The Order of the British Empire Chapel Fund
Annual Trustees’ Report Period: 1[st] April 2024 – 31[st] March 2025 Charity Number: 208077
Principal Office
Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood St James’s Palace London SW1A 1BH
Reference and Administration
Trustees
The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE
- Prelate
Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall KBE, CB
- King of Arms
Sir Christopher Wormald KCB
Dr Simon Case CVO
The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett
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Secretary (from Dec 2024)
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Secretary (Sep 2020 – Dec 2024)
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Dean
Dame Amelia Fawcett DBE, CVO
- Lady Usher of the Purple Rod
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave - Registrar
Structure and Governance
The Trust is a registered charity, number 208077, and is constituted under a Declaration of Trust dated 9[th] April 1957.
Objects
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a. to provide, furnish, equip and maintain a Chapel in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral to be available for the devotions of persons belonging to the said Order and for the holding of religious services by members of the Most Excellent Order of The British Empire and to provide for the holding of services connected with such persons
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b. to provide for the holding by the Order of religious services in the main body of the said Cathedral
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c. to provide facilities for the attendance of persons belonging to the said Order at public religious services held in the main body of the said Cathedral
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d. to provide for all such matters as may be necessary for the purposes aforesaid or may otherwise be necessary or fitting in connection with the use of the said Cathedral as the church of the said Order
Provided always that the said Chapel shall be available for such religious purposes consistent with the purposes aforesaid as the Dean and Chapter may think fit and nothing herein contained shall be taken to exclude members of the public from the said Chapel or the said religious services held by the Order.
Activities
In addition to the main activities undertaken for the public benefit by the members of the Order, large numbers of the invited public attend memorial and other Christian services in the Chapel throughout the year without direct connection to the Order. Other special Christian services are held, at the behest of the Dean and Chapter, for members of the public not connected with the Order, from time to time.
The Chapel is open daily for reflection and prayer, and for the visiting public to see the many historical memorials in the crypt of the Cathedral. The Chapel is used by the Cathedral’s education department as part of the opportunity offered to the 27,000 young people who visit annually on this programme. This degree of public access does not conflict with the Order’s usual needs for access to its own Chapel. The trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on Public Benefit.
The Order’s last Ceremonial Service was held on 15[th] May 2024.
Achievements and Performance
The Order sponsors a Chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral School. The Chorister takes part in services held in the Chapel and the Cathedral floor, and is progressing well in their studies.
The Order supports the Music Outreach Programme at St Paul’s Cathedral, started in 2014, to provide community outreach and education. The programme takes choral and organ music into schools across Greater London and beyond, engaging thousands of children from all backgrounds in making music, culminating in performances and services at the Cathedral. The Hackney Children’s Choir is part of this work, and the programme offers life-changing musical opportunities for hundreds of local children through weekly rehearsals, school visits, and holiday courses. The OBE Organ Project introduces the William Drake OBE Organ to diverse young audiences, and the programme has now resulted in pupils taking up the instrument for private study.
Excerpts from the OBE Choral Partnership Report:
“Thanks to the support of the Order of the British Empire and other funding partners our programme has grown to reach over 3,000 children each year. Our work has provided weekly, whole-class singing sessions in partner schools, after-school choirs, holiday courses and organ workshops.”
“Over the course of the year we have increased the number of partner schools we work with in this way from 8 to 11, to reach over 2,000 pupils on a weekly basis.”
“A further 1,000 primary school children were involved in our wider outreach programme of workshops and after-school choirs, which provided further progression routes for the more dedicated singers.”
“We have organised over 40 different singing performance opportunities, many in services at St Paul’s Cathedral, but other notable performances included Evensong at King’s College, London and Magdalen College, Oxford.”
“We have played a key role in fostering future high-level artistry with two ‘Organ Inspiration Days’ held in May and July at St Paul’s Cathedral, which gave sixteen budding teenage organists an immersive experience, and the chance to play organs.”
Services held within the Chapel of the Order during 2024/2025 by Members of the Order and those with family connections:
| • | Weddings | - | 32 |
|---|---|---|---|
| • | Baptisms | - | 40 |
| • | Memorials | - | 2 |
The Order has assisted St Paul’s Cathedral in the admirable work to make the Cathedral accessible to everyone. The permanent access ramp to the North Transept enables visitors with access requirements to enter the Cathedral with ease. The Order contributed a sizable donation and encouraged members of the Order to donate to the appeal.
A significant donation of £1M was made by the Order to the Girls' Voices Project at St Paul’s Cathedral. The project will fund 30 girl choristers, providing scholarship and accommodation.
Risk Management
At their annual meeting, the Trustees review and identify the major risks that may affect the stability and successful operation of the Charity. A risk register is prepared to minimise or mitigate any highlighted risks.
Financial Review
The Order of the British Empire Chapel Fund’s major sources of income are the donations made by members of the Order and investment income.
The total income for the financial year 2024-2025 is £121,923 while the total expenditure is £926,464 resulting to an excess of payments over receipts of £804,541.
The Order donated £800,000 to St Paul’s Cathedral as a final contribution to support the Girls’ Voices Project. The Order also paid St Paul’s Music Outreach Program an annual grant of £48,250 and £13,495 for the Chorister tuition and bursary. The Ceremonial Service in May incurred a total cost of £55,083.
The total assets at the end of the period is £3,969,715 with £104,414 of these funds held at Coutts Bank, £2,212,758 in the form of investments with Cazenove, and £1,635,314 as property.
The unrestricted reserve fund of £97,492 will cover the Order's annual projected outgoings and provide the means for it to meet its objectives for the foreseeable future.
The Trustees review the performance of the Investment Manager on a regular basis and during the annual Officials' meeting.
Examiners: G J Lowe Ltd, Pennyweights, 163 Welcomes Road, Kenley, Surrey CR8 5HB Bankers: Coutts & Co., Villiers Office, 440 Strand, London WC2R OQS
Investment Manager: Cazenove Investment Management Ltd, Schroder & Co. Limited, 1 London Wall Place, GB London, EC2Y, 5AU
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the above Trustees’ Report.
Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees:
Signed by:
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Independent Examin•r'8 Report to the Offlcers of The klost Excellent Order Of The British Empire We report on the accounts of the Order for the ye8r ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on the attached sheet. R•spoctlve re8pon8lbllllle8 of offl¢ef8 and examln•r The charity's officers are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's officèrs consider that an audit is not required for this year (under secb'on 43121 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Actll and that an independent examination is needed. It is our responsibility to.. examlne the accounts (under se10n 4313)lal of the 2011 Acti,. to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commls8loners (under section 4317llbl of the 2011 Act), and to stsle whether pacular matters have come to our attents'on. Ba818 of Indopendent •xamlneff• report Our examination was carried out In accordance wlth the General Directions given by the Charlty Commissloners. An examln8ts.on includes 8 review of the accountlng re¢ords kept by the Charity and Gompadson of the accounts presented with those records. 11 also Includes consideration of any unu$u81 items or dlsclosures in the 8ccounts, end seeking explanations from you as officers concerning any such matters, The procedur85 undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be qUI in an audit, end consequently I do not express an aLtdlt oplnlon on the view given by the a¢¢ounts. Indop•nd•nt •x•mln•r'• •latemont In connection with our examlnalion, no matter has o)mo to our attenllon: {11 which gives U8 reawnable ¢auge to believe that in any material respect the requlrements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 2011 Act.. and to prepaw accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met.. or (21 to which, in our opinm, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Gary Lowe Chartered Certified Accountant Pennyweighls 163 Welcomes Road Kenley Surrey CR8 5HB 21 October 2025