2025-06-30-accounts - The Order Of The Cross

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Charity registration number: 247761

THE ORDER OF THE CROSS TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

The Order of The Cross Contents

	Page
Reference and Administrative Details	1
Trustees' Report	2—7
Independent Auditor's Report	8—9
Statement of Financial Activities	10
Comparative Statement of Financial Activities	11
Statement of Financial Position	12
Statement of Cash Flows	13
Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows	14
Notes to the Financial Statements	15—21
The following pages do not form part of the statutory accounts:
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities	22—23

The Order of The Cross Reference and Administrative Details For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

Trustees Mr Bernard Fallon Mr Ian Heathcote Mr Roger Score Ms Sarah Palmer Mr David Muir Ms Cathy Oerter Mr Paul Nathan (appointed 09/01/2025) Ms Rebecca Keen (appointed 21/02/2025) Mr Bruce Bowden (appointed 09/02/2026) Rathbones Investment Management Investment Managers CCLA Investment Management Ltd Investment Managers Charity Number 247761 Principal Address The Abbey The Green Sutton Courtenay Abingdon OX14 4AF Accountants Town & Forest Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors First Floor, New Barnes Mill Cottonmill Lane St Albans AL1 2HA Auditors Town & Forest Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors First Floor, New Barnes Mill Cottonmill Lane St Albans AL1 2HA Solicitors Hewetts 55 - 57 London Street Reading Berkshire RG1 4PS

Page 1

The Order of The Cross

Trustees' Report For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2025.

Objectives and Activities

Basis of Preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and the relevant version of the 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).

Aim and Purpose

The Order of the Cross is an informal Christian Fellowship, dedicated to the Compassionate Life and the realisation of the Christ within. Since its foundation in 1904 it has promoted a pacifist and vegetarian way of life.

Our aim is to offer support and encouragement to all who would espouse the Aims and Ideals expressed through the writings of the Founder, the Reverend J Todd Ferrier.

Objectives and Activities

The Order seeks to achieve the purpose through:

a) the holding of worship services, meditations and meetings where the Founder's writings (referred to as "the Teachings") are read and studied in an elevated atmosphere conducive to spiritual aspiration and healing; and b) the publication, sale and dissemination of the literature that contains the Teachings.

The Order organises and provides financial support for regular "Gatherings" of Members and Enquirers (interested non members) at retreat centres in the UK, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Central to the programmes of the Gatherings are worship services and meetings to study the Teachings. The programmes include times of informal fellowship for individuals to share experiences. Some of our services and Gatherings are for attendance by families with children.

Worship services and meetings for the study of the Teachings are held in a few localities in the United Kingdom, North America and Australia to which interested Enquirers may be invited. There are weekly services and readings by conference call and by videoconference that are particularly valued by isolated Members and Enquirers.

The Members in local Groups appoint representatives who meet annually as United Councils whose function is to support the spiritual culture of the Membership and to guide Enquirers in the Teachings and in the way of life of the Members.

The Order announces itself to the wider public by means of its website (orderofthecross.org) which is indicative of the nature of the Teachings, how contact may be made with the Order and how the Order's literature may be obtained.

The Trustees have considered the Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance to charities for the advancement of religion. The Trustees seek to bring the Teachings to the attention of all those who may be drawn to their deeply spiritual message and to include in the religious and social activities of the Fellowship any who may wish to share in the personal development that such contact brings.

Achievements and Performance

Charitable Activities

Membership and Enquirers

Membership of the Order is available to those who show a deeply held interest in the Teachings and a commitment to the way of life described therein which includes non-violence and a strict vegetarian or plant-based diet. Admission to Membership of the Order is at the Trustees' discretion. Anyone seeking Membership applies in writing indicating why he or she wishes to become a Member. The application must be supported in writing by two Members. We are willing to welcome new Members regardless of their colour, ethnicity, race, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

The Trustees provide a point of contact for members of the public through our website (orderofthecross.org). It includes attractively arranged material that indicates the nature of our values, literature and activities. We continually seek to improve and refresh the website.

We refer to individuals, non-members, who are interested in the Teachings as "Enquirers". Contact is usually made initially by email. Where an Enquirer shows strong interest and looks for personal contact, we may be able to arrange this with a local Group if there is one close to the Enquirer or by videocall or after an initial meeting we may invite the Enquirer to attend one of our Gatherings. We send such Enquirers a regular publication, "Spiritual Reflections", that includes articles relating to the Teachings and the programme of forthcoming Gatherings. This serves as a form of contact with those seeking to understand more of the life to which the Order calls.

All Members worldwide receive a regular Newsletter of articles and information. There is no membership fee. Members and Enquirers may make financial contributions on an entirely voluntary basis. The Order does not conduct any public fundraising.

...CONTINUED

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The Order of The Cross Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

Charitable Activities - continued

Members may be invited to minister at worship services or to lead study meetings. Members sometimes minister at funerals. Members train for this ministry initially through participating in the activities at local level, or at Gatherings, and then through leading services and study meetings in small groups and through informal guidance and feedback.

Offices held by Members are honorary. Members may claim travel and other incidental expenses necessary for the performance of their duties.

Areas and Councils

The UK is divided into Areas where Members within each Area may meet in Council at least once a year to share the experiences of the work in the Area, to plan Area Gatherings of Members and Enquirers and to consider any other matters that may arise. Each Area may send one or more representatives for a similar annual sharing in a body known as the "United Councils" where there may also be representatives in person or virtually from North America, Australia and New Zealand.

The Area representative together with an executive comprising Chairman, Treasurer and Clerk meet twice during the year in a committee known as the United Councils Committee. The Committee organises a meeting as the United Councils with Representatives and Members that in 2025 was held at the start of the Easter Gathering (see under Gatherings). Close liaison between the United Councils and the Trustees, including joint meetings between the United Councils Committee and the Trustees, ensures that the views and needs of all Members of the Order are taken into account.

The structure of the Councils is such that everyone who is deeply interested in and involved with The Order of the Cross as a Member or Enquirer can have their needs recognised, their ideas considered and their spiritual life nourished. Members of the Councils pay particular attention to keeping in contact with frail, isolated and new Members in their Areas. They contact Enquirers who have expressed the desire to know more of the Order Teachings and the way of life of the Members.

The Areas and Councils are essential to the carrying out of the Order's charitable objectives. The United Councils Committee receives income from the Order's restricted funds. They may receive donations from Members. The Councils draw as and when needed from the Order's unrestricted funds. The financial reporting of the United Councils Committee is consolidated into this Annual Report and Accounts.

Gatherings in the UK

Gatherings, where for a few days at a time Members and Enquirers, scattered geographically, come together at a retreat centre to share worship, study and fellowship, are central to the functioning of our community. In the year to 30 June 2025, the following such Gatherings were held in the UK:

o 25th to 31st July 2024, Families Gathering at the Ammerdown Centre near Bath o 31st July to 5th August 2024, Gathering at the Ammerdown Centre. o 3rd to 7th October 2024, Gathering at Sheldon Retreat Centre near Exeter o 11th to 15th April 2025, Spring Gathering at Sarum College, Salisbury o 15th to 22nd April 2025, Easter Gathering at Swanage, Dorset o 14th to 21st May 2025, Gathering at Glenthorne, Grasmere, Cumbria

The Easter Gathering included the Members meeting as the United Councils, as mentioned above. This Gathering also included the annual Members' Meeting arranged by the Trustees, when consideration was given amongst other matters to the Order's finances, publications and website. Some worship services at Gatherings are broadcast on-line.

No fees are charged for attendance at the Gatherings. Instead, attendees are informed of the cost of accommodation and food and are invited to make a financial contribution.

Children and Young People

Although children are taught the way of life exemplified by our founder primarily in the home, special times of worship suitable for children are arranged by the Groups if they have young children in their area. The main event that catered specifically for children was:

Ammerdown Centre near Bath

The Family Gathering as held at the Ammerdown Centre near Bath was once again a most successful gathering open to Members and Enquirers and comprised times of worship and study of the teachings of the Order. The programme included music-making, art and crafts. The needs of the children were well catered for with a special programme of activities.

The Trustees have a policy for the protection of children that is brought to the attention of the organisers of gatherings and other activities. The Trustees regularly review their Safeguarding Policy and Procedures for children and vulnerable individuals.

The Order's Work in North America

The American membership is a close-knit community that shares together frequently. The American Council sees to the activities of the fellowship, and the USA Corporation administers the investments and sees the council has the funds it requires to operate.

The United States and Canada are grouped into three regions by time zones: Eastern, Central and Western. Each region has a leader that corresponds either by email or phone calls with members in their area for any needs or wants that they may have. The representative of each region gives their report at the annual North American Area (NAA) meeting.

...CONTINUED

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The Order of The Cross Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

Charitable Activities - continued

Members and Enquirers are encouraged to attend the NAA gathering. One day is set aside during the week for council matters which includes the area reports, literature, and treasurer's report among many other items on the agenda as members consider the needs of the fellowship in North America.

The Order's Work in North America

The 2025 meeting was held at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, California for 10 days in September. Thirty-eight members and inquirers attended from the Western, Central, Eastern regions, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. During the week, worship services, meditations and studies were shared daily. The Trustee Liaison gave her report during the members meeting with updates on the fellowship literature, bookstore changes and plans being considered for the future.

Several enquirers were sent literature and books from the Western region bookstore in Barstow, California this year. A quarterly American Newsletter is sent from the editor in the Central region to link the members and to make them aware of what is happening in North America.

Australia and New Zealand

A successful international gathering took place in Wellington, New Zealand in January 2025, with attendees from Australia, New Zealand, the UK and from America. This was the first such gathering for many years in New Zealand.

A pastoral visit to members in Western Australia, Canberra and Melbourne undertaken by two Trustees took place in April – May 2025. As members are so scattered, and they have limited opportunity to meet, it was felt this was the best way of keeping in touch for the time being. The members are encouraged to come to gatherings in the UK and North America and some have taken part in a few of the gatherings this year.

Meetings by Teleconference and Videoconference

The sharing of services and meetings by means of conference calls was initiated by Members in North America and now forms an international "virtual" community also involving Members in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. This is known as the Communal Sharing Circle and provides for those Members and Enquirers worldwide who wish to take part in a weekly service or reading of the Teachings.

Groups meeting by videoconference to read from the Teachings have multiplied and become global in recent years. These groups are held daily, weekly or fortnightly. A Virtual Area Clerk liaises and coordinates this unifying development.

Publications

Our main stock of printed books is maintained at a self-storage facility in Gloucestershire. This is close to, and accessible to, our current Literature Secretary who responds to requests for copies of the books and sends them by post. We also have Literature Secretaries based in North America and Australia who keep stocks of books for distribution in their part of the world. Our current main Literature Secretary will lay down her office at the end of 2025, and her replacement will be located in Cornwall. Main and working stocks of books will be relocated to meet distribution requirements.

Whenever the stock of any book becomes low, it is reprinted to replenish the stock. Five titles were reprinted and made available in 2025.

Members and anyone interested can obtain any of our publications free of charge, including postage and packing if ordered from one of our Literature Secretaries. A voluntary contribution is encouraged, supported by a price guide.

Our printed books continue to be available from Amazon and Alibris and other distributors, but authenticity cannot be guaranteed.

PDF versions of five of our booklets continue to be available, free of charge, for download from our website.

We have six titles published as eBooks, which can be purchased from most online distributors, and newly published in 2025, two Audiobook titles.

Periodicals

Although based in the United Kingdom, the Order is a fellowship of like-minded individuals dispersed around the globe, some in locations isolated from the main centres of activity. The periodicals produced by the Order are therefore central to maintaining the communication links which unify the Order as a fellowship. There are three periodicals:

1. Members' Newsletter

The Members' Newsletter is the principal periodical issued quarterly in an A5 full colour booklet format. The Newsletter continues to be distributed to every Member around the world, some of whom receive it electronically at their request. It always opens with a quotation from the Teachings and provides details of Order events around the world; notification and the means of application are provided before events and reports are published after events. The Newsletter is a forum for Members to contribute articles which reflect upon the Teachings and their relevance to contemporary living and the arts, and for Members to share their creative gifts, especially in the writing of poetry and in the visual arts, including colour photography.

2. American Newsletter

In America, the Members have continued to produce great newsletters with informative and inspiring articles directed mainly to American Members and Enquirers, though they are sent all over the world.

...CONTINUED

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The Order of The Cross Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

Charitable Activities - continued

3. Spiritual Reflections

The periodical Spiritual Reflections is sent to interested non-members and Enquirers. In parallel with the Members' Newsletter, four issues a year are produced. It opens with the same quotation from the Teachings as the Members' Newsletter and provides details of the Order's events around the world where seekers and friends are encouraged to attend; notification and the means of application are provided before such events and reports are published after events.

Items and articles from the Members' Newsletter are included in Spiritual Reflections that are of interest to this wider readership, including colour features. Comment and interpretation is provided to introduce the extracts from the teachings and make them accessible to newcomers.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

In compliance with GDPR, the Trustees have written confirmation from all Members that they agree to have their contact details held by the Trustees for contact by other members for pastoral reasons, and to receive the Members' Newsletter. The Trustees have similar written confirmation from Enquirers to receive the Spiritual Reflections.

Website

The new website went live in April 2025. It has been much appreciated by members, and the increase in the number of enquiries has been noticeable. The training of the web group has paid dividends with new content and amendments being possible without recourse to the developers. As the site is still evolving, it was seen to be prudent to have a maintenance arrangement with the developers and this has already proved helpful.

The principal purpose of the website is to be a point of contact and reference for The Order of the Cross, and to create an atmosphere such that anyone visiting the site should leave feeling more uplifted. It is an important part of the brief that the site is future-proofed as much as possible.

Premises

The Order owned premises in London used primarily for the provision of public worship services until 2012 when the property was sold. After consultation, the Trustees concluded that due to the geographical dispersion of the active members and the limitations in the practical support that they can give, the interests of the membership and the work of the Order were best served if the Order did not acquire premises and this has remained the position. This has released resources so that Members can give greater support to their local areas and focus on a rich spiritual programme of meetings and gatherings, without the distraction of managing human and physical resources associated with property ownership.

The Order's literature stock and any essential artefacts used for Gatherings are held in conveniently located secure self-storage. Artwork and a few special furnishings that could be used for new premises are in long term storage.

The Abbey Sutton Courtenay

In March 2025, we signed a service agreement with The Abbey Sutton Courtenay Limited (Registered Charity number 278687) to become our registered address and to provide a basic level of administrative support. A display of our literature is now hosted in The Abbey’s library. At the time of writing we expect to move our literature stock to a temporary building in the grounds of The Abbey from which stocks will be distributed to the literature secretaries in the UK, the USA and Australia, who send out books in response to requests from members and the wider public.

Financial Review

Reserves Policy

A major part of our income is from investments and deposits. Particular attention is given to investing ethically, consistent as far as possible with the Order's Aims and Ideals. We adopt a moderate degree of risk in our investment policy, though our investment portfolio is on the more volatile side of moderate as our ethical policy steers us away from large conglomerates and defensive stocks that are generally incompatible with our ethical criteria. We seek a balance between income and capital growth. Approximately 10% of our advised investments are in fixed interest stocks and bonds and the remainder are mainly in equities. A major part of our equity and bond holdings is in ethically guided collective funds and much of the remainder of our invested funds were in directly held shares. This changed in January 2025 when we changed our investment manager from Brewin Dolphin to Rathbones Investment Management and invested wholly in directly held stocks and shares under a discretionary mandate circumscribed by our ethical criteria. In February 2025, we received the shares from a very large legacy and reinvested these where needed in accordance with our ethical criteria. Approximately 15% of the funds with Rathbones are invested under their Greenbank brand with stricter environmental criteria and with higher risk than the main fund. Approximately 8% of our total invested funds are held in the CCLA Property Fund. The volatility of the investment portfolio is counteracted by the substantial deposits that provide a defensive capital stability. Subject to prudent limits, our deposits are held with banks that have ethical policies and with building societies.

Major Risks

The possible risks associated with the Order's activities are reviewed regularly by the Trustees and where necessary addressed proportionately.

...CONTINUED

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The Order of The Cross Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

Reserves Policy - continued

Review of the Accounts (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025)

The following comments are intended to indicate the main reasons for significant year-on-year changes to income and expenditure shown in the Statement of Financial Activities included with this Report.

Following the receipt of an exceptionally large legacy in the previous year, total income in this financial year was much lower though boosted above our usual level of income due to the receipt of a further legacy.

Total income was higher compared with the previous year due to higher interest rates on deposits.

Resources expended were generally higher than in the previous year, though as usual, expenditure increased in some areas and reduced in others. Always our largest item of expenditure is for Gatherings in the UK where we bring together, usually at a residential retreat centre, members and enquirers for times of worship, meditation, study and fellowship. This cost reduced compared with the previous year because we ran one fewer Gathering. The second largest item of expenditure was travel subsidies and these increased substantially as we assisted more members to travel between the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand to minister and otherwise assist at or attend Gatherings both overseas and in the UK. We regard this international travel as essential to support our work in those overseas countries where we have members. As the numbers of our members have gradually reduced, our international contacts, virtually and in person, have increased. We sent $100,000 (approximately £77,000) to The Order of the Cross USA to restore the level of capital held there as that had been on a reducing trend in the last few years. For the first time in years, in January 2025, we funded a Gathering in New Zealand.

Other items of expenditure showing substantial increase were professional redevelopment of our website, which was completed in April 2025 to make the website more appealing and informative to enquirers, and easier to manage, and reprints of our publications that were running out of stock along with the development of our first two audiobooks narrated to a high standard by a top professional.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.

Charity constitution

The Order is administered by a Council of Trustees who have ultimate responsibility for carrying out the work of the Order and for dealing with its finances. The governing document of the Order is the Declaration of Trust drawn up by the Trustees of the Order in August 1944. This document incorporates a Letter concerning the Future Administration of the Order, written by the Founder in 1942. The charitable purposes of the Order of the Cross are set out in a Supplemental Trust Deed executed in 1972 prior to registration with the Charity Commission.

The Schedule to the Supplemental Trust Deed reads:

"The primary purposes of the Order are as follows:

(1) The advancement of the Christian Religion in accordance with the Founder's vision and interpretation

(2) The holding of regular Services of Public Worship

(3) The giving of instruction in the Christian Religion as interpreted by the Founder to the young and in furtherance of the aforesaid primary purposes:

(i) The practice of Christian healing by spiritual means

(ii) The provision of facilities for and the promotion of religious conferences and retreats

(iii) The publication of the Works of the Founder and other books and periodicals descriptive of the Work of the Order

(iv) The training of members to act as ministrants for the Order in public worship and in spiritual healing."

Overseas, The Order of the Cross USA is a Registered Corporation, tax exempt, which attends to financial and legal matters concerning the Order in the USA and works in close cooperation with the Trustees.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The Founder's Letter concerning the Future Administration of the Order stipulates that the number of Trustees continues to be nine, though the Trustees resolved in April 2023 to reduce the number to seven. When a vacancy occurs (normally as the result of retirement) the continuing Trustees, who are all Members of the Order of the Cross, appoint another representative Member to fill the vacancy. The contraction of the membership and scale of activities in recent years have led us to the view that seven Trustees are sufficient to encompass the Order's administration. We take the view that our governing document allows us the flexibility to vary the number of Trustees who may be appointed. Currently we have eight trustees having appointed new Trustees Paul Nathan and Rebecca Keen in January and February 2025 respectively.

Responsibilities for the various aspects of the work and administration of the Order are assigned to individual Trustees. The Trustees keep in touch frequently, partly virtually by videoconference, and partly by in-person working weekends at a retreat centre or other suitable venue. A time of prayer and meditation is an integral part of every Trustee meeting. The weekend meetings, held two to four times a year, provide valuable opportunities for extended consideration of the Order's work.

The names of the current Council of Trustees are listed at the start of this report.

Page 6

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The Order of The Cross Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025 a

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable faw and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) including Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable In the UK and Republic of Irelana”. The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed 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, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements the trustees are required to:

= select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consisiently; e observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
e preausiness.the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at anytime the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. 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.

The trustees’ report was approved by the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Mr Roger Score Trustee . Date ha Aral 2026

Page 7

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of The Order of The Cross

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Order of The Cross (the "charity") for the year ended 30 June 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account), Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland".

In our opinion the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 30 June 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;

have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

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 trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether 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. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on Which We Are Required to Report by Exception

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

the information given in the Trustees' Report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records or returns; or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees' Responsibilities Statement set out on page 7, 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.

Page 8

Independent Auditor's Report (continued) to the Members of The Order of The Cross

Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 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.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the entity and determined that the most significant are those that relate to the Charities Act 2011 and FRS 102.

We assessed the risks of material misstatement in respect of fraud as follows: we made full enquiries with management and those charged with governance. As part of our fraud discussions, we discussed particular areas we believed to be susceptible to misstatement. Also, during our audit, we paid particular attention to looking for any related party transactions.

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

Use Of Our Report

This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters that 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 and the charity's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Zara Dunster FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

Date 28 April 2026

Zara Dunster FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) Town & Forest First Floor, New Barnes Mill Cottonmill Lane St Albans AL1 2HA

Page 9

The Order of The Cross Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

Unrestricted funds £ 305,577 12,174 323,935	Restricted funds £ - - 1,372	2025 Total funds £ 305,577 12,174 325,307	2024 Total funds £ 2,596,766 8,978 297,935
641,686	1,372	643,058	2,903,679
(35,333) (392,375) (115,932)	(19) (1,500) -	(35,352) (393,875) (115,932)	(6,301) (269,757) (129,968)
(543,640)	(1,519)	(545,159)	(406,026)
98,046 233,546	(147) 1,127	97,899 234,673	2,497,653 704,866
331,592 41	980 (41)	332,572 -	3,202,519 -
331,633 14,792,745	939 58,429	332,572 14,851,174	3,202,519 11,648,655
15,124,378	59,368	15,183,746	14,851,174

The notes on pages 14 to 21 form part of these financial statements.

Page 10

The Order of The Cross Comparative Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

Unrestricted funds £ 2,596,766 8,978 296,593	Restricted funds £ - - 1,342	2024 Total funds £ 2,596,766 8,978 297,935
2,902,337	1,342	2,903,679
(6,181) (268,257) (129,968)	(120) (1,500) -	(6,301) (269,757) (129,968)
(404,406)	(1,620)	(406,026)
2,497,931 699,625	(278) 5,241	2,497,653 704,866
3,197,556 240	4,963 (240)	3,202,519 -
3,197,796 11,594,949	4,723 53,706	3,202,519 11,648,655
14,792,745	58,429	14,851,174

The notes on pages 14 to 21 form part of these financial statements.

Page 11

The Order of The Cross Statement of Financial Position As At 30 June 2025

i iN

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----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |2025|2024| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Totalfunds|Total funds| |funds|funds| |Notes|£|£|£|£| |FIXED ASSETS| |Tangible Assets|8|2,723|-|2,723|2,187| |Investments|9|9,587,093|59,368|9646461|7,636,292| |9,589,816|59,368|9649184|7,638,479| |CURRENT ASSETS| |Stocks|10|2,112|-|2,112|1,852| |Debtors|11|§80,005|-|§80,005|2,675,398| |Investments|12|4,122,295|-|4,122,295|4152,770| |Cash|at bank and|in hand|841,535|-|841,535|391,054| |5,545,947|~|5,545,947|7,221,074| |Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year|13|(11,385)|-|(11,385)|(8,379}| |NET CURRENT ASSETS|(LIABILITIES)|5,534,562|-|5,534,562|7,212,695| |TOTAL|ASSETS|LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES|15,124,378|59,368|15,183,746|14851,174| |NET ASSETS|15,124,378|59,368|15,183,746|14,851,174| |FUNDS|OF THE|CHARITY|ESS|ee|Ce|ee| |Restricted Funds|58,368|§8,429| |Unrestricted|Funds|16,124,378|14,792,745| |TOTAL FUNDS|14|15,183,746|14,851,174| |EE Sse|

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On behalf of the board

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----- Start of picture text -----
Mr Roger Score :
Trustee az we
one 27 [hal 2020
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The notes on pages 14 to 21 form part of these financial statements.

Page 12

The Order of The Cross Statement of Cash Flows For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

Notes Cash flows from operating activities Net cash generated from/(used in) operations 1 Foreign tax deducted Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of tangible assets Purchase of other fixed asset investments Proceeds from disposal of other fixed asset investments Purchase of current asset investments Proceeds from disposal of current asset investments Interest received Dividends received Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 2 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 2	2025 £ 2,153,662 (727) 2,152,935 (1,078) (5,861,705) 3,804,547 - 30,475 161,616 163,691 (1,702,454) 450,481 391,054 841,535	2024 £ (462,535) -
		(462,535)
		- (389,326) 409,041 (70,951) - 141,393 156,542
		246,699

		(215,836) 606,890
		391,054

Page 13

The Order of The Cross Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

1. Reconciliation of income to cash generated from/(used in) operations

. Reconciliation of income to cash generated from/(used in) operations
Net income Adjustments for: Interest income Income from investments Depreciation of tangible assets Loss on disposal of tangible assets Net fair value losses/(gains) recognised in profit or loss Movements in working capital: (Increase)/decrease in stocks Decrease/(increase) in trade and other debtors Increase in trade and other creditors Foreign tax deducted Net cash generated from/(used in) operations	2025 £ 332,572 (161,616) (163,691) 542 - 46,989 (260) 2,095,393 3,006 727 2,153,662	2024 £ 3,202,519 (141,393) (156,542) 403 478 (704,866) 226 (2,664,540) 1,180 -
		(462,535)

2. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents, as stated in the Statement of Cash Flows, relates to the following items in the Balance Sheet:

2025 £ Cash at bank and in hand 841,535 3. Analysis of changes in net funds As at 1 July 2024 Cash flows £ £ Cash at bank and in hand 391,054 450,481	2024 £ 391,054
	As at 30 June 2025 £ 841,535

Page 14

The Order of The Cross Notes to the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

1. Accounting Policies

1.1. Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with the relevant version of the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The accounts (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 the relevant version of the 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) rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

1.2. Fund Accounting

Funds held by the charity are either:

Unrestricted general funds - these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds - these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for a particular restricted purpose.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

1.3. Incoming Resources

Voluntary Income

Legacies are accounted for in the period in which the legacy is received or if, before receipt, there is sufficient evidence to provide the necessary certainty that the legacy will be received and the value can be measured with sufficient reliability.

No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.

Donations are recognised once the charity has entitlement to the resources, it is probable that the resources will be received and the monetary value of incoming resources can be measured reliability.

Activities in furtherance of charity's objects

Income is accounted for on a accruals basis.

Activities for generating funds

Income is accounted for on an accruals basis.

Investment Income

Investment Income is included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Other Income

All other income is accounted for on an accruals basis.

1.4. Resources Expended

Resources expended are included in the statement of financial activities on an accruals basis.

Due to the nature of the charity's activities, the distinction between administration and charitable activities cannot be precisely measured because much of the work undertaken by the members is directly related to the various charitable and welfare activities.

For accounting purposes, expenditure is allocated as follows:

Charitable activities

All direct expenditure is in respect of promoting the aims of the charity including, the newsletter and various publications and subsidies and grants to other groups.

Governance costs

All other expenditure not directly allocated above including financial expenses and professional expenses.

Grants

Grants payable are payments made to related parties or other charities in furtherance of the charitable objectives. Grant payments are recognised as expenditure when the conditions for their payment have been met or where there is a constructive obligation to make a payment.

Page 15

The Order of The Cross Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

1.5. Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of the fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:

Plant & Machinery 15% on reducing balance Computer Equipment 25% on reducing balance

1.6. Investments

Fixed asset investments

Listed investments are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at market value. Movements in market value are recognised in the statement of financial activities as realised gains or losses.

Unlisted investments are included in the financial statements at market value, with movements in market value recognised in the SOFA as realised gains or losses.

Current asset investments

Current asset investments represents cash or cash equivalents with a maturity of less than one year held for investment purposes, and are initially measured at their transaction price and subsequently measured at fair value.

1.7. Stocks and Work in Progress

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.

Cost is based on the cost of purchase on a first in first out basis. Net realisable value is based on estimated selling price less additional costs to completion and disposal.

1.8. Financial Instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where it is recognised at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

Where investments in non-convertible preference shares and non-puttable ordinary shares or preference shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, the investment is subsequently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in the statement of financial activities. All other such investments are subsequently measured at cost less impairment.

Other financial instruments, including derivatives, are initially recognised at fair value, unless payment for an asset is deferred beyond normal business terms or financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate, in which case the asset is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Other financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in the statement of financial activities, with the exception of hedging instruments in a designated hedging relationship.

Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised in the statement of financial activities.

For all equity instruments regardless of significance, and other financial assets that are individually significant, these are assessed individually for impairment. Other financial assets are either assessed individually or grouped on the basis of similar credit risk characteristics.

1.9. Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

1.10. Provisions and accruals

Provisions are recognised when there is a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events and the amount can be reliably estimated. Provisions are not recognised for future operating losses.

Page 16

The Order of The Cross Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

2. Income from Donations and Legacies

. Income from Donations and Legacies
Donations and gifts: Donations Offertory Legacies . Investment Income Interest receivable UK Listed investments income Unlisted investments income Other interest receivable Interest receivable UK Listed investments income Unlisted investments income Other interest receivable . Analysis of Expenditure Raising funds Charitable activities Other resources expended	Activities undertaken directly £ 35,352 5,072 15,008	Unrestricted funds £ 161,591 160,087 2,232 25	2025 Unrestricted funds £ 1,294 470 303,813	2024 Unrestricted funds £ 14,140 3,629 2,578,997
			305,577	2,596,766
			Restricted funds £ - 1,372 - -	2025 Total funds £ 161,591 161,459 2,232 25
		323,935	1,372	325,307
		Unrestricted funds £ 141,393 152,723 2,477 -	Restricted funds £ - 1,342 - -	2024 Total funds £ 141,393 154,065 2,477 -
		296,593	1,342	297,935
		Grant funding of activities (see note 5) £ - 98,383 -	Support costs (see note 6) £ - 290,420 100,924	2025 Total £ 35,352 393,875 115,932
	55,432	98,383	391,344	545,159

3. Investment Income

4. Analysis of Expenditure

Page 17

The Order of The Cross Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

Activities undertaken directly £ 6,301 14,839 13,727	Grant funding of activities (see note 5) £ - 21,716 -	Support costs (see note 6) £ - 233,202 116,241	2024 Total £ 6,301 269,757 129,968
34,867	21,716	349,443	406,026
	Charitable activities £ 290,420 - -	2025 Grants to Institutions £ 98,383	2024 Grants to Institutions £ 21,716
		2025 £ 77,488 3,716 1,600 15,579	2024 £ 657 6,059 15,000 -
		98,383	21,716
		Other resources expended £ 70,745 542 29,637	2025 Total £ 361,165 542 29,637
	290,420	100,924	391,344

Page 18

The Order of The Cross Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

General administration Depreciation Governance costs	Charitable activities £ 233,202 - -	Other resources expended £ 94,164 881 21,196	2024 Total £ 327,366 881 21,196
	233,202	116,241	349,443

Governance costs includes Auditors Remuneration of £6,600 (2024 - £5,400)

7. Average Number of Employees

Average number of employees during the year was: NIL (2024: NIL)

Tangible Assets

Plant & Machinery £ 5,805 -	Computer Equipment £ 899 1,078	Total £ 6,704 1,078
5,805	1,977	7,782
3,734 311	783 231	4,517 542
4,045	1,014	5,059
1,760	963	2,723
2,071	116	2,187
Listed £ 7,589,378 5,518,151 (3,766,744) (50,265) 221,349 84,402	Unlisted £ 46,914 - - 3,276 - -	Total £ 7,636,292 5,518,151 (3,766,744) (46,989) 221,349 84,402
9,596,271	50,190	9,646,461
		...CONTINUED

9. Investments

Page 19

The Order of The Cross Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

-	-	-
-	-	-
9,596,271	50,190	9,646,461
7,589,378	46,914	7,636,292

Page 20

The Order of The Cross Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

14. Movement in Funds

4. Movement in Funds
Unrestricted funds General: General unrestricted fund Restricted funds Restricted fund Total funds Unrestricted funds General: General unrestricted fund Restricted funds Restricted fund Total funds	As at 1 July 2024 £ 14,792,745 58,429	Income £ 641,686 1,372	Expenditure £ (310,094) (392)	Transfers £ 41 (41)	As at 30 June 2025 £ 15,124,378 59,368
	14,851,174	643,058	(310,486)	-	15,183,746
	As at 1 July 2023 £ 11,594,949 53,706	Income £ 2,902,337 1,342	Expenditure £ 295,219 3,621	Transfers £ 240 (240)	As at 30 June 2024 £ 14,792,745 58,429
	11,648,655	2,903,679	298,840	-	14,851,174

The restricted funds represent a bequest for Winifred Cottrell held for restrictive purposes. At 30 June 2025, restricted funds were £59,368.

15. Transactions with Trustees

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 June 2025 nor for the year ended 30 June 2024.

Trustees' expenses

During the year ended 30 June 2025, 8 trustees were reimbursed expenses totalling £25,182 for travel and trustee meeting expenses, computer costs, post and stationery and training.

During the year ended 30 June 2024, trustees were reimbursed travel and other expenses totalling £39,419.

Travel Other Expenses	2025 £ 24,747 435	2024 £ 35,535 3,884
	25,182	39,419

16. Related Party Disclosures

There were related party transactions in the year ended 30 June 2025 for trustees' expenses reimbursed, as detailed in note 15.

There were related party transactions for grants paid to the Order of the Cross USA of £77,488 (2024: £657), Order of the Cross Australia of £3,716 (2024: £6,059), and Order of the Cross New Zealand of £15,579 (2024: £nil).

There were no other related party transactions in the year.

Page 21

The Order of The Cross Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM: Donations and legacies Donations Offertory Legacies Charitable Activities: Activities for generating funds Publication and literature Accommodation Investments UK Listed investments income Unlisted investments income Interest receivable Other interest receivable EXPENDITURE ON: Raising funds Publications and literature Charitable Activities: Charitable activities Worship facilities Grants to institutions Gatherings Travel subsidies Newsletter, website and announcements Other resources expended Storage expenses Printing, postage and stationery Travel costs Telecommunications and data costs Legal fees Professional fees Subscriptions Bank charges Sundry expenses Foreign tax deducted	2025 Total funds £ 1,294 470 303,813	2024 Total funds £ 14,140 3,629 2,578,997 2,596,766 89 8,889 8,978 154,065 2,477 141,393 - 297,935 2,903,679 (6,301) (6,301) (14,839) (21,716) (151,405) (61,351) (20,446) (269,757) (13,727) (4,310) (46,184) (617) (535) (41,696) - (367) (455) - ...CONTINUED
	305,577 107 12,067
	12,174 161,459 2,232 161,591 25
	325,307
	643,058 (35,352)
	(35,352) (5,072) (98,383) (146,961) (101,617) (41,842)
	(393,875) (15,008) (3,403) (23,233) (246) - (41,696) (461) (870) (109) (727)

Page 22

The Order of The Cross Detailed Statement of Financial Activities (continued) For The Year Ended 30 June 2025

Depreciation of plant and machinery Depreciation of computer equipment Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets Trustees' meetings Audit fees Accountancy fees NET INCOME BEFORE INVESTMENT GAINS Net gains on investments Realised surplus on fixed asset investments NET INCOME	(311) (231) - (17,497) (6,600) (5,540)	(365) (38) (478) (12,273) (5,400) (3,523)
	(115,932)	(129,968)
	(545,159)	(406,026)
	97,899 234,673	2,497,653 704,866
	234,673	704,866
	332,572	3,202,519

Page 23