parambi

I was pleased to fly to Guernsey and visit Canon Gerard Hetherington on the occasion of his Diamond anniversary of ordination. He was ordained in 1964 and served for 15 years as the Island’s Dean. Some forty Dames and Knights from the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem made a special pilgrimage to visit him in Guernsey on this momentous occasion.

In last year’s introduction to the Annual Report, I expressed deep gratitude to the munificence of clergy and parishioners for their collective efforts in pledging an incredible £9.5 million towards our ‘Closer to Christ’ campaign. At the time of writing this year, another milestone has been reached as we have well and truly smashed into double figures with £11.6 million pledges received. Such a show of solidarity and support is deeply humbling and will stand us in good stead to meet the campaign aims (1) supporting more seminarians for the future, (2) caring for our priests in active ministry, and (3) looking after our retired clergy following a lifetime of service. The fund will also sustain our parishes following the effects of the pandemic and economic uncertainty.

Of course, not all milestones are about looking back to past attainments, but they are about striving by God’s grace for the future. We may be some way away from the Diocesan vision for 2032, as set out in our Ten-Year Mission Plan, You Will Be My Witnesses , but I am heartened by the progress being made to ‘bed in’ the 24 new Pastoral Areas. These were announced in 2022, and I am looking forward to hearing how local responses to the mission plan have been discerned through my continuing programme of Pastoral Area visitations over the course of the next six months.

We are, of course, looking forward to the once-in-a-generation opportunity that this year’s Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ affords us as a chance to restore hope, and as a

time of renewal and rebirth. In anticipation of the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis proclaimed 2024 to be a year of prayer in preparation. Spending at least five minutes per day in prayer using the Scriptures is the first of the Six Holy Habits I have been encouraging the faithful across the Diocese to adopt, devoting one of my Pastoral Letters this year to the subject of prayer. I am most grateful to Father Ansel D’Mello for supporting this endeavour and helping to prepare us for the Jubilee by producing a comprehensive set of online prayer resources.

led a joint ecumenical pilgrimage to Taizé with

40 young people. In the Summer of 2024, we issued a joint communiqué after a spate of civil unrest in towns and cities throughout England following the shocking stabbings in Southport.

In conclusion, as we reflect upon the passage of time, we are reminded of the profound blessings, challenges, and growth that have collectively shaped our spiritual journey. The many significant milestones and special moments that have categorised this last year prompt us to honour the past, to embrace the present, and eagerly to anticipate the future.

Global events such as the Olympic Games in 2024 should naturally be occasions when ideological, cultural and religious differences are put aside, and I, like many, was disappointed by the derision of Christianity in the opening ceremonies. The disdain for our Christian faith is nowadays becoming more commonplace but it is especially pleasing to me, as the Convenor of Hampshire Church Leaders, to witness the power of Christian unity. This year, the Anglican Bishop of Portsmouth, Rt. Rev. Dr. Jonathan Frost and I

In Corde Iesu

Rt. Rev. Philip. A. Egan BA, STL, PhD Bishop of Portsmouth

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Six Holy Habits
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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

From Heather Hauschild, Chief Operating Officer

Serving the mission of our Diocese brings with it many joys and challenges. Over the past year, it has been a privilege to meet so many of you, witnessing firsthand the dedication, faith, and love that breathe life into our communities. As we reflect on the past year, we are reminded of the shared commitment that unites us in our mission to bring people closer to Jesus Christ through His Church.

Reflecting on Our Journey: Progress and Achievements:

There has been much to be thankful for and highlights are reflected elsewhere in this annual report. This section set out a few of the key areas of progress within the administrative support services that have shaped the last year:

is evident that these are work in progress. More recently Visiting the pastoral areas and hearing how local plans are developing has been a true highlight.

Days of Prayer:

Thanks to the Vicariate for Evangelisation, the Days of Prayer for employees during Lent and Advent provided a valuable opportunity to pause amidst the busyness of our work and reflect on how we place Jesus Christ at the heart of all that we do, guiding our mission and service.

Mission Plan Implementation:

Our Ten-Year Mission Plan ( You Will Be My Witnesses ) is now in its second year, and we have been inspired by the leadership of our priests, especially those serving as coordinating pastors, who are playing a key role in shaping the future of our parishes. The Vicar for Clergy has taken a significant leadership role in supporting the Co-ordinating pastors as they in turn lead the local response to the Mission plan.

Clergy Support:

The work of our Clergy Support team, led by the Vicar for Clergy, remains invaluable for many of our priests, ensuring they feel supported in their pastoral and spiritual responsibilities.

Strengthening Governance:

Good stewardship of the resources entrusted to us is at the heart of our mission. Building on the momentum from becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2023, we’ve made significant strides in strengthening our governance framework.

This year, we published 15 new and revised policies, along with a suite of guidance documents. A notable milestone was the introduction of the Priest Retirement Policy, which not only reaffirms the Bishop’s responsibility for our retired clergy but also clarifies the support available through the special trust established for this purpose.

Priestly Ordinations, 2024

We are also deeply encouraged by the courage and commitment shown by so many clergy and laypeople across our pastoral areas. We received many local plans by June 2024. It

From Heather Hauschild, Chief Operating Officer

significant progress with workplace health and safety inspections and assessments and provided valuable support and guidance to several parishes on a range of health and safety issues.

Enhancing Fundraising and Stewardship: Supporting our parishes in their fundraising efforts has been a key focus. We promoted our Legacy Campaign and introduced digital giving across more than 60 parishes. This initiative has already generated nearly half a million pounds through contactless and online donations. Additionally, by reducing processing costs, we have ensured that more of every donation directly supports our mission.

Safeguarding Our Communities:

Safeguarding is a fundamental part of our mission, and we are proud of the work being done in this area. In our first audit by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA), we received an encouraging assessment of ‘Results Being Achieved’. The audit highlighted many areas of good practice including the dissemination of the Charter for the Care of Victims and Survivors, and our effective management of safeguarding concerns. The dedication and expertise of our safeguarding team and the many parish volunteers, have been instrumental in creating safer spaces for everyone.

The Closer to Christ Campaign formally ended early in the year, although some further donations have been secured since that time. The much-needed funds have enabled us to support 12 men in seminary, funded the ongoing work of the Bishop’s office for support of clergy, and our retired priests. We are immensely grateful to the individuals and families who gave so generously to this campaign. We remain deeply grateful to all who contributed so generously.

Bamenda Partnership:

While grant funding for local projects proved more challenging, where successful, these grants made a tangible difference to our volunteers and those they serve.

The visit of the Archbishop of Bamenda in July was a significant and inspirational moment, helping us to further strengthen the bonds of friendship and deepen our partnership with the Archdiocese of Bamenda. The work of the Bamenda committee is being refreshed under the chairmanship of Tim Foy. We thank the committee for all their dedication to a mutually enriching partnership.

Financial and Operational Improvements:

The centralised finance system, introduced over a year ago thanks to the careful guidance of our Head of Finance, is now fully embedded. It has greatly enhanced the accuracy and clarity of our financial reporting. This year’s annual audit ran smoothly, a significant improvement compared to previous years when disparate record-keeping systems were challenging and led to delays.

Prioritising Health and Safety:

Health and Safety has remained front and centre, thanks to the leadership of our estates team. We partnered with WorkNest as our competent person for health and safety, the IT system to streamline reporting and monitoring in an integral feature of the arrangements. To date, WorkNest has completed assessments at 46 of our 149 sites. This has resulted in

Bamenda Portsmouth 50th Anniversary, 2024

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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

From Heather Hauschild, Chief Operating Officer

Looking Forward: Our Priorities for 2025

Advancing the Mission Plan:

We remain committed to supporting the next phase of our Mission Plan, continuing to provide pastoral areas with the resources they need to grow and thrive. This includes the development of new materials to help parishes respond to local needs and realise our shared vision of a Church Beyond Walls. This includes refreshing our detailed pastoral area reviews as well as other practical material.

Developing a Comprehensive Estate Strategy:

Our estate strategy will be a significant focus, aimed at ensuring that our properties best serve the mission. In some cases, local areas will need to have difficult conversations about the future of certain buildings, particularly where smaller congregations, rising maintenance costs, and reduced income present challenges. We will approach these decisions with discernment and care, always seeking to support our parish life.

Securing Financial Sustainability:

While we have made progress in strengthening our financial position, long-term sustainability remains a challenge. Parish offertories often struggle to cover at best half of parish running costs. In the coming year, we will focus on raising awareness of these financial realities, encouraging greater giving, and improving investment and treasury management.

Enhancing Parish Support and Using new

Technology:

Our Diocesan administration teams will be reintroducing Parish Support Visits from early spring, offering practical support on key areas of work. We also plan to invest in modernising our IT systems to improve efficiency and record-keeping. A top priority will be replacing the outdated PAMIS system and introducing a comprehensive HR system, Staffology, that includes payroll management.

Strengthening Governance and

Compliance:

We will continue our commitment to robust governance, undertaking a full review of data protection practices, particularly in areas handling sensitive personal information. Our work to update our policies will continue.

Supporting Our Schools:

The Diocese remains fully committed to the academisation of our schools; however, the pace of change will be influenced by government direction. We expect to publish our updated Schools Strategy by mid-year, providing clarity and direction for the road ahead.

Annual Schools Mass, 2024

Outsourced IT Services

Following our decision to outsource IT services to ensure more reliable and effective support for the Diocese, we will be strengthening our IT infrastructure. This will include more measures to enhance cyber

security, recognising the increasing risks in this area, and exploring ways to bring all parishes into the diocesan network. Our aim is to provide consistent support, secure data backup, and greater safety across the Diocese, ensuring technology continues to be a key enabler of our mission.

Relationships with Religious Orders:

We are blessed by the presence of numerous religious orders in our Diocese, many of whom play vital roles in our parishes. Over time, informal arrangements have grown, and we are now working to establish a more structured framework to support these important relationships. We anticipate completing this process in the coming year.

Moving Forward Together:

The work of the Diocese is a shared journey, a mission sustained by the faith, generosity, and commitment of countless individuals. As we look to 2025, I am grateful for what we have achieved together and hopeful for what lies ahead.

Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and dedication to our shared mission. Together, we will continue to build a vibrant, faith-filled future.

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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 15
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MISSION GOAL | Bringing people closer to Jesus Christ through his Church

Closer To Christ Campaign Raises More Than £11.5 Million For Diocese and Parishes

When the Closer to Christ campaign closed in May 2024, it had raised more than £11,600,000 since its launch in 2021.

It is important that our priests can carry on with their development and growth to meet the growing demands made on them. Our Diocese is blessed to have over 120 men in active service, providing pastoral care and support to parishes as far north as Oxford and as far south as the Channel Islands.

Over 3,200 donors have taken part in the campaign, spread across 79 parishes, with donations ranging from £5 to £500,000. Donors were given the option to make a oneoff gift or to spread their donations across one, three or five years. Most donors elected to make multi-year pledges and spread their donations.

This crucial initiative was started to address significant needs in our parishes and ministry by supporting our priests from formation and into retirement and ensuring our parishes have the necessary resources to thrive in the future.

In 2023-24, the Diocese had 11 men in formation for the priesthood. Seminary formation takes between six and seven years to priestly ordination, at a cost of £30,000 a year.

While most priests retire at the age of 75, many remain very active, continuing to serve their communities, working in our parishes, schools and chaplaincies. It is our duty to make certain that no priest is worried about meeting essential costs during their senior years, so they can enjoy their well-deserved retirement. We have 37 priests in retirement and an additional 24 retirees expected over the next decade, so it is critical that extra resources are provided.

"Raising this sum is a truly remarkable achievement and speaks to the genuine commitment to the future of the Catholic faith across our Diocese," said Bishop Philip. "We are so humbled and encouraged by this wonderful success and so grateful to each one of you in reaching this very special moment for our Diocesan family."

The Closer to Christ Campaign provides us with a unique opportunity to realise our mission of bringing people closer to Jesus Christ through His Church. This exciting initiative will build upon our Diocesan mission, enabling us to continue our journey to become ever more outward facing and evangelistic, while supporting our local parishes, who are the backbone of our Church.

Read more about the work of the Priests’ Retirement Fund on pages 44 - 45.

The Closer to Christ Campaign enables us to provide an appropriate level of support and care for these men who give their lives to the Church.

Support the Closer to Christ Campaign

Anyone who wishes to extend or renew their Closer to Christ Campaign pledge can do so here - Closer to Christ Campaign | Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth

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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 1 | Christ-centred Church MISSION GOAL 1.3 | Locally Led Evangelisation

More Than Just 'Reading'

The Work of a Lay Reader.

Mo Griffiths, Lay Reader at St Thomas's Church in the Parish of Havant and Emsworth, shares more than 25 years of experience and why it's about so much more than simply 'reading'.

For me, being a Minister of the Word is more than 'reading in church' and I find the title 'reader' is not always helpful. It’s so much more than that - it’s communicating and proclaiming Scripture so that everyone can hear and, hopefully, understand, and that takes preparation and practice.

What makes a good lay reader? Preparation, being familiar with the text and understanding it yourself, practice and taking every opportunity to develop by attending workshops and training days – I always learn something new. I like the layout of the new translation of the Lectionary, the sense lines make it better suited to proclamation. Like all Ministers of the Word, I am getting used to the changes and find careful preparation is essential so I don’t trip up with remembering and speaking the familiar former translation instead of the new text.

Mo Griffiths, Lay Reader

I have been a Minister of the Word for many years and it was all thanks to my parish priest at the time. He had the foresight to invite anyone in the parish to come to a workshop day to explore the various ministries. I chose reading and have never looked back.

A recent Diocesan Readers’ event was informative and helpful and covered a lot of ground. The content was divided between the theological background – Theology of the Word of God, then looking at the structure of the Liturgy of the Word – Encounter and Dialogue – and finally coming to the Ministry of Reader itself, explaining the Lectionary and its purpose. During the breaks we chatted amongst ourselves and shared our own parish experiences and there was time for questions – and answers – throughout. Being a Minister of the Word is a privilege and rewarding and something I take great joy in. I would encourage anyone who is interested to look into it too.

Moving on a few years, I was then invited by a friend to attend a Summer School hosted by the Society of Saint Gregory. I had never heard of the Society but am so grateful that I was introduced to it. This was where I experienced formation and good practice and was able to learn from others in an encouraging environment. I became a member of the Society and still am, more than 25 years later.

“I often speak of the shortage of priests in the Diocese and the need to pray for vocations to the priesthood,” says Bishop Philip . “Yet we are even more short of people: that is, can-do Catholics who are willing to take responsibility and to make the Church be what she is meant to be.

“It is heartening to hear Mo’s testimony as a reader and minister of the Word of God. I thank God for the many lay leaders we have up and down the Diocese in our parish communities. But I pray that the Lord will grant us many more lay leaders like Mo for the various ministries and tasks that are needed.”

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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 2.2 | Our Young Church Nurtured and Inspired

Seeds of Hope

Our Catholic schools are key to the vitality and mission of the Diocese. They are places of learning and communities where the seeds of hope are planted and where all are enabled within Christ at the centre to grow spiritually, academically, morally and personally to become twenty first century citizens ready to embrace and transform the world in which they live.

The past year has been one of outstanding achievement in our schools and our thanks go to the 2,354 teachers and leaders in education who, together with an additional 1,877 support staff and 380 volunteer governors and directors, have delivered an enriching curriculum across a full spectrum of subjects to the 31,022 pupils in their care.

Last summer our schools once again celebrated an excellent set of GCSE, A Level, BTEC and other examination results, a clear testament to the ambition and commitment of every pupil, teacher, parent and carer within our Catholic school communities. With a welldeserved reputation for academic excellence and pastoral care, a staggering 91% of our schools are currently graded good or better in their most recent Ofsted or ISI Inspection. In line with the Bishop’s vision for Catholic

education, our voluntary-aided schools will be incorporated into two Catholic Academy Trusts that will serve the north and south of the Diocese with a target date for full academisation by September 2027. All Hallows Catholic School in Farnham was typical of many with 38% of all A Level grades received being A – A and 60% A – B. No less than 17 pupils achieved all A* or A grades in their A Level examinations.

Educators have also assisted in the Church’s mission of making Christ known to all people with 57,000 hours of Religious Education taught in our schools, along with the fostering of over 28,000 hours of prayer.

Headteacher, Mark Baines, said, " The All Hallows Family is incredibly proud of the success of our Year 13 students and we thank them for their contributions to the thriving school community. My thanks go to the committed and excellent staff who have taught them, and to the parents and carers whose love and support has supported their child and the school throughout their studies.”

Remarking just before Education Sunday at the start of the new school year in September 2024, Bishop Philip remarked: “ As Education Sunday approaches, we give thanks for all our Catholic schools, colleges and universities and for the school leaders, teachers, teaching assistants, chaplains and all those involved in the provision of Catholic education within them. I am inordinately proud as Bishop by the success achieved by the young people who make up our Catholic pupil population, success which goes beyond league tables. These are young people with ambition, integrity and moral purpose whose education is guided by the teachings, traditions, sacraments and spirituality of the Catholic Church and categorised by the Christian values of love, caring and service We pray that Christ the Teacher will continue to strengthen their faith and fill their hearts with courage and hope.”

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31,022 Pupils
timetabled hours
of prayer in our
28,000
Catholic schools
70 Schools
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Teachers and
educators working in
2,354
our schools
380 Volunteer school
governors
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57,000 hours of Religious Education delivered
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20 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024
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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 21

MISSION GOAL 2.2 | Our Young Church Nurtured and Inspired MISSION GOAL 1.1 | Uplifting and devotional liturgy through music and prayer

Singing For The Future

How the National Schools Singing Programme is helping our schools meet one of our Mission goals. Each week, nearly 500 children in our schools take part in uplifting singing, thanks to the launch of the National Schools Singing Programme in the Diocese.

settings are sung, including the New Celtic Liturgy and the Peter Mass as well as Gospel acclamations and hymns to tie in with what is sung in local parishes. The programme also supported St Finian’s Catholic Primary School in Cold Ash (see photograph) when Bishop Philip visited for a Holy Half Hour in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Pupils sang beautifully in Latin and in English, including O Salutaris, Tantum Ergo and the meditative O Sacrament Most Holy.

The Singing Programme, which is led by the Diocesan Choral Director, Neil Cannon, began last year teaching the music curriculum to pupils in Years 3-5 with a specialised vocal tutor.

The Diocese programme is now seeking funding to support the appointment of an additional choral director so that even more schools can take part.

" Singing is always a wonderful way to express and engage with our faith," says Neil. " As well as songs about pirates, festivals and all sorts of food, the pupils have explored traditional spirituals, Taize psalms and songs praising God for His Creation. The participation and enthusiasm of the pupils is always breathtaking and hearing their voices in full swing is a wonderful experience!"

Sessions include warm up songs and games that engage the whole body, focusing on posture, good breathing and vocal technique. Pupils have learnt about dynamics and how voices work, and have begun to read and sing music from the stave using the solfa system (‘Doe a deer' ..!).

Six schools are now involved, with 480 children taught in 15 classes.

The programme also develops choirs and takes whole school singing practices. Here Mass

(NSSP) aims at enhancing music education for children in state schools across the UK, particularly within Catholic dioceses and Anglican cathedrals. It provides funding of £2.55 million to support the creation and development of singing programs, ensuring that children receive regular singing lessons led by professional choral directors. The program aims to foster a love for music and singing among children from all backgrounds, offering a structured pathway from wholeclass singing to further musical achievements.

" The songs we learn as a child stick with us forever; I still know all the words to It’s a Long Way to Tipperary that I learnt at primary school! " says Neil, "and so this work of instilling great music in our young people is a huge privilege and responsibility. The Singing Programme seeks to bring the very best liturgical music into our schools so that it may pour out into our parishes and leave a lasting legacy."

The National Schools Singing Programme

Join the National Schools Singing Programme

Any school that is interested in taking part in the NSSP should contact Neil at ncannon@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.

22 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 1.3 | Locally-led Evangelisation MISSION GOAL 2 | Missionary Communities

Ongoing Formation For All

The Bishop’s Spiritual Formation Team helps to encourage and explore our practice of praying. Here Chris Bryden, Team Leader, shares her experiences of supporting this important work.

transformation. Developing our engagement in a deep and meaningful way on our faith journey has the possibility to transform our lives and to help us to deepen our friendship with God.”

“Spirituality encompasses everything to do with our experience of God, an experience which comes by living in a relationship with Him, and this relationship is grounded in prayer ,” explains Chris.

What is a week of Accompanied Prayer?

The Diocese’s Spiritual Formation team is made up of ten spiritual companions who initiate and develop projects to support people in their spiritual practice. Spiritual directors can be lay people, clergy or religious; the team is drawn from very different backgrounds and experiences - teaching, prison chaplaincy, psychotherapy.

This offers participants an opportunity to spend six days without the cost or difficulty of leaving home, but in as much of a retreat setting as they can establish in their daily life.

After an opening meeting on Sunday afternoon, each person is assigned to a Spiritual Director and asked to meet them either in person or on Zoom each day from Monday to Friday for 30 -45 minutes, at a time that suits the individual. Nothing else is expected of participants other than to commit to half an hour of personal prayer each day, and to bring a notebook, a Bible and an open mind. God is indeed a ‘God of surprises’, and he will honour your willingness to take part in the week.

Most of them have trained as spiritual directors; this equips those who are called to this ministry to accompany others confidently and competently. Complete confidentiality is guaranteed in these conversations. Each member has their own spiritual director and superviser outside of the group to support and advise them.

The Spiritual Formation team offers, through many different channels, to underpin the work and the lives of every member of the diocesan community: lay people, religious and clergy, and anyone who desires to grow in spirituality.

Each meeting is confidential and the prayer guide will suggest helpful scripture passages, poetry, images and many different ways of praying, all with the aim of establishing or re-establishing an ongoing prayer habit which suits the individual and can be sustained.

The Team produces a newsletter, ‘Spirituality News’, three times a year that covers opportunities for retreats, events, conferences, continuing professional development for Spiritual Directors both from within and from outside the diocese.

Some comments from those who have experienced a Week of Accompanied Prayer:

My relationship with the Lord has been completely rekindled.
New ways of praying have introduced me to

Chris adds: “ Any spiritual path should lead to

The Spiritual Formation Team offers to:

a deeper, more focused form of praying and helped me to grow spiritually.

The week was a real eye opener....and an • Connect individuals with their own
exciting new outlook on the life of Jesus. fully trained personal Spiritual Director.
I have discovered a whole new way of prayer....being still, watching, waiting, feeling • Facilitate ‘Weeks of Accompanied
the presence of the Lord. Prayer’ in a parish setting.
I felt really ‘held’ , guided and affirmed.
I was able to show a more vulnerable side of me, to be open to what I see and feel. • Offer ‘Open Door Retreats‘ - an established nine week programme in
• My prayer guide helped me to see how God Ignatian spirituality for small parish
is working in my life. groups.

During the last year, weeks of Accompanied Prayer have taken place in Fareham, Fleet and Windsor.

Offer retreats for specific liturgical seasons, or groups such as Parish Pastoral Councils, or Evangelisation Strategy teams. Mostly delivered on Zoom.

After a Week of Accompanied Prayer, if requested, the team can help to establish small ongoing faith sharing groups as part of the international fraternity of Christian Life (CLC).

Produce a newsletter ‘Spirituality News’ three times a year covering opportunities for retreats, events, conferences, continuing professional development for Spiritual Directors both from within and from outside the Diocese. There are articles on different ways of praying, praying in different monastic traditions and seasonal prayer aids.

To find out more...

If you would like to know more about the Team and its work, please email

spirituality@portsmouth diocese.org.uk.

24 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 1.3 | Locally Led Evangelisation MISSION GOAL 2 | Missionary Communities

A Focus On Mission and Service

2024 marked the culmination of a five-year journey to become permanent deacons when deacons in training Zac Parambi and Stephen Patterson were ordained into the Diaconate at Portsmouth Cathedral. Here Deacon Stephen describes their journey and what brought them to such a special place.

deepening of our spiritual lives together with a growing understanding and awareness of the deacon’s commitment to service.

You may wonder how an accountant (now pharmacy assistant) and an historian and former IT manager ended up being ordained to the permanent diaconate!

From the initial call to start walking along the path, we have been filled with a sense of purpose and an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God and our communities. The formation process at St Mary’s College Oscott in Birmingham – with 40 monthly sessions over four years after an initial year of discernment (the Propaedeutic year) – saw us experience wide-ranging and rigorous training which covered many facets of the faith: theology, church history, prayer, spirituality, ethics, and morality. It was also an opportunity for spiritual development

Both Zac and I embarked on the journey to ordination through an unexpected question: had we ever considered the diaconate?

It ignited a glowing ember for both of us - the answer was a resounding ‘yes’! But it needed that prompt to do something about it and explore further. Being open to the Holy Spirit and accepting the challenge gave us the opportunity to discover if we were indeed called. For more than five years, we have been involved in a transformative experience; a

and increased pastoral awareness; each session being a balance of prayer; the Divine Office and Mass, with academic and practical training. Not only have we grown in our knowledge of many aspects of the Church, but the experience has also confirmed our dedication to seek to embody Christ’s love and compassion in our daily lives.

I look back on our journey to ordination with a mixture of gratitude and humility. We are so grateful for the unwavering support of our families, especially our wives, mentors, and fellow aspirants: their encouragement has been a great source of strength.

We are deeply aware of the trust placed in us to serve; to bring the light of Christ to those in need. This is something we cannot achieve without the grace of God and the support of those, like us, with their joys and sorrows, who we will travel alongside in faith, hope, and love.

There is a profound humility in knowing the responsibilities that lie ahead and the joy and challenges of diaconal ministry that we experience daily.

26 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 1 | To be a Christ-centred Church MISSION GOAL 2 | Missionary Communities

What Does It Mean To Be Human?

How does the Church respond to questions about modern medical ethics and social care? With a Bill seeking to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide introduced to Parliament in 2024, the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth’s symposium ‘What does it mean to be Human?’ provided a timely discussion in March.

Over the course of the day, the legal, medical, moral and religious aspects of holistic patient care from conception to end of life were discussed and debated in a series of thoughtprovoking keynote addresses, workshops and panel discussions.

David Wells, the popular and internationally acclaimed author and motivational speaker, was host for the day and had this to say about the ambition of the Symposium:

“It is one thing to live out our faith on a Sunday morning in the shadow of our steeples and within earshot of our peeling bells. What I really admire about the intention behind this Symposium is the Diocese’s commitment to blur the boundaries between what we profess together in our faith and the world around us. Our faith is often challenged, not by the reaction of others as to whether we go to Church or not, but how we live it out beyond the pews and pulpit in the board room, building site or, in this case, within the context of a challenged and overstretched Health Service. How is what we believe good news for a Health Service in crisis? How can

those working in the Health Service call us to be authentic in our faith? Today has been all about meeting and hearing from some extraordinary people and discovering that faith and medicine can indeed learn a great deal from one another.”

Since the introduction of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, Bishop Philip has called on Catholics across the Diocese to voice their opposition by asking their MP to speak and vote against the proposed Bill.

Bishop Philip has expressed his great concern about the risks that legalising assisted suicide would bring to vulnerable groups, particularly in light of the significant pressures that already exist on the NHS and a recent Marie Curie report.

"I am a passionate advocate of assisted living, not assisted dying. It is my firm view that investing in palliative care is a better way to said support people suffering at the end of life," the Bishop. " Killing is always wrong, and suicide goes entirely against our natural instincts. To permit legally assisted killing and suicide is to cross a symbolic line. Like using a nuclear weapon, there would be no turning back."

28 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 29

MISSION GOAL 2 | Missionary Communities

Never More Needed – The Story Of Andover Foodbank

Volunteers collecting donations for the Andover Foodbank are often asked 'who in the Test Valley needs food?' The answer is: many people, and for the past 19 years, the Andover Foodbank has been helping to meet a need that increases every year.

In 2024, the Foodbank, which is based at St John the Baptist Church in Andover, fed over 7,000 people in need in and around the area by providing emergency food boxes.

associations, Children’s and Adult Social

Services, Citizens Advice and the pastoral teams at schools. By signing up to partner the Foodbank, care workers at these organisations can help their clients to receive support but must then help them address their longerterm issues. The main reasons for people being crisis are financial, through low income, debt and universal credit not covering the essentials that they require. The Foodbank recently partnered with Citizens Advice and has a case worker on site to provide advice and support to clients.

The Foodbank is the only local charity in Andover that can provide immediate help to those in crisis. Emergency food boxes and other items are distributed to those identified by professional care workers at a network of around 70 local charities, agencies and organisations. Among them are familiar charities and groups such as housing

Each food box includes a supply of long-life food for three days. There are distribution points at the Foodbank and other locations where clients can exchange a voucher for a food box. The Foodbank can also supply toiletries, cleaning materials and baby products. Baby milk, food and nappies have been used extensively by local agencies to ensure that the youngest in our community receive the crucial support that they need in their early years. Clients can also receive market vouchers to allow them to select fresh produce from Andover market. For those who have been rehoused but do not have funds to furnish their new accommodation, the Foodbank offers 'welcome packs' containing basic crockery, cutlery, pans and other items. In recent years the Foodbank has partnered with the Fuel Bank Foundation and can provide fuel vouchers.

The Andover Foodbank has also developed seasonal projects, which are very popular with donors and recipients. In 2024, more than 2,000 chocolate eggs were delivered to children and vulnerable adults at Easter and over 450 summer bags provided food for children in the school holidays. At Christmas, over 1,200 children received gift boxes filled with toys and other items, while hampers or bags of long-life Christmas treats were distributed to over 660 families and 360 individuals. Again, the recipients for these items are identified by care workers, such as those at Children's Services, Finding Freedom and local schools. The gift boxes help to alleviate many financial pressures and allow people to celebrate Christmas rather than exist through it. After receiving gift boxes, a mother said: ‘ It took the stress out of Christmas a bit. The kids loved their items’ , and another family said: ‘You have just lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.'

To meet the demand, the Andover Foodbank relies on donations of food and other items, together with financial donations which are used to run the operation and buy

additional food. Around 70 tonnes of food was distributed in 2024. Donations come from shoppers at supermarkets, companies, schools and groups. Weekly collections from churches across the area are vital.

The Andover Foodbank also provides an opportunity and place for local people to volunteer and gain experience. Volunteers include retired people, those between jobs and mothers with children at school. These include volunteers from churches and faith groups in Andover and the surrounding villages. The Andover Foodbank also welcomes work experience students, Duke of Edinburgh placements and team days from local companies. The Foodbank was awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2023 and could not operate without the hard work of three managers and a dedicated and passionate team of volunteers.

The Andover Foodbank is a very simple project and truly a local charity – involving the community to help those in need within the community.

30 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 2 | Missionary Communities

Becky’s Legacy Lives On

Sometimes even the most modest of funding can make the world of difference.

In 2024, Becky’s Café, at the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph’s parish in Christchurch was awarded grants of nearly £1,000 from the Dorset Community Foundation (DCF) so it could continue providing camaraderie, friendship, support and a warm and inviting community facility for local people.

volunteers. “ The fact we are open all year has been particularly welcomed by all our guests and is a wonderful foundation on which to build next year’s provision.”

The Café, which is open every Thursday, has been running for two years and is wellestablished in the neighbourhood, offering home-made soup, sandwiches and cake with hot drinks, as well social activities and a chance to get together with others, in a warm space, to help combat loneliness and isolation. The Café is named in memory of Becky Jordan, a much-loved young parishioner who died of cancer and who always said that ‘things are better with friends, cake and tea around us’.

Around thirty people from many different backgrounds visit the Café each week; some come because they are hungry, others because they are lonely, some are carers needing some care and respite themselves. Several of the café’s regulars come with or to meet others they know through the Cafe.

The Café successfully applied for a similar grant from the DCF the previous year and once again the money was used to fund the supplies it needs, supplemented by the generosity of donations by volunteers and customers.

“Younger families visit the church site to access help and advice at the Christchurch Food Bank, which is housed onsite in the old chapel and have told us how much it means to them, whether they come once or are regular patrons, ” says Rosie. “ We work with the Food Bank and Christchurch Community Partnership as well as local schools and the medical centre to enrich the quality of life to all those we can reach.”

“ We have built a wonderful team who make the food, serve and welcome everyone,” explains Rosie Proctor, who manages the café with her husband Brian and a group of around 20

32 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 2 | Missionary Communities MISSION GOAL 2.3 | Church Beyond Walls

Ministering In Life and Death Situations

Fr James Lewis talks about his life as a Roman Catholic Chaplain at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, and how saying ‘yes’ can sometimes lead to an unexpected, demanding and yet ultimately satisfying journey

A month before my priestly ordination, I was invited by Bishop Philip for a cup of tea and a chat. Fr Jeremy Garratt, whose parish I had been serving as a deacon, advised me that: ‘ Whatever job the Bishop asks you to do, say ‘thank you Father, I would be very happy to do that'.

situations and provide consolation and hope. As chaplains, we hold a service each year for parents and their families who have suffered the loss of a baby. We acknowledge and give space for them to grieve and pray and meet with others who can understand a little of what they are going through. The charity SANDS offers help and support for parents who have experienced such painful loss.

To my surprise, Bishop Philip asked me to serve the people of Waterlooville and Horndean with Fr Jeremy and also to take on the role of Roman Catholic Chaplain at Queen Alexandra Hospital. This was not something that I had contemplated. I had had some previous experience in healthcare and working in hospitals but, as I was to find out, being a priest called in to minister to patients and their families - often in life and death situations - was very different to having a list of patients to wash and dress.

There are also encounters that have been really joyful. I was called out to visit a mother who was 22 weeks pregnant and going into labour. After receiving the sacraments, her contractions dissipated for a week and she was able to give birth to a tiny baby called Hope. I baptised Hope the following day and after many weeks in intensive care, she was well enough to go home to her family. It has been an amazing joy and privilege to accompany this family.

From the outset, I found myself stepping into unfamiliar environments, ministering to people who seemed to expect me to know what to do and to say. In those moments where I felt out of my depth, I would find myself seeking the Lord to guide my words and actions.

In the first weeks, there were challenging and sometimes overwhelming situations. I was visiting patients who had tried to end their lives, their loved ones standing by their bedside, often filled with disbelief. I was blessing babies that had sadly miscarried. It was then that I found that the rich liturgies that we have in the Church enabled me to bring God’s word and sacraments into these

Often when I arrive, a person is looking lost but I find a kind word and reminding them that they are loved and not forgotten, even though they are sick, often leads to a good conversation and a smile."

Our fantastic team of chaplains at Queen Alexandra has continued to expand. I have the privilege to work alongside three full-time generic chaplains who support all patients and staff. We are led by an inspiring Anglican Chaplain called Connie, along with two Roman Catholics, Deacon Kim and Fr John. We also have seven local priests that assist with the emergency on-call service that tries to respond within an hour to urgent situations where patients need to receive the last rites. This service is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I am so grateful to my brother priests for their love and charity and support in this.

At the hospital, we celebrate Mass on Sundays at 4pm. This congregation has grown to 4050, comprising of patients, nurses, doctors and families. With our Filipino choir made up of nurses, it is always a joyful and faith filled liturgy. Mass is also celebrated on Mondays at 12:30pm and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on a Friday at 3pm. The chapel is used more than any other church I have been to in England. At the start and end of each day, one sees hundreds of nurses and doctors praying in the chapel. It really is a faith filled hospital.

Volunteers have returned to assist the chaplains in visiting and supporting patients on the wards. One of these is Jim Hordell, at present in his second year of Diaconate training.

As someone who likes new encounters, meeting people where they are and journeying with them, it has been a very good fit for me. I am pleased that I took Fr Jeremy’s advice and said 'yes!' to Bishop Philip to take on this role.

"I love going into QA hospital as a volunteer," says Jim. " As my normal job is sitting behind a desk, it is great to feel one is making a difference to people’s lives in a direct way.

34 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 35

MISSION GOAL 2 | Missionary Communities MISSION GOAL 2.3 | Church Beyond Walls

Spotlight On Ethnic Chaplaincies In The Diocese

Fr Claro Conde, Head of Ethnic Chaplaincy in the Diocese, shares his experiences of working with victims of human trafficking from China.

meagre wages. Some work as cockle pickers, like those who drowned in Morecambe Bay in 2004. Some work in illegal cigarette factories. Victims have to pay around £20,000 to the gangs, which means they have to work for more than two years to pay their debts here and in China. Many conscientious and devout Catholic British, Filipino and Chinese people in UK, like the late Mary Gould and the late Mary Doohan of the Little Way Association, a charity that aims to help the poor, needy and sick in developing countries throughout the world, helped to provide shelter and facilitated immigration visas so they could work here legally and so earn decent salaries.

Mr. Q.L. came from a poor region of Fujian in China. His maternal ancestors were probably baptised by Franciscan missionaries. Many Fujian Catholics who arrived in London gathered in restaurants or homes to pray the rosary. Later there were Masses at the Little Way Association chapel, where people gathered from all over the UK. There were lay sisters and relatives of priests who organised religious activities and taught Catechism to children and adults who wanted to become Catholics. Newly-ordained Chinese priests who had studied in Barcelona regularly visited me when I lived in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight and I was invited to visit China, which I did with my English and Chinese parishioners. There I met priests and lay people who suffered persecutions. In an 'underground' seminary, I was asked to give a talk to priests and seminarians through an interpreter. I described the persecution of the

Fr Claro Conde, Head of Ethnic Chaplincy

A couple of years ago, Father Jean-Patrice Coulon, the then Chaplain of Winchester Prison, asked me to see a prison inmate from China. I asked the help of Robert Slinn, who taught English in Beijing, has strong Chinese connections and is now settled in Winchester. Through him, I was able to contact some of the inmate’s Chinese friends, who sent him money to buy Chinese food.

Like many Chinese asylum seekers, this person was a victim of human trafficking by notorious gangs. Some victims have to work in restaurants and take-away shops on

Church during the time of Henry VIII and the underground priests. My audience identified themselves like St Edmund of Abingdon and other priest hole Saints.

issues. Here in the UK, many young people are experiencing a spiritual vacuum coming from Communist, materialistic country and we encourage the local churches to offer them support and the opportunity to explore our faith. In Wantage, Berkshire, a Chinese scientist plays the organ for the choir. We have Chinese priests and nuns and lay people broadcasting from Taiwan, Rome and the USA on Catholic lessons, news and issues. We have now a Chinese deacon. We are also sowing seeds of vocations to the young. In Oxford, I met a young Chinese convert who is studying the New Testament.

I also became a link and contact for the Fujian Catholics in the UK, helping them integrate with the main Chinese community in this country.

In 1997, the end of British rule in Hong Kong brought a new wave of Catholics to fill our pews. Most of them go to their local churches here. They speak and understand not only English but also British culture as they had been under British rule for over 150 years. Recently, Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Ha did a 10-day pastoral visit to the United Kingdom and celebrated Cantonese Mass at St. James's Church in Reading.

In Hampshire, we have a social media network with about 200 members. Most of our materials are from different media in mainland China and are restricted.

Hopefully the Jubilee Year of Hope in 2025 will mean that Chinese Catholics will come with us on both a physical and a spiritual pilgrimage to Rome and other local churches.

The ministry for Chinese people all over the world is very complex, from the relationship between the Church and China to language

36 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 2 | Missionary Communities MISSION GOAL 2.3 | Church Beyond Walls

Fifty Years of The PortsmouthBamenda Partnership

Fifty years ago, Bishop Worlock and Bishop Paul Verdzekov, of the then newly established Diocese of Bamenda, initiated the twinning of the two dioceses as a practical demonstration of St Pope Paul VI’s Vatican II document 'Gaudium et Spes'. In 2024, we celebrate half a century of the partnership between the Diocese of Portsmouth and the Archdiocese of Bamenda in northwest Cameroon.

Today, we have the great privilege of welcoming priests from Bamenda into our own parishes. Their mission to us is one of renewal at a time when our communities become daily more secular.

Back in 1974, the then Diocese of Bamenda was just four years old, with few priests to administer the Sacraments and share the Gospel message. Churches were few and very far between and the number of members of the laity trained in supporting the Catholic communities was low.

"We have much to thank God for from this twinning," says Father Bernadine Nsom. "God willing, young men and women in our Diocese will be inspired by our missionary priests from Bamenda to respond positively and selflessly to God’s call to them to follow His call for them to the priestly or religious life."

Initially, priests from our Diocese worked in Bamenda, teaching the Faith, establishing parishes, training the laity, buildings schools and opening youth ministries. Their mission was hugely successfully and saw the young Church in Bamenda grow and develop. Many Cameroonian young men who responded to the call of the Holy Spirit to the priesthood cite one of those early missionary priests from our Diocese as an important factor in their vocation.

The Portsmouth Bamenda Committee (PBC) was established to oversee the delivery of projects funded by money raised in our Diocese. Every penny donated is used to support projects and develop and strengthen the special relationship with the Archdiocese of Bamenda.

Jubilee Mass

On Saturday 8 July 2024, Bishop Philip welcomed Archbishop Andrew Nkea of Bamenda to celebrate the Golden Jubilee Link between our two Dioceses. The Mass was concelebrated by priests from both Dioceses, including the five priests from Bamenda currently serving in our Diocese, or ‘the Fabulous Five’ as Bishop Philip referred to them in his sermon (Fathers Emmanual, Elijah, Gaston, Benedikt and Anthony) and Fathers Peter Codd, Tony Gatt and Ron Hishon, all of whom served in Bamenda in the 1970s. Fathers Ron and Peter were two of the first missionary priests from Portsmouth, together with the late Father Frank Isherwood.

Cameroon truly came to the Cathedral that day with many native Cameroonians from across the UK and past and present members of the Portsmouth Bamenda Committee all participating in a truly joyful and colourful celebration of singing, dancing and drumming whilst also enjoying its delicious food.

Bamenda Today - Ongoing Civil Conflict

Bamenda has experienced great civil unrest for some ten years. This has included sectarian killings, the destruction of homes and community building, kidnappings by separatist rebels and has dominated daily life in Bamenda.

During this period, tens of thousands of individuals have been killed and over a million fled their homes and sought refuge with extended family in ‘safer’ areas and, all too often, have relied on the kindness of strangers.

Today the situation remains unstable and incidents of violence between the many separatist groups remain frequent and commonplace. Across Bamenda, daily life is challenging and on Mondays Bamenda City is a ‘ghost town’. These lockdowns are often violently enforced, part of Operation Ghost Town Resistance, a campaign of mass general strikes instated by Anglophone activists in 2017 in protest of discrimination faced by English speakers in the majority-Francophone country.

38 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 2 | Missionary Communities MISSION GOAL 2.3 | Church Beyond Walls

Project Funding:

A core aspect of this special relationship are the practical projects that have been funded by money donated at the annual Bamenda Sunday collection. This remains an important and tangible part of the relationship, as they provide a lasting and tangible expression of the affection in which parishioners throughout the Diocese of Portsmouth hold the special relationship with the Archdiocese of Bamenda.

The ongoing conflict has meant that it has slowed the delivery of development aid projects. The frequent periods of lockdown due to civil unrest and Covid-19 have disrupted the daily rhythm of life and so delayed build-focused projects and made those involving training and skills development almost impossible to deliver, as it is often unsafe for participants to travel to training courses.

The last twelve months has seen a gradual improvement in the civil situation and the worst impact of Covid-19 has abated through a government delivered vaccination programme. This has enabled the PBC to restart its programme of funding projects in 2024.

Projects are proposed to Archbishop Andrew by the various Catholic parishes and communities within Bamenda. Potential projects that meet the criteria under the special relationship are then forwarded to the PBC, which in turn recommends projects for funding to the Diocesan Trustees for approval, in accordance with the PBC’s term of reference. Although the current civil unrest prevents any members of the PBC travelling to Bamenda to oversee the delivery of these projects, the satisfactory delivery of each project is monitored by periodic update reports and regular updates through social media between the project leads in Bamenda and staff from the Archbishop’s Office.

In the past year, money raised from last year’s Bamenda Sunday collection has paid for:
solar power for St Bede’s Secondary School
fitting out apartments in a new retirement home for clergy, and
providing theatre equipment for the newly extended St Blaise Hospital, and
assisted with the training of youth workers.

Future projects currently going through the assessment and approval process include:

building of a new nursery school in St Felix Parish
sponsoring training of youth leaders and facilitators, and
supporting the strengths of the community health worker service.

In addition to the projects above, there are other important programmes underway across the Archdiocese, thanks to funding from elsewhere.

‘Empower the Women, Develop the Nation!’ is an initiative that sets out to remedy the situation of 15 single mothers and other vulnerable women through skills development, which has already started in five Deaneries. Participants were enrolled into different vocational training centred where they are expected to train for six months each. The support aims to achieve growth that works for all by increasing the opportunities to generate income, improved living conditions, decent jobs and entrepreneurship, investing in the poorest and most vulnerable and safeguarding economic gains.

Many parishes in town and some in the suburbs have met one of Archbishop Andrew’s priorities that all the Bamenda parishes should have a Eucharistic Adoration chapel built next to the main church so that there can be perpetual adoration every day.

Looking Forward - The Next Fifty Years:

Developing this type of close partnership was far from easy in 1974 as communications were difficult, costly and took a long time. Back then sending letters via the postal system was the only real option and it took several months before letters were delivered, if at all! But now, the positive impact of social media means that parishes, schools, groups can link via FaceTime, WhatsApp, etc easily and cheaply. So although the ongoing civil conflict continues to make visits to Bamenda very difficult, we can still visit ‘virtually’!

Looking to the future and to the next fifty years of our special relationship, both Bishop Philip and Archbishop Andrew are keen to make their relationship even more special by identifying opportunities for parishes in both Diocese to twin, either as a whole parish or as a school or other groups within the parish.

During the coming year, the aim is to pilot twinning in a few parishes and increase the number of Diocesan schools partnered with schools in Bamenda. In the last year the following schools have approached the PBC to be twinned with a school in Bamenda:

“We thank God for all He has given us number of Diocesan schools partnered with throughout the fifty years of our special schools in Bamenda. In the last year the relationship with the Archdiocese of Bamenda,” following schools have approached the PBC to be twinned with a school in Bamenda: says Bishop Philip. “Let us pray for the people of Cameroon, for a solution to the civil unrest and for the faithful of our sister Diocese of • St George’s Secondary School, Bamenda. And please pray too for our own Southampton Diocese of Portsmouth, for the renewal of our • Notre Dame du Rosaire Primary School, clergy and laity, and for ourselves that we may Guernsey, and bring many more people closer to Jesus Christ • St Mary and St Michael Primary School, through His Church.” Guernsey.

Support the Portsmouth and Bamenda Partnership

Anyone wishing to support the partnership between the Dioceses of Portsmouth & Bamenda can do so here: Donate To Bamenda Commission | Give As You Live

40 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 3 | Prudent stewards of Christ’s Church

New Estates Team Rises To The Challenge

The Diocesan Estates Team manages approximately 500 estate management cases from urgent repairs to planned capital works every year, including a programme of £3 million of capital works for 40 Catholic schools throughout the Diocese, which this year saw replacement of windows, boilers and other essential replacement works required to keep our schools open.

the Estates Officer for our Priest Retirement Fund properties and Dean Myers is the School Estates Manager. Stephen Vernon supports the Team as their Administrative Officer. The Team has over 100 years of combined property experience from a complete range of property services.

Comprehensive business cases were produced in 2024 for 60 separate parish capital expenditure projects for approval by the relevant Committees. These ranged from historic building repair to a complete replacement of the curtain wall of once of our churches. Some 50 new and revised tenancies were signed over the course of the year alongside a comprehensive rent review that saw rental receipts increase by over £100,000 a year.

"After a period of employee vacancies, 2024 saw the establishment and bedding in of the new Estates Team," says Daniel. "Over the past year, the Team has worked hard to attempt to catch up on historic workload, establish new working practices and support the parish-wide Health and Safety Audit that was conducted through WorkNest."

The Team is led by Daniel Bowyer, Director of Estates, who joined the Diocese in 2023, supported by two Estates Managers, Stephen Hardman and Heather Ward. Peter Escott is

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139 Churches
113 Parish Halls
102
Presbyteries
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18 Priest Retirement Properties

100+ Investment Properties

In total 525 properties with an insured value in 525 excess of £650 million

people - pupils and 64,000+ staff in Catholic schools, parishioners, employees, volunteers, Priests and Deacons, retired Priests, tenants and licensees - use our buildings every year

42 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 3 | Prudent stewards of Christ’s Church

Care After A Lifetime Of Service

Under Canon Law, the Bishop - and therefore the Diocese - has a responsibility of care to all priests, both in active ministry and those who have retired. Thanks to the generosity of donors, this duty of care has been delivered through the Priests’ Retirement Fund, which ensures that retired priests receive the support and care they need following a lifetime of service.

backdated payment of National Insurance contributions for men who are recently ordained, where they may be unable to meet the full qualifying number of years due to their time in seminary. Some priests have not signed up to pay National Insurance or contribute to a pension scheme. All priests are encouraged join the relief funds, but not all choose to do so.

In 2024, the Diocese was appointed trustee of the Priests’ Retirement Fund (PRF) and the two charities have been formally linked by the Charity Commission.

The practical contact with retired priests is handled by Canon David Hopgood and his Team in the Department for Clergy Support. The PRF is led by a committee - now chaired by Monsignor John Nelson - which ensures that resources are available to support the work now and continue for the foreseeable future, including funds raised by the Closer to Christ Campaign.

The Priests’ Retirement Fund is one of the great success stories in the Diocese of Portsmouth. Thanks to the huge generosity of so many people in every parish, and extending over many years, the Fund is able to continue to serve the needs of those who responded to the call to serve God’s people as priests.

During the past year key decisions have been made about future resilience, including the

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Fr David Quarmby
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Having the security that the PRF provides eases concerns and any anxiety a priest feels as he approaches retirement.

Ultimately, responsibility for the care of priests – working in parishes and retired – rests with the Bishop and this Fund enables Bishop Philip to make concrete that care of those who have reached a certain age. Thank you to everyone who continues to support us.

“Without doubt the Fund is under pressure as costs rise – especially when it comes to care of priests who need care in a nursing home,” says Mgr John. “However, I can say with confidence that our retired priests receive all the help and support they need, in whatever shape and form required, and their appreciation is frequently expressed in different ways.”

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37 Retired priests
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11 Living outside of the Diocese

12 Retired priests living in PRF/ Diocesan property

Retired priests receive some 35 form of financial support from the PRF

£300k

£300k Received by the PRF from the Closer to Christ campaign to help care for retired priests (a further £240,000 due to be distributed in Q1 24/25)

value of the PRF £5.8 assets, including million property

44 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 1 | To be a Christ-centred Church MISSION GOAL 2 | Missionary Communities

Safeguarding – Everyone’s Responsibility

As a Diocese, we are committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church. With Christ at the centre of our ministries, we seek to embed a culture where all those within our parishes and church communities are safe from harm and abuse. Safeguarding is identified as leadership priority by Bishop Philip and a responsibility that rests with us all. The Diocese’s Head of Safeguarding, Ruth Attfield, reviews the past 12 months, which included a successful audit our of practices and procedures by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA).

of the leadership in safeguarding across the Diocese, the professionalism of the Safeguarding Team, calibre of the Safeguarding Committee (who provide oversight) and the collective commitment of our clergy, staff and volunteers.

In March 2024, we welcomed the CSSA audit team to the Diocese to undertake a planned baseline audit of our safeguarding practice and processes, measuring against the national standards. The audit report was published in June 2024.

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Diocese
Standard Position
June 2024
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The audit recognised a number of safeguarding strengths, including the provision of training for clergy and Parish Safeguarding Ministers, dissemination of the Charter for the Care of Victims and Survivors and the effective management of allegations and concerns. The expertise of the Safeguarding Team, culture of continuous improvement and establishment of safeguarding as a leadership priority were also commended. The audit also returned valuable recommendations, including the integration of safeguarding into the Diocese’s Ten-Year Mission Plan, completion of a training needs analysis, and a mechanism for succession planning for key safeguarding roles. The findings and recommendations from the audit have been reflected in our Safeguarding Implementation Plan (SIP) with monitoring and oversight of progress from both the Safeguarding Committee and the Trustee Board.

Standard	Diocese Position *June 2024*

Embed safeguarding in the Church body’s leadership, governance,ministry& culture	Comprehensive assurance
Communicate the Church’s safeguardingmessage	Results being achieved
Engage with and care for those who report having been harmed	Results being achieved
Efectively manage allegations and concerns	Results being achieved
Manage and support subjects of allegations and concern (respondents).	Results being achieved
Implement robust human resource management.	Comprehensive assurance
Provide and access training and support for safeguarding	Comprehensive assurance
Quality assurance compliance to continuously improve practice	Results being achieved

Receiving the CSSA Audit Report, Bishop Philip Egan remarked: “The responsibility of safeguarding in our Diocese of Portsmouth does not rest with a single department. It lies at the very heart of all that we do and relies on

The CSSA awarded the Diocese an overall grading of Results Being Achieved, an encouraging overall rating and reflective

every member of our working and worshipping communities playing their part. The work of DBS checks processed. safeguarding is never complete, but the audit 652 findings are most encouraging and serve to (978 = 2022-23) strengthen our resolve and commitment to uphold the dignity and protect the welfare of everyone within our Church and to do all that we can to help victims in their journey towards Parish Safeguarding Ministers healing.”

Parish Safeguarding Ministers 137 providing support to parishes. (128 = 2022-23)

The central Safeguarding Team have been focused on delivering the priorities as identified within our Safeguarding Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP drives the strategic work of the Team with oversight from the Safeguarding Committee and Trustee Board. " We ensure that all concerns of a safeguarding nature are responded to promptly ," explains Ruth Attfield, Head of Safeguarding. “ We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all those within our church communities. Where an allegation of abuse is made against those working in the name of the Church, regardless of whether the allegation relates to their behaviour in their role within the Church or another setting, we will report this to the statutory authorities. This includes allegations where the identified perpetrator is deceased."

New Parish Safeguarding Ministers welcomed and received induction 36 and initial training. (27 = 2022-23)

2,100 Volunteers (approximately)

In April 2024, the Team launched the Learning Management System (LMS), the online learning portal developed by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA). The LMS provides easy access to the mandatory safeguarding training, enabling training to be completed in an online learning environment. "We have also continued the provision of face-to-face training with our commitment being to ensure safeguarding training is available for every pastoral area at least once in every 12-month period," says Ruth.

People completed online 574 training

Face-to-face training courses... 36

As a Registered Affiliate of the CSSA, our safeguarding practices align with the eight national Safeguarding Standards and we work in accordance with the national policies and associated best practice guidance for the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

... delivered to volunteers 438 and lay people.

46 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

MISSION GOAL 3 | Prudent Stewards of Christ's Church

Managing The Money

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away,

Parish Finance Committees play a pivotal role in the financial stewardship of parish resources. This includes working together with the priest to ensure the parish remains financially sound while delivering the diocesan mission and ministry for the . years ahead

and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes,

so that it may bear more fruit”

John 15:2

Consisting of parish members chosen by the priest who generously volunteer their time and expertise, many finance committees have evolved to support the parish priest in not just finance but property, health and safety and administration activity. As such, the Finance Committee can be a key bridge between the parish and the Diocese.

“The key roles of the committee include raising the funds required to run the parish and then ensuring these are spent as effectively and efficiently as possible to deliver our mission, by using the Diocesan financial policies and procedures,” says Clive Field, Diocese Finance Director.

A committee should meet at least four times a year to discuss and monitor key responsibilities, including:

Setting and monitoring an annual budget
Ensuring accurate financial records and associated information is maintained
Reviewing cashflow, income and expenditure
An annual financial review to the parish
Overseeing the upkeep and management of parish property
Overseeing compliance with fire, health and safety regulations
Providing input and advice on major financial expenditures to ensure the prudent management of resources
The need to balance prudent financial management with the Church’s mission to evangelise and serve the poor
Encouragement to work collaboratively with clergy and parishioners.

Clive adds:

“While having a background in finance or business is useful, the committee’s wide-ranging responsibilities means it benefits greatly from members with diverse skills, such as building management, construction, administration, engineering and health and safety compliance as well as accountancy or banking.

We are fortunate in our Diocese to have many volunteers who not only embody a wide range of skills and experience but also are a tangible example of collaboration between clergy and parishioners.”

With thanks to the Chairs of the Parish Finance Committees for the parishes of Crowthorne and Sandhurst, Bracknell and Wokingham.

48 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 49

Our Year In Numbers

Pastoral Statistics for the 2024 Calendar Year

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Pastoral Statistics for the 2024 Calendar Year
92 Priests & 43
400 Deacons in Parish Ministry
35
Masses
Religious
celebrated
Communities 300
every Sunday 11
people attended our
Seminarians Virtual Formation
Day for Lay Readers
27,550
People attended Mass on an 137 Safeguarding Ministers
average Sunday
people across the
1,000+ Diocese received
87 24
online and face-to-face safeguarding
training
Parishes Pastoral Areas
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----- Start of picture text -----
690 206
139 103
People received Couples began life
Churches in Churches in Confirmation together through
active use poor condition the Sacrament of
1369 Marriage
Joined the
161
Roman Catholic
997
hours spent on parish Health and
Church through
Safety inspections Funerals
Baptism
We received
£21.85
£7,842,000
million
in offertory income, averaging £5.47 per
parishioner per week (including Gift Aid) income
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Our Finances at a Glance

£377,000 Operational deficit; income not sufficient to meet costs 6.7% Decrease in real income (since 2019) 36% Of our income came from the offertory £5.47 Offertory per person per week including Gift Aid £1.196 million Gift Aid reclaimed 88% Increase in contactless and online giving £19,299 Average cost per priest £14,949 Average cost per employee £18,244 Average cost of utilities per parish £37,412 Average maintenance spend per parish £121 Per parishioner was spent on repairs and maintenance of churches and other property 2.5 million Additional annual spend required to ensure property is properly maintained Average income per parish £16,667 £166,617 £832,606

In the Diocese | People | Estates | Sacraments | Finance

50 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Stewardship of Resources - Financial Review

Stewardship of Resources

Financial Review

How is the Diocese funded?

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Rental Income
£1,135,661 (6%)
Grants and Income for
Commissions & Services
£2,250,317 (13%)
Insurance Claims
£58,316 (0%)
Investments
£1,188,875 (7%) Offertory, Fundraising,
Legacies
£13,056559 (74%)
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£13,056,559 | Gifts from the faithful are the Diocese’s main source of income; the parish offertory, fundraising and legacies made up 74% of the diocese’s actual income, in the last financial year (excluding a one off £4.165m donation of a church).

£5.47 | Assuming every one of the 27,550 people who attended Mass on an average Sunday in 2024 contributed to the offertory, giving equated to £5.47 per parishioner per week in the 2023-2024 financial year.

The £7.84 million received through the offertory was given in a variety of ways. Standing orders and cash donations remain the most popular methods, although the Diocese has seen an 88% increase in contactless and online giving over the last year.

Gift aid, a tax relief scheme from the UK Government on eligible charitable donations, increased our income by £1,196,367 making a significant contribution to the Diocese’s overall financial position.

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Ways of Giving
Standing Orders - Gift Aid
£2,856,770 (36%)
Gift Aid
£21,196,367 (15%)
Contactless
Christmas & Giving
Easter Offertory £334,418 (4%)
£361,352 (5%)
Online Giving
Envelopes
£165,083 (2%)
£372,522 (5%)
Loose Plate Donations
Standing Orders - No Gift Aid
£1,893,810 (24%)
£661,678 (9%)
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£1,188,875 | 7% of the Diocese’s income was generated from its investments. This includes interest on cash deposits and stock investments; however, the majority was rental income from the Diocese’s investment properties. Investment properties are generally parish properties, such as empty presbyteries, which are repurposed as investment properties in order to generate an income.

£1,135,661 | 6% of the Diocese income was generated through hiring out our 113 halls and other premises to a wide variety of community groups, activities and private use.

£2,250,317 | 13% of the Diocese’s income came from other sources, such as grants for Caritas or parish projects, payments from schools for training and S48 inspections, and payments for chaplaincy to hospitals and universities.

£58,316 | was paid by the Diocese’s insurers in response to insurance claims, this included £34K to cover repairs following storm damage in Jersey.

6.7% | Is the decrease in real income since 2019, our income has not kept pace with inflation whereas our costs have.

£4,165,000 | The Diocese’s Statement of Accounts includes a £4,165,000 Donation of Tangible Assets. This has not been included in the chart opposite or in the calculation of percentages because it is not income the Diocese could actually spend.

The donation refers to the transfer of Corpus Christ Church and associated estate in Boscombe from the Jesuits to the Diocese following the Jesuits’ withdrawal from the parish. Following the transfer, the Diocese has the responsibility for ongoing property maintenance and other costs associated with the church and other buildings.

52 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

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Stewardship of Resources - Financial Review Stewardship of Resources - Financial Review
What does it cost to run the Diocese?
IT and Telecoms
£146,827 (1%)
The Diocese spent £18,066,830 million in the 2023-24 Curial Property and Overheads
financial year. £11.2 million (62%) was spent in individual £407,987 (3%)
Property Management
parishes while £6.9 million (38%) was spent on central costs
£364,824 (2%)
and through restricted funds which cover the Diocese as a
whole. Parishes contribute towards central costs through
Our Clergy
the parish levy, which was £2.4 million in 2023-24. £1,776,162 (11%)
Finance and Parish Support
£377,860 (3%)
Fundraising
£558,450 (3%)
Our Staff
£1,900,902 (12%)
General Admin
Safeguarding
£242,382 (1%)
£192,833 (1%)
Supporting Catholic Education
£921,452 (6%) Human Resources
Comms & Media
£165,854 (1%)
£187,463 (1%)
Bishops’ Conference Levy
Departments Priests’ Retirement Fund
£136,300 (1%)
£618,891 (4%)
Parishes
Episcopal Departments Caritas
Evangelisation - Poor
£60,524 (0%)
& Marginalised
Supporting Clergy and Vocations £72,475 (0%)
Supporting Our Seminarians
Evangelisation
£465,306 (3%)
Department for Clergy
Priests’ Retirement Fund (PRF) £361,248 (2%)
Support for Catholic Education
Parish Running Costs
£3,108,150 (19%)
Bishops’ Conference Levy
Episcopal Departments
£377,860 (2%)
Fundraising
Parish Support, Charity
Administration and Safeguarding Repairing & Maintaining Our Churches Insuring Our Churches
£3,254,814 (20%) £438,367 (3%)
Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024
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54 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Stewardship of Resources - Financial Review

Did the Diocese make ends meet in the 2023 - 2024 financial year?

No.

Setting aside the donation of a church (see section on income), the Diocese ended the 2023-24 financial year with a £377,000 deficit; income was not sufficient to meet costs.

38 parishes (44%) recorded an operational deficit for the year; using their finite reserves to cover costs. Of these, 7 parishes, recorded a deficit of more than £50,000, one to make a significant donation towards the restoration of the Cathedral, the other 6 to fund urgent works to parish property.

After ending 8 out of the last 10 years with an operational deficit, the Curia recorded an operational surplus of £483,000, taking into account Levy and other transfers, and excluding gains on investments, in the 2023-24 financial year. This was in part thanks to the contribution of the Closer to Christ campaign towards the previously under-funded central costs associated with funding seminarians, clergy support and providing for retired priests. It was also due to a cost reduction programme across the Curia, minimising costs wherever possible while still achieving key objectives.

Major Works: Cathedral West Window . . .

Where – The Cathedral Parish of St John the Evangelist, Portsmouth. Grade II listed building.
When – January to December 2023
Need for the project – Jan 2024, damaged noted to stained glass section to the Cathedral Westworks (entrance). Immediate response - make safe fragile stained glass to 40m². Conservators (stained glass specialists) assessed the glass which to confirm extensive deterioration, which had been caused by weather events, and age. Stained glass specialists aonseravtors) Holywell Glas Limited.
What was done – All stained glass were removed section by section and transported to Holywell Glass workshop in Frome. Repairs and preservation techniques were applied such as leading, cleansing and strengthening. The stained glass was reinstated in the last week of Advent Dec 2023 and was greeted by appraising winter sunshine to show off the splendour of the artwork and restoration for future generations.
Cost – £120,000

Is the Diocese financially sustainable in the long term?

It depends.

If nothing changes, the Diocese would not be financially sustainable in the long-term. The key financial challenges the Diocese faces include:

Income generated through our parishes does not meet the cost of running all our parishes.

Income does not keep pace with inflation, while costs increase.

Reserves are very limited, and often restricted to specific purposes, the Diocese does not have a financial buffer.

The Curia does not have a source of funding which is independent from parishes and specific fundraising campaigns. The Parish Levy only covers 62% of central costs. The contribution of the Closer to Christ campaign towards central costs is finite and will run out within the next 10 years.

The Diocese is highly dependent on giving for its income; financial contributions are at risk as Church participation decreases.

There is a complex web of borrowing and overdrafts across the Diocese, reducing its financial flexibility.

Significant financial investment is needed to maintain the Diocese’s existing estate portfolio, including churches, halls, presbyteries and other buildings, for the long term.

Despite these significant challenges, the Diocese is considered to be a going concern (financially sustainable) because clear plans are in place to address them.

A Ten-Year Mission Plan, You Will Be My Witnesses, is in place to breathe life into the Diocese and adapt our way of doing things to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.

Financial modelling has been undertaken and a 5-year financial strategy developed to address the Diocese’s financial position.

Pastoral Areas are being supported to develop local plans to prioritise their focus for the next 10-years and consider what they can afford to resource going forward.

A financial governance framework has been developed, including the implementation of Xero across all our parishes and the introduction of new policies and financial controls to ensure resources are more effectively stewarded going forward.

56 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Stewardship of Resources - Financial Review

Does the Diocese really have £104 million assets to spend?

Not easily.

On paper, the Diocese has £104 million worth of gross assets. However, the majority of these could not easily be realised or spent. The Diocese has £99 million of net assets, because it also has £5.36 million worth of liabilities (money owed by the Diocese).

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Fixed Assets
Cash £49,239,322 (45%)
£16,372,333 (15%)
Debtors Creditors
£460,629 (0%) -£5,356,724 (-5%)
Quoted Investments
£6,636,640 (6%)
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to selling ecclesiastical property and a canonical process to follow to ensure the decision to dispose of a church is the best decision in the circumstances.

In other contexts, the Diocese’s ecclesiastical property is valued at £693 million. However, this value would never be realisable and therefore is not reflected in our accounts. £693 million is the insured value of our ecclesiastical property; it is the estimated cost to rebuild our estate like-for-like. This value is important for our insurance, and also as a guide to budgeting property maintenance.

£32 million | The Diocese’s investment property is valued at £32 million in our accounts. This is the estimated market value and could be realised by selling investment property to generate a lump sum. It is not spendable immediately, the process of selling property always takes time. In selling its investment property, the Diocese would forgo future investment income. More than £1 million worth of income was generated from investment property rentals in 2023-24. For many parishes income from their investments makes the difference between operating at a surplus or at a deficit.

£6.6 million | The Diocese holds £6.6 million of investments in securities in the Diocese of Portsmouth Common Investment Fund (DOPIF), which is managed by external investment managers. These assets are more easily accessible than our property assets, however, spending them means losing future investment income. A diverse set of assets also helps improve our financial resilience. An increasing number of parishes are liquidating their investments in order to spend the funds on maintaining parish property.

£ 16.37 million | The Diocese holds £16.37 million in cash across all its bank accounts, these assets are the most easily accessible to spend. If income ceased coming in, these cash reserves would cover around 11 months of normal spending.

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Investment Properties
£32,030,327 (29%)
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£49 million | The Diocese’s accounts value our churches, halls and presbyteries at £49 million. This value was calculated several decades ago when the Diocese was first required to show these properties in its accounts. The value was dictated by technical accounting rules in force at the time. This value is unlikely to exist outside of our accounts.

In order for these assets to be realised (i.e. be spendable), the property would need to be sold. A market valuation is not included in our accounts because ecclesiastical property is generally unlikely to be sold, and the valuation process is often very complex. There is rarely an alternative use for the property, the land is often the most valuable part. Church property often comes under covenants which further affect the value, in some cases part or all of the asset would return to the original donor.

Sometimes, selling a property is necessary and, in this case, cash which could then be spent would be generated. However, it is never a quick or easy solution. There is a long timeline

Most cash reserves are designated to a particular parish or purpose. Not every parish has reserves. Of the Diocese’s 87 parishes, 14 are overdrawn by a combined total of £1.2 million. A further 7 parishes have less than £10,000 in their bank accounts.

The Curia is overdrawn by £2.04 million due to running a deficit for 8 out of the last 10 financial years, as well as a web of historic debt within the Diocese, for example loans from the Curia to parishes to fund historic building projects.

£460,000 | The Diocese is owed £460,000 by other organisations (debtors), for example where rent or payments for chaplaincy services were due one the 31 August 2024. Once these debtors have paid, the asset converts into cash which could be spent.

£5.36 million | The Diocese has £5.36 million worth of liabilities. The majority of which relates to the £4.66 million of funding from the Department of Education (DfE) for the maintenance of property associated with voluntary aided Catholic schools. It is shown as a liability because it was not yet spent on the 31 August 2024 and would need to be repaid to the DfE if is not spent within the funding timeframe.

58 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Stewardship of Resources - Financial Review

The remaining £532k of liabilities are due to invoices which had not cleared by the 31 August 2024 and funds from second collections which had not yet been disbursed to the intended beneficiaries.

The Diocese’s bank overdrafts are not shown under creditors in our accounts because they are balanced out by the cash held on other accounts. The £16.37 million of cash held by the Diocese is the net position.

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£104,739,251 £5,356,724 £99,382,527
Assets Liabilities Net Assets
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For more information on Investments, Reserves and Risks see pages 72 - 74

Major Works: St Bede’s, Basingstoke . . .

Where – St Bedes church Basingstoke
When – January 2024
• Need for the project Water leaks into the cloister and hall
What was done – Liquid Membrane was installed to the roof
Cost – £12,500

What would it cost to keep all the churches in the Diocese in good condition?

More than we can afford.

The Diocese spent an average £2.81 million per year maintain its estate over the last 5 years. Despite this, the condition of our estate is generally poor. Of our 139 churches, 103 (74%) are in poor condition and require significant investment in the short term.

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103 Poor | 16 Fair | 20 Good
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Essential Maintenance Shortfall

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£3.3 million
£2.5 million
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There is a significant backlog of maintenance to undertake. Our quinquennial property condition reports outline £29.2 million worth of essential works to be undertaken on our properties, which averages out at £5.8 million per year. This would be £2.5 million more than the £3.3 million we spent in 2023-24, a year we ended in deficit.

For each year that we do not spend enough to catch up, the cost to clear the backlog grows and the condition of our properties deteriorates further.

Carrying out essential maintenance work is not the same as maintaining buildings in good condition for the long term. A conservative estimate suggests that, once backlog maintenance has been addressed, 1% of the insured value of the building should be spent each year on maintenance to keep property in good condition for the long term.

The insured value of the Diocese’s property is £721 million, which suggests we should be spending £7.2 million per year on maintaining property. This would not include aesthetic or community projects such as putting in a stained-glass window or fitting a kitchen.

What does this look like per parishioner?

£284 giving (to cover all costs, £121 spent on maintaining not just maintenance) buildings in 2023-24 should have been spent to should have been spent £211 cover minimum essential £261 to keep buildings in good maintenance condition for the long term

How does the Diocese Provide for Priests in Retirement?

The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth – Priests’ Retirement Fund (PRF) provides for Diocesan secular priests in their retirement. £422k was spent providing accommodation, a grant, and/or a contribution towards the cost of care for the 35 retired priests currently supported by the PRF. The PRF has £5.8 million of assets, most of which is housing for retired priests. The PRF ended the 2023-24 financial year with a £29k surplus, taking into account £300k of funding from the Closer to Christ campaign received that year.

The number of retired priests will increase over the next few years, with retirement expected to significantly outpace ordinations. The primary source of income for the PRF in the 2023-24 financial year was the Closer to Christ campaign, An alternative source of funding or alternative model for supporting retired priests will be needed in the future at the end of the current fundraising campaign.

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Stewardship of Resources - Financial Review

Where are the Diocese’s Catholic Schools in the accounts?

The day-to-day operation of Catholic schools is the responsibility of each school or academy trust. School finances are separate from the Diocese and therefore not included in our accounts. The Diocese owns the land or buildings for 42 maintained schools and 14 academies. This property is not listed as an asset in our accounts, because it would not be possible to realise a value from the property.

The Diocese receives funding from the UK Department for Education (DfE) as a contribution towards maintaining voluntary aided Catholic school buildings. The DfE contributes 90% and the Diocese or the schools must provide funding for the remaining 10%.

----- Start of picture text -----
Roofing Projects
Health and Safety, Toilets &
£992,000 (32%)
Outdoor Projects
£877,000 (29%)
Boilers & Heating Systems Fenestration
£754,000 (25%) £421,000 (14%)
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Of the £344k of funding received through the Devolved Formula Capital (DFC) and the £2.7 million of VASCA funding in the 2023-24 financial year, £992k (33%) was spent on roofing projects, £421k (14%) on fenestration, £754k (25%) on boilers and heating systems and the remaining £877k (29%) spent on works related to Health & Safety, toilets and outdoor projects. The funds held are included in the Diocese’s accounts.

The Department for Education also funds the maintenance of academies. This funding is paid directly to each academy trust and does not come through the Diocese’s accounts. A financial advantage of the academy model is that, neither the Diocese nor the schools have an obligation to fund the 10% top-up required for voluntary aided schools.

Structure, Governance & Management and Financial Accounts

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Structure, Governance & Management Financial Review

Constitution

The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 06 July 2022 under charity number 1199568.

It is governed under a constitution, which was last amended on 20 March 2023. As an association CIO the Diocese has a sole member, the Bishop of Portsmouth whose responsibilities include appointing Trustees.

The Appointment of Trustees

Trustees are appointed in writing by the charity’s sole member: the Bishop of Portsmouth. Trustee vacancies are advertised through appropriate diocesan communication channels, potential candidates are also approached directly. All candidates applying to become a trustee will be interviewed by the Bishop and Secretary to Trustees. Any successful applicants are coopted as advisory members of the Board at the next full meeting for a period of six months. At the end of six months, they are appointed as trustees by the Bishop.

Senior priests are appointed as ex-officio trustees; their appointment lasts as long as they are in office. Other trustees and generally appointed for a five-year term, which may be repeated or extended.

Trustees

Bishop of Portsmouth Rt Rev Philip Anthony Egan
Rev Gaston Forbah Afah (appointed 02 May 2024)
Rev Mr Gerard Dailly (term ended 07 June 2024)
Mr Bernard Davis (term ended 26 September 2024)
Mrs Anne-Marie Eden (appointed 30 July 2024)
Mr Michael Elks
Rev Christopher Heaps
Rev Mark Hogan (term ended 31 March 2024)
Mr Paul Kilduff
Dr Catherine Knowles
Rev Canon James McAuley
Rev Canon Paul James Smith
Mr Richard Taylor (appointed 04 October 2024)
Rev Benjamin Theobald
Rev Canon Simon Thomson
Mr Chris Trickey

The Board of Trustees meet five times during the year.

Linked Charities

The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth has over 90 special trusts, most of which relate to property. There are seven funds:

Anthony Robert Baron’s Bequest
Diocese of Portsmouth Common Investment
Pangbourne Assistance Fund
St Dominic’s Priory Countess of Clare Fund
The Father Bernard Medd Memorial Fund
The Portsmouth Diocesan Educational Foundation
Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth – Priests’ Retirement Fund

These special trusts are linked to the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth for the purposes of registration and reporting. The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth is the sole trustee of these special trusts.

Trustee Induction and Training

The Secretary to Trustees, in collaboration with the Governance Team, is responsible for ensuring that an appropriate induction programme is arranged for new trustees, within the first 3 months of appointment.

The induction is expected to include clarification of legal responsibilities, Charity Commission requirements of charity trustees, strategic issues, governance issues, familiarity with the Trust Deed and structure of the charity, and other relevant induction material to allow trustees to understand the Charity’s purpose, activities, financial position and current risks.

Trustees are encouraged to undertake regular training throughout their appointment and to keep up to date with current legislation.

Trustee expenses

A number of trustees are priests of the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth. They are housed, remunerated and reimbursed expenses for carrying out their ministry in the same way as other priests in the Diocese.

However, no trustee received reimbursement from the Diocese for their role as trustee, nor did any trustee have a beneficial interest in any contract with the Charity. Trustees may claim expenses, such as mileage, incurred in connection with their duties as Trustees.

Management Team

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall management, oversight and strategic direction of the Diocese. To achieve this, they have appointed a Chief Operating Officer to whom the trustees have delegated the day-to-day responsibility of running the Diocese.

The Chief Operating Officer is supported by a senior management team to whom specific areas of responsibility have been delegated, such as finance, estates, safeguarding, HR, IT, communications, governance, fundraising, charity outreach, and clergy support.

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Setting Pay

Remunerated roles in the Curia and central administration have been benchmarked against several charity sector benchmarks, including other dioceses. The Diocese is a lower quartile employer, although the Trustee Board may choose to apply a recruitment or retention premium to a particular post in certain circumstances.

Organisation

The Board of Trustees is supported in decision-making by making detailed scrutiny and recommendations provided by sub-committees which meet regularly throughout the year. These committees include:

Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

The Investment Committee is responsible for overseeing the performance of the Diocese’s investment managers and ensuring that investment decisions are in sympathy with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

The Art, Architecture and Patrimony Committee reviews proposed alterations to churches to ensure the patrimony of the Diocese is managed responsibly.

The Priests’ Retirement Fund Committee is responsible for ensuring the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth – Priests’ Retirement Fund is managed responsibly and in accordance with the fund’s charitable purposes and governing documents. It is chaired by a diocesan priest.

The Safeguarding Committee is responsible for matters which relate to safeguarding and is chaired by a non-clergy trustee.

HR Remuneration and Nominations Committee
Investment Committee
Priest Retirement Fund Committee
Art, Architecture and Patrimony Committee
Vocation Committee
Education Committee
Evangelisation Committee

The Chancery and Tribunal also form part of the Curia, the Judicial Vicar has been appointed as a

trustee.

The structure of the Diocese presents a harmonious balance between the charity’s legal responsibility and the Diocese’s responsibility to Canon Law. The Council of Priests meets regularly to consult on matters of Canon Law and advise the Board of Trustees.

Caritas Committee
Portsmouth Bamenda Committee

Relationship with Other Organisations

Safeguarding Committee

Other regulators

The Diocesan Curia is organised into a Framework for Collaboration, with three vicariates, that for Vocation, leading to that for Education, leading to that for Evangelisation, reflecting the threefold ministry of the Bishop.

Each Vicariate is responsible for one aspect of the Bishop’s threefold ministry: Vocation, Education and Evangelisation. Each is headed by an Episcopal Vicar, who, together with the Vicars General, are the sole members of the Bishop’s Council, all except one of whom have been appointed trustees. Each Vicariate Committee is chaired by the Episcopal Vicar for that vicariate.

The Portsmouth Bamenda Committee sits within the Vicariate for Evangelisation, and is responsible for furthering the Diocese’s ecclesiastical partnership with the Archdiocese of Bamenda and overseeing grant funding for projects in the Archdiocese.

In addition to the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth is overseen by the Jersey Charity Commissioner and the Guernsey Registry.

The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and adheres to the Code of Fundraising Practice.

The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth is registered as a data controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Safeguarding in the Diocese is overseen by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA).

Other organisations in the Diocese

The Caritas Committee also sites within the Vicariate for Evangelisation and is responsible for overseeing the Diocese’s charity and outreach through Caritas.

The purpose of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee is to provide strategic oversight to the administration of the temporal goods of the Diocese and its parishes: its land and buildings, money, investments and the discharge of its legal and contractual obligations. The FAR Committee is chaired by the Vicar General, Moderator of the Curia.

The HR and Remuneration and Nominations Committee considers remuneration across the Diocese and makes recommendations to the Board. It is chaired by the Vicar General, Moderator of the Curia.

The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth has a close relationship with the Portsmouth Diocesan Trust and Portsmouth Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust, which remain separate charities pending the final transfer of the Diocese’s schools following the Diocese’s incorporation to the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth on the 31 December 2022.

The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth is a company member of Caritas Jersey Limited, Jersey Charity number 150, a charitable company limited by guarantee and the hub of Catholic Social Action in Jersey.

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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 69

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Public Benefit Statement

The Trustee Board has due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in exercising its powers and duties. The Trustee Board ensures the Charity benefits the public be bringing meaning to people’s lives, providing opportunities to strengthen relationships with God, providing a moral and ethical framework for life; through community and social cohesion in its pastoral work; and through its work supporting the poor and the marginalised.

Charitable Purposes

The purposes of the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth, as set out in its constitution, are the advancement of the Roman Catholic religion in the Diocese in such ways being charitable as the Bishop shall from time to time direct and for the service and support whether in the Diocese or outside the Diocese in such ways as aforesaid of any lawful charitable purposes whether educational or otherwise promoted or supported by the Roman Catholic Church.

The Charity therefore fulfils its purpose by offering religious and pastoral services, educational programmes, The Charity therefore fulfils its purpose by offering religious and pastoral services, educational programmes, and charitable support and assistance to all those living within its borders: approximately 235,000 self-identifying Catholics, of whom 25,000 are regular Massattending Catholics and roughly 3.2 million other residents. The principal vehicles for these ministries are parishes, chaplaincies and schools, as well as outreach activities coordinated by Caritas Portsmouth.

Fundraising Activity

The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth follows the Institute of Fundraising‘s Codes of Fundraising Practice and is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. No complaints about fundraising activity required escalation to the Fundraising Regulator. The Diocese has its own procedures in place for dealing with complaints. Within this process, we publish a clear procedure for escalation and timescales when a person lodging a complaint can expect us to respond. The fundraising activity of the Diocese takes various forms; including fundraising through campaigns, planned regular giving, via digital means and cash, securing grants from institutional, corporate or non-profit orgnaisations and community fundraising. Anyone who is kind enough to consider donating to the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth can be assured that:

We never sell personal data to other organisations or charities.
We do sometimes ask third party organisations to help process our data but they will act under our instruction. We never allow these organisations to use parishioner and supporter data for their own purposes and the data remains our legal responsibility.
At all times we ensure that it is treated with the same level of care as if we were handling it directly.
We never undertake door-to-door fundraising.
We provide information to parishioners and supporters on how to opt-out of future communications from the Diocese.
We display the Fundraising Regulator badge on our website and fundraising collateral to demonstrate our commitment to best practice.

The Diocese ensures that vulnerable people are protected by adhering to the Codes of Fundraising Practice, ensuring that policies and procedures are in place for fundraising activities, and regularly working with the safeguarding and governance teams to ensure that good practice is followed in accordance with the law.

Building Partnerships

Relying on a range of income streams means that our work is more sustainable. The Diocese is especially grateful to receive funding from a variety of grant-givers, including Trusts and Foundations. Many of these grants recognise the substantial positive impact that parish and Diocesan projects have on the lives they are designed to support and to the wider community. The Trustee aim to build long-term partnerships and are grateful to all those funders who have supported the Charity over the past year.

Legacies

The Diocese attempts to make it as easy as possible for supporters to leave gifts in their Wills, producing information to highlight the wonderful benefit of giving a legacy, of any size, to a particular parish or where the need is greatest. In 2024 we launched an online and face-to-face will-writing service enabling making provision for the Church in supporter Wills even easier.

Although legal advice is not offered to supporters, information is provided to help them make the right decision for them, whether in writing, over the telephone or on the website.

The Trustees also take great care in administering the legacy gifts received, ensuring executors and family members are treated professionally with compassion, dignity and care.

Data Handling Statement

The Diocese of Portsmouth is committed to handling data in a fair and transparent manner and complying with data protection laws. The Diocese is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

Our existing charity values reflect the need for diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I). We also recognise that there will always be further improvements or enhancements that we can make to maximise DE&I within the Charity.

We are committed to ensuring that obstacles to participation are reduced and believe that diversity enriches our work, strengthens our mission, and enables us to better serve our community. By working together, we can build a more inclusive and compassionate Church.

Auditors

On 18 November 2024 the company’s auditor changed its name from haysmacintyre LLP to HaysMac LLP.

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 71

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Investments

At 31 Aug 24 the Diocese held £6.6 million in quoted investments, which increased in value by 13% since 01 September 2023, due to changing market conditions.

In July 2022, the Diocese established an Investment Committee to encourage our parishes to participate in investment decisions, to act as a forum for communication with our Investment Managers and to assist the Board of Trustees in their decision-making, The Committee has met quarterly since the date of its inception.

The Trustee Board have agreed on an investment policy for the portfolio, which can be summarised as follows:

The purpose of the investment policy is to maintain the purchasing power of the capital and income generated over the medium to long term (more than five years). The Investment Committee will provide any appointed external or in-house investment manager(s) with a mandate based upon the principles of Investment Targets and Risk Tolerance.

The Trustee Board have agreed on an ethical policy for the portfolio. The following is an extract from the investment policy: “Where the issuer of a security (share, stock or bond) or deposit taker (bank) is directly and substantially (more than 5% of the activity of that entity) involved in activities which constitute grave moral evil such investments are to be entirely excluded because holding such securities would constitute formal co-operation in that evil. These would include but not be limited to, murder, procured abortion, contraception, sexual activity outside marriage and acts which undermine the dignity and sanctity of human beings (for example the exploitation of workers, migrants, the weak and the elderly) from conception to natural death, corrupting the young, heresy and sacrilege.” The Bishop and Board of Trustees also require that our investment managers keep under review the environmental stewardship of entities in which the Diocese holds investments or deposits and instructs them to refer any activities which might constitute a breach of the duty of the stewardship of creation to them.”

Reserves

Our reserves policy is designed to ensure the stability of the ongoing operations, support for the clergy and employment of staff by the organisation and to provide a source of internal funds for organisational priorities such as maintaining the Diocesan Estate and listed buildings and also to provide financial support where required to facilitate the delivery of the mission of the Diocese.

The Reserves Policy has four components:

A Curial Operating Reserve – intended to provide an internal source of funds for the Curia in situations such as a sudden increase in expenses, one-time unbudgeted expenses, unanticipated loss in funding, or uninsured losses, to be equal to three months of net recurrent annual costs excluding parish levy (thus if net operating cost excluding levy is £2,350, the Curial Operating Reserve will be £600k).

At Year End 2024 unrestricted Curial Reserves stood at a negative £1.54 million. Steps being taken to address this deficit and bring reserves in line with those envisaged by the Reserves

Policy include revenues generated by the disposal of surplus assets in the Ten-Year Plan, You Will Be My Witnesses, and the budgetary discipline and cost reduction being implemented in the Curia which has seen the in-year deficit reduced by over £1 million from 2021-22 to 2023-24.

A Parish Operating Reserve – all parishes should seek to have at least 3 months of net recurrent annual costs held as reserves. At 31 Aug 2024, 14 out of 87 parishes did not have sufficient reserves to cover 3 months’ recurrent expenditure. This situation will be addressed by improved reporting of parish’s financial positions, rollout and associated training of budgeting for all parishes, and the implementation of the Ten-Year Mission Plan.

A Diocesan Development Fund - intended to provide temporary financial support for the repair or maintenance of the Diocesan estate and listed buildings to parishes or other bodies with insufficient funds at their disposal. It is the intention of the Diocese for the DDF to be used and replenished within a medium-term period (3 to 5 years). The target amount of the DDF should be £2 million.

A Strategic Financial Reserve - intended to provide funds for the strategic development of the Diocese in general and parishes in particular. These funds would be used to facilitate the delivery of agreed Strategic Objectives that require start-up funding. The target amount of the SFR should be £2 million.

The Diocesan Development Fund and Strategic Financial Reserve will be built up once progress has been made in addressing the Curial and Parish Operating Reserves.

Risks

A risk register is provided for Trustees to review at every meeting. Key risks are:

Falling Mass attendance and participation in Church activities leading to a shortage of volunteers to support the running of parishes and outreach activities, fewer vocations to the priesthood, religious life and diaconate and falling offertory income. All of which has a significant impact on the long-term vitality of the Church.
The growing backlog of estate maintenance, together with the deterioration of older, listed buildings (most notably the Cathedral) is a long-term liability. Our Ten-Year Mission Plan, You Will Be My Witnesses , sets out to increase participation in parish life and enable us to discern where to invest and what we can no longer maintain.
The Diocese comprises 87 individual parish units which operate autonomously to a
significant extent. The organisation is highly dispersed and also largely reliant on volunteers for much of the day-to-day activity. This all presents a significant risk of non-compliance with key policies required by regulators and legislation. Support and regular communication in a variety of forms is provided to parishes about policy and general guidance. However, further work is required to ensure that practical resources and training are provided to help parishes to navigate increasingly complex requirements.
Cyber-security is a recognised global risk, key performance indicators have been developed based on the 12-point plan provided by the Diocese’s insurer; progress is regularly measured against the KPIs.
Although we have been blessed with vocations, the number of vocations to the priesthood is not keeping pace with expected clergy retirement in the medium term. Our Ten-Year Mission

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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

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Structure, Governance and Management - Financial Review

Plan, You Will Be My Witnesses , is intended to enable ways of working which mitigate these anticipated challenges to some extent.
Recruitment to key roles in central administration and in parishes is proving a significant challenge. Vacancies can, on occasion, be open for several months. Attracting and retaining candidates with the appropriate experience and expertise will require a re-evaluation of our structure and pay and reward strategy in the coming year.
Patchy record keeping and poorly documented or understood long-standing arrangements between the Diocese and other Catholic organisations, such as religious orders and other groups, may result in uninsured liabilities. A programme is underway to work with each group to clarify and document arrangements.
Decisions external to the Diocese impact the Diocese’s plans, priorities and resources, examples include the change of government policy on the academisation of schools and the change in the CCSA’s remit to exclude the provision of training, advice on complex safeguarding cases and development of national safeguarding policies.
Inability to bring the Diocese’s Ten-Year Mission Plan, You Will Be My Witnesses , to fruition due to ineffective consultation and resource limitations. A programme of visits by the Bishop and other leaders to each Pastoral Area is underway to discuss local plans, guidance to support consultation is being developed.

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The purpose of this statement is to distinguish the Trustees’ responsibilities for the accounts from those of the Auditors as stated in their Report. The Charities Act 2011 requires the Trustees to prepare for each financial period, financial statements which give a true and fair view of the Charity’s financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the period end. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently.
Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP.
Make judgements and estimates that are responsible and prudent.
State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material
departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that this basis applies.

The Trustees are responsible for ensuring proper accounting records are kept which disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Diocese and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Trust Deeds and the disclosure regulations. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Diocese and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of an error, fraud, and other irregularities.

This Annual Report was approved by the Trustee Board at a meeting held on: 01/05/2025

Signed on 09/05/2025 by:

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

From the Auditors

Independent auditor’s report to the Trustees of the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth for the year ended 31 August 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard is applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (the United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and the parent charity’s affairs as of 31 August 2024 and the group’s net movement in funds for the year then ended.
have been properly prepared under the United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
have been prepared following the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Basis for Opinion

We have been appointed as auditors under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder. We conducted our audit by International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law.

Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group following the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions Relating to Going Concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees for going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

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Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

Other Information

The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Report of the Trustees. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters about which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent charity, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
the parent charity’s financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of Trustees for the financial statements

Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted under ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken based on these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Based on our understanding of the group and the environment in which it operates, we identified the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to Canon Law, employment law, safeguarding regulations and Charity Law, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of financial statements such as the Charities Act 2011 and Charities SORP.

We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls). Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:

Review of minutes of trustees’ meetings.
Inspect correspondence with regulators and tax authorities.
Discussions with management including consideration of known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud.
Evaluating management’s controls designed to prevent and detect irregularities.
Identifying and testing journals; and
Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their critical accounting estimates. These are related to depreciation and investment property valuations.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulations. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission, or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities . This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity’s Trustees as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

76 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

HaysMac LLP

10 Queen Street Place Statutory Auditors London EC4R 1AG

Date: 13 May 2025

HaysMac LLP is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

Statement of Financial Activities

	Notes	CURIA - TOTAL	PARISH - TOTAL	RESTRICTED - TOTAL	TOTAL - AUG 2024	14 MONTH PERIOD TO AUG 2023
		£	£	£	£	£
Donations and legacies
Donations and Offertories		18,612	12,796,287	3,259,463	16,074,361	14,380,499
Legacies		446,124	646,397	54,677	1,147,198	866,484
Other		742,044	1,417,513	90,760	2,250,317	1,727,748
Other trading activities:
Rent – miscellaneous lettings		21,200	1,114,461	-	1,135,661	906,331
Income of trading subsidiaries	13	-	-	-	-	-
Investment income				-
Investment income and interest receivable	1	2,091	147,727	8,549	158,367	174,136
Rent – investment properties	1	39,558	981,874	9,076	1,030,508	451,989
Other incoming resources: e:				-	-	-
Insurance Claims		-	58,316	-	58,316	117,790
Transfer from Predecessor Entity		-	-	-	-	81,124,597
Total income		1,269,629	17,162,575	3,422,526	21,854,729	99,749,573
Expenditure on Raising funds
Finance costs		(493)	(20,459)	(526,498)	(547,450)	(958,521)
Charitable activities		-		-
Activities in furtherance of the Roman Catholic Faith		(4,123,679)	(11,142,330)	(2,253,371)	(17,519,380)	(12,061,438)
Total expenditure	2	(4,124,171)	(11,162,789)	(2,779,869)	(18,066,830)	(13,019,959)

Net (Expenditure)/Income before transfers		(2,854,543)	5,999,786	642,656	3,787,900	86,729,614
Realised and Unrealised Gains/Losses on investments		72,482	9,599,778	94,094	9,766,353	(901,340)
Net income/(expenditure)		(2,782,061)	15,599,564	736,750	13,554,253	85,828,274
Transfers between Funds		930,318	(416,065)	(514,253)	-	-
Transfers - Schools Building Fund Levy		-	-	-	-	-
Transfers - Diocesan Levy		2,407,224	(2,407,224)	-	-	-
Net movement on funds		555,481	12,776,275	222,497	13,554,253	85,828,274
Reconciliation of funds
Fund balances brought forward		1,822,990	72,581,436	11,423,848	85,828,274

Fund balances carried forward		2,378,471	85,357,711	11,646,345	99,382,527	85,828,274

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses in the period. All operations are continuing and there are no discontinued operations in either year. The comparative year’s Statement of Financial Activities is included in note 15.

78 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

Balance Sheet

Fixed Assets Notes Tangible assets 4 Investments 5 Debtors: due after more than one year 6 Current Assets Debtors and prepayments 6 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: due within one year 7 Net Current Assets Parish Loan Accounts Due from parishes Net Off Intra-curial Due to parishes NET ASSETS Unrestricted Funds General Funds Designated Funds 10 Restricted Funds 9 Permanent Endowment Funds 8 RESERVES	CURIAL FUNDS £ 7,407,124 3,469,223 10,876,347 - 442,654 5,532,143 5,974,796 (5,083,904) 890,892 2,271,631 23,876 - (2,491,524) (196,017) 11,571,222 (1,545,271) 3,923,742 2,378,471 9,018,978 173,773 11,571,222	PARISH FUNDS £ 41,832,198 35,197,744 77,029,942 - 17,975 10,840,191 10,858,166 (272,820) 10,585,346 (2,271,631) (23,876) - 2,491,524 196,017 87,811,305 - 85,357,711 85,357,711 1,615,108 838,486 87,811,305	31-Aug-24 £ 49,239,322 38,666,967 87,906,289 - 460,629 16,372,334 16,832,962 (5,356,724) 11,476,238 - - - - - 99,382,527 (1,545,271) 89,281,453 87,736,181 10,634,086 1,012,259 99,382,527	31-Aug-23 £ 47,302,550 27,913,368
				75,215,919
				- 1,300,133 15,908,427
				17,208,560
				(6,596,205)
				10,612,355
				- - - -
				-

				85,828,274
				(3,952,727) 78,357,153
				74,404,426
				10,438,324 985,524
				85,828,274

Approved by the Trustee Board on 01/05/2025 and signed on their behalf on 09/05/2025 by:

Cash Flow Statement

Reconciliation of Net Incoming Resources to Cash Inflow from Operating Activities Changes in resources before revaluations Returns on investment Depreciation Loss/(gain) on disposal of Tangible Fixed Assets (Increase)/decrease in debtors (Decrease)/increase in creditors Net cash inflow from operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Returns on investment Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets Receipts from sales of tangible fixed assets Payments to acquire investments Receipts from sales of investments Cash flows from financing activities New bank loans received Movement on School Loans Bank loan repayments Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year Reconciliation of cash flow to movement in net funds/(debt) Increase in cash in the year Net cash outflow from movements in bank loans Change in net funds in the year Net funds at the beginning of the year Net funds at the year end Analysis of net funds/(debt) Cash and bank balances Bank loans due within one year Bank loans due after one year	YE AUG 24 £ 3,787,900 (1,188,875) 816,716 675,808 839,504 (319,745)	14 MONTH PERIOD ENDED AUG 2023 £ 86,729,614 (626,125) 507,263 (81,124,597) 180,134 (437,682) 5,228,607 5,228,607 626,125 (5,981,847) - (383,768) 1,897,316 (3,842,174) 964,389 (3,341,224) (2,376,834) (990,401) 16,898,828 15,908,427 (990,401) 2,376,834 1,386,434 8,945,438 10,331,871 Cash flows Other 31-Aug-24 £ £ £ 463,907 - 16,372,334 919,736 - (4,656,820) - -
	4,611,308

	4,611,308
	1,188,875 (4,165,000) - (442,927) 191,386
	(3,227,666)
	- (919,736)
	(919,736)
	463,907 15,908,427
	16,372,334
	463,907 919,736 1,383,642 10,331,871
	11,715,514
	01-Sep-23 £ 15,908,427 (5,576,556) -
	10,331,871	1,383,643 - 11,715,514

80 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

Statement of Accounting Policies

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with statutory requirements and with the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities (SORP 2015) (Second Edition, effective 01 January 2019 and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (Effective 01 January 2015). The particular accounting policies adopted are described below. The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified to include certain tangible fixed assets at a valuation and fixed asset investments at market value. The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102.

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements represent the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth and its subsidiaries listed in note 14. The subsidiaries are not consolidated due to immateriality. The accounting period is the 12 months to 31 August 2024, whilst the comparative period is 14 months.

b) Preparation of accounts on a going concern basis

Having considered future budgets and cash flows, the trustees confirm that there are no material uncertainties about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. In coming to this conclusion trustees have considered the resources available to the Diocese, the move towards balanced curial budgets and the impact of the Ten-Year plan, “ You Will Be My Witnesses ”.

c) Legacies, Donations and Grants

Legacies and donations are recognised when the Diocese becomes legally entitled to them, receipt is probable and they can reasonably be measured in financial terms. Receipts of property, investments or other gifts in kind are included at market value. Grants are recognised when receivable.

d) Investment Income

Investment income is accounted for as it accrues.

of all expenditure directly relating to the objects of the Charity. Support costs which cannot be directly allocated are apportioned between activities.

Employment benefits, including holiday pay, are recognised in the period in which they are earned. Termination benefits are recognised in the period in which the decision is made and communicated to the relevant employee(s). Governance costs include expenditure on management and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements together with an allocation of support costs. Irrecoverable VAT is included with the category of expenses to which it relates.

g) Schools Building Programme

Any grants obtained on behalf of school governors are netted off against total costs and only the residual cost to the Diocese is included in the financial statements.

h) Tangible Fixed Assets

Prior to 01 January 1997 the cost of fixed assets was written off in the year of acquisition and no comprehensive cost records were maintained. In order to arrive at a reasonable valuation of parish property, taking into account age, type, condition and life expectancy, the Trustees considered that the then insured values should be discounted by 90% and in subsequent years be depreciated at 2% per annum, on the building value only. Properties acquired after 31 August 1996 are capitalised at their actual cost of acquisition. When transferred from the predecessor entity property net book value (cost less depreciation) was treated as opening cost within the CIO.

The Diocese owns a number of properties that are occupied and run by independent charities in the form of Voluntary Aided Schools and Catholic Academies. The school properties (land and buildings) are vested in the name of the Trustees. The Trustees cannot take a unilateral decision to dispose of these properties. Disposal can only occur if the school governors and the Secretary of State for Education decide that all or part of a school site is no longer required for education. In most circumstances, where a disposal occurs, the Secretary of State or the local authority may be entitled to recoup any grant. Although no rights of ownership vest in the school governing body, most other rights and obligations, such as for the maintenance and repair of the school and its facilities, are passed to the governors. The Trustees therefore consider that there is no capital value to the Diocese in the stock of school buildings.

e) Taxation

As a registered charity, the Diocese is exempt from income tax, corporation tax and capital gains tax derived from its charitable activities. Gift aid is credited to the category of income to which it relates.

f) Expenditure

Costs of raising funds comprise those costs associated with attracting voluntary income and grants and the management of the Charity’s investments. Costs of charitable activities consist

Thus school properties have not been capitalised. There is a potential value, or contingent asset, in the event of a closure of a school (either connected to a re-organisation or not). Such an asset is recognised only upon the occurrence of a closure/re-organisation and the site’s development value becoming certain, such as upon the granting of planning permission. The recognition of this value is accounted for as an incoming resource in the year in which this value becomes measurable and certain. The inclusion of any value of school properties normally arises from a scheme under s554 Education Act and until then there is legally a duty to repay or recycle the proceeds from the sale of former school sites.

82 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

Prior to 04 September 1934, the date of the original Trust Deed of the predecessor entity, most parish properties were acquired on trusts related to individual parish missions and were formally brought under the legal control of the Trustees by virtue of Charity Commission schemes dated 04 and 07 February 1936. These assets are included in Parochial Funds. There are a few properties held on trusts created after 1934 which are different from those in the 1934 and 2002 trust deeds. These assets are also included in Parochial Funds.

The estimated cost of furniture, equipment and motor vehicles held at 31 August 1996 has been capitalised in the financial statements. Subsequent additions exceeding £5,000 are capitalised at cost. Individual works of art, historical treasures and plate are not capitalised.

A full year’s depreciation is charged on additions and no depreciation is charged on disposals in the year.

Depreciation is calculated by the straight-line method to write off the cost/value less anticipated residual value, over the expected useful lives of assets as follows: - Freehold property (excluding land) - 50 years Leasehold property - 50 years or, if less, the term of the lease Furniture and Equipment - 5 to 20 years

i) Significant judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In preparing these financial statements the trustees have had to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts recognised in these financial statements. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Key areas subject to judgement and estimation are as follows: Fixed assets and investment properties.

j) Pensions

All eligible staff may join a personal pension scheme of their choice to which the Diocese makes a matching contribution of up to five percent of salary. As a defined contribution scheme, no liability falls upon the Diocese, as employer, to make good a shortfall of funding other than contributions due.

k) Financial instruments

The Diocese only enters into basic financial-instrument transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other accounts receivables/payables and investments in stocks and shares. The measurement basis used for these financial instruments is detailed below.

Investments

Investments are valued at fair value on the balance sheet date. Investment properties are stated at market value or a Trustees’ valuation, as advised by a qualified property professional. Gains/

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

losses on investments are calculated as the difference between opening market value and closing market value after adjusting for additions and disposals during the period. No distinction is made between realised and unrealised gains in the financial statements.

Debtors

Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. Loans receivable are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash is represented by cash in hand and deposits with financial institutions repayable without notice of not more than 24 hours. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with insignificant risk of change in value.

Creditors

Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The charity only enters into basic financial-instrument transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other accounts receivables/payables and investments in stocks and shares. The measurement basis used for these financial instruments is detailed below.

l) Parochial Funds

Each Parish is considered by Canon Law to be a juridical person with corresponding rights and obligations, including the holding and use of funds. The use of these parochial funds is the responsibility of the Parish Priest, Diocesan Finance Council and the Trustees in varying ways depending on the amount and significance of the funds. However, for the purposes of civil law parishes are not distinct legal entities and, unless there are distinct and express special trusts clearly evidenced in law, parochial funds are therefore shown as unrestricted but designated funds.

m) Permanent Endowment Funds

The capital of Permanent Endowment Funds must be maintained intact with any income arising being available for restricted or general charitable purposes of the Diocese, according to the terms of the original gift.

n) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds comprise accumulated surpluses and deficits on general funds. They are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general charitable objectives. Designated funds are funds set aside by the Trustees for specific purposes (see note 10). Restricted funds are used for specific purposes as stated by the grantor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund (see note 9).

84 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

	Year ended 14 month 31 August period ended 2024 2023 £ £ 98,922 1,030,508 174,136 451,989 59,445 - ------------------ ------------------ 1,188,875 626,125 ========= =========	rting ed gy Supporting Catholic Education Youth and University Chaplaincies Supporting the Poor and Marginalised - Inspired by the Love of Christ New Evangelisation Fundraising Total 8,891 266,908 136,899 45,420 27,055 16,126 1,898,205 - - - - - - - 353,378 - - - - - - 1,721 - - - - - - 22,761 - - - - - - 39,647 - 517,645 - - - - 517,645 - - - - - - 60,524 - - - - - - - - 1,776,162 - - - - - - 1,900,902 - - - - - - 1,947,888 - - - - - - 882,979 - - - - - - 20,459 - - - - - - 277,283 - - - - - - 438,367 - - - - - - 3,254,814 - - - - - - 663,934 - 59,218 3,077 521,865 1,640,257 Education Evangelisation CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH For The Year Ended 31 August 2024	rting ed gy Supporting Catholic Education Youth and University Chaplaincies Supporting the Poor and Marginalised - Inspired by the Love of Christ New Evangelisation Fundraising Total 8,891 266,908 136,899 45,420 27,055 16,126 1,898,205 - - - - - - - 353,378 - - - - - - 1,721 - - - - - - 22,761 - - - - - - 39,647 - 517,645 - - - - 517,645 - - - - - - 60,524 - - - - - - - - 1,776,162 - - - - - - 1,900,902 - - - - - - 1,947,888 - - - - - - 882,979 - - - - - - 20,459 - - - - - - 277,283 - - - - - - 438,367 - - - - - - 3,254,814 - - - - - - 663,934 - 59,218 3,077 521,865 1,640,257 Education Evangelisation CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH For The Year Ended 31 August 2024
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

	Vocation	Education	Evangelisation
	Training New Clergy, Promoting vocations Supporting Clergy in ministry Suppo Retir Cler 465,306 321,601 61 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

86 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 87

CATHOLIC DIOCESE	CATHOLIC DIOCESE	OF PORTSMOUTH	OF PORTSMOUTH							CATHOLIC	DIOCESE OF	DIOCESE OF	DIOCESE OF	DIOCESE OF	PORTSMOUTH	PORTSMOUTH
For The Year Ended 31 August 2024										For The Year Ended			31	August 2024
2. Charitable Expenditure and Support Costs (continued)					For full comparative		fgures see Note 16								Supporting the
															Poor and
			Locally				Supporting	Supporting		Supporting	Youth and				Marginalised -
			Incurred	Centrally		Training	Clergy in	Retired		Catholic	University				Inspired by the		New
			Costs	Incurred Costs		New Clergy	ministry	Clergy		Education	Chaplaincies				Love of Christ		Evangelisation	Fundraising
	Communications		46,866	46,866		9,373.15	9,373.15	9,373.15		9,373.15		9,373.15			9,373.15		9,373.15	28,119.46	187,463
	Estates		182,412		-	-	-	91,206		91,206				-		-	-	-	364,824
	People		153,096		-	1,595	1,595		1,595	3,190			797			797	2,392	797	165,854
	IT		110,120		-	4,588	4,588		4,588	9,177		2,294			2,294		6,883	2,294	146,827
	Finance		328,056	48,747		13,675	9,451	18,188		23,057		4,023			1,335		795	15,811	463,137
	Governance		171,688	25,512		7,157	4,946		9,519	12,067		2,106				699	416	8,274	242,382
	Curia Property and overheads		253,742	55,288		7,926	6,545	28,992		31,912		4,105			3,225		4,377	11,876	407,987
	Safeguarding		189,205		-	518	518		518	518			518			518	518	-	192,833
	Bishops Conference Levy		-	136,300															136,300
	Total		12,597,973	1,971,430		510,138	358,618	782,870		965,052		160,116			63,662		51,809	605,163	18,066,830
						2024 £	2023 £			3. Staf (continued)
	Governance costs include
	Auditors remuneration – Audit (including VAT)					54,750	51,000			Employees	with emoluments greater					than	£60,000:
						=======	========
	3. Staf					Year ended	14 month			£60,001 - £70,000								2024 0		2023 2
						31 August	period ended			£70,001 - £80,000								1		0
						2024	2023			£80,001 - £90,000								1		0
	The average number of total employees (not full-time equivalents) of the					£	£			£90,001 - £100,000								2		0
	Diocese during the period and their aggregate emoluments are shown				below
	Staff Costs: Wages and salaries Social security					3,355,545 241,689	2,166,835 153,767			Key management personnel received salary, benefts and pension contributions of £671,761 (2023: £368,324) during the year. Defned contribution pension payments of £34,144 were made to 7 key management personnel. (2023: £19,441 to 5)
	Pension costs					125,004	74,660
	Redundancy costs					53,399	-
						---------------------	---------------------
						3,775,637	2,395,262
						==========	==========
	Monthly Average Number of Employees:					No	No
	Departments					50	54
	Parishes					168	172
						---------	---------
						218	226
						====	====
	Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth	Annual Report		2024														Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth	Annual Report

		2024	2023
£60,001	- £70,000	0	2
£70,001	- £80,000	1	0
£80,001	- £90,000	1	0
£90,001	- £100,000	2	0

88 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 89

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

4. Tangible Fixed Assets

4. Tangible Fixed Assets
COST OR VALUATION At 31 August 2023 Additions Disposals Transfers from Investments Transfers to Investments At 31 August 2024 DEPRECIATION At 31 August 2023 Charge for the period On disposals Transfers to Investments At 31 August 2024 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 August 2024 At 31 August 2023	Freehold Buildings £ 44,761,058 4,165,000 (63,815) - (429,186)	Leasehold Buildings £ 2,635,351 - (561,102) - (315,058)	Furniture & Equipment £ 413,404 - (60,670) - -	Total £ 47,809,813 4,165,000 (685,588) - (744,243)
	48,433,057	1,759,191	352,734	50,544,982
	458,345 763,896 (276) (4,339)	35,138 35,184 (7,481) (4,201)	13,780 17,637 (2,022) -	507,263 816,716 (9,780) (8,540)
	1,217,626	58,640	29,394	1,305,660

	47,215,431	1,700,551	323,339	49,239,322

	44,302,713	2,600,213	399,624	47,302,550

The Diocese also owns a number of properties, which are occupied and run by independent charities in the form of Voluntary Aided Schools and Catholic Academies. The Trustees consider that these properties have no capital value to the Charity – see Accounting Policy (f). The total re-instatement cost of these schools is approximately £300m. A list of the schools in the Diocese is set out on the Diocesan website (www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk).

All fixed assets are used in direct furtherance of the Charity’s objects.

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

5. Investments

Market value at 1 September 2023 Additions Disposals Transfer from Tangible Fixed Assets Transfers to Tangible Fixed Assets Revaluation gains Market value at 31 August 2024	Investment Quoted Properties Investments Total £ £ £ 22,058,924 5,854,444 27,913,368 - 442,927 442,927 - (191,385) (191,385) 735,704 - 735,704 - - - 9,235,700 530,654 9,766,353
	32,030,327 6,636,640 38,666,967

All quoted investments (other than cash) are quoted on a recognised UK Stock Exchange or are valued by reference to investments listed on a recognised Stock Exchange. No figure for the cost of the investment properties owned by the predecessor entity at 01 January 1997 is available; the value at which they were first recognised in the accounts was £1,014,500. £30,514,000 of investment properties were valued in Oct 24 by Broadlands, Savills, Simmons & Sons, Leaders, Ross Nicholas, Kelway Law, Hose Rhodes Dickson, Robin Austen, Romans, Zoopla and Charters.

The revaluation gain on investment property of £9,235,700 follows a comprehensive Estates Department review, during the year, of potential and actual investment properties across the diocese. The review has resulted in a number of functional properties being rented out for the first time and thus reclassified. It has also enabled the identification and reclassification of properties that were already rented, where the long terms plans and classification had previously been unclear. This review has encompassed the entire diocese and no further already-rented investment properties are expected to come to light in future years.

6. Debtors

Debtors
		2024	2023
		£	£
Due after more than one year
School and other loans		-	-
	==========		==========
Due within one year
School and other loans		87,832	275,955
Other debtors and prepayments		372,729 97	1,024,178
	---------------------		---------------------
		460,629	1,300,133
	==========		==========

90 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

7. Creditors

Creditors
	2024	2023
	£	£
Due within one year
School and other loans	4,656,875	5,576,611
PAYE	52,091	56,027
Other creditors and accruals	647,758	963,567
	--------------------	--------------------
	5,356,724	6,596,205
	==========	==========

8. Permanent Endowment Funds

Parochial Funds Properties Other Tanguy Masses St Mary’s Mission Christchurch Parish Priest Curial Funds Curtin Masses Dunne Masses St Joseph Education Fund	Balance at 01 Sept 2023 Net Income/ Expenditure Transfers Movement On Investments Balance at 31 Aug 2024 £ £ £ £ £ 361,618 - - 361,618 190,854 7,052 5,894 203,801 1,776 (8) 168 1,936 226,826 (693) 5,330 231,463 39,669 - - 39,669
	820,743 6,352 - 11,392 838,487
	44,270 (1,257) 4,092 47,104 2,671 - - 2,671 117,842 (293) 6,450 123,998
	164,782 (1,551) - 10,541 173,773

	985,525 4,801 - 21,933 1,012,260

For full comparative figures see Note 17

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

9. Restricted Funds

Balance at 1 Sep 2023 £ 189,590 889,731 152,120 151,780 192,825 783 64,941 305,606 (2) 10,846 1,066 152,815 45,143 633,404 -	Income £ - 10 59,748 - 1,356 - - (1) 418,320 - - - 42,380 1,605,695 630,542	Expenditure £ (24,206) 154 (56,519) - (5,509) - (1,612) (7,568) (250,574) - (1,066) 6,572 (69,393) (796,861) (630,542)	Transfers £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - (725,006)	Movement On Investments - - - - - - - - - - - 15,162 - -	Balance at 31 Aug 2024 £ 165,383 889,895 155,349 151,780 188,672 783 63,329 298,038 167,744 10,846 - 174,548 18,130 717,231 -
2,790,647	2,758,050	(1,837,124)	(725,006)	15,162	3,001,729
5,988,092	348,047	(618,891)	300,000	-	6,017,249
5,988,092	348,047	(618,891)	300,000	-	6,017,249
802,352 426,373 189,605 159,930 81,324	297,701 11,556 (684) (68) 7,923	(326,105) (1,806) (790) - -	(89,247)	- 39,683 17,361 - -	- 773,948 475,806 205,492 159,862 -
1,659,584	316,428	(328,701)	(89,247)	57,044	1,615,108

10,438,323	3,422,525	(2,784,715)	(514,253)	72,206	10,634,085

For full comparative figures see note 18

Curial

Social Welfare Fund

This is a fund dating from 1952 for the promotion of Social Welfare generally.

Clergy Training Fund

A fund for the training of students to the priesthood, which is the recipient of a specific annual Diocesan collection for this purpose. A transfer is made to the General Fund from which the training costs are paid.

92 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

Bamenda Fund

A fund to provide assistance to the Diocese of Bamenda in Cameroon, Africa that is the recipient of a specific annual Diocesan collection. There is a Trustees’ committee charged with monitoring and making the appropriate grants.

Clergy Assistance

This fund provides financial support for clergy in need and is the recipient of a specific annual Diocesan collection.

Lourdes Fund

A fund to support the annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Youth Funds

Funds collected specifically for youth purposes including Lourdes Pilgrimages and Summer Schools.

Vicariate Triple Trust

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

over five years with a third of the proceeds returning to the parishes and the remainder being split between funding seminarians, current clergy and our retired priests.

Education Fund

This fund is utilised for the support of schools and other educational purposes within the Diocese.

Parochial

Parish Fund Raising

These are funds that parishes raise for separate funds and charities, and account for as a restricted fund.

Investment Funds: Barron Trust, Pangbourne Assistance Fund

These are mainly legacies left specifically for expenditure within individual parishes or churches. The St Joseph Education Fund and Christchurch Parish Priest Fund have been reclassified as Permanent Endowments.

The purpose of the Trust is primarily to assist parishes in providing church furnishings.

Foundation Masses

Edmund Rice Fund

This donation was received in 2005, primarily for education purposes in Reading and surrounding areas, and the local pastoral area is developing support for appropriate chaplaincies in the area.

Legacies left for mass intentions of the deceased, are held as separate funds within the parishes.

Caritas Jersey Ltd

Caritas Diocese of Portsmouth supports and promotes the love of neighbour in the parish of Jersey.

School Building Fund

This Fund was established in 2001, to provide a central fund to meet the governors’ liabilities on expenditures in Voluntary Aided schools. The equalisation fund is targeted as half from all parishes on the mainland, whether feeder parishes or not, and the balance being raised by the schools from parental contributions.

Dunne Masses

This Fund provides a Capital sum to derive an income to fund the saying of Masses in perpetuity.

Bernard Medd Fund

This Fund aims to provide Catechesis and summer schools for Youth.

Refugee Support

This Fund is to support and assist Refugees. Diocesan collections are made annually.

Diocesan Caritas

Caritas Diocese of Portsmouth supports and promotes the love of neighbour in the parishes and schools of the Diocese.

Closer to Christ

This is a Fundraising Campaign being run in each of our 87 parishes aiming to raising £13.5m

10. Designated Funds

CURIAL Diocesan Caritas Pastoral Development Fund Living Our Faith Fund Diocesan Buildings Fund PAROCHIAL Living Our Faith Fund Living Our Faith Jersey Diocesan Buildings Fund Other Parochial Funds	Balance at 1 Sep 2023 Income Expenditure Transfers Movement On Investments Balance at 31 Aug 2024 £ £ £ £ 41,427 56,799 (60,524) - - 37,701 1,125,868 - - - - 1,125,868 1,789,031 (1,463) - (1,787,569) - - 2,819,389 (59,218) 2,760,171
	5,775,715 55,336 (119,742) (1,787,569) - 3,923,740
	942,587 - - (416,065) - 526,522 9,577 - - - - 9,577 37,350,172 4,495,427 41,845,599 34,279,100 12,667,148 (11,162,789) (2,407,224) 9,599,778 42,976,013
	72,581,436 17,162,575 (11,162,789) (2,823,289) 9,599,778 85,357,711

	78,357,152 17,217,911 (11,282,531) (4,610,858) 9,599,778 89,281,451

For full comparative figures see note 19

94 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

10. Designated Funds (Continued)

Diocesan Caritas

Caritas Diocese of Portsmouth supports and promotes the love of neighbour in the parishes and schools of the Diocese. Some of its funding is restricted.

Pastoral Development Fund

This fund has been set up from the proceeds of the sale of a surplus property and will be supplemented from further disposals where there are surplus funds generated, in order to aid parishes with their own developments.

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

12. Transactions With Trustees

Certain of the Trustees are also priests within the Diocese. As priests they receive income from their office together with living accommodation, living expenses and reimbursement of costs incurred on behalf of their parish on the same basis as other priests within the Diocese. No Trustees receive any remuneration or benefits from their trusteeships. No Trustees were paid for providing professional services to the Diocese. Total donations received from Trustees were £10,424. (2023 - £7,933)

13. Trading Subsidiaries

Living Our Faith Fund

A programme was initiated in 2008 to raise funds (i) to provide the Diocese with sufficient funds to support independently the training of students for the priesthood and the continuing care of its ordained clergy in their ministry, to fund adult formation programmes and resources and various capital projects, and (ii) to provide parish funds to meet local needs. Transfers within the curial element relate to the offsetting, approved by Trustees, of eligible expenditure, previously treated as unrestricted, against the fund, whilst transfers within the parish section relate to the offsetting of amounts owed by the parishes to the curia against Living Our Faith amounts owed to parishes.

Value of Diocesan Buildings

Fund Funds invested in buildings used by the diocese in furtherance of their charitable objects are not available to spend. The value of these operational fixed assets have been transferred into a designated fund to indicate that they are not expendable financial assets.

During the period the Diocese had wholly owned active subsidiary companies incorporated in England and Wales. They were as follows: -

General commercial trading on behalf of the Diocese.

The Portsmouth Diocesan Trading Co Limited (Company Number: 2746549)

Sale of religious material.

Catholic Resource Centre Limited (Company Number: 3141601)

Management of licensed premises on behalf of Our Lady of Peace, Earley.

Our Lady of Peace Catholic Club Limited (Company Number: 3340552)

Catholic social action in Jersey

Caritas Jersey

(Jersey Company Number: 116008)

11. Allocation of Net Assest

11. Allocation of	Net Assest
	Fixed Assets Investments Cash & Debtors Current & Long Term Liabilities Parish Loan Accounts Total - 31 Aug 24
	£ £ £ £ £ £
	- 121,356 49,746 - 2,671 173,773 508,271 219,013 58,484 - 52,719 838,487 4,689,165 729,377 1,660,161 (4,405) 1,944,680 9,018,979 - 816,567 798,542 - - 1,615,108 2,717,959 2,618,490 4,264,889 (5,079,499) (2,143,369) 2,378,470 41,323,927 34,162,164 10,001,140 (272,820) 143,299 85,357,710
	49,239,322 38,666,967 16,832,962 (5,356,724) - 99,382,527

For full comparative figures see note 20

96 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

13. Trading Subsidiaries (continued)

Trading Subsidiaries (continued)
Profit and Loss Account
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024	2024	2023
	£	£
TURNOVER	371,571	101,182
Cost of sales	(154,527)	(36,217)
	-------------------	-------------------
GROSS PROFIT	217,044	64,965
Administrative expenses	(86,104)	-
	-------------------	-------------------
	130,940	64,965
Amount gifted to the Charity	(150,579)	-
Transfer of Fixed Assets	-	-
Tax on profit on ordinary activities	-	-
	-------------------	-------------------
(LOSS)/PROFIT AFTER TAXATION	(19,638)
Reserves brought forward	11,983	(59,343)
	-------------------	-------------------
RESERVES CARRIED FORWARD	(7,655)	5,622
	============	============

Included within turnover are sales to the Diocese amounting to £81,518 (2023: £22,999).

Balance Sheet
As at 31 August 2024	31-Aug-24	31-Aug-23
	£	£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets	48,952	50,583
	-------------------	-------------------
CURRENT ASSETS
Stocks	7,529	9,137
Debtors	66,916	70,320
Cash at bank and in hand	175,434	45,759
	-------------------	-------------------
	249,879	125,215
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year	(151,080)	(26,676)
	-------------------	-------------------
NET CURRENT ASSETS	98,799	98,539
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due after one year	(11,906)	-
	-------------------	-------------------
NET ASSETS	135,845	149,122
	============	============
Share capital	143,500	143,500
Reserves	(7,655)	5,622
SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS	135,845	149,122
	============	============

14. Related Party Transactions

There were no related party transactions during the year. (2023: Nil).

15. Statement Of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 31 August 2023

	Notes	CURIA - TOTAL	PARISH - TOTAL	RESTRICTED - TOTAL	TOTAL - AUG 2023
		£	£	£	£
Donations and legacies
Donations and Offertories		53,842	6,073,228	8,253,429	14,380,499
Legacies		433,563	260,600	172,321	866,484
Other		444,116	887,201	396,431	1,727,748
Other trading activities:				-	-
Rent – miscellaneous lettings		37,865	868,466	-	906,331
Income of trading subsidiaries	13	-	-	-	-
Investment income
Investment income and interest receivable	1	3,278	133,603	37,255	174,136
Rent – investment properties		29,967	422,022	-	451,989
Other incoming resources:				-	-
Insurance Claims		-	117,790	-	117,790
Gain on disposal of tangible fixed assets		-	-	-	-
Other Income - transfer from predecessor entity		1,088,769	74,233,542	5,802,286	81,124,597
Total income		2,091,399	82,996,452	14,661,722	99,749,573
Expenditure on Raising funds
Finance costs		(7,887)	-	(950,634)	(958,521)
Charitable activities
Activities in furtherance of the Roman Catholic Faith		(2,413,354)	(8,060,017)	(1,588,068)	(12,061,438)
Total expenditure	2	(2,421,241)	(8,060,017)	(2,538,702)	(13,019,959)

Net (Outgoing)/Incoming Resources before transfers		(329,842)	74,936,435	12,123,021	86,729,614
Realised and Unrealised Gains on investments		(232)	(884,629)	(16,479)	(901,340)
Net income/(expenditure)		(330,074)	74,051,806	12,106,541	85,828,274
Transfers between Funds		682,693	-	(682,693)	-
Transfers - Schools Building Fund Levy		-	-	-	-
Transfers - Diocesan Levy		1,470,370	(1,470,370)	-	-
Net movement on funds		1,822,990	72,581,436	11,423,848	85,828,274
Reconciliation of funds
Fund balances brought forward					-

Fund balances carried forward		1,822,990	72,581,436	11,423,848	85,828,274

98 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

				CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH For The Year Ended 31 August 2024
					Total 1,134,229 - 140,251 1,784 16,402 27,265 181,358 63,252 - - 1,315,411 1,270,828 1,628,268 776,628 10,100 293,113 286,136 1,752,005 388,031 - 53,605 1,066 2,538,702 11,878,434
~~e Year Ended 31 August 2023~~

	Vocation		Education	Evangelisation
		64 94,992 31,877 14,970 16,661 ng c n Youth and University Chaplaincies Supporting the Poor and Marginalised - Inspired by the Love of Christ New Evangelisation Fundraising
		.12 3,984.12 3,984.12 3,984.12 15,936.48 263 - - - - 797 899 1,348 449 449 784 2,892 4,338 1,446 1,446 008 2,651 890 418 465 810 1,539 516 243 270 928 14,807 10,156 6,645 14,368 024 7,165 2,047 2,047 -

100 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 101

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

17. Permanent Endowment Funds Comparative Figures For The Year Ended 31 August 2023

. 2023
Parochial Funds Properties Other Tanguy Masses St Mary’s Mission Christchurch Parish Priest Curial Funds Curtin Masses Dunne Masses St Joseph Education Fund	Balance at 06 Jul 2022 Transfer from Predecessor Entity Net Income / Expenditure Transfers Movement On Investments Balance at 31 Aug 2023 £ £ £ £ £ £ - 361,618 - - 361,618 - 188,093 3,658 (896) 190,854 - 1,787 - (11) 1,776 - 225,753 1,196 (123) 226,826 - 39,669 - - 39,669
	- 816,920 4,853 - (1,030) 820,743
	- 43,437 1,103 (270) 44,270 - 2,671 - - 2,671 - 116,529 1,739 (426) 117,842
	- 162,636 2,843 - (697) 164,782

	- 979,556 7,696 - (1,727) 985,525

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

18. Restricted Funds Comparative Figures For The Year Ended 31 August 2023

Balance at 06 Jul 2022 £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Transfer from Predecessor Entity £ 185,383 922,245 119,517 161,759 191,205 783 63,329 298,039 0 10,644 1,066 149,904 31,937 1,237,783 -	Income £ 4,206 30 32,604 - 5,603 - 1,612 7,568 278,383 202 - 3,913 45,000 1,231,922 320,020	Expenditure £ - (32,545) (1) - (3,984) - - - (181,358) - - - (31,794) (950,634) (320,020)	Transfers £ (97,027) (885,667)	Movement On Investments - - - (9,980) - - - - - - - (1,002) - -	Balance at 31 Aug 2023 £ 189,590 889,731 152,120 151,780 192,825 783 64,941 305,606 (2) 10,846 1,066 152,815 45,143 633,403 -
-	3,373,595	1,931,062	(1,520,335)	(982,694)	(10,982)	2,790,647
		6,352,132	(664,040)	300,000	-	5,988,092
-	-	6,352,132	(664,040)	300,000	-	5,988,092
- - - - -	586,383 428,995 192,571 159,862 81,324	583,591 - 4,682 68 -	(367,622) - (6,500) - -		- (2,623) (1,147) - -	- 802,352 426,373 189,605 159,930 81,324
-	1,449,135	588,341	(374,122)	-	(3,770)	1,659,584

-	4,822,729	8,871,535	(2,558,496)	(682,694)	(14,752)	10,438,322

102 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

103

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PORTSMOUTH

For The Year Ended 31 August 2024

Thank You and Acknowledgements

19. Designated Funds Comparative Figures For The Year Ended 31 August 2023

Balance at 06 Jul 2022 £ - - - - - -	Transfer from Predecessor Entity £ - 30,379 - 1,125,868 1,790,819 2,872,259	Incoming Resources £ - 58,699 - - 1,680	Resources Expended - (47,651) - - (3,301) (52,868)	Transfers £	Movement On Investments - - - - (167)	Balance at 31 Aug 2023 £ - 41,427 - 1,125,868 1,789,031 2,819,391
-	5,819,325	60,379	(103,820)	-	(167)	5,775,717
- - - -	955,545 9,577 37,738,202 36,182,201	79 - 7,041,545	(13,036) - (388,030) (8,059,785)		- - (884,861)	942,587 9,577 37,350,172 34,279,100
-	74,885,525	7,041,624	(8,460,851)	-	(884,861)	72,581,436

-	80,704,850	7,102,003	(8,564,671)	-	(885,028)	78,357,153

Many of the stories or supporting the wider community and furthering our Mission contained within this Report would not have been possible without the kindness and generosity of our volunteers, parishioners, individual donors, Trusts and other supporters.

Sadly, we cannot thank everyone individually here, but we are indebted to each and every one of those who played their part.

Leave A Gift In Your Will

Every time someone leaves a gift in their Will to the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth, they are entrusting us to ensure that it makes a positive difference to our clergy, church communities and to our overarching mission to bring people closer to Christ through his Church. Every gift, no matter what size, has a lasting impact. We are truly indebted to all those who choose to support us in this way. If you would like to support the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth with a gift in your Will, it won’t cost you a penny in your lifetime but will have an enduring impact for generations to come.

Making provision for the Diocese isn’t costly or complicated. To start a conversation, please get in touch with us at fundraising@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.

20. Allocation Of Net Assets Comparative Figures For The Year Ended 31 August 2023

	Fixed Assets Investments Cash & Debtors Current & Long Term Liabilities Parish Loan Accounts Total - 31 Aug 23
	£ £ £ £ £ £
Permanent Endowment Funds Curial Parochial Restricted Funds Curial Parochial Unrestricted funds Curial Parochial Total Net Assets	- 106,143 54,897 - 3,742 164,782 508,271 191,525 68,229 - 52,719 820,743 - 5,902,089 152,926 1,543,761 (515,783) 1,695,746 8,778,739 - 734,244 904,414 - 20,926 1,659,584 - 2,832,785 3,464,565 4,709,473 (5,582,719) (3,601,114) 1,822,989 38,059,406 23,263,965 9,927,786 (497,702) 1,827,981 72,581,436
	47,302,550 27,913,368 17,208,560 (6,596,205) - 85,828,274

Keep in Touch

Bishop Philip invites you to sign up for his free weekly e-newsletter for all the latest news and forthcoming events www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/enews

Website: www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth

@catholicportsmouth

@PortsmouthRC

104 Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024

Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth | Annual Report 2024 105

Contents

Prayer of St Edmund of Abingdon Patron of the Diocese

About The Diocese of Portsmouth

From The Bishop

From The Bishop

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

From The Bishop

From The Bishop

From Heather Hauschild, Chief Operating Officer

Reflecting on Our Journey: Progress and Achievements:

Days of Prayer:

Mission Plan Implementation:

Clergy Support:

Strengthening Governance:

From Heather Hauschild, Chief Operating Officer

Safeguarding Our Communities:

Bamenda Partnership:

Financial and Operational Improvements:

Prioritising Health and Safety:

Looking Forward: Our Priorities for 2025

Advancing the Mission Plan:

Developing a Comprehensive Estate Strategy:

Securing Financial Sustainability:

Enhancing Parish Support and Using new

Strengthening Governance and

Compliance:

Supporting Our Schools:

Outsourced IT Services

Relationships with Religious Orders:

Moving Forward Together:

Closer To Christ Campaign Raises More Than £11.5 Million For Diocese and Parishes

Support the Closer to Christ Campaign

More Than Just 'Reading'

Seeds of Hope

Singing For The Future

Join the National Schools Singing Programme

Ongoing Formation For All

What is a week of Accompanied Prayer?

The Spiritual Formation Team offers to:

To find out more...

A Focus On Mission and Service

What Does It Mean To Be Human?

Never More Needed – The Story Of Andover Foodbank

associations, Children’s and Adult Social

Becky’s Legacy Lives On

Ministering In Life and Death Situations

Spotlight On Ethnic Chaplaincies In The Diocese

Fifty Years of The PortsmouthBamenda Partnership

Jubilee Mass

Bamenda Today - Ongoing Civil Conflict

Project Funding:

Looking Forward - The Next Fifty Years:

Support the Portsmouth and Bamenda Partnership

New Estates Team Rises To The Challenge

Care After A Lifetime Of Service

Safeguarding – Everyone’s Responsibility

Managing The Money

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away,

John 15:2

Our Year In Numbers

Pastoral Statistics for the 2024 Calendar Year

Our Finances at a Glance

Stewardship of Resources

Financial Review

How is the Diocese funded?

Did the Diocese make ends meet in the 2023 - 2024 financial year?

No.

Major Works: Cathedral West Window . . .

Is the Diocese financially sustainable in the long term?

It depends.

Does the Diocese really have £104 million assets to spend?

Not easily.

Major Works: St Bede’s, Basingstoke . . .

What would it cost to keep all the churches in the Diocese in good condition?

More than we can afford.

Essential Maintenance Shortfall

For each year that we do not spend enough to catch up, the cost to clear the backlog grows and the condition of our properties deteriorates further.

What does this look like per parishioner?

How does the Diocese Provide for Priests in Retirement?