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2025-03-31-accounts

THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH Trustees’ Annual Report 1st April 2024 - 31[st] March 2025

Charity registration number: 257501

Principal Office:

Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood St James’s Palace London SW1A 1BH

Objective

The main purpose of the charity is to meet the costs of Ceremonies connected with the Most Honourable Order of The Bath.

Achievements and Performance

Throughout the year, memorial and other Christian services are held in Westminster Abbey to which a large number of the public are invited to attend.

Significant services during the year:

Every four years the Order holds a Ceremonial Service in Westminster Abbey. To coincide with the Order’s 300[th] Anniversary, it was agreed to bring the Ceremonial Service forward by one year and it took place, along with a reception, on Friday, 16[th] May 2025. His Majesty The King, HRH The Prince of Wales, the Officers, members of the Order and their guests, were in attendance. The next Ceremonial Service is scheduled for 2030.

The Order provided funds to support the Westminster Abbey Heating Project in the Chapel of the Order, which is open to members of the Order and Abbey visitors. The project was completed in 2025.

The Trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on Public Benefit.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Trust is a registered charity, number 257501. Trustees are selected by all the listed trustees and are subject to approval by His Majesty The King. Certain trustees are appointed ex officio , for example the Secretary of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood is the Deputy Secretary and the Dean of Westminster Abbey is the Dean of the Order. The others are notable holders of the Order of the Bath.

The charity is constituted by its governing document, a declaration of trust, dated 31[st] July 1914. Clause 2 of the declaration of trust: “The trust fund shall be held for the purpose of meeting the cost of Ceremonies connected with the said Most Honourable Order of the Bath and shall be administered by a Committee consisting of the persons who from time to time shall be the officers of the Order viz: the

Dean, the King of Arms, the Registrar and Secretary, the Genealogist and the Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod.”.

Trustees

Dean The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle KCVO MBE
King of Arms Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton GCB ADC
Registrar and Secretary Major General James Gordon CB CBE
Deputy Secretary Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave
Lady Usher of the Scarlet Rod Major General Susan Ridge CB
Genealogist David White Esq

Risk Management:

Periodically, a review of the major risks that may affect the stability and successful operation of the

Financial Review

The major source of funding for the Order is from donations made by the Order's members, the tax rebates from these donations, and dividends from the Order's investments.

The total receipts for 2024-2025 is £46,859, while the total operating expenses is £264,197, resulting to a surplus of expenditure over income of £217,338. A total grant of £258,609 was released to Westminster Abbey for the Heating Project, which comprises 98% of the Order's total outflow for the period.

The cash held at Coutts totals £80,537. The Trustees regularly assess the amount of reserves that are required to be able to support the Order’s services and charitable contributions.

The market value of the investments in BlackRock as at 31[st] March 2025 is £1,055,147. The Trustees review the performance of the Investment Manager on a regular basis.

General funds are unrestricted funds that are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity.

Independent Examiner

G J Lowe Ltd, Pennyweights, 168 Welcomes Road, Kenley, Surrey CR8 5HB

Banker

Coutts & Co. Villiers Office, 440 Strand, London WC2R OQS

Investment Manager

BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, 12 Throgmorton Avenue, London, EC2N 2D

Declarations

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above during the Officers’ meeting on the 29[th] of September 2025.

Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees:

_____ Major General Jamie Gordon CB CBE Registrar and Secretary

_____ Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave Deputy Secretary

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THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS OF
THE CHAPEL MAINTENANCE FUND FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2025
2024 RECEIPTS 2025 PAYMENTS 2025 2024
£5,757.80 SUBSCRIPTIONS & DONATIONS £5,677.80 AT HOME £3,984.25 £3,500.29
WESTMINSTER ABBEY HEATING PROJECT £258,609.01 £0.00
DIVIDENDS & INTEREST
Coutts Money Market Interest £3,903.64 INSURANCE £867.54 £979.92
Coutts 90 Day Notice Account Int £967.10
BLK Charities UK Bond Fund £6,262.02 POSTAGE & CARRIAGE £298.17 £299.64
£38,866.55 BLK Charities UK Equity Fund/CGI £29,140.12 £40,272.88
ACCOUNTANCY FEE £492.00 £480.00
INCOME TAX REBATE
NET STALL FURNISHINGS -£342.28 -£2,958.44
2024-2025 £908.28
983.08 2023-2024 ORDER OF BATH - BOOK UPDATE £287.95 £438.83
£45,607.43 £46,858.96 £264,196.64 £2,740.24
SURPLUS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE £42,867.19
SURPLUS OF EXPENDITURE OVER INCOME -£217,337.68
£45,607.43 £46,858.96 £46,858.96 £45,607.43
BALANCE SHEET AT 31st MARCH 2025
ASSETS
LIABILITIES
SHARES - MARKET VALUE @ 31/03/25
FUNDS BLK Charities UK Bond Fund £ 168,619.53
£1,858,040.29 Funds as at 31/03/24 £1,913,914.64 BLK Charities UK Equity Fund/CGI £ 886,527.55
£13,007.16 Change in Value of Assets -£36,930.64 £1,055,147.08 £1,056,675.58
£42,867.19 Income surplus
Expenditure surplus -£217,337.68 PROPERTY
Mantles £ 10.00
Property at Westminster £ 481,620.00 £481,630.00 £481,630.00
FUNDS AT BANK (COUTTS)
Bank Current Account £ 60.00
Chapel Money Market Account £ 52,798.05
Chapel 90 Day Notice Account £ 27,679.39 £80,537.44 £364,487.78
BOOK STOCK
The Order of the Bath Book £10,138.20 £10,138.20
GIFT AID £908.28 £983.08
300 ANNIVERSARY RECEPTION AND SERVICE
Reception tickets -£12,944.00
Service and Reception deposit £44,229.32
£1,913,914.64 £1,659,646.32 £1,659,646.32 £1,913,914.64
The above accounts have been examined and Recommended for Approval
in my opinion are true and fair
----- End of picture text -----

Accountant, G J Lowe FCCA Approved

King of Arms, Bath Chapel Committee

Secretary, Bath Chapel Committee

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Officers of The Order of The Bath

We report on the accounts of the Order for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on the attached sheet.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Order’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Gary Lowe FCCA

G J Lowe Limited Chartered Certified Accountants

Pennyweights Welcomes Road Kenley Surrey CR8 5HB

29 July 2025