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2023-12-31-accounts

Commissariat of the Holy Land

Annual Report and Accounts

31 December 2023

Charity Registration Number 263616

Contents

Reports

Reports
Reference and administrative details of
the charity, its Trustees and advisers 1
Trustees’ report 2
Independent auditor’s report 11
Accounts
Statement of financial activities 15
Balance sheet 16
Statement of cash flows 17
Principal accounting policies 18
Notes to the accounts 21

Commissariat of the Holy Land

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its Trustees and advisers

Trustees Brother Michael O’Kane ofm
Brother Michael Copps ofm
UK Commissary to the Holy Land Brother Michael O’Kane ofm
Principal address The Franciscan Friary
557 High Road
Woodford Green
Essex
IG8 0RB
Charity registration number 263616
Auditor Buzzacott LLP
130 Wood Street
London
EC2V 6DL
Solicitors SBP Law
Glade House
52 – 54 Carter Lane
London
EC4V 5EF
Principal bankers National Westminster Bank plc
PO Box 3244
300 Romford Road
London
E7 9SH

Commissariat of the Holy Land 1

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

The Trustees present their statutory report together with the accounts of Commissariat of the Holy Land for the year ended 31 December 2023.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 18 to 20 of the attached accounts 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 United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Introduction

The Custody of the Holy Land was, in the fourteenth century, entrusted by the Holy See to the Order of St Francis and remains to this day in the care of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor.

The Order of Friars Minor established a charitable trust known as the Commissariat of the Holy Land in 1971 to support the Custody in this work.

Constitution and organisation

The Commissariat of the Holy Land is governed by a trust deed dated 12 October 1971 and is registered under the Charities Act 2011, Charity Registration No. 263616.

Activities, objectives and specific policies

Principal aims and activities

The principal aims of the charity are:

The Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.

Grant making policy

The objects of the charitable trust include the preservation of the Christian Shrines in the Holy Land and the spread of the Gospel, the provision of education and the relief of poverty among the Christians living in the Holy Land. The Trustees have the responsibility to see that any payments to the Custody are used in support of one or more of those objects.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 2

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Review of the year: 2023

The Trustees have met formally on five occasions during 2023.

Donations and legacies for 2023 were £919,654 - compared to last year 2022 - £473,674.

This grand total was due not only from the generous Good Friday Collections of our Catholic Dioceses of England, Wales and Scotland; but also a Legacy that was left to us for the sum of £301,154.

On the 17[th] . November 2023 the Trustees transferred £800,030 to the Washington Commissariat in the USA according to the Protocol of the English Speaking Conference of Commissariats.

Projects for the year 2023. A light in the darkness. John1:5

The amounts granted to the Washington Commissariat in the USA for the Custody of the Holy Land have helped fund the following projects.

1: We continue to support the Parish Ministries of the Custody:

With the publishing of statistics by the Central Bureau of Statistics in Israel, there are 185,000 Christians in Israel. 75% are Arab Christians and the greatest concentrations are found in Nazareth, Haifa and in Jerusalem.

It has been a constant worry for the

Custody in its many Parishes throughout Holy Land as many families have emigrated because of the constant tensions of the past few years. However with the printed statistics there is a slight rise in the number of Christians. The Custody continues in its Parishes to give family support with school fees, medical expenses and basic household expenses.

During the last school year, it was recorded that 26,752 Christian children have received Primary and Secondary Education and the Custody’s Terra Sancta schools continue to be developed.

In Galilee, at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth in November, the General Secretariat for Youth Ministry organized a day full of spirituality, including songs, prayers and activities for the approximately 300 young people, who came from the cities of Galilee.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 3

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Review of the year: 2023 (continued)

Projects for the year 2023. A light in the darkness. John1:5 (continued)

2. Ecumenical Collaboration of Christian Churches working for peace and justice.

While tragic and unacceptable events of violence occurred in the Holy Land, leaders and representatives of Christian churches in Jerusalem prayed for peace and justice during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, held Jan. 21-29.

Pope Francis, in his Angelus on Sunday, Jan. 29 , also called on the international community to find immediate solutions based on dialogue.

After the Angelus the Pope continued:

Dear brothers and sisters, it is with great sorrow that I learn of the news arriving from the Holy Land, in particular of the death of 10 Palestinians, among whom is a woman, killed during Israeli military antiterrorist action in Palestine; and of what happened near Jerusalem on Friday evening when seven Israeli Jews were killed by a Palestinian and three

others were wounded as they were leaving the synagogue. The spiral of death that increases day after day does nothing other than close the few glimpses of trust that exist between the two peoples. From the beginning of the year, dozens of Palestinians have been killed during firefights with the Israeli army. I appeal to the two governments and to the international community so that, immediately and without delay, other paths might be found that include dialogue and a sincere search for peace. Let us pray for this, brothers and sisters!

With their contacts and presence in these areas of conflict, the Custody- working with other organisations – actively seek to care for the victims, their families and contribute in dialogue with the different communities.

3. Earthquake in Syria – Brothers from Jerusalem go to help the Community in Aleppo

Br JOHNNY JALLOUF, ofm Custody of the Holy Land "We heard with pain the news of the earthquake in Turkey and in our own country, that is, Syria, which has already been hit by 12 years of war, and then the earthquake came to add pain where the wound is still open." The twins George and Johnny are both Franciscans from the Custody of the Holy Land and together with

another brother left Feb. 15 to reach Aleppo. This is the first of several "teams" of Franciscans from the Custody who will take turns over the next few weeks to bring aid, both to the population and to their confreres, who tirelessly assist the displaced.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 4

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Review of the year: 2023 (continued)

Projects for the year 2023. A light in the darkness. John1:5 (continued)

Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia: the visit of Brother Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, to Syria lasted ten days. March 2023

"Thank God the weather is a little better this last period, but at the beginning of the earthquake it was early February, it was cold. In Latakia the damage was mainly to the bell tower, so also in Aleppo, as far as our structures are concerned. What I then saw by contrast, beyond the destruction, was the great work of hospitality that the friars of the Custody did, because at the time of

the emergency, so in the very first weeks, at the Terra Santa College in Aleppo they came to accommodate up to 6,000 people, settling them in the good way, a mattress, a blanket, what they could, a hot meal. A focus on everyone: the Christians and also the Muslims. And this I would say also resulted in help coming from other Christians and also from Muslims. Paradoxically, the biggest challenge is one that is not material: because the biggest challenge is to overcome fear."

4. We continue to support the Custody’s ministry to Pilgrims to the Holy land.

Fr CRISTIAN VACARU Chaplain of the Romanian Catholic Community in the Holy Land. It is a great joy to see that among so many pilgrims who come here to the Holy Land, so many of my compatriots also come. They come here to recharge the batteries of the soul, to the places where the Christian faith was born.

Br. DIMAS SOLDA Varzea Grande - Brazil - The experience of coming to the Holy Land is a lifechanging experience. I had the grace of living here for four years and now that I'm coming back with groups.

We see the Gospel, we experience it by passing through the places, we can share this Gospel with brothers and sisters who also come to have this

experience. Accompanying people to have this experience is really very rewarding, it is something that enriches my pastoral and missionary journey-it is a great joy! 2,500 pilgrims.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 5

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Review of the year: 2023 (continued)

Projects for the year 2023. A light in the darkness. John1:5 (continued)

5. We gave support to the Christian Information Centre which celebrated its Golden Jubilee this year [1973- 2023]

The Custody of the Holy Land has sponsored the Christian Information Centre (C.I.C.) since 1973. The aim of the C.I.C. is to provide information on Christianity and on the Holy Land - including the shrines and the holy places, the numerous churches in the region, the liturgies, the aspects of religious and cultural life and other activities.

The Christian Information Centre has a three-fold mission:

The Franciscan Pilgrims Office (FPO) coordinates Mass celebrations, Holy Hours and Prayer Services in the Shrines of the Custody of the Holy Land.

We conclude our report with the Christmas Message of the Custos of the Holy land – Bro. Francesco Patton ofm .

December 2023 - John 1:5- The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

In the midst of Darkness Bethlehem awaits the feast of peace and joy.

The tragedy of Israel and Gaza

Dears brothers and sisters, this year, the grotto of Bethlehem is empty, as are the streets and squares of the city. When Mary and Joseph came to be registered, there was not even a room for them. Voice of Hope – Gaza Children in Italy Today all the rooms in Bethlehem are available, waiting for the war to end, for the pilgrims to return, for the illuminations and the voices of children in celebration to brighten up the streets of the city again. During this time, many have asked if we have cancelled Christmas. We have not cancelled Christmas, because Christmas has already happened and – thank God – no one can cancel it.

Voice of Hope – Gaza Children in Italy

Commissariat of the Holy Land 6

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Review of the year: 2023 (continued)

Projects for the year 2023. A light in the darkness. John1:5 (continued)

Christmas consists in the fact that the Son of God entered our history once and for all, made himself one of us, was given to us, gave meaning to our lives, and in doing so, saved us. We may find ourselves in the midst of the worst and most difficult situations, in the midst of the darkness of history; we may find ourselves in the midst of the darkness of war and hatred; and yet even if the darkness does not receive the Light, the Light continues to shine and cannot be extinguished. The more we find ourselves immersed in this night, personal and collective, the more we need the Light to shine.

And we need the Light to spread everywhere from this grotto, to keep alive the hope of a new world, saved thanks to the birth of this Child: Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. During this Christmas choked by the darkness of hatred and war, let us kneel before the empty manger in which Mary laid the Child Jesus after giving birth to Him and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and let us make our own the prayer of Saint John Paul II:

“Dry the tears of children, O child Jesus! Caress the sick and the elderly! Urge men to lay down their arms and to embrace each other in a universal embrace of peace! Invite peoples, merciful Jesus, to tear down the walls created by misery and unemployment, by ignorance and indifference, by discrimination and intolerance. It is You, O Divine Child of Bethlehem, who save us, freeing us from sin. You are the true and only Saviour, whom humanity so often gropes for. God of peace, gift of peace for all humanity, come and live in the heart of every person and every family. Be Thou our peace and our joy! Amen!” Merry Christmas, from Bethlehem!

Bro. Michael O’Kane ofm. – Commissary of the Holy Land.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 7

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Financial review

Income and expenditure

A summary of the year’s results can be found on page 15 of this annual report and accounts.

Total income for 2023 was £925,114 (2022 - £474,396). Of this, £617,200 (2022 - £473,673) was received in the form of donations, the vast majority being annual Good Friday church collections.

During the year, expenditure totalled £813,373 (2022 - £411,647). £800,030 (2022 - £400,030) of this represents payments to the Commissariat of the USA for onward distribution to support work and projects of the Custody of the Holy Land, details of which are given above.

Financial position and reserves policy

The balance sheet shows total reserves of £310,298 (2022 – £198,557) which are represented largely by bank balances. It is the charity’s policy to hold reserves until such time as required for the work and projects of the Custody of the Holy Land. It is anticipated that such reserves would not exceed £500,000 in any year. The Trustees regard the reserves held at 31 December 2023 to be adequate but not excessive.

Governance and structure

According to the trust deed, the Trustees of the charity, of which there must be a minimum of two and a maximum of four, are appointed by the then Trustees taking into account the views of the Custos of the Holy Land and the Provincial of the Friars Minor in England. At 31 December 2023 the Trustees comprised the Commissary and Vice-Commissary, both members of the Order of Friars Minor. In practice, these appointments are reviewed at the triennial chapter of the Province. The functions of the Trustees are to see firstly that contributions from the dioceses are properly accounted for and secondly to ensure the contributions are remitted to the Holy Land and spent in accordance with the objectives of the charity.

The Trustees are kept up to date with financial and regulatory developments in the charity sector by the charity’s auditor and by attending training courses when necessary.

The names of the Trustees who served during the year are set out as part of the reference and administration details on page 1 of this annual report.

The charity is administered directly by the Trustees and the Commissary; there are no employees.

Trustees’ responsibilities statement

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ report and accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Commissariat of the Holy Land 8

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Governance and structure (continued)

Trustees’ responsibilities statement (continued)

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period.

In preparing these accounts, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the charity’s 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.

Key management personnel

The Trustees consider that they are the key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day to day basis.

The Trustees are not remunerated.

Risk management

The Trustees have assessed the risks to which the charity is exposed and consider that there are controls in place to mitigate those risks as far as is practicable, bearing in mind the difficult political situation in the Holy Land.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 9

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Governance and structure (continued)

Risk management (continued)

The Trustees undertake an annual review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces categorising the risks between those affecting the governance and management of the charity, operational risks, financial risks, reputational risks and those which occur because of circumstances outside of the charity's control such as changes in government policy, laws and regulations. They regularly review the measures already in place, or needing to be put in place, to establish policies, systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the annual review and ensure that action is taken to implement changes to those policies, systems and procedures should they be needed to minimise or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.

This work has identified one key risk for the charity which relates to the fact that the charity grants funds for ultimate use in the Holy Land, a part of the world where there continues to be considerable political unrest. To mitigate the associated risks, the charity passes most funds initially to the Commissariat of the Holy Land for the United States of America (USA) so that, prior to being forwarded on to the Holy Land, the funds may be administered in collaboration with those raised by the other English-speaking Commissariats and suitable projects may be identified. Whether or not the funds are sent to the USA or directly to the Holy Land, the Trustees always ensure that they are fully briefed about and familiar with the work of potential projects and recipients of funds, that funds are transferred via bank transfer, that proof of receipt is obtained and that a full written report of how the monies have been utilised and applied is obtained from the recipient.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees:

Trustee Bother Michael O’Kane ofm, Commissariat of the Holy land.

Approved by the Trustees on: Monday 21[st] . October 2024

Commissariat of the Holy Land 10

Independent auditor’s report 31 December 2023

Independent auditor’s report to the Trustees of Commissariat of the Holy Land

Opinion

We have audited the accounts of Commissariat of the Holy Land (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows, the principal accounting policies and the notes to the accounts. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the accounts:

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 accounts section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the accounts 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 accounts, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the accounts 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 twelve months from when the accounts 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.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 11

Independent auditor’s report 31 December 2023

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report and Accounts other than the accounts and our auditor’s report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the accounts does not cover the other information and 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 accounts 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 there is a material misstatement in the accounts or a material misstatement of the other information. 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

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 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on pages 8 and 9, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts 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 accounts that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the accounts, 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.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 12

Independent auditor’s report 31 December 2023

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts

We have been appointed as auditor under section 145 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 accounts 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 accounts.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance 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.

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:

Commissariat of the Holy Land 13

Independent auditor’s report 31 December 2023

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts (continued)

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

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance 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 non-compliance. 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 accounts is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at 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 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.

Buzzacott LLP Statutory Auditor 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL

Date: 23 October 2024

Buzzacott LLP is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

Commissariat of the Holy Land 14

Statement of financial activities Year to 31 December 2023

Notes
Total
funds
2023
£		 Total
funds
2022
£
Income:
Donations and legacies
1
Interest receivable
Total income
Expenditure:
Charitable activities
. Grants in support of the Custody of the Holy Land
2
. Support of the clergy
3
Total expenditure
Net income and net movement in funds for the year
Reconciliation of funds:
Balances brought forward at 1 January
Balances carried forward at 31 December
919,654
5,460		 473,673
723
925,114 474,396

800,030

13,343		 400,030
11,617
813,373 411,647
111,741
198,557		 62,749
135,808
310,298 198,557

All of the charity’s income and expenditure in both 2022 and 2023 relates to unrestricted funds.

All activities of the charity derived from continuing operations during the above two financial years.

All recognised gains and losses are included in the above statement of financial activities.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 15

Balance sheet 31 December 2023

Notes
2023
£		 2022
£
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors:amounts falling due within one year
7
Total net assets
The funds of the charity:
Unrestricted funds
. General fund		 320,498

(10,200)		 207,957
(9,400)
310,298 198,557
310,298 198,557

Approved by and signed on behalf of the Trustees by:

Trustee: Brother Michael O’Kane ofm

Approved by the Trustees on: Monday 21[st] . October 2024

Commissariat of the Holy Land 16

Statement of cash flows Year to 31 December 2023

Notes
2023
£		 2022
£
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities
A
Cash inflow from investing activities:
Interest received
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 2023
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2023
B

107,081


5,460

112,541
207,957		 62,726
723
63,449
144,508

320,498		 207,957

Notes to the statement of cash flows for the year to 31 December 2023.

A Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities

2023
£		 2022
£
Net income (as per the statement of financial activities)
Adjustments for:
Interest receivable
Increase in creditors
Net cashprovided by operating activities		 111,741
(5,460)
800		 62,749
(723)
700
107,081 62,726

B Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

B Analysis of cash and cash equivalents Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
C 2023
£		 2022
£
Total cash and cash equivalents:Cash at bank and in hand 320,498 207,958
Analysis of changes in net debt 2022
£		 Cash flows
£		 2023
£
Cash at bank and in hand 207,957
112,541
320,498

Commissariat of the Holy Land 17

Principal accounting policies 31 December 2023

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the accounts are laid out below.

Basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared for the year ended 31 December 2023 with comparative information given in respect to the year to 31 December 2022.

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

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the principles set out in 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 (Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The accounts are presented in sterling and are rounded to the nearest pound.

Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

In preparing these accounts, the Trustees have not been required to make significant judgements or estimates other than the estimation of future income and expenditure for the purpose of assessing going concern (see below).

Assessment of going concern

The Trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these accounts. The Trustees have made this assessment in respect to a period of at least one year from the date of approval of these accounts.

The charity faces challenges presented by the current geopolitical and macroeconomic climate, but the nature of the charity’s activities means that financially it will remain solvent and be able to support the Custody of the Holy Land in future years.

The Trustees of the charity have concluded that notwithstanding the challenges detailed above, there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The Trustees are of the opinion that the charity will have sufficient resources to meet its liabilities as they fall due.

Income

Income is recognised in the period in which the charity has entitlement to the income, the amount of income can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 18

Principal accounting policies 31 December 2023

Income (continued)

Church collections in support of the work of the Custody of the Holy Land are made throughout the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland. They are organised by the relevant dioceses, which may, at their discretion, pass the proceeds to the Commissariat for use in the Holy Land in accordance with its charitable objectives. They are, therefore, recognised on receipt from the dioceses unless earlier notification is received which confirms the amount which shall be donated.

In accordance with Charities SORP FRS 102 volunteer time is not recognised.

Legacies are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the legacy, the executors have established that there are sufficient surplus assets in the estate to pay the legacy, and any conditions attached to the legacy are within the control of the charity.

Entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, but the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. The costs of charitable activities comprise expenditure on the charity’s primary charitable purposes as described in the Trustees’ report and include:

Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity including audit costs and the necessary legal procedures for compliance with statutory requirements. Governance costs are included as part of support of the clergy within the statement of financial activities.

All expenditure is stated inclusive of unrecoverable VAT.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 19

Principal accounting policies 31 December 2023

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand represents such accounts and instruments that are available on demand or have a maturity of less than three months from the date of acquisition.

Creditors

Creditors are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Creditors are recognised at the amount the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt.

Funds structure

General funds represent monies which may be used towards meeting the charitable objectives of the charity at the discretion of the Trustees.

Commissariat of the Holy Land 20

Notes to the accounts 31 December 2023

1 Donations

2 Total
funds
2023
£		 Total
funds
2022
£
Donations
. Church collections
. General
. Legacies		 617,200
1,300
301,154		 471,646
2,028
—
919,654 473,674
Grants in support of the Custody of the Holy Land Total
funds
2023
£		 Total
funds
2022
£
Grants made directly to, and for support of, the Custody of the Holy Land:
. Commissariat of the Holy Land for the USA for support of the Custody of
the Holy Land		 800,030 400,030

3 Support of the clergy

Support of the clergy
Total
funds
2023
£		 Total
funds
2022
£
Books and subscriptions
Office costs
Bank charges
Governance costs
. Auditor’s remuneration, including VAT		 929
971
49
11,394		 863
760
114
9,880
13,343 11,617

4 Taxation

The Commissariat of the Holy Land is a registered charity and, therefore, is not liable to taxation on income and gains derived from its charitable activities, as it falls within the various exemptions available to registered charities.

5 Staff costs

There are no staff costs as the charity does not employ any staff (2022 – none).

Commissariat of the Holy Land 21

Notes to the accounts 31 December 2023

No trustee received reimbursement of expenses (2022 - £nil).

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2023
£		 2022
£
Accruals 10,200 9,400

8 Connected charities

The Commissariat of the Holy Land is connected to one other charity by virtue of the fact that the charities use the same principal address and the connected charity’s Trustees have the power to appoint the Trustees of the Commissariat.

The connected charity is:

The connected charity is:
Name Charity
Registration No		 Charitable objectives
The Order of Friars Minor 232177 The support of charitable purposes
connected with the Roman Catholic
religion
and
the
support
of
the
charitable work of the Order.

There were no financial transactions between the Commissariat of the Holy Land and The Order of Friars Minor during the year (2022 – none).

9 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions during the year (2022 – none).

10 Post balance sheet events

There have been no post balance sheet events since the year ended 31 December 2023. (2022: In the post year end period after 31 December 2022, the charity was notified of a legacy to which it had become entitled. This legacy was received during 2023 to a value in excess of £300,000.)

Commissariat of the Holy Land 22