2025-12-31-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 2025 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 2025

	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 2025 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: 27 August 2026

THE HYMN SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

We are celebrating our 90th anniversary, as you will have noticed; we are grateful for the occasion, and will hear more shortly on how we are marking it. This particular anniversary focuses the mind on what has gone before but also on what lies ahead; not least, the larger milestone ten years hence; and we are open to learn lessons and develop ideas for the next decade.

Our membership stands at 417, up by 15 (an increase of 9%): 270 in the UK and Ireland, 99 in Canada and the USA, 34 in continental Europe and 14 elsewhere; and our publications go to 42 subscribing libraries, national deposit libraries and other institutions. Our new members are mostly from the very successful Regional Day in London, in April; thanks to Phil Price for coordinating that. Those results illustrate how good events are a worthwhile investment in our public profile.

A tangible collaboration with another organisation will be our regional day in Carlisle in October; again, more later, but for now thanks to Michael Garland, Anne Harrison, Iain McLarty and Gillian Warson for their planning work. Iain has brought us links with the Iona Community, for whom he works, and with the day’s other participants, from Ireland and northern England.

Joint memberships with HSUSC (in North America) and IAH (in continental Europe) remain on our agenda as we examine how best to tailor those to a world of electronic communication and expensive postage; we want to find optimal ways to strengthen those relationships.

All three societies are likely to be involved in the international conference in Graz, Austria, in 2028; then comes our turn to host the international gathering (which we last did in 2015, in Cambridge). Our centenary may prove an opportune time for that.

Other valued friends include the RSCM: besides Hugh Morris’s participation in this year’s Conference, and a joint event scheduled for November in Belfast, our constitution provides for the RSCM to nominate a member to our Executive Committee. That post has been vacant of late but we hope to fill it during this meeting. The Charles Wood Summer School in Armagh also has a significant anniversary this year: the centenary of the death of Charles Wood himself. Michael Garland led their 2025 Hymn Festival on our behalf; next month, Gillian Warson will do so for 2026.

Our own main event is, as ever, the Conference; this year’s planning group has comprised Michael Garland; Anne Harrison; David Lee; Janet Wootton; for part of the process, Gillian Warson; and myself. It’s a hardworking group; and volunteers for future years are welcome!

We thank the members of our Executive, especially Graham Deans and John Webber, both standing down after two 3-year terms. The Executive met online in October; in Birmingham in February; and again at the start of Conference. Officers’ meetings have been entirely online, in September, January, April and May; I am grateful for the team comprising Anne Harrison, Executive Vice-President; Michael Garland, Treasurer; Janet Wootton, Bulletin Editor; and also William Glasse, who has attended our meetings and brought plenty of fresh insight and energy which we hope (under a later agenda item) to harness more formally. William has already taken ownership of our policy documents: revising, standardising and formalising them.

We appreciate the work done in many other roles. The Editor’s supporting “bulletin board” comprises Michael Garland, Anne Harrison and Phil Price. Kay Griffiths provides valuable pastoral care. Phil Price oversees our social media use, and coordinates with Ken Cope, our website manager; Phil is also our liaison for IAH. Robert Canham still houses abundant historic paperwork (for now) and does much of our printing, especially for Conference. Finally we applaud our 90th Anniversary planning group: Graham Adams, Anne Harrison, Phil Price, Gillian Warson and their chair, Janet Wootton. But there is always room for other contributions; whatever skills you can offer, please speak to any of the Officers. Just now we especially need a minute-taker for Executive and Officers’ meetings.

What might The Hymn Society look like in ten years? Or the world of hymnody, or the society in which we live? We cannot tell; but as a Society we intend to continue our distinctive contributions to these changing landscapes.

Martin Leckebusch (Executive President) July 2026

THE HYMN SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

31.12.25 Unrestricted fund Restricted fund Total funds £ £ £ RECEIPTS Subscriptions Members 5,541 - 5,541 Libraries 470 - 470 Grants 2,304 - 2,304 Donations - - - Occasional papers and books 56 - 56 Dividends and interest 1,502 - 1,502 Gift aid 795 - 795 Royalties 18 - 18 Copyright payments - - - Regional Day Receipts - - - Armagh Hymn Festival 60 - 60 Conference income (Collections; Book sales) - 18,349 18,349 Total receipts 10,746 18,349 29.095 PAYMENTS Bulletins 8,547 - 8,547 Booklet - - - Committee meetings 1,014 - 1,014 Administration costs 1,543 - 1,543 Stationery 436 - 436 Website 2,318 - 2,318 Photocopier hire 578 - 578 Copyright fees - 216 216 Accountancy 318 - 318 Dictionary of Hymnology Fee 199 - 199 Regional events - - - Armagh Festival 102 - 102 90th Anniversary administration 432 - 432 Insurance 347 - 347 Bank charges 2 - 2 Coach hire - 920 920 Highgate House Conference Centre 1,800 16,403 18,203 Piano hire - 497 497 Donations - 200 200 Book tokens - - - Donation to BGU chapel fund - - - Occasional paper - - - Copyright fee - - - Organist - 120 120 Imannuel’s Ground Quire - 200 200 Cowper Newton Museum - 511 511 Total payments 17,636 19,067 36,703 NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) (6,890) (718) (7,608) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Cash funds last year end Transfer to/(from) 15,251 3,334 6,982 (3,334) 22,233 - CASH FUNDS THIS YEAR END 11,695 2,930 14,625	31.12.24 Total funds £ 7,400 780 7,300 - 10 1,480 831 43 120 370 120 17,116 35,570 8,518 687 1,380 1,239 424 2,160 614 240 300 199 452 200 - 347 - 270 13,914 - - 120 160 1,423 84 - - - 32,731 2,839 19,394 - 22,233	31.12.24 Total funds £ 7,400 780 7,300 - 10 1,480 831 43 120 370 120 17,116 35,570 8,518 687 1,380 1,239 424 2,160 614 240 300 199 452 200 - 347 - 270 13,914 - - 120 160 1,423 84 - - - 32,731 2,839 19,394 - 22,233
		2,839 19,394 - 22,233

THE HYMN SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

			31.12.25	31.12.24
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total funds	Total funds
	fund	fund
	£	£	£	£
CASH FUNDS
Bank accounts	9,861	41	9,902	15,407
OTHER MONETARY ASSETS
Debtors	-	-	-	-
Payments in advance	-	2,889	2,889	4,527
INVESTMENT ASSETS
1309 units in M&G Charifund
Cost £2,599	2,599	-	2,599	2,599
Market Value 31 December 2025 £22,614
Market Value 31 December 2024 £20,371
LIABILITIES
2025 Subscriptions received in advance	465	-	465	-
Accrued expenses	300	-	300	300
TOTAL ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES	11,695	2,930	14,625	22,233
FUNDS
Unrestricted funds			11,695	15,251
Restricted funds – Conference fund			2,930	6,982
TOTAL FUNDS			14,625	22,233

The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 23 July 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

M Garland -Trustee and Hon. Treasurer