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2021-12-31-accounts

Charity Registration No 272899

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

CONTENTS

Page
Legal and administrative information 1
Trustees' report 2 - 5
Statement of trustees' responsibilities 6
Independent examiner’s report 7
Statement of financial activities 8
Balance sheet 9
Notes to the accounts 10 - 16
Schedule of expenses 17

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees Father Slawomir Witoń (Chairman) as at 31 December 2021 Andrew Sanders (Vice-Chairman) Andrew Hollingsworth (Treasurer) Richard Collyer-Hamlin Elizabeth Furness Elizabeth Gibson Zoe Goodway Patrick Gormley Simon Johnson Director Christina White (till December 2021) Charity number 272899 Principal address 42 Francis Street London SW1P 1QW Independent Examiner Gibson Appleby 1-3 Ship Street Shoreham - by–sea West Sussex BN43 5DH

1

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

The trustees present their report together with the accounts of the Society for the year ended 31 December 2021 which have been prepared in accordance with the Society's governing document, Statute and Statements of Recommended Practice.

Objects of the charity

Constitution: The Society's governing document is contained in the Objects and Rules, which were most recently updated in September 2021. The Society is registered under the Charities Act 1993, number 272899.

Objects of the Society: The principal object of the Society is to support the activities of Westminster Cathedral. Funds are raised to further this objective from membership subscriptions, donations, legacies and by means of a number of events approved and monitored by members of the Council, all of whom give their services on a voluntary basis.

Trustees: The Trustees, who are members of the Council, are listed below. The Society in Annual General Meeting (AGM) elects, from its members, Officers to hold the positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman and Honorary Treasurer, except if the administrator of the Cathedral is elected as Chairman he then has the right to appoint the vice chairman rather than that office being elected. The other members of the Council are also elected at the AGM. One third of the number of the Council, excluding the Officers and co-opted members, retire from office at each AGM. The members to retire are those who have been longest in office.

Membership

During 2021 23 (2020 - 66) new members joined, and sadly the deaths of 15 (2020 -20) members were reported, 8 (2020-9) members resigned their membership. A further 10 (2020- 21) members are no longer in touch with the Society. At the end of the year, there were 1,423 (2020 - 1,435) members.

We are grateful to Gillian Burke who has worked hard to maintain our database.

Review of activities

The Friends Society usually offers a full programme of events. The events programme has been severly curtailed since March 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. Apart from brief periods when physical events were possible, most events from April 2020 through to the end of 2021 have been online.

2021 began with Dr Rory O’Donnell giving an talk on Catholic Churches in England from 1685-1829. This was followed by an online talk by Joanna Bogle on the Marian Shrines of England.

Alison Weir started a busy season of March online talks and events with her 5[th] annual talk on the wives of Henry VIII with a talk on Katherine Howard. Later in March Dr Rory O’Donnell gave a talk on our Catholic architectural heritage in the first 100 years of Catholic emancipation from 1829 to 1929. The Assistant Master of Music Peter Stevens gave an online concert featuring music for Lent and Holy Week. To complete this online season Paul Pickering joined us in Holy Week for an art history talk.

After Easter activities continued online. The British Museum was hosting an exhibition of the Treasurers of Sutton Hoo. We were very fortunate to secure the archaeologist Martin Carver to give an online talk on the finds at Sutton Hoo. Fr Andrew Gallagher was quiz master for an online in April. In May Professor Sarah Foot of Christ Church College Oxford delivered an online talk on the missionary saints of the Early English Church drawing on depictions of these saints within the Cathedral. Felicity Surridge gave a well-illustrated talk on Mary Gardens based on both the beautiful Mary Garden in new Malden Parish and the English tradition of Mary Gardens. Our online summer finished with a talk by Dr Nick Holder on London’s medieval monasteries.

2

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

June saw a return to a physical gathering as Cardinal Vincent offered a Year’s Mind Mass for the repose of the soul of Canon Christopher Tuckwell. Fr Alexander Masters delivered a very moving homily. We had hoped to gather socially after Mass but ongoing COVID restrictions prevented this.

In September we welcomed local Government lawyer Bryan Boese to give online talks on the history of Green Park and Victoria. Fr Ambrose Henley OSB to gave an online talk Who Do you say I am – Praying with Scripture. We resumed our coach trips with a visit to Kingscote Vineyard for a tour and wine tasting, Standen House and Sackville College (Almshouses).

In October, we held an evening music recital in the Cathedral Hall with soprano Claire Ormshaw accompanied by Carl Penlington-Williams on the piano. Our second coach trip was to Salisbury Cathedral. Fr John Scott celebrated Mass in the Cathedral. Later in the afternoon, we visited the Catholic church of St Osmund. Paul Pickering lead an art history tour at the National Gallery ‘A Walk Through Landscape.’

November saw a return to Cathedral Hall for our ever popular Quiz accompanied by a Fish and Chip supper. Paul Pickering delivered an art history talk online. Dr Rory O’Donnell delivered an online talk on Buckfast Abbey, its archaeology to 1539 and resurrection from 1882.

In the years up to 2019, a high light of the year would normally be the Christmas Fair. The preparations for this event in the Hall would be going on in the background for many months. With the uncertainty of COVID, we ran a stall as part of the SVP book sale on 28 November, rather than holding our own event, which proved popular. Again, we held a Christmas raffle not only on the day but promoted through the autumn newsletter.

The Friends’ increased online presence meant that there was a much wider and more immediate contact with over 1000+ people via the Facebook page and Instagram. This benefited the Christmas online giving campaign Big Give, and the target was exceeded by £720. Full illustrated reports on our events are available in the Friends’ newsletters available from the Friends Office.

Tribute to Christina White

Sadly, the end of 2021 marked the end of Christina White’s time as director of the Friends. She has moved on to take up a new job in Oxford. Christina completed 15 years of service with the Friends having joined in 2007. It is difficult to list Christina’s many positive skills and qualities, which have contributed so much to the life of the Friends over the last 15 years. Her eye to detail and sheer hard work have made the Friends events possible and her ideas and imagination have inspired many of the events. Her individual contact and support with friends has contributed much to the Friends being friendly.

Many major fundraising campaigns were completed during Christina’s tenure and whilst chairmen and other members of the Council led some of these campaigns, Christina made the campaigns possible by carrying through the detailed work. Christina was the main force behind other fundraising campaigns. The Friends will miss Christina and find it hard to replace her.

3

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Trustees

The trustees, who are members of the Council, are listed below: -

Richard Collyer-Hamlin (appointed 15 Simon Johnson September 2021) Geraldine Kay (resigned 15 September 2021) Elizabeth Furness (appointed 15 September Linda McHugh (resigned 15 September 2021) 2021) Sandra McNally (appointed 27 September Elizabeth Gibson 2022) Zoe Goodway (resigned 27 September 2022) Monica Nkechi Mbanefo (appointed 27 Patrick Gormley (resigned 27 September 2022) September 2022) Andrew Hollingsworth Andrew Sanders (resigned 27 September 2022) Benedict Jennings (appointed 27 September Father Slawomir Witoń 2022)

Review of the financial position

Effect of COVID Pandemic on Operations in 2021

A major part of the Friends operations is the holding of various events all of which have been curtailed since early March 2020. Christina White has kept in touch with Friends by various means including telephone, email and Royal Mail. Most particularly the regular use of Facebook and Instagram has increased the membership of the Friends and kept us in touch on a daily basis with many members.

Our events income for both 2020 and 2021 is a small fraction of the amount generated in earlier years. The trustees are confident that the measures in place including the work of the new development sub-committee will secure the future of the Friends and redevelop it into a major fundraising force for the future of Westminster Cathedral.

Public benefit statement

The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17 of The Charities Act 2011 to have regard to public benefit guidance published by The Charity Commission. The Council has referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and has planned The Friends’ activities to avoid the granting of any private benefit other than a private benefit which is purely incidental to carrying out The Friend’s objectives. The Council believes it has followed the Charity Commission’s guidance in this area.

Westminster Cathedral is a very popular building attracting large numbers of visitors every day. Although its primary purpose is as the Cathedral for Westminster Diocese and as a busy city centre parish, many people from further afield and from other Christian denominations, other faith communities and of no faith use the Cathedral. It is an oasis of prayer, calm and spirituality in our busy city as well as an attraction due to the art and architecture of the building and the quality of its music. In supporting Westminster Cathedral the Friends help to provide a valued facility to the wider public.

4

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONCLUDED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Key management personnel

The trustees consider themselves as trustees and the director to comprise the key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating The Friends on a day to day basis. All trustees give of their time freely and no trustee received remuneration or reimbursement of expenses in the year.

The pay of the director is reviewed annually and normally increased in accordance with the cost of living increases awarded to employees of the Archdiocese of Westminster.

Risk factors

The trustees have considered the major risks to which the Charity is exposed. These include a reduction in income, a drop in membership and the loss of records. The concerns are being addressed by fundraising, the programme of events, the campaign to recruit new members and procedures to back up computerised records. There is a particular risk of breach of data protection laws particularly with the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). The trustees consider they have adequately assessed this risk and taken the necessary steps to protect data and obtain consent to use data where the use is not justified by legitimate commercial interest.

Going Concern

The trustees have considered the future of the operation of the Friends. By the very nature of the operations most of the income of the Friends is raised from fresh initiatives each year. However, the trustees believe that all definite funding commitments are covered by designated and restricted funds held at 31 December 2021, On that basis the trustees have concluded that the Society of Friends of Westminster Cathedral is a going concern.

A final thank you

I should like to conclude with my personal thanks to all those volunteers who make the work of the Society a success, to those members of the Council who now retire by rotation and to all Council members for the contribution they have made to the work of the Society and to Christina White whose unstinting work makes so much of what we do possible.

On behalf of the trustees

Trustee Father Slawomir Witoń Dated 28 October 2022

5

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

STATEMENT OF TRUSTES' RESPONSIBILITIES

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

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 society and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the society for that year.

In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and which 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.

6

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Society of Friends of Westminster Cathedral (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2021, which are set out on pages 8 to 16.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Charity 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 Trustee’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

(1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

(2) the accounts do not accord with those records; or

(3) the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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

______ Sarah Johnson FCCA ACA

Gibson Appleby Chartered Accountants 1-3 Ship Street Shoreham by Sea West Sussex BN43 5DH

Date: 31 October 2022

7

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Notes
Incoming resources from generated funds
Donations received
2
Interest receivable
Incoming resources from
charitable activity
3
Total incoming resources
Resources expended
Cost of generating funds
Cost of generating donations and legacies
Net incoming resources available
Charitable activities
Operating costs
Grants to Westminster Cathedral
Total charitable expenditure
Governance costs
Total resources expended
4
Net income / (expenditure) for the year
Net movement in funds
Transfers
Fund balances
at 1 January 2021
Fund balances
at 31 December 2021
Unrestricted funds
Restricted
Total
2021
Total
2020
Accumulated
Designated
funds
£
£
£
£
£
181,365
-
59,179
240,544
75,318
4
-
20
24
288
181,369
-
59,199
240,568
75,606
24,631
-
5,000
29,631
40,476
206,000
-
64,199
270,199
116,082
547
-
-
547
5,372
547
-
-
547
5,372
205,453
-
64,199
269,652
110,710
22,908
-
26,680
49,588
38,322
11,529
-
5,927
17,456
83,546
34,437
32,607
67,044
121,868
8,943
-
-
8,943
14,574
43,927
-
32,607
76,534
141,814
162,073
-
31,592
193,665
(25,732)
(150,000)
150,000
-
-
-
26,461
-
292,543
319,004
344,736
£38,534
£150,000
£324,135
£512,669
£319,004

An analysis of the above individual fund columns with prior year comparatives is provided in note 16

8

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2021

Notes
Current assets
Stock
9
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors : amounts falling due
within one year
11
Net current assets
Total net assets
Representing:-
Restricted funds
12
Unrestricted funds
13
Accumulated fund
Designated fund
£
962
218,858
297,141
2021
£
£
1,087
74,019
249,488
2020
£
516,961
(4,292)
324,594
(5,590)
38,534
150,000
26,461
-
£512,669 £ 319,004
324,135
188,534
292,543
26,461
£512,669 £319,004

The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 28 October 2022

Father Slawomir Witoń Trustee

Andrew Hollingsworth Trustee

9

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

1 Accounting policies

The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention.

2 Donations received

Donations and gifts
Legacies receivable
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total
2021
Total
2020
£
£
£
£
11,365
59,179
70,544
74,318
170,000
-
170,000
1,000



181,365
59,179
240,544
75,318

10

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

3 Incoming resources from charitable activities Incoming resources from charitable activities Incoming resources from charitable activities
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Subscriptions 15,355 - 15,355 17,233
Net income from events 7,276 - 7,276 7,442
Income tax recoverable 2,000 5,000 7,000 15,801
24,631 5,000 29,631 40,476

4 Total resources expended


Cost of generating funds
Cost of generating donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Operating costs
Support costs
Grants to the Cathedral
Grant funding of activities
Governance costs
Support costs
Total 2020
Staff
Other
Grant
Total
Total
costs
costs funding
2021
2020
£
£
£
£
£
-
547
-
547
5,372
-
547
-
547
5,372
40,310
9,278
-
49,588
38,322
-
-
17,456
17,456
83,546
40,310
9,278
17,456
67,044
121,868
4,544
4,399
-
8,943
14,574
44,854
14,224
17,456
76,534
141,814
41,589
16,679
83,546
141,814

Management and administration costs includes payments to the accountants of £1,200 (2020 - £1,800) for independent examination.

11

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

5 Grants approved and paid or due

Grants to institutions
Tower improvements
Total
Total
2021
2020
£
£
17,456
83,546
17,456
83,546

6 Support costs

Charitable
Total
Activities
Governance
2021
£
£
£
Other operating costs
9,278
3,199
12,477
Independent examination
-
1,200
1,200
Staff costs
40,310
4,544
44,854
49,588
8,943
58,531
Total
2020
£
9,507
1,800
41,589
52,896

7 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or expenses during the year.

8 Employees

Number of employees
The average monthly number of employees
during the year was:
Director
Employment costs
Wages and salaries
2021
Number
1
1
2021
£
44,854
2020
Number
1
1
2020
£
41,589

12

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

9
Stock
Commemorative Silver Eagles
Broach on sale in Cathedral Bookshop
Prize for future raffle
Wine glasses
Drinks for use at future events
10
Debtors
Income tax recoverable
Legacies receivable
Other debtors
11
Creditors
Life Subscriptions creditor
Accruals and deferred income
2021
£
531
185
25
194
26
961
2021
£
48,618
169,000
1,240
218,858
2021
£
1,000
3,292
4,292
2020
£
531
185
25
220
126
1,087
2020
£
42,312
-
31,707
74,019
2020
£
1,536
4,053
5,589

13

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

12 Restricted funds

The income funds of the charity include the following restricted fund, representing donations given for a specific purpose which have not been spent by the end of the year:

Movement in funds Movement in funds Movement in funds
Balance at Donations Transfers
Interest
Balance at
1 January received & (Utilised)/ In / Allocation
31 December
2021 fundraising Realised (Out) 2021
£ £ £ £ £
Mosaics Fund
General appeal fund 33,020 - - -
2

33,022
St Patrick’s Chapel 40,345 15,854 -
-

3

56,202
St George’s Chapel 57,326 - -
-

4

57,330
130,691 15,854 -
-

9

146,554
Cathedral Hall Refurbishment
88,103
35,286 -
-

6

123,395
Winter Night Shelter 1,006 - - -
1

1,007
Tower Refurbishment 5,927 - (5,927)
-

-

-
Cathedral Fabric Appeal 1,604 - -
-

1

1,605
Cathedral Communications 50,106 - (26,680)
-

3

23,429
Memorial funds
Canon Christopher Tuckwell
15,106
1,862 -
-

-

16,968
Altar Frontals - 11,177 -
-

11,177
292,543 59,179 (32,607)
-

20

324,135

The Mosaics general appeal fund is for Mosaic work within the Cathedral. There have been two aspects to the appeal in memory of Canon Tuckwell being to raise funds to improve Cathedral Communications and to create a mosaic in his memory. The memorial funds for Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue and Monsignor Mark Langham are to fund new altar frontals and lectern drops in green and in white respectively in their memories.

The utilisation of the Cathedral Communications grant during the year represents the cost of the Director’s time spent working on the Cathedral Communications project during the year. No grant was paid to the Cathedral in respect of Cathedral Communications.

14

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

13 Unrestricted funds

Accumulated fund
Designated funds
Cathedral Lighting
Movement in funds
Balance at
1 January
2021
Increase in funds
during the year
Transfers
Balance at
31 December
2021
£
£
£
£
26,461
162,073
(150,000)
38,534
-
-
150,000
150,000
26,461
162,073
-
188,534

14 Analysis of net assets between funds

Fund balances at 31 December 2021 are
represented by
Current assets
Creditors amounts falling due within one
year
15
Related Party Transactions
Unrestricted
Funds
£
192,825
(4,292)
188,533
Restricted
Funds
£
324,136
-
324,136
Total
£
516,961
(4,292)
512,699

The members of the Council, who are trustees of the charity, are related parties. The members of the council have all attended Friends events during the year. They have purchased tickets on the same basis as other members of the Friends.

15

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONCLUDUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

16 Statement of Financial Activities Prior Year Comparatives by individual type of fund

Incoming resources from generated funds
Donations received
Interest receivable
Incoming resources from charitable activity
Total incoming resources
Resources expended
Cost of generating funds
Cost of generating donations and legacies
Net incoming resources available
Charitable activities
Operating costs
Grants to Westminster Cathedral
Total charitable expenditure
Governance costs
Total resources expended
Net (expenditure) / income for the year
Net movement in funds
Transfer
Fund balances at 1 January 2021
Fund balances at 31 December 2021
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Accumulated
Designated
2021
2020
2021
2020
2021
2020
£
£
£
£
£
£
181,365
2,081
-
-
59,179
73,327
4
29
-
-
20
259
181,369
2,110
-
-
59,199
73,496
24,631
33,055
-
-
5,000
7,421
206,000
35,165
-
-
64,199
80,917
547
5,372
-
-
-
-
547
5,372
-
-
-
-
205,453
29,793
-
-
64,199
80,917
22,908
38,322
-
-
26,680
-
11,529
61
51,104
5,927
32,381
34,437
38,383
-
51,104
32,607
32,381
8,943
14,574
-
-
-
-
43,927
58,329
-
51,104
32,607
32,381
162,073
(23,164)
-
(51,104)
31,592
48,536
(150,000)
-
150,000
-
-
-
26,461
49,625
51,104
292,543
244,007
£38,534
£26,461
£150,000
£ -
£324,135
£292,543

16

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

SCHEDULE OF EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Cost of generating funds
General fundraising
Photography & mosaics book
Support and governance costs
Salaries
Postage
Printing & Stationary
Telephone
Independent examination and accountancy
Insurance
Bank charges
31 December
2021
£

547
-
£547


44,854
4,406
5,783
481
1,200
566
1,241
58,531
31 December
2020
£
477
4,895
£5,372
41,589
1,879
5,705
534
1,800
410
979
£52,896

17