2024-12-31-accounts - The Hymn Society Of Great Britain And Ireland

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REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 248225

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 FOR

THE HYMN SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

BK Plus Limited 6 Manor Park Business Centre Mackenzie Way Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL51 9TX

THE HYMN SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

CONTENTS OF THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

	Page
Independent Examiner's Report	1
Annual Report	2
Receipts and Payments	3
Statement of Assets and liabilities	4

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS OF THE HYMN SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 set out on pages two and three.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is required.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of the independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view ' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statements below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act

have not been met; or

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Cinzia Hensley FCA BK Plus Limited 6 Manor Park Business Centre Mackenzie Way Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL51 9TX

Date

THE HYMN SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

First, some dull but vital statistics. Our membership stands at 382: 276 in the UK and Ireland, 61 in Canada and the USA, 35 in continental Europe and 10 across Australia, Ghana, Japan, Nigeria, South Africa, South Korea and Taiwan. This is a reduction of 4.5% over the year. We have 43 subscribing libraries, national deposit libraries and other institutions receiving our publications. These figures include 14 new members and also take account of 11 deaths among our membership. The latter include various friends who have been active in the Society, but particular mention must be made of Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith who died in August 2024 at the age of 97. Timothy had long been a member of, and a great ambassador for, the Society – I am one of many members whose first contact was through him – and for over 20 years he was one of our Honorary VicePresidents.

We remain thankful for those who serve the Society in numerous ways. Our Executive Committee met in Birmingham in February, and at Highgate House, Northamptonshire in July, ahead of the annual Conference. We plan to try an online meeting in October, but with a contingency date next February for a meeting in person. The Officers met online in March and June, with a further session scheduled for September.

Among our Officers we appreciate the work done by Michael Garland, our long-serving Treasurer; Anne Harrison, our Executive Vice-President; and Janet Wootton who has settled well into her new role as Bulletin editor, ably supported by the Editorial Committee: Michael Garland, Anne Harrison and Phil Price. We continue the process of secretarial transition from Robert Canham to his successors. Part of that is the appointment of Jonathan Buchan as our Archivist; we are working on how best to transfer the core of a physical archive from Robert in Cumbria to Jonathan in Glasgow. In the meantime, we are grateful for extra work by Executive members.

We are grateful that Phil Price has taken on the role of Website and Social Media Co-Ordinator; Ken Cope continues to manage our website, but Phil now provides a valuable focal point for contact with Ken. Thanks are also due to Kay Griffiths, whose pastoral contacts on our behalf are greatly appreciated, and to all who help in other ways: proof-reading, music setting and so on.

Our main event continues to be our annual Conference, whose highlight is obviously our AGM. But there are other high spots: the Festival of Hymns, this year at St Matthew’s Church, Northampton, with commentary by Michael Garland and accompaniment by Thomas Moore; lectures by Rosalind Brown, Victoria Johnson, Iain McLarty, Mark Porter, Phil Price, Ian Sharp, Martin Tel and Gillian Warson with Immanuel’s Ground Quire; not forgetting sectionals, Short Metre presentations and online demonstrations. The planning group of Michael Garland, Anne Harrison, Gillian Warson, Janet Wootton and myself are grateful for positive feedback, both verbal and written, from participants for this first Conference we have planned; a slightly reconstituted group will shortly look at lessons to be learned and press on with plans for 2026.

Other events in our own name have been rarer. On our behalf John Crothers led the Hymn Festival at the Charles Wood Summer School in Armagh last August. We have been interested in and supportive of the fortieth anniversary celebrations of the Pratt Green Trust in 2024; its hymn competition numbered several of our members among the judges and others among the entrants. Collaborations continue with our sister Societies, IAH in continental Europe (for whom Phil Price is now our representative) and in North America, HSUSC (with whom Gillian Warson keeps in close touch). We are also exploring new ways to partner with the Wild Goose Resource Group, represented at Conference by Iain McLarty.

As for the future, I feel we are in good heart despite the continual challenges of adapting to changing church landscapes, finding volunteers, reducing costs, and embracing new technology. Our particular focus going forward is our 90th anniversary year, 2026, with at least half an eye on our centenary ten years later. Janet Wootton is currently coordinating our planning for these areas and I’m sure will welcome your ideas and offers of help.

Martin Leckebusch (Executive President) July 2025

THE HYMN SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

31.12.24 31.12.23 Unrestricted fund Restricted fund Total funds Total funds £ £ £ £ RECEIPTS Subscriptions Members 7,400 - 7,520 6,839 Libraries 780 - 780 1,155 Grants 7,300 - 7,300 1,800 Donations - - - 6,158 Occasional papers and books 10 - 10 20 Dividends and interest 1,480 - 1,480 1,361 Gift aid 831 - 831 842 Royalties 43 - 43 - Copyright payments 120 - 120 Regional Day Receipts 370 - 370 Armagh Hymn Festival 120 - - 72 Conference income (Collections; Book sales) - 17,116 17,116 17,533 Total receipts 18,454 17,116 35,570 35,780 PAYMENTS Bulletins 8,518 - 8,518 7,989 Booklet 340 347 687 718 Committee meetings 1,380 - 1,380 1,199 Administration costs 1,239 - 1,239 1,105 Stationery 310 114 424 187 Website 2,160 - 2,160 1,541 Photocopier hire 578 36 614 579 CCLI (Copyright licence) 240 - 240 405 Accountancy 300 - 300 300 Dictionary of Hymnology Fee 199 - 199 169 Regional events 452 - 452 - Amagh Festival 200 - 200 - Piano hire - - - 750 Insurance 347 - 347 290 BG University - - - 20,091 Coach hire - 270 270 - High Leigh Conference Centre - 13,914 13,914 - Gifts - - - 50 Lincoln Cathedral tour - - - 286 Book tokens - 120 120 120 Donation to BGU chapel fund - 160 160 100 Occasional paper 1,423 - 1,423 - Copyright fee - 84 84 - Total payments 17,686 15,045 32,731 35,879 NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) 768 2,071 2,839 (99) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Cash funds last year end Transfer to/(from) 14,483 - 4,911 - 19,394 - 19,493 - CASH FUNDS THIS YEAR END 15,251 6,982 22,233 19,394	31.12.24 31.12.23 Unrestricted fund Restricted fund Total funds Total funds £ £ £ £ RECEIPTS Subscriptions Members 7,400 - 7,520 6,839 Libraries 780 - 780 1,155 Grants 7,300 - 7,300 1,800 Donations - - - 6,158 Occasional papers and books 10 - 10 20 Dividends and interest 1,480 - 1,480 1,361 Gift aid 831 - 831 842 Royalties 43 - 43 - Copyright payments 120 - 120 Regional Day Receipts 370 - 370 Armagh Hymn Festival 120 - - 72 Conference income (Collections; Book sales) - 17,116 17,116 17,533 Total receipts 18,454 17,116 35,570 35,780 PAYMENTS Bulletins 8,518 - 8,518 7,989 Booklet 340 347 687 718 Committee meetings 1,380 - 1,380 1,199 Administration costs 1,239 - 1,239 1,105 Stationery 310 114 424 187 Website 2,160 - 2,160 1,541 Photocopier hire 578 36 614 579 CCLI (Copyright licence) 240 - 240 405 Accountancy 300 - 300 300 Dictionary of Hymnology Fee 199 - 199 169 Regional events 452 - 452 - Amagh Festival 200 - 200 - Piano hire - - - 750 Insurance 347 - 347 290 BG University - - - 20,091 Coach hire - 270 270 - High Leigh Conference Centre - 13,914 13,914 - Gifts - - - 50 Lincoln Cathedral tour - - - 286 Book tokens - 120 120 120 Donation to BGU chapel fund - 160 160 100 Occasional paper 1,423 - 1,423 - Copyright fee - 84 84 - Total payments 17,686 15,045 32,731 35,879 NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) 768 2,071 2,839 (99) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Cash funds last year end Transfer to/(from) 14,483 - 4,911 - 19,394 - 19,493 - CASH FUNDS THIS YEAR END 15,251 6,982 22,233 19,394	31.12.24 31.12.23 Unrestricted fund Restricted fund Total funds Total funds £ £ £ £ RECEIPTS Subscriptions Members 7,400 - 7,520 6,839 Libraries 780 - 780 1,155 Grants 7,300 - 7,300 1,800 Donations - - - 6,158 Occasional papers and books 10 - 10 20 Dividends and interest 1,480 - 1,480 1,361 Gift aid 831 - 831 842 Royalties 43 - 43 - Copyright payments 120 - 120 Regional Day Receipts 370 - 370 Armagh Hymn Festival 120 - - 72 Conference income (Collections; Book sales) - 17,116 17,116 17,533 Total receipts 18,454 17,116 35,570 35,780 PAYMENTS Bulletins 8,518 - 8,518 7,989 Booklet 340 347 687 718 Committee meetings 1,380 - 1,380 1,199 Administration costs 1,239 - 1,239 1,105 Stationery 310 114 424 187 Website 2,160 - 2,160 1,541 Photocopier hire 578 36 614 579 CCLI (Copyright licence) 240 - 240 405 Accountancy 300 - 300 300 Dictionary of Hymnology Fee 199 - 199 169 Regional events 452 - 452 - Amagh Festival 200 - 200 - Piano hire - - - 750 Insurance 347 - 347 290 BG University - - - 20,091 Coach hire - 270 270 - High Leigh Conference Centre - 13,914 13,914 - Gifts - - - 50 Lincoln Cathedral tour - - - 286 Book tokens - 120 120 120 Donation to BGU chapel fund - 160 160 100 Occasional paper 1,423 - 1,423 - Copyright fee - 84 84 - Total payments 17,686 15,045 32,731 35,879 NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) 768 2,071 2,839 (99) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Cash funds last year end Transfer to/(from) 14,483 - 4,911 - 19,394 - 19,493 - CASH FUNDS THIS YEAR END 15,251 6,982 22,233 19,394
		(99) 19,493 - 19,394

THE HYMN SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

			31.12.24	31.12.23
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total funds	Total funds
	fund	fund
	£	£	£	£
CASH FUNDS
Bank accounts	11,152	4,255	15,407	12,535
OTHER MONETARY ASSETS
Debtors	-	-	-	550
Payments in advance	1,800	2,727	4,527	4,505
INVESTMENT ASSETS
1309 units in M&G Charifund
Cost £2,599	2,599	-	2,599	2,599
Market Value 31 December 2021 £20,371
Market Value 31 December 2022 £19,236
LIABILITIES
2025 Subscriptions received in advance	-	-	-	495
Accrued expenses	300	-	300	300
TOTAL ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES	15,251	6,982	22,233	19,394
FUNDS
Unrestricted funds			15,251	14,483
Restricted funds – Conference fund			6,982	4,911
TOTAL FUNDS			22,233	19,394

The accounts were approved by the Trustees on ………………………….. and were signed on its behalf by:

M Garland -Trustee