The Orthodox Christian Community of St Constantine the Great, York
Trustees Annual Report
for the period
1[st] January 2023 – 31[st] December 2023
Charity number 1201173
Structure Governance & Management
Charities principal address: 31 Keble Park Crescent
Bishopthorpe, York YO23 2SY
Names of Trustees that served during the year:
Rev Michael Alexander – Chair
Christopher Bennigsen – Secretary
Stephen Nendick – Treasurer
Melissa Bryan
Natalia Dowding Rev David Hoskin
Safeguarding Officer – Peter Comley
The Orthodox Christian Community of St Constantine the Great, York (St Constantine’s) is a CIO with a Foundation Constitution whose trustees are appointed by members. The trustees meet quarterly, while the Church Council convenes more frequently for practical discussions and decision-making. The Council consists of the Trustees and an additional six elected members.
We take safeguarding very seriously. Our Safeguarding Officer ensures that all Trustees, as well as congregation members in positions of responsibility, are DBS checked (as required) and remain up to date with regular safeguarding training. The Trustees are notified of any safeguarding concerns, and any relevant outcomes.
Objectives
The objectives of St Constantine’s are to promote the Orthodox Christian faith; to advance Orthodox Christian education; to sustain the well-being of the Orthodox Christian community in York and the surrounding area; to assist in the relief of poverty locally, nationally and internationally; to support other charitable objectives as the trustees may from time to time decide.
Activities and Achievements
Weekly Sunday Eucharist services were held throughout the year, augmented by mid-week prayer services once per month and special services to mark Liturgical feasts. The average attendance at Sunday services increased from 30 to 40, while mid-week attendance increased from 3 to 12, largely due to student members. Our current membership consists of 103 adults and 32 children.
Educational classes were held throughout the year for ‘catechumens’, i.e. those preparing for sacramental reception into the Orthodox Church. We had eight catechumens in the year, of which two were baptised, while the others continued their instruction into 2024. In addition, we baptised two infants.
We had 2 successful parish pilgrimages, to Crowland and Hibaldstow. These gave us the opportunity to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with other parishes in our diocese.
There were opportunities for the congregation to be involved in talks and discussion groups during the year. The children performed a Nativity Play on Christmas Eve which was enjoyed by all. We are hopeful that our children’s provision will grow in 2024.
During Lent, we collected items and cash for Carecent and the York Foodbank, encouraging the congregation to contribute when coming to services. This was a tangible way to help those in our city.
We were delighted to assist in the opening of our Mission Parish in Scunthorpe which started weekly services in September 2023. They have grown in numbers and are blessing the community there.
Financial Review
We do not receive any external funds. We rely on donations from our congregation. During 2023 we were successfully able to launch a planned giving initiative, replacing our weekly collection plate. This saw an increase in
planned giving of around £700 per month – most of which is tax-efficient giving.
Our income increased 50% from 2022 to £15,000, while expenditure remained similar to 2022. This resulted in a surplus of nearly £6000. As we have no overheads and do not employ any staff or clergy, our biggest outgoing is our parish share to the diocese. This equates to 15% of our income.
Our reserves policy equates to £8,000. We finished the year with reserves of £22,000. Therefore the Trustees have recommended that a portion of this is moved into a designated building fund to help us purchase our own building.
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Michael Alexander, Chair
17/02/2024
Melissa Bryan, Trustee 17/02/2024
| THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OF | THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OF | THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OF | 1201173 No (if any) |
1201173 No (if any) |
1201173 No (if any) |
CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST CONSTANTINE THE GREAT, YORK | |||||||
| For the period from |
01/01/2023 Period start date |
To | 31/12/2023 Period end date |
||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 7,078 5,866 662 320 - 150 230 252 14,558 - - - 14,558 1,818 243 110 560 2,655 2,116 1,154 - - 8,656 - - - 8,656 5,902 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
||
| Planned Giving | 7,078 | - | - | 3,055 | |||
| Collections at services | 5,866 | - | - | 4,389 | |||
| Candles | 662 | - | - | 687 | |||
| Other Donations | 320 | - | - | 954 | |||
| Gift Aid recovered | - | - | - | - | |||
| TradingIncome | 150 | - | - | 90 | |||
| Investment Interest | 230 | - | - | 26 | |||
| Specific CharityDonations | 252 | - | - | 461 | |||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
14,558 | - | - | 9,662 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | |||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||||
| 14,558 | - | - | 9,662 | ||||
Parish Share |
1,818 | - | - | 1,190 | |||
| ClergyCosts | 243 | - | - | 459 | |||
| Premise Hire | 110 | - | - | 66 | |||
| Mission Givingand Donations | 560 | - | - | 845 | |||
| Church runningexpenses | 2,655 | - | - | 2,669 | |||
| Administrative | 2,116 | - | - | 958 | |||
| Other Expenses | 1,154 | - | - | 1,232 | |||
| - | - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 8,656 | - | - | 7,419 | |||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases (see table) |
|||||||
| , | - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | - | |||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||
| 8,656 | - | - | 7,419 | ||||
| 5,902 | - | - |
5,902 |
2,243 | |||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 16,211 | - | - | 16,211 | 13,968 | |||
| 22,113 | - | - |
22,113 | 16,211 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
12/07/2024
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the | period | period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||
| Bank current account | 9,321 | - | ||||
| Deposit Account | 12,792 | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
22,113 |
- | - | |||
| OK | ||||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Details | Current value (optional) |
|||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| Details | Current value (optional) |
|||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| Details | When due (optional) |
|||||
| Signature | ||||||
| Date of approval |
||||||
| Michael Alexander | 17/02/2024 | |||||
| Melissa Bryan | 17/02/2024 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
12/07/2024
2