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2023-09-30-accounts

The Dominican Friars

A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 2 3

The English Province of the Order of Preachers. Registered charity 231192 (England and Wales) and SC039062 (Scotland)

The Dominican Friars

A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 2 3

– F O R T H E P E R I O D 1 S T O C T 2 0 2 2 3 0 T H S E P T 2 0 2 3

The English Province of the Order of Preachers. Registered charity 231192 (England and Wales) and SC039062 (Scotland)

A B O U T T H E D O M I N I C A N F R I A R S

The Dominican Friars in Britain

THE DOMINICAN FRIARS (est. 1216) are an international Catholic religious order with a specialisation in preaching, teaching and pastoral work. Officially titled the ‘Order of Preachers’, they are known as ‘Dominicans’ after their founder, St Dominic.

THE ‘PROVINCE OF ENGLAND’

The friars first established themselves in Britain in 1221, as the ‘Province of England’. The Province (one of around 40) endures to this day. It is legally constituted as a single charity ‘The English Province of the Order of Preachers’, with responsibility for the friars’ work in England, Wales and Scotland.

PRIORIES

The Province is made up of a number of priories, which are local communities of friars with a large degree of self-government. Currently these are in Oxford, London, Cambridge, Leicester, and Edinburgh. The Dominican houses in Grenada and Jamaica in the West Indies are also canonically dependent on this Province, and supported by grants, though not part of this charity.

KEY FACTS

OBJECT OF THE CHARITY

Houses: 4 in England, 1 in Scotland (+ 2 canonically associated in Caribbean)

Total English-Province Friars: 75

The Province Trust Deed lists ten charitable purposes, which for the purpose of registration as a Charity are summarised as ‘the promotion of education and the Roman Catholic religion and the establishment and maintenance of schools, churches and priories for these purposes and the upkeep of members of the Order of Preachers’.

Bishops: 1

Priests: 64

(of which 7 in Caribbean)

Cooperator Brothers: 2 Novices / Student Bros.: 7 (+2 assigned from other provs.)

OUR MISSION: THE AIMS OF THE CHARITY

The ultimate aim and purpose of the Catholic Church and therefore of the Order of Preachers is ‘the salvation of souls’ (cf. CIC 1752; LCO 1 §2). In furtherance of this goal, the Order of Preachers and the English Province aim to provide effective preaching, teaching and pastoral care flowing from fraternal religious communities of prayer and study. Through the work of the friars we seek to awaken and deepen faith, hope and charity, to the benefit of those to whom we minister, to their families and to the wider community.

More detailed information can be found on pp. 37ff.

www.english.op.org

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THE DOMINICAN FRIAR S ANNUAL R EPORT 2023

C O N T E N T S

Message from the Prior Provincial

Among my first acts as Prior Provincial, following my election at the Chapter in April 2024, has been to review this annual report. It is clear from reading it that this Province continues to thrive; and has the unity and energy to face the challenges of the coming years. I would like to thank my brethren for their great commitment to our common mission.

For the first time in this annual report, we include an update from our brothers in Jamaica and Grenada. While their activities are not part of our activities as a UK charity, they nonetheless are part of the Order’s Province of England, and the UK charity raises funds and provides brothers from the UK to support their valuable work advancing the gospel in the Caribbean.

I must of course express our great gratitude for the support that we receive every day from the many lay people who pray with us and for us, who volunteer their time and their advice, and who sustain us with donations, grants and legacies. I very much look forward to speaking with each of you during my term of office.

Very Rev Nicholas Paul Crowe OP, Prior Provincial, Province of England

Contents

C
ABOUT THE DOMINICAN FRIARS 2
THE YEAR IN REVIEW 4
REVIEW BY HOUSE:
OXFORD: PRIORY 10
OXFORD: STUDIUM GENERALE 11
OXFORD: BLACKFRIARS HALL 12
EDINBURGH 16
LONDON 18
CAMBRIDGE 20
LEICESTER 22
CARIBBEAN: JAMAICA & GRENADA 24
REVIEW OF EDUCATIONAL APOSTOLATE 26
REVIEW OF FUNDRAISING 34
CHARITY DETAILS, OFFICE-HOLDERS 36
ts
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT 37
PUBLIC BENEFIT 43
PROVISION FOR SICK & ELDERLY 44
INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE 44
FINANCIAL REVIEW 45
FUNDS & INVESTMENTS 46
TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES 47
TRUSTEES’ DECLARATION 48
AUDITOR’S REPORT 49
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 52
BALANCE SHEET 53
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 54
ACCOUNTING POLICIES 55
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 58

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T H E Y E A R I N R E V I E W

Objectives & Strategies for the Year 2022–23

(A) RECRUITMENT & TRAINING

To train priests and religious for pastoral and educational ministry, and to maintain the success of the full-time Director and Promoter of Vocations in drawing larger numbers of young men to enter the Province.

(B) MINISTRY

To continue effective and responsive ministry in the priories and parishes of the Province.

(C) BLACKFRIARS HALL

To maintain and support the educational and research activities of

(D) BLACKFRIARS STUDIUM

Strengthen the Province’s centre of studies in Oxford, ensuring proper • Continue to raise funds, so that an adequate and sustainable levels of funding and administrative system of payment for lecturers can be provided. support.

Of these objectives (a), (b), (e) and (g) applied to Scotland as well as to England and Wales; (c), (d) and (f) were specific to England and Wales, although not to the exclusion of participation by friars assigned to Scottish priories.

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THE DOMINICAN FRIAR S ANNUAL R EPORT 2023

T H E Y E A R I N R E V I E W

Objectives & Strategies for the Year 2022–23

(E) BUILDINGS

To maintain the buildings of the Province so that they are fitting places for the religious life, including for older and sick members of the Order, and for the pastoral and educational apostolate.

(F) LONDON AND LEICESTER

Support and develop the mission of the Rosary Shrine in London and Holy Cross Priory in Leicester to their local and extended surrounding areas.

(G) INFLATION AND COST-OFLIVING CRISIS

Take extra care with the stewardship • Prioritise pastoral care. of resources and the controlling of expenditure.

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T H E Y E A R I N R E V I E W

The Year in Review: Key Facts

----- Start of picture text -----
THRIVING PARISH IN LEICESTER
[p.22]
----- End of picture text -----

DOMINICAN FAMILY CONFERENCE IN SCOTLAND [p.17]

VOCATIONS CONTINUE [p.20]

SUPPORTING THE MISSION IN THE CARIBBEAN [p.24]

----- Start of picture text -----
9
7
Ministry or Full-time
Study Ministerial
elsewhere
Studies
46
overseas
Ministry
in the UK
7 5
On leave
Ministry in
or in care
Caribbean
----- End of picture text -----

Figures from the 2023 Catalogus of the Province (note: categories have changed from those used in previous reports). Excludes those serving as bishops (1), and those from other provinces resident in the UK (2).

Age Groups of Friars in the Province

----- Start of picture text -----
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
24 and 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+
under
----- End of picture text -----

Note: this excludes those currently on leave. Pastoral offices include parish priests, assistant priests, chaplains etc. (35 in previous year). Some are part-time: the count is 14 (16) if considered as ‘fulltime equivalents’. Some individuals hold more than one office. Paid work means the Charity receives income as a result of this work (86% paid in previous year).

----- Start of picture text -----
PASTORAL OFFICES
----- End of picture text -----

51% UNPAID 35 49% PAID

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T H E Y E A R I N R E V I E W

The Year in Review: Pastoral Figures

ESTIMATED TYPICAL SUNDAY MASS ATTENDANCE AT DOMINICAN PRIORIES IN THE UK*

----- Start of picture text -----
900 900
800 Leicester
753
700 London
640
600
560 580566 573 563 Edinburgh
500 460
400 420 390 400 Oxford
350 350
300 320
250 Cambridge
200 200 170 160 210
100 94 120 130
80
42
0
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
----- End of picture text -----

*Sunday Mass attendance figures are included merely to provide a rough idea of the scale of pastoral work in each priory. These exclude the many other forms of pastoral ministry undertaken ( see below ) and the many and varied other ministries that happen within this Province ( see the reports in pp.9–33). They are of course susceptible to vagaries of local populations and of measurement.

Note that the differences in trends during and after 2020 are caused partly by regional differences in public-health restrictions, and partly by the social profile of the local population and its willingness to return to in-person Mass attendance.

SACRAMENTAL STATISTICS

Baptisms Infants: 61 (2022: 58)
Adults/older children: 10 (6)
TOTAL: 71 (64)
Receptions of Baptised Christians 10 (5)
into the Catholic Church
Confrmations 23 (25)
First Communions Children: 17 (43)
Adults: 8 (6)
TOTAL: 25 (49)
Public Masses each week Sundays: 23 (23)
Weekdays: 51 (52)
TOTAL: 74 (75)
Average Mass attendance Sundays: 2,423 (2,056)
Weekdays: 321 (203)
Sacrament of Penance (Confession) 17 hours scheduled per week (9)
Average of 69 other individual
confessions per week (52)
Marriages 16 (16)
Funerals 52 (51)
Hours of Pastoral Contact 230 (148)

The age-profile of the Province is such that at present there are fewer friars available to engage in full-time pastoral work, but more engaged in study and other forms of preparation for such work. Moreover, it is impossible to reduce the effectiveness of pastoral ministry to statistics; but the Charity Trustees consider that these figures indicate that the Province is continuing to provide in its parishes, priories and other apostolates the sacramental and pastoral resources that are a necessary prerequisite for effective and responsive ministry. A very considerable number of people benefit from this activity of the Charity.

Note: Statistics presented on this page exclude figures provided by those currently on leave or who minister outside the UK.

It is to be noted that 5 friars (4) who are not resident in priories carry out pastoral work in various other parishes and chaplaincies in England and Scotland.

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P L A N S F O R F U T U R E P E R I O D S

Plans for Future Periods

The Charity Trustees view the following as particular objectives for the year to September 2024:

(A) RECRUITMENT & TRAINING

To train priests and religious for pastoral and educational ministry, and to maintain the success of the fulltime Director and Promoter of Vocations in drawing larger numbers of young men to enter the Province.

(B) MINISTRY

To continue effective and responsive ministry in the priories and parishes of the Province.

(C) BLACKFRIARS HALL

To maintain and support the educational and research activities of Blackfriars Hall and particularly to develop the research projects of the Las Casas and Aquinas Institutes, and foster links with the other private halls of the University.

(D) BLACKFRIARS STUDIUM

To maintain and support the educational and research activities of Blackfriars Hall and particularly to: develop the research projects of the Las Casas and Aquinas Institutes; foster links with the other private halls of the University;

create a development plan for the future direction of the Hall, and a fundraising plan in support of this; develop the ground floor of the Blackfriars Annexe to create a dining and events space combined with an income-generating public cafeteria.

(E) BUILDINGS

To maintain the buildings of the Province so that they are fitting places for the religious life, including for older and sick members of the Order, and for the pastoral and educational apostolate.

(F) LONDON AND LEICESTER

Support and develop the mission of the Rosary Shrine in London and Holy Cross Priory in Leicester to their local and extended surrounding areas; refine development plans and take forward fundraising for improving the facilities that support these missions.

(G) INFLATION AND COST OF LIVING CRISIS

Take extra care with the stewardship of resources and the controlling of expenditure. Fundraise with sensitivity to the financial pressures on supporters. Prioritise pastoral care.

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R E V I E W O F A C T I V I T I E S

Review of Activities

INTRODUCTION

The friars have continued their pastoral work in the parishes and chaplaincies both attached to the priories of the Province and elsewhere; and their educational apostolate which is undertaken alongside the pastoral work, and in a special way within Blackfriars, Oxford. As far as can be determined, in the course of the present reporting period friars and communities of the Province were involved in the concrete activities listed on the following pages. These reports are grouped by geographical location and followed by a Province-wide round-up of the wide range of educational activities undertaken.

Above: Fr Joseph Bailham led the Dominican Youth Ministry pilgrimage to northern Italy, in the footsteps of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati.

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : O X F O R D

Blackfriars: Priory of the Holy Spirit, Oxford

Oxford priory (known as ‘Blackfriars’) has as its principal work the formation of student Dominicans and other religious in our Studium (see p.11). The friars also undertake pastoral work, through the liturgy and preaching in their own church, with several flourishing youth groups; and in co-operation with local parishes, the Defence Academy at Shrivenham and the Catholic Chaplaincy to Oxford University ; one friar also acts as chaplain at the Oratory School , near Reading. Blackfriars offers the most central open Catholic church in Oxford, with sung Divine Office and daily Mass.

The priory continued to offer its popular livestream of Masses, with grateful followers including the housebound and those from all around the world who appreciate our liturgy and preaching. Fr Nicholas Crowe was elected Prior in February 2023. Thomas Thérèse Mannion was ordained to the priesthood and Bede Mullens to the diaconate.

Prior: Nicholas Crowe OP

21 resident friars, including

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : O X F O R D , B L A C K F R I A R S S T U D I U M

The Studium Generale at Blackfriars

Blackfriars Studium is a unique centre for ministerial training, being the only specialist centre in Britain providing intellectual formation for the next generation of members of religious orders.

The Studium offers a first cycle of studies leading to an STB (Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology) accredited by the Angelicum (Pontifical University of St Thomas, Rome).

The Studium shares premises, resources, and certain staff with Blackfriars Hall (see p.12) but is institutionally separate.

For the academic year 2022/23 we had 21 students registered for the Studium. The Studium had 9 Dominican students enrolled in the Studium, including a friar from the Northern Italian Province. The Studium also had in the student body: Benedictines, Carmelites (Calced and Discalced), Franciscans (Conventual and Capuchin) and one student for the Melkite Catholic Church. The teaching is largely provided by Dominican friars as well as other religious and lay people.

12 Dominican friars taught on the Studium’s STB programme 2022/23. Thanks to the generous support of benefactors, the Studium also employs four lay teachers: three Studium lectors (one in Philosophy and two in Theology) and a senior postholder joint with Campion Hall, the Jesuit permanent private hall of the University of Oxford. The

title of this latter post is: ‘Frederick Copleston Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow in the Catholic Tradition’ – the senior research fellowship status is with Campion Hall and the lectureship status with the Studium. These are: Dr Jan Bentz (Philosophy),

Dr Victoria De Haan (Theology), Dr Joshua Madden (Theology), and Dr Daniel De Haan (Copleston post). Regent: John O’Connor OP Vice-Regent: Bruno Clifton OP www.blackfriars.org.uk

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : O X F O R D , B L A C K F R I A R S H A L L

Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford

Blackfriars Hall is one of the Catholic Permanent Private Halls (PPHs) in Oxford University . It welcomes postgraduate students taking degrees in a range of humanities subjects, and hosts a small number of visiting students and academics. It shares facilities, staff and resources with Blackfriars Studium ( see p.11 ) but is institutionally separate.

The Hall specialises in Catholic theology and philosophy in the Thomistic tradition. Central to the mission of Blackfriars Hall, and making for a great enrichment of the Studium also, are its two research centres, the Aquinas Institute and the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice ( see following pages ).

Blackfriars Hall allows friars a place in one of the great universities of the world. As part of the collegiate University, Blackfriars Hall follows university regulations and standards and is regularly reviewed by the University’s Permanent Private Hall Supervisory Committee.

In the academic year 2022/23, the Hall had 73 matriculated University of Oxford students, 49 full-time and 24 part-time graduate students, as well as 7 visiting students. The matriculated students are predominantly Doctoral or Masters students (Theology, Philosophy, Social Sciences, Literature, History), or students studying for secondaryschool teacher qualifications.

Scholarship provision plays a

significant role in the University of Oxford in attracting students of the highest calibre. Blackfriars Hall was delighted to award two Jubilee Scholarships for doctoral students, to Marta Bielinska and Clare Whitton, worth £17,000 per annum for two years; and two Dominique Pire Scholarships of £2,500 to Melinda Davis and Xiongjie Deng. Blackfriars Hall also announced the Scovil Scholarship for Theology and the Arts, worth £12,000 per annum for doctoral students in Theology. The scholarships were possible due to the generous support of donors together with support from the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford.

of Natural History. Over 300 students and their guests attended. The event was not only a successful Oxford ball, but an opportunity for PPH students to meet one another and enjoy a night of fun as a community.

Blackfriars Hall also has a

strong partnership with the Anscombe Centre for Bioethics ( www.bioethics.org.uk/ ), a Catholic academic institute that engages with the moral questions arising in clinical practice and biomedical research, and runs educational programmes for, and gives advice to, Catholics and other interested healthcare professionals and biomedical scientists.

Blackfriars Hall students

Regent: John O’Connor OP Vice-Regent: Bruno Clifton OP

also helped organise the PPH (Permanent Private Hall) Ball along with students from Regent’s Park College and St Stephen’s House. The ball was held at the Oxford Museum

Students: 73 graduates and 7 visiting students, from 17 nations.

www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : O X F O R D , B L A C K F R I A R S H A L L

Blackfriars Hall: The Aquinas Institute

The Aquinas Institute promotes research into the philosophy and theology of St Thomas Aquinas and its contemporary value. The Institute organises an annual programme of research seminars, colloquia, and public lectures. As well as fostering a community of scholarship in Oxford, the Institute welcomes visiting scholars from across the world.

In order to mark the 700th anniversary of the canonisation of St Thomas Aquinas, the Institute organised a series of public lectures at Blackfriars, January– March 2023. Among the speakers were Prof. Mariusz Tabaczek OP

(Angelicum), Rev Dr Reginald Lynch OP (Dominican House of Studies, Washington), Dr Joshua Madden (Blackfriars Studium), Prof. Catherine Joseph Droste OP (Angelicum) and Prof. Simon Gaine OP (Angelicum).

Other events included a special research seminar, joint with Campion Hall, given by Prof. Nicholas Lombardo OP (Catholic University of America); and a book launch of Meaning of Mourning: Perspectives on Death (Lexington Books), edited by Mikolaj Slawkowski-Rode, which included a chapter by Fr Richard Conrad. The idea for the volume came from

a colloquium at Blackfriars Hall organised jointly by the Humane Philosophy Society and the Aquinas Institute.

There was also a reading group (eight sessions) looking at Katherine Soderegger’s Systematic Theology , Vol. 1: The Doctrine of God ; and a series of four reading classes (‘Widening Horizons in Philosophical Theology, Life Before God: Truth and the Liturgy’), examining continental philosophies of the liturgy as a locus of truth in relation to the thought of St Thomas.

Director: Oliver Keenan OP

www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/aquinas

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : O X F O R D , B L A C K F R I A R S H A L L

Blackfriars Hall: Las Casas Institute

The Las Casas Institute for

Social Justice is a research centre for applied Catholic Social Teaching based at Blackfriars Hall.

As the effects of climate change become ever more evident, and as the international community has struggled to find adequate responses to the devastating impact on some of the world’s poorest communities, the year 2022 to 2023 saw the launch and first year of the Institute’s research project on climate justice and humanitarianism led by Dr Hugo Slim with support from two research assistants, Maria Mercedes Kuri and Luca Marsico. Interviews were held with experts on climate change at the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office in London, at the United Nations, and at the International Red Cross in Geneva.

Early contributions to debate were a major web essay for Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin entitled ‘Humanitarians and the Climate Emergency’ published here https://gppi.net/2023/06/28/ humanitarians-and-theclimate-emergency , and two blogs co-published in the run-up to COP 28 with the global think tank ODI in London and the

Centre for Humanitarian Action (CHA) in Berlin; one was on the ethics of climate finance in fragile and conflict states, https:// odihpn.org/publication/isit-right-to-prioritise-fragilestates-in-the-climate-crisis/

and the other on the ethics of loss and damage, https://odihpn. org/publication/is-it-rightto-count-humanitarian-aidas-loss-and-damage/ . The Las Casas Institute also prepared for an international conference on ethical responses to climate change held at Blackfriars in October 2023 which brought together policy-makers, faith leaders, and academics from different disciplines.

term research project into the fundamentals of economic theory, ‘Economics as a Moral Science’. This stage involved editing the papers from the last international symposium on ‘The Ethics of Consumption’. The volume was finally published by Springer International in March 2024, the eighth volume in the series edited by Prof. Róna, and thought is currently being given to how best the insights from this research can be made better known.

Alongside this project, Dr Slim has continued to act as a consultant on wider humanitarian issues, speaking, for example, to the staff of Caritas Germany on neutrality in humanitarian relief, a talk later published on the website of Caritas Europa: https://www.caritas.eu/ is-it-ethical-to-be-neutral/ .

The Institute welcomed to Blackfriars two further Oxford workshops run by the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights . These workshops led by Dr Slim bring together forty or so students each time mainly from the United States, and often from disadvantaged backgrounds, who have shown a commitment to the defence of Human Rights and who wish to deepen their understanding

Prof. Peter Roná and Dr Agnieszka Wincewicz- Price took forward during the year what was intended to be the final stage of a long-

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : O X F O R D , B L A C K F R I A R S H A L L

Blackfriars Hall: Las Casas Institute

Stills from the large and growing library of lectures and discussions available on YouTube.

Left: Ukraine one year on: Catholic Theological and Ethical Reflections.

Right: Women Religious and the Northern Irish Troubles.

of the issues. The March 2023 workshop studied ‘Human Rights and Climate Crisis’. The July 2023 workshop looked at new technology and Human Rights.’

Research in the area of human dignity and peacebuilding has continued under the leadership of Dr Maria Power. Dr Power and Dr Afifi Al-Akiti of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies commissioned papers for a book on Christian and Islamic understandings of human dignity, to be edited in 2024 for publication in 2025. Dr Power has also collaborated with Dr Jonathan Bush at the University of Durham on a book project exploring the experiences of lay Catholics in 20[th] -Century Britain, and assisted Roderick Howlett in scripting a series of online videos setting out key aspects of Catholic Social Teaching from a Dominican perspective. These videos aimed at sixth-formers and undergraduates

are due to be published in the summer of 2024.

The Institute, which has grown in its number of Fellows and Associate Members, continued to reach out to the widest possible audience through its online webinars. Weekly online reading classes ran over three terms led by Edward Hadas assisted by Dr James Bergida. These continue to attract a welcome mix of academics, graduate students, Lay Dominicans, and others interested in Catholic Social Teaching from continental Europe and America as well as the United Kingdom. Among topics studied in the past year were the writings of Josef Pieper on leisure, and E. F. Schumacher’s Small is Beautiful . Prof. Michael Scott meanwhile led an extensive programme of lectures and discussions online co-sponsored with Georgetown University with topics such as ‘Can Iran Recover its Democracy?

The Institute has continued to benefit from the substantial support of individual benefactors including the ‘Friends’ of the Las Casas Institute; and from grantmakers including Porticus UK, the Mallinckrodt Foundation, and the Sisters of the Holy Cross Charitable Trust.

Director: Richard Finn OP

www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/ lascasas

YouTube: ‘Las Casas Institute’

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : E D I N B U R G H

St Albert’s Parish & Chaplaincy, Edinburgh

The House of St Albert the Great serves a thriving Parish and vibrant Catholic Chaplaincy to the University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh Napier University , and Queen Margaret University .

CHAPLAINCY LIFE

The Catholic Chaplaincy serves the pastoral and spiritual needs of university students and staff. Staff bring their families and continue to attend after retirement, so that the weekly congregation includes people of every age. Baptisms, weddings and funerals are a regular feature of Chaplaincy life as well as instruction in the faith for both adults and children. There are regular talks on issues of justice and peace, the arts and contemporary ethical issues. The congregation regularly raises funds for other charities.

The Albertus Institute , which is not part of the Parish but closely linked with it, facilitates informed

group discussion on issues of public interest.

A NORMAL WEEK

Each week we have Masses at 7.30am and 5.15pm, followed by Office of Readings and Morning Prayer and Vespers. The general public are encouraged to attend and participate in these liturgies and many people do. Each day one Mass is livestreamed as well as Vespers. Most days those attending online are in excess of 100 (Sunday), up to 900 (weekday). Many people tell us that they watch it because of the quality of the preaching, and the simplicity of the liturgy. One good outcome of the pandemic is that now on the livestream our preaching reaches many more people. The livestream facility also makes it possible for family members who are unable to attend funerals and weddings in person to at least attend virtually. We have Exposition

on Wednesdays and Saturdays with a priest available for Confessions.

A daily email begun in lockdown now continues as a weekly email and is an important channel of communication with over 200 parishioners. While some groups continued to meet online, gradually these returned to meeting in person. Instruction in the faith continued with adults being baptised and confirmed.

CATHOLIC STUDENTS’ UNION

The Catholic Students’ Union , an official University of Edinburgh student society, continues to be very active. Its membership is about 100 students; but many other students attend Mass and participate in the life of the Chaplaincy as well. The Young Women’s Group and a group for young men meet regularly in person. There is a Midweek Meal every second week. Each Friday there is a Baked Potato Lunch with

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : E D I N B U R G H

St Albert’s Parish & Chaplaincy, Edinburgh

a short input from a Chaplain on a theological topic. Theology talks for students are part of the weekly life of the chaplaincy. There are prayer groups on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Fr Matthew continued to serve as a Dominican liaison to the Thomistic Institute at the University of Edinburgh. The chapter organises public lectures and other activities which open the minds of young Catholics to Catholic thought in the tradition of St Thomas.

SPECIAL CONFERENCE

In order to increase interest in the Dominican charism within Scotland, in the summer a conference was held in Edinburgh, ‘St Dominic and His Preachers of Grace’. This featured contributions from friars, sisters and lay Dominicans. Fr Richard Finn spoke on pre- Reformation history; Fr Fergus Kerr about the friars who shaped his thought as a theologian, finishing at 1962. Fr

Nicholas Crowe talked about the intellectual apostolate. Sr Philomena Dzimba and Sr Chama Mwila spoke of their apostolates in education and healthcare. Margaret Doyle gave us an overview of the various Lay Dominican groups spread across Britain and Sr Angela Marie Russell talked about her community’s rich and vibrant ministry to young people in Elgin and more widely in Scotland. During Mass in the Cathedral, Fr Timothy Radcliffe preached; he also gave a talk later on the theme of ‘Preaching and the Imagination’. The day ended with Vespers, the Salve and the O Spem .

THE DOMINICAN COMMUNITY

Fr Dermot Morrin continues as Superior and Parish Priest. Fr Thomas Mannion and Fr Matthew Jarvis work alongside Fr Dermot Morrin as chaplains. Fr Aelred Connelly has retired but helps out with Masses and Confessions.

Fr Fergus Kerr continued in residence. This past year saw the publication of a collection of his writings, From Aberdeen to Oxford (ATF Press, 2023).

Fr Dermot Morrin OP combines his role as Chaplain and Superior with being part of the chaplaincy team at HMP and Young Offenders’ Institution at Polmont. This means that we are serving some of the most fortunate as well as some of the most unfortunate and vulnerable people currently in Scotland.

BENEFACTORS

The Lady Marian Gibson Trust continued to provide significant financial support to the parish. We are grateful to all our benefactors.

Superior: Fr Dermot Morrin 4 / 5 resident friars

www.scotland.op.org

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : L O N D O N

St Dominic’s Priory & Rosary Shrine, London

St Dominic’s Priory is a hub for the Catholic Faith and culture, and a diverse and dynamic parish in north-west London that attracts people from within the local area and from further afield. As one parishioner said: ‘I truthfully didn’t see much point in attending Mass. For me, in the past, it offered no value and was a chore. But St Dominic’s and the priests there changed that thinking entirely for me.’

At the centre of all this activity is the Priory church, a historic Grade II* listed building that is thought to be the largest Catholic parish church in London, and also serves as the Diocesan Shrine to Our Lady of the Rosary. It is the only Rosary Shrine in the country and joins a small international network of Dominican

CHAPLAINCIES

& PASTORAL CARE

Shrines dedicated to promoting Dominican prayer and the Rosary.

Members of the priory are all engaged in a wide range of ministries serving the parish and Shrine, and also work with charities and institutions to support the social and pastoral needs of the local community, as well as talks, retreat work

and conferences nationally and some internationally, both in person and by video-conferencing.

crowd from across London;

The Prior Provincial resides and has his office here.

LITURGY AND DEVOTIONS

As a Shrine, the church offers regular access to the Sacraments, with scheduled daily Confession, Adoration and Masses both in the morning and the evening (the only church in the local deanery to offer evening Mass).

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : L O N D O N

St Dominic’s Priory & Rosary Shrine, London

visits by Catholic tour groups and groups of religious happen throughout the year;

A HOME FOR COMMUNITIES

INTELLECTUAL APOSTOLATE

ART AND CULTURE

ONLINE APOSTOLATE

Mass continues to be broadcast daily to our YouTube channel. We also livestream organ recitals, processions and vigils, and a weekly Rosary has over 1,000 viewers from North America, the UK, and Italy.

The friars continue to engage in catechesis and talks online, with invitations from USA, Malaysia, Singapore, and UK.

PROMOTING THE ROSARY

RADIO MARIA

The London studio of Radio Maria is located above our hall. One friar (Toby Lees OP, pictured ) is Priest Director of this 24-hour station speaking regularly on the radio and with overall editorial responsibility. Other friars frequently contribute to programmes.

DEVELOPING THE PARISH AND SHRINE

Catechesis is now focussed on supporting the faith formation of the whole family, and the main Family Mass on Sunday is tailored to welcoming children and parents, with activities in the parish hall after Mass such as ‘Fry a Friar’ Q&A sessions; Children’s Liturgy of the Word led by the friars and other catechists; and a vibrant music group led by parishioners.

Towards the end of the financial year, significant sums were raised towards a new underfloor heating system which was installed in the following financial year.

Prior: Lawrence Lew OP / Dominic White OP (from September 2023)

11 resident friars

www.rosaryshrine.co.uk

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : C A M B R I D G E

Blackfriars: Priory of St Michael, Cambridge

The Priory of St Michael

Archangel is the location of the Province’s noviciate, where new friars spend their first year in the Order.

Members of the priory are also involved in writing, preaching, theological research and teaching. They normally provide pastoral care for a congregation of c.200 people, as well as assisting with the sacramental needs of the adjacent parishes.

The priory promotes projects supporting educational provision in Ethiopia in co-operation with the Jean Grove Trust (reg. charity 1109593). We have continued to fundraise for this, though the troubles in Ethiopia have made bank transfers unreliable as per last year. One novice took simple vows for the English Province and one novice was clothed for the English Province in September. Fr Robert

Verrill was elected Prior in February after the previous Prior, Fr Nicholas Crowe, was elected Prior of Oxford. We also saw the departure of Fr Dominic White who was elected Prior of London in September, but Fr Albert Robertson was assigned to the Cambridge Priory in July.

APOSTOLATES

The Priory offers a programme of theological education in the form of regular talks, advertised in the city of Cambridge and environs, as well as at the Cambridge University Catholic Chaplaincy, and a communio circle.

We continue to broadcast daily mass, and evening and morning prayer on Radio Maria which is based in Cambridge. Our Facebook group has over 550 members and is updated with regular content and has a good level of participation.

The 2023 Aquinas Lecture, ‘Truth

Matters’, was given by Dr Anna Abram of the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology on Friday 27 January. The chapel was full and many more people joined on Zoom and Radio Maria, England.

Fr Euan Marley continued his writing work for Redemptorist Publications as well as other online preaching platforms. He now also broadcasts weekly on Radio Maria.

Fr Bob Eccles continued his ministry of accompaniment both of local people and former students.

Fr Colin Carr continued his work of spiritual direction and accompaniment in addition to a weekly broadcast on Radio Maria on the theme of prayer.

Fr Dominic White continued in his role as acting Director of Research at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology . Fr Dominic and Fr Colin were

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : C A M B R I D G E

Blackfriars: Priory of St Michael, Cambridge

also involved in seminars in the Divinity Faculty of the University of Cambridge . All these activities have enhanced the connection between the intellectual life of the Priory and the work of the University in Cambridge.

Fr Robert Verrill completed his doctorate in the philosophy of physics at Baylor University, Texas. He has also developed a programme of events exploring the theme of ‘Science and Faith’ in collaboration with Radio Maria

and the Templeton Foundation. Fr Robert writes a monthly article for the Catholic Herald on science and religion. He also teaches philosophy at Blackfriars Studium, Oxford.

Fr Gregory Pearson served as Novice Master for the community, and as a canon lawyer for several religious orders and dioceses. He is also the Vocations Director for the English Province.

Fr Albert Robertson began work as an Assistant Chaplain at the

University Chaplaincy, Fisher House. Fr Albert also makes regular contributions to the Catholic Herald .

Prior: Robert Verrill OP

10 resident friars including 2 novices (one new novice was clothed at the end of the period).

www.blackfriarscambridge .org.uk

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : L E I C E S T E R

Holy Cross Priory & Parish, Leicester

Holy Cross Priory has a ministry centred on the imposing parish church that stands on New Walk, very close to the centre of Leicester and on the route to the University. Within the parish boundary also lie De Montfort University and the Leicester Royal Infirmary , as well as HMP Leicester .

PARISH LIFE

The church has a capacity of around 550, a number regularly exceeded at the two largest Sunday Masses, with total Mass attendance on Sundays continuing to rise and now topping 1,000. The 10.30 Mass is a sung Mass with a large number of enthusiastic young altar servers and a dedicated choir offering a traditional style Mass that proves especially popular with the substantial south Indian and Nigerian populations. The 7 pm Mass is now the only Sunday evening Mass in Leicester, and

draws a large and varied crowd of young people as well as families.

Weekday Masses are also popular, and the church is now open throughout the week in daylight hours. This allows local people as well as those who work or shop in the city centre to pop in to light candles and make other devotions. The combination of popular devotion and doctrinally informed, interesting and intelligent preaching provides a distinctively Dominican character to the church.

Confessions are heard on Saturdays, and regularly run on long past the scheduled time, with two priests ministering to penitents for up to two hours; confessions are also heard on call at the door or by request before and after most Masses. During the Saturday morning confessions, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, with Benediction preceding the 12.30

Mass, and the church is often quite full throughout the morning.

Parish social life flourishes, with tea and coffee after the two Sunday morning Masses being very well attended, and the return of the Advent and Summer Fairs, making good use of the recently renovated parish centre. Towards the end of the reporting period, the newlyelected Prior was inducted as Parish Priest, and there was a lively and joyful celebration in the centre.

OTHER APOSTOLATES

Our Chaplaincy to Leicester and De Montfort Universities has grown under the care of the newly appointed chaplain, Fr Benedict Jonak, and students appreciate the weekly student Mass on Wednesdays and the Monday supper, as well as being deeply involved in the activities of the wider parish.

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : L E I C E S T E R

Holy Cross Priory & Parish, Leicester

The Chaplaincy to Leicester Royal Infirmary continues as before with one brother on call for 24 hours each day to attend to sick and dying patients, especially to offer the sacrament of Anointing. Typically we receive three or four calls a week, though the numbers can fluctuate greatly.

The Parish Scripture Group returned to meeting in person, which has proved popular, with meetings every Tuesday evening. There are plans to offer a series of short catechetical talks to parishioners and other interested parties on Saturday mornings in 2024.

Instruction for adult Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion is offered on an individual basis due to differing times when candidates are available. Instruction of children for First Confession and Communion restarted, and the Good Shepherd course for young children continues on Sunday mornings in the ‘Atrium’ of the Frassati Centre.

EXTERNAL APOSTOLATES

As well as serving the ever-growing parish community, the brothers have continued to be involved in external evangelical work, including teaching and retreat giving in the UK and abroad. One brother hears

the Confessions of the monks of Mount St Bernard Abbey each month, and the brothers regularly celebrate Masses at the local Catholic schools.

Prior: John-Patrick Kenrick OP / Richard Ounsworth OP (from July) 6 friars

www.holycrossleicester.org

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : J A M A I C A & G R E N A D A

The Caribbean: Jamaica & Grenada

The English Province has two houses in the Caribbean that are canonically dependent on it. While not legally part of this charity, they are supported by grants from this Province, made out of funds raised in the UK under the banner of ‘St Martin’s Missions’. This fundraising takes place not just from the supporters of our charity, but also from second collections held in assigned diocesan deaneries. Grants of £27,174 were made to the Caribbean houses during the year.

CHANGES IN 2023

The Caribbean mission underwent an important restructuring this year. On 28th July 2023, the community in Kingston, Jamaica was erected into the House of St Martin de Porres. The House of our Lady of the Rosary continues to operate in Roxborough, though the building has undergone extensive renovations this year. These were

concluded with the rededication

of the house chapel by Archbishop Emeritus Robert Rivas OP on 15th August 2023, marking the solemnity of the Assumption.

JAMAICA

The brothers’ major responsibilities in Jamaica are twofold: pastoring and teaching.

The brothers are entrusted with two parishes, St Thomas Aquinas in Papine and Christ the King in August Town. The parishes present different challenges. August Town has been scarred in recent years by gang violence, as well as endemic family breakdown and poverty.

Fr Clifton Harris coordinates provision of basic foodstuffs and other necessities to parishioners and other local people. Much effort goes into accompanying young people, some of whom the brothers have sponsored as they aspire

to educational and professional opportunities.

While the St Thomas Aquinas congregation is on the whole more middle class, here too important spiritual and material support is provided to parishioners in a range of circumstances, including several who live in a nearby squatter settlement.

A strong connection has been fostered with Mary’s Child , a shelter for teenage mothers next door to the parish, run by the Catholic Mustard Seed community; the girls benefit from the warmth of the parish community.

EDUCATION

Fr Peter Hunter teaches several courses in philosophy and theology at St Michael’s Theological College , the seminary of the Archdiocese of Kingston. Students include not just seminarians, but

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R E V I E W B Y H O U S E : J A M A I C A & G R E N A D A

The Caribbean: Jamaica & Grenada

also laypeople and members of the University of the West Indies . Fr Peter additionally provides chaplaincy to the University of the West Indies and the University of Technology , both in Mona, Kingston. Fr Clifton Harris provides evangelisation training to laypeople in the Archdiocese of Kingston.

GRENADA

The brothers in Roxborough serve a variety of apostolates, besides ministering at three parishes: Our Lady of the Rosary, Roxborough, St Michael the Archangel, Woburn, and St Joseph, Morne Jaloux.

Fr Patrick Alexander hosts a weekly educational (catechetical) television programme. Fr Leroy Hopkin acts as chaplain to members of the Neocatechumenal Way.

This year, Fr Clifton Harris visited to give a weekend retreat for the Dominican Youth Movement in Grenada.

RENEWED CONNECTIONS

Bonds of connection between the Caribbean mission and the rest of the province have been strengthened by visits to Jamaica and Grenada of several UK-resident brothers.

DEVELOPMENT

Fr Nicholas Crowe, appointed in 2022 as Promoter of St Martin’s Missions, has worked with the Province’s Development Office this year to create new printed, online and video materials in order to renew fundraising efforts on behalf of the Caribbean mission. This

follows a hiatus caused by the Covid lockdowns and the death of the previous director, Fr David Sanders. A 17-minute promotional video, plus brief clips from it, can be viewed at www.english.op.org/missions

The Church finds itself in great need of manpower in the Caribbean. The contribution of our communities to these islands is therefore disproportionately vast relative to the small number of friars ministering there. On both islands, the brothers regularly provide supply in parishes not their own. There is, accordingly, space for growth. As local men in Jamaica have expressed an interest in joining the Order, plans have begun to be laid for a pre-novitiate programme, to prepare local candidates for admission to the Order.

Superior: Clifton Harris OP

4 friars (Grenada); 3 friars (Jamaica)

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R E V I E W O F E D U C A T I O N A L A P O S T O L A T E

Educational Apostolate

Education and the intellectual apostolate are a key part of the Dominican charism.

The academic year 2022/23 has shown that the intellectual apostolate of the Province is strong, with the friars engaged in a great variety of activity.

1. TALKS AND PUBLIC LECTURES

Many of the talks and lectures by the brethren were also organised by the brethren, but many were organised by other bodies. Most of the talks and lectures were open to the general public, but some were for specific groups (e.g. Lay Dominicans or young adults). Some of the talks and public lectures were one-off and some formed parts of series.

RANGE OF THEMES

on ‘Friendship, Illness, Death’ at St Martin’s-in the Fields (approx. 250 in person and 300 online), and to groups as Charismatic and Pentecostal Leaders, EducareM, Catholic Head Teachers and at a graduation ceremony at Liverpool Hope University, to an audience of approximately 700. Other audiences to which Fr Timothy spoke included priests of the Archdiocese of Bologna, at the Christian Literary Imagination conference in Oxford.

• ‘Where Next for Inspiration? Reviewing the Doctrine of Scriptural Inspiration in Light of the Historical Process of the Bible’s Formation’.

SERIES OF TALKS

There were also series of talks, some of which were part of retreats and study days.

Fr Leon Pereira gave many talks on the spirituality of Medjugorje to pilgrims at the shrine (between 500 and 1,000 at a time).

Fr Timothy Radcliffe spoke to about 200 people in person (and about 300 online) at Lancaster University on ‘Faith and Imagination’, a talk

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Educational Apostolate (cont.)

Bournemouth for senior religious.

LAY FORMATION

A significant feature of our outreach through talks is that much of it is for young people and to support active Christian communities.

LAY DOMINICANS

There were, for example, thirteen Lay Dominican fraternities and fraternal groups in the Province, twelve in Britain and one in

Grenada. There is also a Lay Dominican Provincial Council composed of Lay Dominicans from across Britain. The fraternities and fraternal groups, among other things, promote study in the Dominican tradition; and organise for their members and others events engaging with Catholic thought. Many of the fraternities and fraternal groups have in recent years experienced significant growth. Most of the fraternities have friars as nominated ‘religious assistants’, who often give talks and other input to the fraternities and fraternal groups.

STUDENT CHAPLAINCY

Much of the outreach to young people is carried out in the chaplaincies to which we supply chaplains, in Edinburgh (University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University and Queen Margaret University) and Leicester (University of Leicester and De Montfort University), and other chaplaincies in which friars work such as Dundee and Kingston (Jamaica). For example, Fr Matthew Jarvis gave a series of talks, ‘Summa Time’, an introduction to Catholic theology, at the Edinburgh Chaplaincy.

In addition to series of talks given by our Catholic chaplains in Edinburgh and Leicester:

Chaplaincy Scripture Group.

OXFORD AQUINAS GROUP

The Oxford community, which is a formation community for Dominican students, runs a lively weekly (during term) Aquinas Young Adults Group and supports a Chapter of the Thomistic Institute . The Aquinas Group has a weekly attendance of about 25. The

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Educational Apostolate (cont.)

House of Studies, Washington DC).

meetings include soup and bread, and there is some social life too. In 2022/23 it was run by Brs John Church and Daniel Rowlands. Each term they look at a different area in the work of St Thomas Aquinas, and read and discuss different texts together. The sessions are led by a range of friars from the Oxford Community. The topics looked at in 2022/23 were: the Theological Virtues, God and Creation, the Sacraments.

The Edinburgh Chapter of the Thomistic Institute also continues to flourish. It ran a fortnightly reading group on Christology and on sin, grace, and justification. Speakers included Prof. Joshua Hochschild (Mount St Mary’s University) on St Thomas Proofs for the existence of God and Prof. Fionnuala O’Neill Tonning (University of Bergen) on St Edmund Campion and literature.

ALBERTUS INSTITUTE

THOMISTIC INSTITUTE

The Board of Directors of the Albertus Institute ( http:// albertusinstitute.org/ ) devoted its activities over this year to reconsidering and renewing its internal structures. It was agreed by the Directors and confirmed by the Members that the Albertus Institute should move from its current structure of being a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity, both

The programme of talks organised by the Oxford Chapter of the Thomistic Institute included lectures by Mats Wahlberg (Umea University), Prof. Lewis Ayres (Durham University), Prof. Gaven Kerr (St Patrick’s, Maynooth), Fr Taras Khomych (Liverpool Hope University), Prof. Bruce Marshall (Southern Baptist University) and Fr Ambrose Little OP (Dominican

registered in Scotland, to being simply a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, entirely registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). The time of the Directors was therefore devoted in this year to the preparation of the necessary documents, including a new constitution, and to the necessary internal and external procedures to allow this change to take place. Because of this work, the Albertus Institute held no public events between 1 Oct 2022 – 30 Sept 2023. However, a new advisory group was formed to plan a new programme of academic events the following year. A full programme of an annual lecture, a joint conference with the Thomistic Institute, and a series of evening discussion events was prepared for the year beginning October 2023.

2. EXPERTISE

The brothers also serve the wider Church through giving expert advice as consultants and members of various bodies.

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Educational Apostolate (cont.)

3. PUBLICATIONS

A wide audience can also be reached through publications, both electronically and in more traditional formats.

NEW BLACKFRIARS JOURNAL

A key part of our academic publishing mission is our bimonthly journal, New Blackfriars . The Editor is Fr Brian Davies, Fr John O’Connor is Assistant Editor, and Fr Robert Ombres is Reviews Editor. Fifteen friars of the English Province are on the Editorial Board. On 1 January 2024, the journal moves from Wiley to Cambridge University Press.

New Blackfriars has impressive metrics: over 200,000 online full-text article views in 2022, with 6418 educational institutions having access to New Blackfriars (mainly online, with 52 institutions receiving printed copies), and with considerable international outreach.

In 2022 the top six countries from which articles were accessed via Wiley Online were: USA (45%), UK (18%), Australia (8%), Canada (5%), Philippines (4%), China (3%).

Florence (Emmaus Academic), Letters from that City: a guide to Holy Scriptures for Students of Theology (O Iusti Press), and a translation, Christianity is Credible (Arouca Press, original by L. M. de Blignières SVSF).

BOOKS

Books published by the brethren include:

OTHER JOURNALS

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Educational Apostolate (cont.)

faith in Christ?’ (in Divinitas ‘Nova Series’, co-authored with Alan Fimister and John Joy), and ‘Can a priest offer mass for a special intention?’ in Antiphon .

ONLINE PUBLISHING

Nearly every priest brother in the English Province contributed to Torch ( https://torch.op.org/ ), the preaching website of the English Dominicans. The student friars’ blog, Godzdogz ( https:// godzdogz.op.org/ ) remains very popular with hits from across the world. Among the topics of the blog articles of the academic year 2022/23 were: ‘The pitfalls of the student’, ‘A new mercy’, ‘Disciples in the dark’, ‘One God, one Church’, ‘What is your definition of success?’, and ‘Salvation beyond appearances’.

4. PARTICIPATION IN THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY

The brethren are also actively involved in the wider academic community.

The brethren attended conferences (usually giving presentations) in Zürich, Lublin, Dundee, Cambridge, Twickenham, Rome, Caleruega, Mfou (Cameroon), Oxford, Galway, Edinburgh, and Toronto.

Fr Richard Conrad and Fr Simon Gaine are team members of the Thomistic Evolution Project supported by the John Templeton Foundation. Dr Daniel De Haan, Lecturer in the Studium, is also a member. This project brings together scholars from the US, continental Europe, and the UK to examine how Thomistic insights can shed light on evolutionary theory, and explores how evolutionary theory can be reconciled with a Catholic, and especially a Thomistic,

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Educational Apostolate (cont.)

understanding of doctrines,

notably those of human origins and original sin. The project has a website ( https://www. thomisticevolution.org/ ). It organises colloquia, and has already resulted in a book, a range of papers, and resources for schools on Faith and Evolution. A further, jointly-written, volume of academic papers will be published by CUA Press in 2024.

5. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

BLACKFRIARS HALL & STUDIUM

The largest single apostolates of the Province of England are our Studium Generale (‘Blackfriars Studium’) and Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford (‘Blackfriars Hall’). Reports from Blackfriars can be found on p.11 ff.

For both Studium and Hall: Fr John O’Connor is Regent; Fr Bruno Clifton is Vice-Regent; Fr Robert Gay was Secretary of Studies and was succeeded by Fr Richard Finn. These friars are in charge of the governance of Studium and Hall. The Studium and Hall also have several lay members of staff: Dr Clare Broome Saunders (Senior Tutor and Tutor for Admissions, Blackfriars Hall only), Barbara Brecht (Academic Registrar), Anneli Chambliss-Howes (Bursar), Pauline Lloyd (Assistant Bursar), and Yvette Khoury (Admissions Officer, Blackfriars Hall only). As Regent, Fr John O’Connor has a place and a

vote at the Heads of House meeting of Heads of Oxford colleges.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OUTSIDE BLACKFRIARS

Dominican friars have also been active in educational institutions outside the Studium and Hall:

FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

OUTSIDE OXFORD

Divinity, University of St Andrews.

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Educational Apostolate (cont.)

This role involves ccordination of a research community (50 people), organising and chairing seminars, and helping lead research days at the Cambridge Theological Federation. He also taught on the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS) programme at the Margaret Beaufort Institute, on the MA in Spirituality programme at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, and classes and lectures at the Campus für Theologie und Spiritualität, Berlin.

• For the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham: Fr Richard Ounsworth is the External Examiner for the Masters programme in Catholic Applied Theology (accredited by The Open University) and Fr Bruno Clifton supervised a dissertation for the MA in Catholic Applied Theology.

UNIVERSITY CHAPLAINCY

Friars have also had significant interaction with university staff and students through University Chaplaincy:

We have also had regular involvement at the Cambridge Catholic Chaplaincy and a student brother on pastoral placement at the Oxford Catholic Chaplaincy.

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Educational Apostolate (cont.)

6. FURTHER STUDIES

Among those who undertook complementary studies in the academic year 2022/23 for the sake of the intellectual apostolate were:

Our planning of higher studies of the friars takes account that the Dicastery for Culture and Education requires our Studium to have a significant number of teachers with ecclesiastically-recognised higher qualifications.

7. LIBRARIES

8. LAYING FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE

Our libraries are an important resource for the intellectual apostolate. In Oxford (approx. 40,000 books), there were approximately 250 books acquired by the library during the year. The library at Oxford, which serves the Studium and Hall as well as the priory, has typically between 100 and 150 visitors per annum from the wider University and beyond to consult books that cannot easily be found elsewhere. The Edinburgh, Cambridge, and London priories also have significant and well- functioning for libraries. A significant factor for the brethren in the large university centres is that they can access well-resourced university libraries. The Edinburgh brethren involved with the University of Edinburgh can automatically have access to the university’s libraries and online materials.

Much discussion and planning took place in preparation for the Provincial Chapter, scheduled to begin on 8 April 2024. Among the topics to be considered is how best to use the year freed up by moving the Studium STB programme from six years to five years. Other topics will include the permanent formation of the brethren and ways in which further studies undertaken by the brothers can best further our mission.

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R E V I E W O F F U N D R A I S I N G

Fundraising Performance[(1)] – Trends

----- Start of picture text -----
Overall Fundraising Results
£4.5
£4.0 Individual Giving inc Gift Aid
Grants
£3.5
Legacies
£3.0
£2.5
£2.0
£1.5
£1.0
£0.5
£0.0
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Millions
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
£4.5
GP vs Other Funds
£4.0 (cash received)
£3.5
Other
£3.0 GP
£2.5
£2.0
£1.5
£1.0
£0.5
£0.0
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Millions
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
£300 Individual Giving (gifts under £5k)
£250
£200
£150
One-off Gifts
£100
Regular Giving
Collections
£50
£-
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Thousands
----- End of picture text -----

This year saw generous support offered once again to the charity .

Overall Fundraising Results[(2)] saw a total of £1.31m (2022: £1.76m) raised. Individual giving remained steady at around £1m, but legacy income was smaller than in recent years at £53k. A promotion of legacy giving was undertaken during the year which will bear fruit in future years (42 enquiries were received).

Regular Giving overall achieved £254k (2022: £236k), or £310k with Gift Aid (2022: £289k); however, the number of commitments continued to stay fairly level at 534 (2022: 530). The increase in amount given was driven by the generosity of certain donors increasing their commitment even while others were having to reduce or stop their commitments.

Grant payments received in the year totalled £648k including pledges from previous years (2022: £670k). Blackfriars Studium and Blackfriars Hall, Oxford, and St Albert’s Priory, Edinburgh, were the principal beneficiaries.

General Purpose vs Other Funds – priory, parish and province GP funds have settled to an annual total of c.£1m, nearly double that typically seen in 2014–16. This is an important benchmark for fundraising in economically difficult times.

Individual Giving[(2)] – new analysis has revealed the ongoing effect of the lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, with collections now returning to 2019 levels; regular giving continuing to rise; and other one-off gifts (including online) levelling out following a surge that mirrored the falling-off of collections. At the local level, different patterns have been seen, with some houses showing stronger or weaker recovery of collections. The overall effect has been to raise individual giving (gifts under £5k) from £555k in 2019 to £709k in 2023.

(1) Fundraised amounts listed here will not correspond exactly with figures listed in the audited accounts, owing to different ways of recording legacies and the income from Gift Aid. Figures here measure fundraising performance only.

(2) Note that these amounts include the expected Gift Aid value, even if the actual tax reclaim happens in a later period.

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R E V I E W O F F U N D R A I S I N G

Fundraising Performance – 2023

VOLUNTARY INCOME (EXC. LEGACIES)

----- Start of picture text -----
EDINBURGH £214,213 17% LEICESTER £184,761 14.7%
• Priory G.P. £119,672 • Parish G.P. £144,120
• Parish G.P. £88,678 • Priory G.P. £38,926
OXFORD £219,352 17.4% BLACKFRIARS £183,244 14.5%
£1.26m
• Scholarships £98,833
• Las Casas Inst £55,675
LONDON £252,352 20%
• Parish G.P. £149,730 • General Purpose £24,344
Note: £348k pledged to the Studium in the
• Rosary Shrine/Fabric £55,817
previous year was also received
• Priory £41,344
PROVINCE £107,355 8.5%
CAMBRIDGE £99,296 7.9% • General Purpose £75,827
• Training Fund £25,316
----- End of picture text -----

LEGACIES

----- Start of picture text -----
OXFORD £17,665 33% LONDON £10,000 19%
£53k LEICESTER £500 1%
BLACKFRIARS £25,044 47%
----- End of picture text -----

The friars express their gratitude to all who have helped sustain our mission this year through their generous giving. We would especially like to mark the contributions of:

Grants: Catholic Charitable Trust, Charlotte Marshall Charitable Trust, Growing in Faith Westminster, Jesuits (Society of Jesus), Porticus UK, Sir Harold Hood’s Charitable Trust, Sisters of the Holy Cross Charitable Trust, The Lady Marian Gibson Trust, The Tolkien Trust.

Legacies: Nicholas Elwes, James Finnegan, Thomas Finnerty, Mary Gibbons, Maureen Heuston, Philomena Little. R.I.P.

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C H A R I T Y D E T A I L S , O F F I C E - H O L D E R S

Details of the Charity, Trustees, Advisors

NAME OF CHARITY The English Province of the Order of Preachers CHARITY REGISTRATION 231192 (England and Wales) NUMBER SC039062 (Scotland) ALSO KNOWN AS The Dominicans PRINCIPAL OFFICE Blackfriars, St Giles, OXFORD. OX1 3LY TRUSTEE The Dominican Council (a company limited by guarantee, no. 387818) Blackfriars, St Giles, OXFORD. OX1 3LY DIRECTORS OF TRUSTEE Very Rev. Fr Martin Ganeri OP (resigned on 12 April 2024) CORPORATION Rev. Fr Simon Gaine OP (resigned on 12 April 2024) Rev. Fr David Goodill OP Very Rev. Fr Nicholas Crowe OP Rev. Fr John O’Connor OP (from 12 April 2024) Rev. Fr Toby Lees OP (from 12 April 2024) PRINCIPAL OFFICER Very Rev. Fr Nicholas Crowe OP, Prior Provincial BANKERS The Royal Bank of Scotland RBS Bishopsgate Branch, 49 Bishopsgate, LONDON. EC2N 3AS SOLICITORS Farrer & Co. 66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, LONDON. WC2A 3LH AUDITOR Critchleys Audit LLP, Beaver House, 23–38 Hythe Bridge Street, OXFORD OX1 2EP INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited AND ADVICE 12 Throgmorton Avenue, LONDON. EC2N 2DL and Evelyn Partners LLP 45 Gresham Street, LONDON. EC2V 7BG

WEBSITE https://english.op.org/

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Structure, Governance & Management

INTRODUCTION

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30th September 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 55ff. and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (January 2019) and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

The English Province of the Order of Preachers is one of forty or so provinces of the Friars of the Order of Preachers, a religious order in the Catholic Church. The Order of Preachers was founded by St Dominic in the thirteenth century for the purpose of preaching, teaching and pastoral work in collaboration with the bishops. Members of the Order are often known as ‘Dominicans’, after their founder. The life of the friars is founded on the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience to which they bind themselves by vow, and is characterised by prayer, study and community life. Most of the friars are also ordained priests.

As part of the Catholic Church, the Order of Preachers is bound to the Church’s Canon Law, especially as contained in the 1983 Codex Iuris Canonici (Code of Canon Law, hereafter CIC ), and to the legitimate precepts of the Holy See and the Roman Pontiff. It is also bound by the laws of the dioceses in which it works, and of the Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales and of Scotland.

The Order has its own internal law contained in the Liber Constitutionum et Ordinationum Fratrum Ordinis Praedicatorum (Book of Constitutions and Ordinations of the Friars of the Order of Preachers, hereafter LCO ). The General Chapter of the Order and the Master of the Order have authority, in accordance with canonical norms, over all the provinces, priories

and friars of the Order.

The English Province, in addition to the abovementioned norms, has its own canonical governing document, the ‘Statute of the Province’. The Province is governed by the Provincial Chapter and by the Prior Provincial. The Provincial Chapter is a meeting of friars representing the Province which takes place every four years; its object is to ‘discuss and make decisions about all that pertains to the fraternal and apostolic life and the good administration of the province’ ( LCO 351 §I). The Provincial Chapter can make changes to the Statute of the Province as well as make other ordinations concerning the governance of the Province and its priories. The Provincial Chapter elects the Prior Provincial (major superior), who governs the Province until the following Provincial Chapter.

The Prior Provincial is assisted by the Provincial Council, composed of senior officers of the Province and other members elected by the Provincial Chapter. On major financial matters the Prior Provincial and Provincial Council are advised by the Economic Council of the Province, whose members are appointed by the Provincial Chapter and which is chaired by the Provincial Bursar.

The Province is made up of a number of priories, which are local communities of friars with a large degree of self-government according to the norms of Canon Law and the internal law of the Order and the Province. The priory is ‘the fundamental unit of the Order’ ( LCO 1 §VII), and the principal place where the educational and pastoral mission of the Order is pursued. Priors (local superiors) are normally elected by the members of their priory for three-year terms. Each priory is engaged in a variety of ministerial work, often centred on parish churches or university chaplaincies. Two priories are especially but not exclusively dedicated to the formation and training of priests and friars. The Prior Provincial and his Council have responsibility for the collaboration of the various priories, for the support of provincial projects and for the establishment, maintenance and en-

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forcement of common policy, including those involving major financial issues.

The Charity consider that the members of the Provincial Council comprise the key management personnel, in charge of directing and controlling the charity and running and operating the charity on a day-to-day basis. The Prior Provincial and three other members of the Provincial Council are Directors of the Trustee Corporation, as listed on p. 36. Other members of the Provincial Council are members of the Trustee Corporation. All trustees, and all other members of the Provincial Council, give of their time freely and no remuneration was paid to any of them in the year. Details of trustee expenses and related party transactions are disclosed in notes 9 and 10 to the accounts.

The individual friars make profession of a vow of obedience, encompassing also the other ‘evangelical counsels’ of poverty and chastity. As a result of the profession of poverty, all that is acquired in virtue of the work or activity of a friar belongs to the friar’s priory ( CIC 668 §3; LCO 546). Once a friar has made definitive or ‘solemn’ profession, any income whatsoever that comes to the friar belongs to his priory or the Province ( LCO 546, 548). This arrangement is given civil effect by means of a ‘Deed of Disponer’ in favour of the Charity made by each friar at the time of his solemn profession. Alongside the profession of poverty by the friars, there is a corresponding obligation on the Order to provide its members ‘with everything that is necessary to fulfil the purpose of their vocation’ ( CIC 670).

The Dominican friars share a spirituality and mission with other branches of the ‘Dominican family’: nuns, sisters, members of secular institutes and fraternities of priests and laity (cf. LCO 1 §IX).

NATURE AND CONSTITUTION OF THE CHARITY

In order to allow for the general administration and financial maintenance of the members, priories and works of the Province, the Province Trust was established by Trust Deed in 1930, modified by a deed of partial revocation in 1945. Its registered objects are ‘the promotion of education and the Roman Catholic religion and the establishment and maintenance of schools, churches and priories for these purposes and

the upkeep of members of the Order of Preachers.’ Under the name ‘The English Province of the Order of Preachers’, the Province Trust is registered as a charity in England and Wales, no. 231192, and in Scotland, no. SC039062.

The sole trustee of the Charity is the Dominican Council, a company limited by guarantee and governed in accordance with its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Dominican Council was incorporated on 25 May 1944, no. 387818. Its registered office is Blackfriars, St Giles, OXFORD OX1 3LY.

The chairman ex officio of the Corporation and its Committee is the Prior Provincial, at present the Very Rev. Fr Nicholas Crowe OP. According to its Articles of Association, ‘any Roman Catholic Priest of the English Province of the Order of Preachers’ (art. 6) is qualified to be a member of the Corporation. Three members of the Corporation are elected by the Corporation to serve on its Committee alongside the Prior Provincial. The members of the Committee function as the directors of the Corporation and as ‘Charity Trustees’ in the sense of s177 of the Charities Act 2011.

RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF CHARITY TRUSTEES

The Province has a wealth of experience among its friars, who have spent years pursuing the Province’s mission and the Charity’s objects by means of educational and pastoral work. Many of the friars have also served as administrators at a local level, holding offices such as prior, parish priest or bursar. The Provincial Chapter therefore has a rich pool of competent and proficient friars to draw upon when it elects the Prior Provincial and the Provincial Council.

The normal practice of the Dominican Council is to elect new members of the Corporation from the Provincial Council, and so in turn it is from among these experienced friars that the Committee is elected. As a result, the Charity Trustees, i.e. the members of the Committee of the Dominican Council, are friars of proven prudence and experience with detailed knowledge of the Charity’s work and structure.

The solemnly professed friars have no personal income or property; anything that comes to them is acquired

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for the Order, which in turn is obliged to support all its members, providing them with ‘everything that is necessary to fulfil the purpose of their vocation’ ( CIC 670). Hence the object of the Charity includes ‘the upkeep of members of the Order of Preachers’. The members of the Committee of the Dominican Council therefore benefit from the activity of the Charity, but they do so in their capacity as members of the Order of Preachers, not as a result of being Charity Trustees.

TRAINING OF CHARITY TRUSTEES

New members of the Committee of the Dominican Council are very experienced in the work of the Province and its administration. As superiors and administrators they are already well-acquainted with the governing documents of the Order. New members of the Committee are provided with latest version the Charity Commission’s publication ‘The Essential Trustee: What you need to know, what you need to do’ and the OSCR publication ‘Guidance for Charity Trustees’. Trustees are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the other resources for Charity Trustees provided by the Charity Commission, OSCR and other sources. All Charity Trustees are provided with appropriate briefings from the Charity’s professional advisors concerning their responsibilities and when this is pertinent to any decisions that have to be made by the Charity Trustees. Members of the Committee of the Dominican Council attend meetings of the Association of Provincial Bursars and seminars for Charity Trustees organised by professional advisors.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND DECISIONMAKING

The Charity is structured internally as local priories in accordance with the laws of the Order of the Preachers contained in LCO . These norms, together with those of the Province itself, set out requirements for financial administration and reporting, investment, property acquisition and maintenance for the Province and for each priory, and also the limits to the powers of priors and of the Prior Provincial. In particular:

Priory Council. The Priory Council can authorise expenditure to a higher limit, which varies depending on the size of the Priory, and above this authorisation is required by the Prior Provincial or, beyond an upper limit, the Provincial Council. These limits also apply to the authorisation of alienations or the incurring of liabilities. When authorisation is given by the Provincial Council, the Economic Council of the Province is consulted in advance, and a determination is made whether the matter requires an act of the Trustee Corporation.

The limits mentioned here are reviewed every four years by the Provincial Chapter.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF SCOTTISH ACTIVITIES

The priories in Scotland are managed locally in the same way as priories in England, under the supervision of the Prior Provincial and the Provincial Council assisted by the Economic Council. The Trustees take the view that local governance structures are adequate and appropriate without an additional layer of governance specifically for Scotland.

RELATIONSHIP WITH A WIDER NETWORK

The Province is part of the Order of Preachers and of the Catholic Church. It operates in accordance with the teaching and laws of the Catholic Church, and the manner in which it realises its object, ‘the promotion of education and the Roman Catholic religion’, is influenced by the priorities identified by the Church and by the Order of Preachers internationally.

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CHARITIES AND ORGANISATIONS

The Charity is closely related to the Hoper Dixon Trust (registered charity no. 231160). Under the terms of a Scheme of 20 July 2006, that Trust exists ‘for the benefit of the poor connected with or in the neighbourhood of any house or pastoral centre under

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the direction of the Dominicans of the English Province of the Order of Preachers’.

The Province also co-operates in the mission of the Catholic Dioceses in whose territory members of the Province work. Six parishes and chaplaincies to eight universities are entrusted to the Province.

The Charity co-operates fraternally in a number of projects with other branches of the Dominican family (Congregations of Dominican Sisters, Dominican Secular Institute and Lay Dominican fraternities) active in Great Britain. The Province recently co-operated in the establishment of a Priestly Confraternity of St Dominic, and remains closely involved in its development and expansion.

The Province operates Blackfriars Hall, Oxford, a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford . The Hall co-operates with the University, Colleges and other Halls in furthering its educational objective. There is also co-operation with other religious institutes in training candidates for the priesthood and in providing theological formation for other religious. The Hall is developing a research collaboration with the Anscombe Bioethics Centre , registered charity no. 274327. Members of the congregations at two of the Province’s priories run overseas aid charities: the Blackfriars Overseas Aid Trust (registered charity no. 288585) based in Oxford and the Jean Grove Trust (registered charity 1109593) based in Cambridge. The Province is happy to promote and support these works.

The Order’s presence in Grenada and Barbados is canonically dependent on the Province. Though the presence there is not part of the Province Charity, from time to time the Charity is able to make grants for the work of the Order in the Caribbean.

FUNDRAISING DISCLOSURES

The Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 requires charities which are subject to an audit to make disclosure in their Financial Statements about their fundraising activities.

The Dominican Friars have been mendicants since the very beginning of the Order of Preachers in the early 13th century, and benefactors have played a crucial role

at every stage of our history up to and including the present day.

In 2013, impelled by an urgent need to improve the financial situation of the charity, the Province began to employ a full-time fundraiser (Development Director) to direct and manage fundraising and related communications activities on the charity’s behalf. The Development Director is now assisted by a part-time Development Support Officer, with oversight provided by the Prior Provincial and the Provincial Bursar, and guidance given by the Province’s Fundraising Committee.

Most funds are raised from those with whom we have close relationships, typically through their attendance as worshippers at one of our churches. Wider circles of relationships are maintained through our opt-in magazine, opt-in email newsletters, websites, and social media pages, all of which may include invitations to donate. Contact relationship data and donations data are managed centrally through a highly secure database with access restricted to a small number of employees.

We fundraise in accordance with the requirements of the Fundraising Regulator, and with our moral obligations as a Catholic charity. We fundraise responsibly at all times and with a sensitivity to the pastoral relationship that most donors have with the friars. We avoid approaches to vulnerable people and do not hold information on children. We do not exert pressure on people to donate, nor is access to the services we provide as a charity dependent on donations. We do not at this time employ third-party fundraisers, though some people do voluntarily and of their own initiative fundraise on our behalf. Subscriptions to communications can be cancelled at any time. Complaints are responded to as soon as possible; none were received in the current year (2022: none).

RISK

The trustees review annually the principal risks to which the charity is exposed, and the strategies and procedures in place to mitigate those risks. The trustees consider that the major risks can be categorised under four headings: operational, financial, reputational and regulatory. Listed below are the main risks in each category, along with the principal ways in which they are mitigated.

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OPERATIONAL

The activities of the charity are highly dependent upon those friars who are responsible for their management, often with little or no professional lay assistance. For this reason there is a risk that our ministries may suffer from lack of direction, poor management and inefficiencies. It can happen that a particular friar is overburdened with responsibilities leading to stress and reduced effectiveness. To mitigate this, the trustees and especially the Prior Provincial regularly review the work of each entity of the Province, ensuring that those responsible for our works are provided with the practical and moral support required. The Province has also instituted regular meetings between the Provincial and local superiors, to offer support and share best practice. The Province maintains its commitment to ensuring that friars who are experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties are provided with appropriate professional help.

The charity is responsible for the care of a number of elderly friars. As at 30 September 2023 there were 17 friars over 70, of whom 8 were over 80. Like all of the friars, these men have no resources of their own as all earnings, pensions and other income have been donated to the charity. As far as possible older brothers continue to live in community, though where appropriate residential nursing care places are found. The Province remains committed to designating all pensions income to the Designated Sick Fund (see page 44), which covers the cost of residential care but also funds home nursing care where appropriate, as well as works in priories designed to make them more suitable for elderly and infirm brothers.

The on-going work of the charity requires that young men continue to present themselves to join the Order, and that these men be properly formed and educated for our ministries. Many religious orders in the UK have seen very low or even non-existent levels of recruitment for a number of years leading to a severely ageing demographic profile and the abandonment of numbers of ministries. The Province has committed one of its ablest young priests to work full-time as Promoter and Director of Vocations, and over the last two years ten men entered the noviciate, an unusually high number. The Province is also committed to ensuring that its

friars receive the best possible intellectual, spiritual and pastoral formation.

FINANCIAL

The charity’s principal assets comprise listed investments, the value of and income from which are dependent on movements in UK and world markets. A substantial long-term loss of value of these investments would threaten the long-term financial viability of the Province, and any significant reduction in investment income would cause financial difficulties even in the short term. To mitigate this, the investments are managed by reputable investment managers who adhere to a policy agreed by the trustees. The performance of investments and our investment strategy are assessed regularly by the Economic Council of the Province, aided by a lay expert, to ensure that our investments remain appropriate to the charity’s needs (see further page 44).

The Development Office, under the leadership of a lay professional Development Director, with the cooperation of all friars, ensures that the Province and individual priories maintain excellent relationships with existing donors and takes the lead in seeking out and cultivating potential new sources of support. The work of the Development Office is supervised by the Provincial in consultation with the Provincial Council.

Our operations involve very large numbers of financial transactions including significant amounts of cash, bringing with it the obvious risk of fraud, theft or loss. The Province has a well-established set of ‘Norms for Economic and Administrative Practice’ which impose appropriate procedures for cash-handling and for the management of bank payments etc., and the Provincial Bursar visits priories regularly to support local bursars and other friars in adhering to these procedures and other good practices. The Province decided at its recent Chapter to substantially reduce the levels of expenditure that can be made without a second authorised signature.

The operation of Blackfriars Hall and Studium is at particular financial risk, depending as heavily as it does upon numbers of students. The Regent and other moderators of the Hall engage in visits to the USA to seek additional students, and the Hall is developing

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with the Development Director a fundraising strategy emphasising student scholarships and support for Studium teaching with a view to providing Blackfriars with a more solid financial base in the years to come.

In the light of rapidly rising inflation, the Province faces increasing risks both to its income, as donors find their finances stretched, and in general expenditure. The value of returns on investments may also be eroded with higher inflation and loss of capital value in the markets.

REPUTATIONAL

Friars and some other volunteers working with the friars, by the nature of our activities, inevitably often operate with little immediate supervision and often in positions of considerable pastoral responsibility and trust. Mistakes and misjudgements especially by friars in such positions can lead to harm to the reputation of the whole Province. The trustees consider that the greatest risk to the reputation of the charity in terms of severity of outcome, though not of likelihood, comes from allegations of abuse by friars of children or vulnerable adults: even where these allegations are historical in nature and relate to long-deceased friars, and even where they are unfounded, they can be deeply harmful to the reputation, local and national, of the Province, its ministries and its friars. The Province works closely with the Catholic Church Insurance Association, the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service and the Safeguarding Co-ordinator of the Roman

Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham to deal with any such allegations in accordance with the safeguarding policy of the Catholic Church in England & Wales. A member of the Provincial Council is the Province’s Safeguarding Co-ordinator, and he is responsible for ensuring that all friars are familiar with, and practise, this safeguarding policy, again in association with the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Lay people volunteer as local safeguarding representatives at each location.

The trustees also recognise the potential for reputational damage that may result from operational failures mentioned in the first paragraph of this section, and this risk is mitigated as detailed there.

REGULATORY

The trustees are keenly aware of the need to comply with relevant laws, including but not limited to those governing employment, health & safety at work, immigration and data protection, and the potential consequences of failures in this regard. The Provincial Bursar, assisted by the Economic Council of the Province, the Development Director and professional experts, takes the lead in compliance, and is aided in this regard by training sessions provided by the Association of Provincial Bursars. Each site within the Province is visited at least once a year by a professional Health & Safety advisor, to ensure that our sites are not only compliant with the Health & Safety at Work, etc. Act (1974) and related regulations, but also provide good working and living environments for the friars.

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P U B L I C B E N E F I T

Public Benefit

The Charity Trustees have read the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and the specific guidance for charities whose objects include Education and the advancement of Religion. The Charity Trustees have taken note of the Charity Commission’s advice of October 2015 concerning public benefit and fee-charging in relation to educational charities. The Charity Trustees have paid due regard to the Commission’s guidance, and all who make decisions about the activities the Charity undertakes are concerned to ensure that a real religious or educational benefit is provided to a broad range of people.

The priories of the Province all celebrate liturgy which is open to the public, and the friars are available to any members of the public who wish to consult them about matters of faith and the spiritual life. The priory churches are open to the public for most of the day, and many people avail themselves of the opportunity for quiet prayer or reflection. No charge is made for admission to the churches or to religious services (cf. CIC , c. 1221). Offerings are customarily made on the occasion of celebration of certain rites (e.g. baptisms, marriages and funerals), but Canon Law requires that those who are not able to make an offering are not thereby excluded ( CIC , c. 848 and c. 1181). Some charges may be made for other activities (e.g. participation

in pilgrimages); the Hoper Dixon Trust, a connected charity, is in some cases able to assist with these costs.

The main educational centre of the Province, located at Blackfriars in Oxford, welcomes applications to study from any suitably qualified student. Blackfriars Hall charges fees at the level prevalent among Oxford colleges, and students are eligible for public funding in the same way as other students in higher education. The Hall is aware that public funding is not available to assist all who would benefit from studying in Oxford, especially those wishing to study for a second undergraduate degree or a postgraduate qualification. The Hall continues actively seeking funds to broaden access, having almost exhausted funds available for scholarships to students in the previous reporting period. Members of the public who are not students at Oxford may attend lectures and classes at Blackfriars on application; a small fee is normally charged, but is waived in cases of financial hardship. Blackfriars Hall and many of the priories and parishes arrange for public lectures and talks which are free of charge.

The Charity Trustees consider that the achievements and performance of the Charity demonstrate success in providing benefit to a broad public.

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P R O V I S I O N F O R S I C K & E L D E R LY F R I A R S , I N V E S T M E N T P E R F O R M A N C E

Provision for Sick and Elderly Friars

As of 30 September 2023, 14 friars of the Province (20%) in Great Britain were aged 70 or over, of whom 5 (7%) were 80 or over. Although most of these brothers continue to be active and enjoy reasonable health, the Charity Trustees are concerned to ensure that adequate provision is made for the care of older brothers and of any other sick brothers. The Charity maintains a Sick Fund for this purpose, of which details are given in the Financial Review and Statement of Financial Activities. At the end of the reporting period, no brother was in a nursing home (2022: one); but it is not unlikely that this will be necessary in the future, so the Trustees continue to ensure that such provision is affordable whenever necessary. While the provision and level of funds is

adequate for current needs, the Charity Trustees are aware that demands could increase substantially in future years.

All state pension income is designated for the Sick Fund, which at the end of the period stood at £4,097k (2022: £3,947k). While the income from this fund currently suffices, the Charity Trustees are concerned that the Sick Fund should continue to be increased to ensure that likely future demands can be met.

Priories are also concerned to keep constantly under review their provision for disabled and infirm brothers and as necessary to make various adaptations and improvements.

Investment Performance

The Charity’s investments had a market value of £20,752k (2022: £19,337k) at the end of the reporting period. The market value of investments with Evelyn Partners was £8,403k (2022: £8,271k), and these represent the value of the Designated Sick Fund and the Designated Training Funds, plus a small part of the Restricted Training Funds. The value of the Province’s holdings in the BlackRock Catholic Charities Growth & Income Fund at the end of the year was £10,831k (2022: £11,066k). The market value of the BlackRock fund fell slightly in the period, by 2%, whilst the Evelyn portfolio increased slightly, by 1.6%. Evelyn Partners’ and BlackRock’s performance for the year were slightly worse than benchmark. The performance of both funds is affected by a cautious approach to major tech

stocks that drive much of the market’s growth and volatility. The trustees are satisfied for now with the performance of both funds over time. Following the sale of the Charity’s short-dated bond fund holdings in 2022, the proceeds were held in the main bank account until, in 2023, £1.5m was deposited with the BlackRock Institutional Cash Series.

At 30 September 2023, £1,519k (2022: £0) was directly held in cash funds, comprising 7% of total investment assets (2022: 0.0%). Income from cash funds over the year was £200 (2022: £99).

Further details of these investments may be found in note 6 to the Financial Statements.

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F I N A N C I A L R E V I E W

Financial Review

FUNDING SOURCES AND INCOME

----- Start of picture text -----
FIGURE 1:
INCOME
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----- Start of picture text -----
Donations and Legacies: £1,712k
Charitable activities: £1,458k
Investments: £930k
Other Trading Activities: £209k
Other: £19k
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----- Start of picture text -----
FIGURE 2:
EXPENDITURE
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----- Start of picture text -----
Property upkeep: £1,632k
Educational: £980k
Friars and communities: £862k
Pastoral: £612k
Sick and elderly: £122k
Investment management: £117k
Raising voluntary income: £115k
----- End of picture text -----

Total income for the year ended 30 September 2023 was £4,329k (2022: £4,434k). Income was less than in 2022 as 2022 income included a number of significant legacies. Total income was only £105k less than last year. Grant income increased due to new grants secured by Blackfriars Hall for new programs whilst student numbers returned to pre-COVID levels so that tuition fee and student accommodation income increased. £325k was received into investment income in settlement of a dilapidations claim.

More details are given in note 1 to the financial statements; cf Figure 1.

EXPENDITURE

Expenditure totalled £4,440k for the year (2022: £3,990k), an increase of £450k, 1%. The costs of pastoral works & projects returned to, and exceeded, pre-COVID levels as activities returned to normal. Blackfriars Hall educational activities returned to normal whilst the Aquinas and Las Casas Institutes expanded with a number of new programs. Support for the Province’s houses in the Caribbean was maintained. The Province’s required contribution to the central costs of the Order fell by £6k.

The cost of upkeep of the friars increased again this year by £66k, 8%, with higher food, fuel and utility costs. The cost of upkeep of buildings increased again, by £134k, 9%. The London priory completed the major redecoration and refurbishment of its church, and depreciation increased due to recent renovations. The Cambridge, Leicester and London priories invested in replacement of various heating systems this year.

More details on expenditure are given in note 2 to the financial statements; cf Figure 2.

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F U N D S & I N V E S T M E N T S

Funds & Investments

INVESTMENT POLICY AND OBJECTIVES

The Charity’s investment policy is set by the Trustees, after regular consultation with the Province’s Economic Council and professional investment managers. The principal objective is the maximisation of returns, seeking capital growth but also a steady and, where possible, growing level of income. The Charity Trustees are concerned to manage risk and therefore maintain and review periodically, with the assistance of the Province’s Economic Council and professional advisors, a high degree of diversification in the Charity’s investment assets, whether held directly or through a common investment fund.

In keeping with the objects of the Charity and the teachings of the Catholic Church, the following policy is stated in the Statute of the Province: ‘Investments shall be avoided in companies a significant proportion of whose activities are contrary to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, including but not limited to those relating to sanctity of life, care for the environment, and justice and peace.’ This applies both to direct investments and to those through a common investment fund.

POLICY ON RESERVES

The laws of the Order oblige the Province to ensure that funds are available to support central administration, common projects (e.g. publishing, archives, libraries), the care of sick and elderly friars, and the formation of student friars. The Charity continues to maintain a high level of reserves in order to meet these obligations. The Charity Trustees also ensure that the level of reserves held is adequate to respond to unexpected financial needs, and to be able to commit to new apostolic projects when possible. Such a level of reserves is required because of the very large potential demands made by the ownership of the priories and churches necessary to meet the requirements of the Charity’s objects, many of which are listed buildings. It might not always be possible to meet urgent needs out of branch funds. The high level of reserves also produce an income for central

activities, allowing contributions from branch funds to central province funds to be kept down.

The Charity Trustees’ view is that an amount equal to a minimum of four months’ total expenditure (i.e. £1,330k over the reporting period) should be held as free reserves.

The Charity Trustees continue to aim for an increasing level of reserves designated for the purpose of providing for the needs of older or infirm friars and the formation of novices and student friars. The Charity Trustees continue to maintain designated funds as capital funds which generate sufficient income necessary for the Province to be able to satisfy its obligations under the laws of the Order and to meet annual expenditure requirements in these priority areas.

RESERVES AND DESIGNATED FUNDS

The balance sheet shows total unrestricted funds of £11,675k (2022: £11,273k). The Province General Purpose fund accounts for £3,196k (2022: £2,976k), of which £2,840k (2022: £2,822k) are free reserves (i.e. excluding fixed assets held for charity use). This level of free reserves represents five months’ total expenditure by the Charity.

Designated funds make up the remaining £8,479k (2022: £8,296k) of unrestricted funds, the principal of which are:

Sick Fund: This holds a balance of £4,097k (2022: £3,947k) to provide care for sick and elderly friars. Income from the pensions of the friars is allocated to this fund. Despite a number of friars in residential care over the past few years and works to provide accommodation in priories suitable for elderly and infirm friars, it has been possible to continue to build up the sick fund. While it is impossible to predict with accuracy the burden on this fund, the large number of older friars makes significant demands in the near future likely.

Student Training Fund: The Charity maintains a designated fund for the support of the friars’ studies, which holds a balance of £3,245k (2022: £3,144k).

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THE DOMINICAN FRIAR S ANNUAL R EPORT 2023

T R U S T E E S ’ R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S

Trustees’ Responsibilities

TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards including FRS 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) regulations.

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales and Scotland requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, the provisions of the trust deed, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the provisions of the Book of Constitutions and Ordinations of the Friars of the Order of Preachers. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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D E C L A R A T I O N

Declaration

DECLARATION

The officers of the Trustee Corporation, The Dominican Council, declare that to the best of their knowledge the annual accounts of the English Province of the Order of Preachers have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the regulations and requirements of the province Trust Deed, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the provisions of the Book of Constitutions and Ordinations of the Friars of the Order of Preachers.

The officers of the Trustee Corporation who were in office on the date of approval of these financial statements have confirmed that, as far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the auditor is unaware. Each of the officers of the Trustee Corporation has confirmed that they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as an officer of the Trustee Corporation in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that it has been communicated to the auditor.

BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEE

Fr David Goodill OP Secretary to the Dominican Council 7 June 2024

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A U D I T O R ’ S R E P O R T

Auditor’s Report

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS

OPINION

We have audited the financial statements of the English Province of the Order of Preachers (‘the charity’) for the year ended 30 September 2023 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

BASIS FOR OPINION

We conducted our audit in accordance with 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 charity in accordance with 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 charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

OTHER INFORMATION

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, including the trustees’ report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. 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.

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 course of 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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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.

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A U D I T O R ’ S R E P O R T

We have nothing to report in this regard.

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement, the 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 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 charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We have been appointed as auditor under Section 144 Charities Act 2011 and Section 44(1)(c) Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and report in

accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole 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 in accordance with 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 on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of noncompliance 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:

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THE DOMINICAN FRIAR S ANNUAL R EPORT 2023

A U D I T O R ’ S R E P O R T

We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

In response to the risk of irregularities and noncompliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of noncompliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

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.

Critchleys Audit LLP is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

USE OF OUR REPORT

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the 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.

13th June 2024

Critchleys Audit LLP, Statutory Auditor

Beaver House 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street

Oxford OX1 2EP

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THE DOMINICAN FRIAR S ANNUAL R EPORT 2023

S T A T E M E N T O F F I N A N C I A L A C T I V I T I E S

Total funds carried forward 30 September 2023 Total funds brought forward 1 October 2022 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Net movement in funds Transfers between funds TRANSFERS Net (expenditure)/income (LOSSES)/GAINS ON INVESTMENTS TOTAL EXPENDITURE Charitable Activities Investment management costs Costs of raising voluntary income Raising funds EXPENDITURE ON: TOTAL INCOME Other Charitable Activities Investment Income Other Trading Activities Donations and Legacies INCOME FROM: for the year ended 30 September 2023 for the year ended 30 September 2023 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
12 11 6 2 1 Notes
11,675,315 11,272,566 402,749 229,682 173,067 54,414 935,523 708,053 117,175 110,295 1,054,176 4,274 173,580 656,954 135,866 83,502 £ 2023 Funds Unrestricted
18,914,926 19,514,040 (599,114) (229,682) (369,432) (138,986) 3,504,942 3,500,377 - 4,565 3,274,496 14,788 1,284,839 273,164 73,029 1,628,676 £ 2023 Funds Restricted
30,590,241 30,786,606 (196,365) - (196,365) (84,572) 4,440,465 4,208,430 117,175 114,860 4,328,672 19,062 1,458,419 930,118 208,895 1,712,178 £ 2023 Funds Total
11,272,566 12,480,568 (1,208,002) 268,630 (1,476,632) (1,261,000) 894,393 674,742 124,530 95,121 678,761 614 169,935 342,948 131,350 33,914 £ 2022 Funds Unrestricted
19,514,040 20,069,966 (555,926) (268,630) (287,296) (946,694) 3,095,688 3,092,217 - 3,471 3,755,086 11,675 1,498,890 257,693 81,140 1,905,688 £ 2022 Funds Restricted
30,786,606 32,550,534 (1,763,928) - (1,763,928) (2,207,694) 3,990,081 3,766,959 124,530 98,592 4,433,847 12,289 1,668,825 600,641 212,490 1,939,602 £ 2022 Funds Total

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THE DOMINICAN FRIAR S ANNUAL R EPORT 2023

B A L A N C E S H E E T

BALANCE SHEET
at 30 September 2023
Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
5
Investments
6
TOTAL FIXED ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
7
Cash at bank and in hand
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
LIABILITIES
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
8
Net Current Assets
Total Assets less Current Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
14
NET ASSETS
FUNDS
Restricted funds
Branch funds
Province restricted funds
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Province general purpose
Province designated
Total unrestricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS
12		 2023
£
7,003,696
20,752,495		 2022
£

7,480,757

19,337,057
27,756,191
1,592,736
1,802,357
26,817,814

2,323,454

2,969,561
3,395,093
(545,869)
5,293,015
(1,300,180)
2,849,224
30,605,415
(15,174)
3,992,835

30,810,649
(24,043)
30,590,241
30,786,606
13,872,048
5,042,878
14,341,334

5,172,706
18,914,926
3,195,643
8,479,672
19,514,040

2,976,337

8,296,229
11,675,315
11,272,566
30,590,241
30,786,606

The financial statements on pages 52 to 70 were approved by the Trustee, authorised for issue on 7 June 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

Directors of Trustee Corporation }

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THE DOMINICAN FRIAR S ANNUAL R EPORT 2023

S T A T E M E N T O F C A S H F L O W S

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
for the year ended 30 September 2023
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net movement in funds
Depreciation charges
Losses/(Gains) on investments
(Proft) on disposal of fxed assets
Interest received
(Increase) in debtors
Increase in creditors
NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Interest received
Purchase of property and equipment
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment
Purchase of investments
Proceeds from sale of investments
NET CASH FROM/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payment of fnance lease liabilities
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
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		 2023
£
(196,365)
646,774
84,572
(194)
(930,118)
730,718
(754,310)		 2022
£
(1,763,928)

661,800

2,207,694
(5,543)
(600,641)

(180,668)
802,771
(418,923) 1,121,485
930,118
(169,713)
194
(1,500,010)
-
600,641
(598,591)

5,543
(99)

837,025
(739,411) 844,519
(8,870) (6,136)
(8,870) (6,136)
(1,167,204)
2,969,561		 1,959,868

1,009,693
1,802,357
2,969,561
ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET DEBT
Cash
Finance lease obligations		 At start
of year
£
Cash
fows
£
At end
of year
£
2,969,561
(1,167,204)
1,802,357
(31,525)
8,870
(22,655)
2,938,036
(1,158,334)
1,779,702

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THE DOMINICAN FRIAR S ANNUAL R EPORT 2023

A C C O U N T I N G P O L I C I E S

Accounting Policies

BASIS OF PREPARATION

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) effective 1 January 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ’true and fair’ view. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing these accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (the Charities SORP (FRS 102) effective 1 January 2019) rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005, which has since been withdrawn. The trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

ASSESSMENT OF GOING CONCERN

The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future, being a period of at least 12 months from the date that these financial statements have been signed. In arriving at this conclusion, the charity has prepared a detailed budget and cash flow

forecast to end of September 2025. The Trustees consider that the charity has sufficient unrestricted reserves, in the form of cash and a liquid investment portfolio, that could be drawn upon, should the charity be required to do so in order to meet its costs for the foreseeable future, being a period of at least 12 months from the date that these financial statements have been signed. On this basis, the Trustees consider that it is appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going-concern basis.

FIXED ASSETS

Functional property is capitalised at cost except in the case of historic property for which no cost information is available. Such property has been capitalised using the derived cost method based on insurance replacement value and retail price index. The year the property was built is used for this purpose and as such enhanced expenditure is also incorporated into cost.

Tangible fixed assets are being depreciated over their useful economic lives. The following rates are used:

Historic Property : over expected useful lives between 10 and 371 years

Other Freehold Property : over expected useful lives between 10 and 50 years

Motor Vehicles : over 4 years on a straight-line basis Fixtures and Fittings : over 4 years on a straightline basis. Leases : over 7 years

Assets in course of construction : not depreciated.

Assets are reviewed for impairment when evidence of such impairment arises. Expenditure on tangible items is not capitalised where it is less than £2,500 or where the view is taken that it is incapable of providing any future economic benefit to the Charity.

WORKS OF ART AND HISTORIC TREASURES

Individual works of art, historic treasures and plate are not capitalised as a valuation is not considered practical. Such items as are in the possession of the Charity were created for use in religious worship or devotion and

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A C C O U N T I N G P O L I C I E S

continue to be used for these purposes. The Charity maintains stewardship by keeping a full inventory and has no intention of disposing of any of the works of art, historic treasures and plate so long as this use continues.

INVESTMENTS

All investments are valued at their market value at the balance sheet date. It is considered that market value best represents a true and fair view of the value of these assets to the Charity. Gains and losses on disposal of the investments are treated as realised. Gains and losses on the revaluation of investments are treated as unrealised. Both are recorded in the Statement of Financial Activities. Investment management fees are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when incurred.

FOREIGN CURRENCIES

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of ruling at the date of trans action. All differences are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities.

LIABILITIES

Liabilities are recorded in the financial statements when the Trustees have made a commitment to acquire goods or services.

DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Donations and legacies are accounted for in accordance with the requirements of the SORP (being entitlement, probability and measurement). Legacies are considered receivable once the value of the legacy has been determined and probate has been granted. Legacies received by friars of the Province, who have signed Deeds of Disponor in favour of The Dominican Council, are classified as legacy income. Donated assets and services are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when a reliable estimate of the value to the charity can be readily obtained.

Pension income for professed members of the Order is accounted for when it is receivable.

ACTIVITIES FOR RAISING FUNDS

Fundraising, publications and other similar income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the relevant amount of income becomes receivable or the item has been sold. Property rental income is accounted for when it is receivable in accordance with the terms of the relevant agreements.

INVESTMENT INCOME

Investment income is accounted for when notified by the Charity’s investment portfolio manager. Deposit interest is accounted for on a receivable basis. Interest received on cash held with investment managers is accounted for as investment income.

CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

The costs of charitable activities are accounted for when they become payable. They include apportioned support costs.

SUPPORT AND GOVERNANCE COSTS

Within this heading are incorporated management and administration costs, and any other costs not directly constitutive of charitable activity, generation of funds or governance. Where support costs are attributable to a particular charitable activity, they are allocated to that activity. General support costs are apportioned on the basis of the direct costs of each activity.

NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR FRIARS

The Province pays voluntary (class 3) national insurance contributions for friars when these will count towards the provision of State Pension. These costs are recognised at the end of the tax year in which HM Revenue and Customs issues notice of a gap in National Insurance Contributions.

GRANTS RECEIVABLE

Grants receivable are accounted for in accordance with the terms of the grant, and are recognised when the conditions for receipt have been complied with.

PENSIONS RECEIVABLE

RETIREMENT BENEFITS

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for its employees. The amount charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in respect of pension costs is the contributions payable in the year.

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A C C O U N T I N G P O L I C I E S

TAXATION

The English Province of the Order of Preachers is a registered charity and as such its income and gains falling within Sections 518 to 564 of the Income Taxes Act 2007 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 are exempt from income tax and capital gains tax to the extent that they are applied to charitable objectives.

RESTRICTED FUNDS

Restricted funds can only be applied for a particular purpose. Most restricted funds of the charity are ‘branch funds’, restricted to use for the particular purposes of a branch of the charity (a priory, a parish or Blackfriars Hall) while that branch continues in existence. Some branch funds have more specific designations; others have further restrictions that would have to be respected even in the event of a branch ceasing to operate.

There are also central restricted funds, the principal of which are:

CONNECTED CHARITY

The Hoper Dixon Trust is considered to be a connected charity because the Dominican Council is one of the Trustees. The Trust’s accounts are not consolidated within those of the English Province of the Order of Preachers because in the opinion of the officers of the Dominican Council the Order does not have control of the Trust. The Trust’s Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet are given in notes 17 and 18 respectively.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Charity only has financial instruments and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

LEASES

Leases are classified as finance leases where the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the equipment from the lessor to the lessee.

As a lessee: equipment held under finance leases are recognised on the Balance Sheet at the commencement of the lease at its fair value measured at the lease’s inception. The asset recognised is matched by a liability for the obligation to pay the lessor.

UNRESTRICTED FUNDS

The unrestricted funds of the Charity comprise general purpose funds and designated funds. General purpose funds are retained to cover future direct charitable costs, general support costs, and investment management costs.

Designated funds are those parts of the Charity’s unrestricted funds designated by the Trustees to be used for particular purposes in the future. The Trustees have the power to reallocate such funds. The principal designated funds are:

Finance charges are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY

The charity makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. There are no estimates and assumptions that have a risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.

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N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

Notes to the Financial Statements

1. ANALYSIS OF INCOME

TOTAL INCOME Other Income Total Charitable Activities Pensions received Educational services Ministerial services Charitable Activities Income from listed investments Total Other Trading Activities Property Fundraising, publications etc. Other Trading Activities Total Donations and Legacies Income Grants received Legacies Donations and gifts Donations and Legacies INCOME
1,054,176 4,274 173,580 141,913 - 31,667 656,954 135,866 123,608 12,258 83,502 2,010 - 81,492 £ 2023 Funds Unrestricted
3,274,496 14,788 1,284,839 25,926 653,797 605,116 273,164 73,029 61,332 11,697 1,628,676 560,494 53,209 1,014,973 £ 2023 Funds Restricted
4,328,672 19,062 1,458,419 167,839 653,797 636,783 930,118 208,895 184,940 23,955 1,712,178 562,504 53,209 1,096,465 £ 2023 Funds Total
678,761 614 169,935 143,701 - 26,234 342,948 131,350 121,108 10,242 33,914 - - 33,914 £ 2022 Funds Unrestricted
3,755,086 11,675 1,498,890 - 509,076 989,814 257,693 81,140 80,918 222 1,905,688 405,595 427,521 1,072,572 £ 2022 Funds Restricted
4,433,847 12,289 1,668,825 143,701 509,076 1,016,048 600,641 212,490 202,026 10,464 1,939,602 405,595 427,521 1,106,486 £ 2022 Funds Total

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N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

2. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE

Total Funds 2022 £ 98,592 124,530 223,122 924,642 439,892 107,750 1,498,237 796,438 3,766,959 3,990,081
Restricted Funds 2022 £ 3,471 - 3,471 825,394 303,166 24,488 1,224,533 714,636 3,092,217 3,095,688
Unrestricted Funds 2022 £ 95,121 124,530 219,651 99,248 136,726 83,262 273,704 81,802 674,742 894,393
Total Funds 2023 £ 114,860 117,175 232,035 980,071 611,741 121,716 1,632,429 862,473 4,208,430 4,440,465
Restricted Funds 2023 £ 4,565 - 4,565 868,000 476,268 21,861 1,355,486 778,762 3,500,377 3,504,942
Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ 110,295 117,175 227,470 112,071 135,473 99,855 276,943 83,711 708,053 935,523
Notes 3
ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE COSTS OF RAISING FUNDS Costs of raising voluntary income Investment management costs Total costs of raising funds EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Educational Pastoral works and projects Care for sick and elderly friars Property upkeep Support of the friars and communities Total charitable activities TOTAL EXPENDITURE

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N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

3. APPORTIONMENT OF SUPPORT COSTS

CENTRAL SUPPORT COSTS
Friars
Staff
General administration
Governance costs
Audit and accountancy fees
Legal fees
Other professional Fees
Total central support costs
BRANCH SUPPORT COSTS
TOTAL SUPPORT COSTS 2023
TOTAL SUPPORT COSTS 2022		 Educat-
ional
£
Pastoral
£
Sick &
Elderly
£
Property
£
Friars &
Communities
£
Total
£
13,410
8,370
1,665
22,336
11,801
57,582
24,230
15,124
3,009
40,358
21,322
104,043
14,218
8,875
1,766
23,682
12,512
61,053
7,844
4,896
974
13,066
6,903
33,683
6,575
4,104
817
10,951
5,786
28,233
8,166
5,097
1,014
13,601
7,186
35,064
74,443
46,466
9,245
123,994
65,510
319,658
328,133
15,981
-
-
69,701
413,815
402,576
62,447
9,245
123,994
135,211
733,473
361,053
51,121
8,243
114,615
162,146
697,178

Central support costs are apportioned to activities in proportion to directly incurred expenditure. Branch support costs are allocated to the principal activity of the branch incurring the cost. Included in Audit and accountancy fees are audit fees of £18,750 (2022: £27,500).

4. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS
2023 2022
STAFF NUMBERS
Average number of Employees 25 26
Average number of FTE Employees 15 16

The number of employees who earned £60,000 per annum or more (including taxable benefits but excluding employer’s pension contributions) during the year was as follows:

2023
£60,001 - £70,000
1
STAFF COSTS
£
Salaries/Wages
606,529
Employer's national insurance costs
48,563
Pension costs
80,827
Total Staff Costs
735,919
No remuneration is paid to the trustee corporation or its directors.
VOLUNTEER NUMBERS
Total Lay Volunteers
54
Total Full Time Equivalent Lay Volunteers
4.8		 2023
1
£
606,529
48,563
80,827		 2022

-
£

546,560

41,844

73,203
735,919
661,607
55
4.2

Note: for the sake of clarity, friars are no longer included here as volunteers.

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4. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS (CONT.)

For the purposes of this report, employees are those who have contracts of employment. The figures do not include persons paid through payroll from time to time who have no contracted hours; typically, such persons provide teaching or other ad hoc services to Blackfriars Hall, and are either employees of other institutions or students doing small amounts of part-time work.

The charity considers its key management personnel is comprised of its Trustees and other members of the Provincial Council, all of whom are Friars. The total

employment benefits, including employer pension cost of key management personnel, were £nil (2022: £nil). The total of expenses reimbursed to key management personnel was £nil (2022: £nil).

The principal roles of non-friar volunteers are answering the door and telephone at the priories in Oxford and Cambridge, and church cleaning, flower arranging and similar tasks in Leicester and London, along with singing in the church choirs. The average number of hours worked by these volunteers each week is 2.6.

5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS USED FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES

Inalienable
Property
£
ASSET COST
Balance brought forward
1 October 2022
1,000,613
Additions
-
Disposals
-
Balance carried forward
30 September 2023
1,000,613
ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
Balance brought forward
1 October 2022
483,208
Disposals
-
Charge for year
4,539
Balance carried forward
30 September 2023
487,747
NET BOOK VALUE
Brought forward
1 October 2022
517,405
Carried forward
30 September 2023
512,866		 Inalienable
Property
£
1,000,613
-
-

Other
Property
£

9,704,620

-

-

Motor
Vehicles
£

75,309

-

(8,400)

Fixtures &
Fittings
£

2,747,760

169,713
(26,445)

Total
£

13,528,302

169,713
(34,845)
1,000,613
9,704,620
66,909
2,891,028
13,663,170

3,362,003

-

302,182
65,326

(8,400)

5,408
2,137,008
(26,445)

334,645
6,047,545
(34,845)

646,774
487,747
3,664,185
62,334
2,445,208
6,659,474
517,405
6,342,617
9,983
610,752
7,480,757
512,866
6,040,435
4,575
445,820
7,003,696

Historic property includes churches, places of worship and priories owned and occupied by the Order.

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N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

6. INVESTMENTS

Total
100.0%		 Cash
(5.5%)		 Alternatives
18.1%		 Property
7.8%		 Fixed Income
19.2%		 Global Equities
28.5%		 UK Equities
31.9%		 Catholic Charities Growth & Income Fund was as follows: * As of 30 September 2023, the composition of the Market Value at 30 September
20,752,495		 Net (loss)/gain on revaluation
(84,572)		 Disposals at Market Value
-		 Additions at Cost
1,500,010		 Market Value at 1 October
19,337,057		 £ 2023 16,363,582 BlackRock Institutional Cash Series
1,500,010		 Funds managed by Evelyn Partners**
6,533,325		 Catholic Charities Growth & Income Fund*
8,330,247		 £ Cost INVESTMENTS
Total
100.0%		 Cash
0.6%		 Alternatives and Multi-Asset
11.5%		 Property
3.7%		 Fixed Income
12%		 Global Equities
55.7%		 UK Equities
16.5%		 Funds managed by Evelyn Partners was as follows: ** As of 30 September 2023, the composition of the 19,337,057 (2,207,694) (837,025) 99 22,381,677 £ 2022 20,752,495
14,863,572
19,337,057		 1,519,363
-
-		 8,402,564
6,533,325
8,271,187		 10,830,568
8,330,247
11,065,870		 £
£
£		 Market Value
Cost
Market Value		 30 September 2023
30 September 2022

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7. DEBTORS

. DEBTORS
DEBTORS
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Other
Total Debtors
. CREDITORS
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Accruals and deferred income
Other
Total Creditors
Deferred income (analysis)
At 1 October
Amount released to income
Amount deferred in the year
At 30 September		 2023
£
36,740
1,554,120
1,876		 2022
£

550,077

1,767,943

5,434
1,592,736
2,323,454
2023
£
444,061
14,484
42,225
45,099		 2022
£

107,178

11,211

1,064,924

116,867
545,869
1,300,180
1,027,891
(1,027,891)
13,676
3,759
(3,759)

1,027,891
13,676
1,027,891

8. CREDITORS

Deferred income represents tuition fees invoiced in advance, unsaid Masses, and advance rent received.

9. TRANSACTIONS WITH TRUSTEES

The Trustees of the Charity are also members of the Order and as such have taken vows of poverty under which they renounce all personal right to income and

capital. The Charity provides for the essential needs of all members of the Order within the Province.

10. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Members of the Order arranged for grants totalling £15,409 (2022: £16,777) to be made from the Hoper Dixon Trust, a trust of which the Dominican Council is a Trustee. The beneficiaries of the Hoper Dixon Trust are the poor connected with or in the neighbourhood of any house or pastoral centre under the direction of Dominicans of the English Province of the Order of Preachers. The Hoper Dixon Trust’s Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet are reproduced in notes 17 and 18 respectively.

As of 30 September 2023, the Hoper Dixon Trust owed the English Province of the Order of Preachers the sum of £9,422 (2022: £1,367) in respect of grants approved and payable.

Fr Simon Gaine OP is Director of the Thomistic Institute at the Angelicum, Rome. The Institute made a payment to the Charity of £2,150 (2022: £2,427) in respect of teaching provided by brothers of the Province.

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N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

11. FUNDS 2023

Total Funds Total Unrestricted Funds Total General Funds Province Revenue Province Capital GENERAL Total Designated Funds Other Glasgow Sutcliffe Development Sick & Elderly funds Training & Study funds DESIGNATED Total Restricted Funds Other funds Inalienable property Novice & Student training funds Caribbean Mission Province Funds Aquinas Institute Las Casas Institute Studium Blackfriars Hall Priory & Parish Fabric & special project funds Priory & Parish operating funds Branch Funds RESTRICTED
30,786,606 11,272,566 2,976,337 168,315 2,808,022 8,296,229 442,396 364,234 190,072 208,698 3,946,999 3,143,830 19,514,040 5,172,706 205,082 517,404 4,172,809 277,411 14,341,334 24,838 151,343 1,648,762 1,334,123 9,299,217 1,883,051 £ 2022 Balance at 1
October
4,328,672 1,054,176 761,403 644,228 117,175 292,773 - 10,000 - 3,487 220,648 58,638 3,274,496 116,156 2,471 - 105,109 8,576 3,158,340 1,182 292,142 193,817 697,521 114,662 1,859,016 £ Income
(4,440,465) (935,523) (636,757) (519,582) (117,175) (298,766) (7,443) (22,500) - (120,726) (137,049) (11,048) (3,504,942) (115,207) - (4,539) (83,494) (27,174) (3,389,735) (16,206) (93,690) (498,823) (592,623) (655,034) (1,533,359) £ Expenditure
(84,572) 54,414 (54,164) (3) (54,161) 108,578 4,004 (6,722) (3,630) (4,357) 66,063 53,220 (138,986) (27,548) (468) - (21,860) (5,220) (111,438) - - (2,321) 11,965 (107,920) (13,162) £ Gains/
(Losses)
- 229,682 148,824 148,824 - 80,858 - - - 80,858 - - (229,682) (103,229) (247) - (102,665) (317) (126,453) (94) (17,174) (21,457) 34,128 236,992 (358,848) £ Transfers
30,590,241 11,675,315 3,195,643 441,782 2,753,861 8,479,672 438,957 345,012 186,442 167,960 4,096,661 3,244,640 18,914,926 5,042,878 206,838 512,865 4,069,899 253,276 13,872,048 9,720 332,621 1,319,978 1,485,114 8,887,917 1,836,698 £ 2023 Balance at 30
September

The transfers represent the obligations of the Province to support the friars and activities of Blackfriars Hall and the individual priories, and also the obligations of the Hall and priories to support the central costs of the Province. Definitions of the Funds named here can be found on p.66.

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N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

FUNDS 2022

Balance at 30
September		 2022 £ 1,883,051 9,299,217 1,334,123 1,648,762 151,343 24,838 14,341,334 277,411 4,172,809 517,404 205,082 5,172,706 19,514,040 3,143,830 3,946,999 208,698 190,072 364,234 442,396 8,296,229 2,808,022 168,315 2,976,337 11,272,566 30,786,606
Transfers £ (1,279,156) 1,218,744 26,136 8,687 (15,038) (3,832) (44,459) (1,261) (121,578) 0 (101,332) (224,171) (268,630) 0 0 76,827 0 0 0 76,827 0 191,803 191,803 268,630 0
Gains/
(Losses)		 £ (111,166) (457,680) 85,816 (6,798) (1) 0 (489,829) (25,745) (428,833) 0 (2,287) (456,865) (946,694) (287,449) (486,932) (18,310) (17,892) (34,341) (161,545) (1,006,469) (254,531) 0 (254,531) (1,261,000) (2,207,694)
Expenditure £ (1,243,673) (606,254) (559,487) (460,545) (42,726) (43,703) (2,956,388) (28,999) (105,661) (4,540) (100) (139,300) (3,095,688) 0 (109,776) (105,552) 0 (9,292) (16,106) (240,726) (124,530) (529,137) (653,667) (894,393) (3,990,081)
Income £ 2,354,278 230,567 577,907 128,397 154,426 38,316 3,483,891 11,445 245,971 0 13,779 271,195 3,755,086 58,423 223,461 4,007 0 9,000 75 294,966 124,530 259,265 383,795 678,761 4,433,847
Balance at 1
October		 2021 £ 2,162,768 8,913,840 1,203,751 1,979,021 54,682 34,057 14,348,119 321,971 4,582,910 521,944 295,022 5,721,847 20,069,966 3,372,856 4,320,246 251,726 207,964 398,867 619,972 9,171,631 3,062,553 246,384 3,308,937 12,480,568 32,550,534
RESTRICTED Branch Funds Priory & Parish operating funds Priory & Parish Fabric & special project funds Blackfriars Hall Studium Las Casas Institute Aquinas Institute Province Funds Caribbean Mission Novice & Student training funds Inalienable property Other funds Total Restricted Funds DESIGNATED Training & Study funds Sick & Elderly funds Development Sutcliffe Glasgow Other Total Designated Funds GENERAL Province Capital Province Revenue Total General Funds Total Unrestricted Funds Total Funds

Definitions of the Funds named here can be found on p.66.

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N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

11. (CONT.) FUNDS DEFINITIONS

RESTRICTED FUNDS

Priory & Parish operating funds: each priory and parish has a General fund from which the costs of day-to-day operations are met, generated

from donations and income earned by the friars which they assign to their house.

Priory & Parish Fabric & special project funds: priory & parish fixed assets, fabric maintenance and renewal.

Blackfriars Hall: funds generated by the Hall for its operations.

Studium: funds held by the Studium for its operations, including the unspent element of a grant of £2m by the Society of Jesus made in 2021 to support the training of candidates for the priesthood.

Las Casas Institute: for the projects of the Las Casas Institute.

Aquinas Institute: for the projects of the Aquinas Institute.

Caribbean Mission: the Province actively fundraises for its brethren in Jamaica and Grenada.

Novice & Student training funds: The English Dominican Noviciate Guild (EDNG) monies for the formation and training of novices and student brothers.

Inalienable Property: the Province’s priory and church buildings.

DESIGNATED FUNDS

Training & Study funds: to supplement restricted EDNG funds.

Sick & Elderly funds: for the care of sick and elderly brothers.

Development: to support the development of fundraising capacity across the Province.

Sutcliffe: for the purposes of absorbing unexpected, unbudgeted expenditure.

Glasgow: Funds transferred from Glasgow priory on its closure, used for the upkeep of a brother who remained in Glasgow.

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12. ALLOCATION OF ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Net Assets
2,976,337
8,296,229		 Creditors: amounts falling due
in more than one year
-
-		 Creditors: amounts falling due
in less than one year
(127,622)
-		 Current assets
2,358,852
-		 Other fxed assets
57,441
4,175		 Property
97,042
1,170,154		 Investments
590,624
7,121,900		 £
£		 Purpose
Designated		 BETWEEN FUNDS 2022
General
Province		 ALLOCATION OF ASSETS
Province		 Balances of the principal Province funds are given in note 11. Net Assets
3,195,643
8,479,672		 Creditors: amounts falling due
in more than one year
-
-		 Creditors: amounts falling due
in less than one year
(466,041)
4,653		 Current assets
1,017,840
-		 Other fxed assets
31,724
(22,348)		 Property
324,017
1,054,045		 Investments
2,288,103
7,443,322		 £
£		 Purpose
Designated		 BETWEEN FUNDS 2023
General
Province		 ALLOCATION OF ASSETS
Province
11,272,566 - (127,622) 2,358,852 61,616 1,267,196 7,712,524 £ Funds Unrestricted Total 11,675,315 - (461,388) 1,017,840 9,376 1,378,062 9,731,425 £ Funds Unrestricted Total
14,341,334 (24,043) (1,172,137) 2,914,361 559,119 4,421,212 7,642,822 £ Funds Branch Total 13,872,048 (15,174) (84,060) 2,368,190 441,019 4,101,526 7,060,547 £ Funds Branch Total
5,172,706 - (421) 19,802 - 1,171,614 3,981,711 £ Restricted Province Total 5,042,878 - (421) 9,063 - 1,073,713 3,960,523 £ Restricted Province Total
19,514,040 (24,043) (1,172,558) 2,934,163 559,119 5,592,826 11,624,533 £ Funds Restricted Total 18,914,926 (15,174) (84,481) 2,377,253 441,019 5,175,239 11,021,070 £ Funds Restricted Total
30,786,606 (24,043) (1,300,180) 5,293,015 620,735 6,860,022 19,337,057 £ 2022 30,590,241 (15,174) (545,869) 3,395,093 450,395 6,553,301 20,752,495 £ 2023

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N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

13. ACTIVITIES IN SCOTLAND
Income from activities in Scotland
Expenditure on activities in Scotland
Net Income/(Expenditure) relating to activities in Scotland		 2023
£
2022
£
501,658
297,364
(652,051)
(229,497)
(150,393)
67,867

14. OPERATING & FINANCE LEASE COMMITMENTS

OPERATING LEASES

The charity’s future minimum payments receivable under non-cancellable operating leases at the reporting date are as follows:

he charity’s future minimum payments receivable under
re as follows:		 non-cancellable operating leases at
Within one year
In 2–5 years
After more than 5 years		 2023
£
2022
£
34,000
34,000
136,000
136,000
1,436,000
1,440,000
1,606,000
1,610,000

Lease payments recognised as ‘other operating income’ in the period were £55,126 (2022: £57,830).

The charity leases a flat to students in Edinburgh on leases of no more than 12 months. These arrangements do not result in the recognition of investment properties and are treated as operating leases.

At the reporting date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payment under noncancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

oncancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
Within one year
In 2 - 5 years		 2023
£
2022
£
7,964
7,804
15,010
19,564
22,974
27,368

FINANCE LEASES

At the reporting date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payment under noncancellable finance leases, which fall due as follows:

oncancellable fnance leases, which fall due as follows:
Equipment:
Within one year
In 2–5 years
Future fnance charges
Net carrying amount of obligations under fnance leases		 2023
£
12,312
17,172		 2022
£

12,312

29,484
29,484
(5,440)
41,796
(10,271)
24,044
31,525

The charity had no commitments under non-cancellable finance leases at year end (2022: £Nil).

The finance leases are for telephone equipment which is rented for periods of up to 7 years. These are recognised as tangible fixed assets (see note 5). The lease agreements are for fixed lease payments and include an option to renew at the end of the term.

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15. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

At 30 September 2023 the charity had a capital commitment of £156,000 in respect of the installation of underfloor heating in the London parish church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St Dominic. (2022: £0)

16. HOPER DIXON TRUST STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

INCOME
Investment income:
Income from investments
Income from bank deposits
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Expenditure on charitable activities:
Grants payable
Support costs for grants payable
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET GAINS/LOSSES ON INVESTMENT ASSETS
Net income/expenditure and movement in funds
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Fund balances brought forward at 1 October
Fund balances carried forward at 30 September		 Unrestricted Funds
Income
Fund
£
Designated
Capital
Fund
£
16,331
-
-
-		 Unrestricted Funds
Income
Fund
£
Designated
Capital
Fund
£
16,331
-
-
-		 Total
2023
£

16,331
-		 Total
2022
£
16,494
-
16,331
15,409
7		 -
-
-
16,331

15,409

7		 16,494
16,777
19
15,416
-		 -

17,551
15,416
17,551		 16,796
(40,281)
915
32,976		 17,551
553,209		 18,466
586,185		 (41,123)
627,308
33,891 570,760 604,651 586,185

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N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

17. HOPER DIXON TRUST BALANCE SHEET

FIXED ASSETS
Investments
CURRENT ASSETS
Bank balances
LIABILITIES
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
Net current assets
NET ASSETS
FUNDS
Unrestricted Funds
Income Fund
Capital Fund
TOTAL FUNDS		 2023
£
570,760
43,333
(9,442)		 2022
£
553,209
34,343
(1,367)
33,891 32,976
604,651 586,185
33,891
570,760		 32,976
553,209
604,651 586,185

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THE DOMINICAN FRIAR S ANNUAL R EPORT 2023

The Dominican Friars

w w w . e n g l i s h . o p . o r g

CONTACT DETAILS

Dominican Friars’ Development Office, Blackfriars, St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LY development@english.op.org 01865 610208