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2024-12-31-accounts

Charity Registration No 272899

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

CONTENTS

Page

Legal and administrative information 1 Trustees' report 2 - 4 Statement of trustees' responsibilities 5 Independent examiner’s report 6 Statement of financial activities 7 Balance sheet 8 Notes to the accounts 9 -15 Schedule of expenses 16

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

President

Cardinal Vincent Nichols

Vice President

Father Slawomir Witoń

Trustees as at 31 December 2024

Andrew Hollingsworth(Chairman) Simon Johnson (Vice-Chairman) Elizabeth Gibson (Treasurer) John Green Benedict Jennings Monica Mbanefo Sandra McNally Cliona Howell Peter Sheppard

Co-ordinator Charity number Principal address

Independent Examiner

Joseph Allen

272899

42 Francis Street London SW1P 1QW 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 2024

The trustees present their report together with the accounts of the Society for the year ended 31 December 2024 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.

Review of activities

2024 saw the Friends run eleven events in addition to the AGM. The year started quietly with an early Easter and Lent starting on 14 February. Our events resumed on 25 April with a quiz night and fish and chip supper hosted by Fr Mike Maguire.

As spring took hold we ventured out in May with two walking tours lead by Joanna Bogle. The first on 3 May was from St Paul’s Cathedral to St Mary Moorfields taking in many interesting historic churches within the city. On 31 May we ventured further afield visiting the Rosary Shrine on Haverstock Hill and walking on to Hamstead Heath.

June saw a return to Westminster Cathedral Hall with a quiz night and fish and chip supper hosted by Andrew Sanders. The following week we gathered for the AGM. Our events in Cathedral Hall finished for the summer on 26 June with a wine and beer tasting evening organised by Monastic Order. We enjoyed a selection of wines and beers produced in monastic houses across Western Europe with a light supper. This new event for the Friends attracted a large crowd many of whom were new to the Friends. The raffle was interesting with Monastic Order bringing in a number of unusual prizes which caused a spirit of competition and a record number of raffle tickets sold. Our pre summer holiday events concluded the following day with a visit and tour of Corpus Christi Maiden Lane courtesy of Fr Alan Robinson.

Our autumn season commenced on 17 October with Joanna Bogle leading a Catholic History Walk from Richmond upon Thames to Ham. On 21 October we were grateful to be welcomed to The Immaculate Conception Church, Farm Street by Fr Dominic Robinson SJ for a private tour of the church and their 175 anniversary exhibition.

During lockdown the Friends remained active through frequent online events. We reverted to that format for the first time since 2021 on 6 November with an online talk Music-making from the world to the cloister (and back again). The following day we returned to Westminster Cathedral Hall for our last quix with fish and chip supper of the year. Our events year finished on 16 November for a fascinating tour of St James’s Spanish Place led by Monsignor Philip Whitmore

2

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Fundraising

Our major fundraising activity of the year was through the Big Give. We have for many years raised money through the Christmas Big Give Challenge. For 2024 we were asked to raise £125,000, to fund the restoration of the parquet flooring in Westminster Cathedral. This seemed too high a target for the Christmas Big Give Challenge. We engaged with Big Give to make an initial appeal at Easter 2024 and completed the appeal through the Christmas Big Give Challenge 2024.

Trustees

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

Richard Collyer-Hamlin (resigned12 June 2024) Elizabeth Furness (resigned12 June 2024) Elizabeth Gibson Andrew Hollingsworth

Cliona Howell (appointed 12 June 2024) John Green Benedict Jennings Simon Johnson Sandra McNally Monica Nkechi Mbanefo Peter Sheppard (appointed 12 June 2024)

Review of the financial position

During the year the Society generated income of £202,192 (2023-£119,297) and have incurred expenses of £19,660 (2023 - £18,512), thus generating £182,532 (2023 - £100,785) from operations in the year to support the work of Westminster Cathedral. Grants falling due in the - year amounted to £99,579 (2023 £370,000) resulting in a net increase in funds of £82,593 (2023-£ 269,215 decrease). The accumulated fund has decreased by £666 (2023 -£665 increase) to stand at £53,606 (2023 - £54,272). The Society is successful in raising funds for specific projects within the Cathedral; raising funds to meet its own running costs has proved more difficult. The position has been balanced by reducing expenditure in particular replacing the full time director with a part time coordinator. Although the trustees consider the present position to be satisfactory, they continue to look at fundraising and measures to increase the membership of the Society to increase the unrestricted income.

Reserves

In order to continue to meet the running costs of the Society the trustees have set a policy of maintaining the accumulated fund at more than 12 months of administrative expenditure. At 31 December 2024 the accumulated fund of £53,606 represented 32 months of administrative expenditure.

3

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

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.

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 employee 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 2024, 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 Joseph Allen whose unstinting work makes so much of what we do possible.

On behalf of the trustees

Trustee Andrew Hollingsworth Dated July 2025

4

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.

5

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 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 15.

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: July 2025

6

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

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 for the year
Net movement in funds
Fund balances
at 1 January 2024
Fund balances
at 31 December 2024
Unrestricted funds
Restricted
Total
2024
Total
2023
Accumulated
Designated
funds
£
£
£
£
£
1,519
-
161,573
163,092
82,682
2,448
-
1,272
3,720
3,540
3,967
162,845
166,812
86,222
15,027
-
20,353
35,380
33,075
18,994
-
183,198
202,192
119,297
35
-
-
35
35
35
-
-
35
35
18,959
-
183,198
202,157
119,262
13,819
-
-
13,819
12,959
-
-
99,579
99,579
370,000
13,819
-
99,579
113,398
382,959
5,806
-
-
5,806
5,518
19,660
-
99,579
119,239
388,512
(666)
-
83,619
82,953
(269,215)
54,272
17,078
229,056
300,406
569,621
£53,606
£17,078
£312,675
£383,359
£300,406

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

7

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

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
2024
£
£
962
102,915
286,461
390,338
(6,979)
£383,359
312,675
53,606
17,078
70,684
£383,359
2024
£
£
962
102,915
286,461
390,338
(6,979)
£383,359
312,675
53,606
17,078
70,684
£383,359
2023
£ £
962
60,061
245,624
306,647
(6,241)
£300,406
229,056
54,272
17,078
71.350
£300,406
53,606
17,078
312,675


70,684
£383,359

The accounts were approved by the Trustees on July 2025

Trustee

Trustee

8

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1 Accounting policies

The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention.

Stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

2 Donations received

onations received
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £
Donations and gifts 1,519 119.334 120.853 82,682
Legacies receivable - 42,239 42,239 -
1,519 161.573 163,092 82,682

9

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

3
4
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Total
2024
£
Total
2023
£
Subscriptions
10,806
-
10,806
11,756
Net income from events
3,221
-
3,221
3,498
Income tax recoverable
1,000
20,353
21,353
17,821
15,027
20.353
35,380
33,075
Total resources expended
Staff
Other
Grant
Total
Total
costs
costs
funding
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
£
Cost of generating funds
Cost of generating donations and legacies
-
35
-
35
35
-
35
-
35
35
Charitable activities
Operating costs
Support costs
11,822
1,977
-
13,819
12,959
Grants to the Cathedral
Grant funding of activities
-
99,579
99,579
370,000
382,959
Governance costs
Support costs
3,940
1,866
-
5,806
5,518
15,762
3,863
99,579
119,204
388,477
Total 2023
14,850
3,627
370,000
388,477
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Total
2024
£
Total
2023
£
Subscriptions
10,806
-
10,806
11,756
Net income from events
3,221
-
3,221
3,498
Income tax recoverable
1,000
20,353
21,353
17,821
15,027
20.353
35,380
33,075
Total resources expended
Staff
Other
Grant
Total
Total
costs
costs
funding
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
£
Cost of generating funds
Cost of generating donations and legacies
-
35
-
35
35
-
35
-
35
35
Charitable activities
Operating costs
Support costs
11,822
1,977
-
13,819
12,959
Grants to the Cathedral
Grant funding of activities
-
99,579
99,579
370,000
382,959
Governance costs
Support costs
3,940
1,866
-
5,806
5,518
15,762
3,863
99,579
119,204
388,477
Total 2023
14,850
3,627
370,000
388,477
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Total
2024
£
Total
2023
£
Subscriptions
10,806
-
10,806
11,756
Net income from events
3,221
-
3,221
3,498
Income tax recoverable
1,000
20,353
21,353
17,821
15,027
20.353
35,380
33,075
Total resources expended
Staff
Other
Grant
Total
Total
costs
costs
funding
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
£
Cost of generating funds
Cost of generating donations and legacies
-
35
-
35
35
-
35
-
35
35
Charitable activities
Operating costs
Support costs
11,822
1,977
-
13,819
12,959
Grants to the Cathedral
Grant funding of activities
-
99,579
99,579
370,000
382,959
Governance costs
Support costs
3,940
1,866
-
5,806
5,518
15,762
3,863
99,579
119,204
388,477
Total 2023
14,850
3,627
370,000
388,477
Staff
Other
Grant
costs
costs
funding
£
£
£
-
35
-
-
35
-
35
35
11,822
1,977
-
-
99,579
13,819
12,959
99,579
370,000
382,959
3,940
1,866
-
5,806
5,518
15,762
3,863
99,579
119,204
388,477
14,850
3,627
370,000
388,477

Management and administration costs includes payments to the accountants of £1,200 (2023 - £1,200) for independent examination.

10

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

5 Grants approved and paid or due

Total Total
2024 2023
Grants to institutions Westminster Cathedral £ £
Mosaic St Augustine 17,753 -
Cathedral Floor Refurbishment 26,406 -
Lighting Cathedral Sanctuary - 300,000
Refurbishment Cathedral Hall Kitchen 55,420 70,000
99,579 370,000

6 Support costs

Charitable
Total
Activities
Governance
2024
£
£
£
Other operating costs
1,997
666
2,663
Independent examination
-
1,200
1,200
Staff costs
11,822
3940
15,762
13,819
5,806
19,625
Total
2023
£
2,427
1,200
14,850
18,477

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:
Co-ordinator
Employment costs
Wages and salaries
2024
Number
2023
Number
1
1
1
1
2023
£
2023
£
15,762
14,850

11

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
9 Stock
2024 2023
£ £
Commemorative Silver Eagles 531 531
Broach on sale in Cathedral Bookshop 185 185
Prize for future raffle 25 25
Wine glasses 194 194
Drinks for use at future events 26 26
961 961
10 Debtors
2024 2023
£ £
Income tax recoverable 61,617 40,264
Other debtors 41,298 19,797
102,915 60,061
11 Creditors
2023 2023
£ £
Life Subscriptions creditor 100 200
Accruals and deferred income 6,879 6,041
6,979 6,241
----- End of picture text -----

12

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

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:

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Movement in funds| |Balance at|Donations|Transfers|Interest|Balance at| |1 January|received &|(Utilised)/|In /|Allocation|31 December| |2024|fundraising|Realised|(Out)|2024| |£|£|£|£|£| |Mosaics Fund| |General appeal fund|33,264|-|(657)|29,317|333|62,257| |St Patrick’s Chapel|56,444|-|-|-|564|57,008| |St George’s Chapel|29,317|-|-|(29,317)|-| |119,025|-|-|-|897|119,265| |Cathedral Hall Refurbishment|55,420|-|(55,420)|-|-|-| |Winter Night Shelter|1,021|-|-|-|10|1,031| |Cathedral Fabric Appeal|1,619|-|-|-|16|1,635| |Cathedral Communications|23,612|-|-|-|236|23,848| |Cathedral Floor Refurbishment|139,687|(26,406)|113,281| |Barry Lock Legacy Fund|-|42,239|-|42,239| |Memorial funds| |Canon Christopher Tuckwell|17,096|-|(17,096)|-|-| |Altar Frontals|11,263|-|-|-|113|11,376| |229,056|181,926|(99,579)|-|1,272|312,675|

----- End of picture text -----

13

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

13 Unrestricted funds

4
Analysis of net ass
Accumulated fund
Designated funds
Cathedral Lighting
Movement in funds
Balance at
1 January
2024
Increase in funds
during the year
Transfers
Balance at
31 December
2024
£
£
£
£
54,272
(666)
-
53,606
17,078
-
-
17,078
71,350
(666)
-
70,684
ets between funds

14 Analysis of net assets between funds

Fund balances at 31 December 2024 are
represented by
Current assets
Creditors amounts falling due within one
year
Unrestricted
Funds
£
77,663
(6,979)
70,684
Restricted
Funds
£
312,675
-
312,675
Total
£
390,338
(6,979)
383,359

15 Related Party Transactions

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.

14

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONCLUDUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

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 income for the year
Net movement in funds
Transfer
Fund balances at 1 January 2023
Fund balances at 31 December 2023
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Accumulated
Designated
2024
2023
2024
2023
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
1,519
2,657
-
-
161,573
80,025
2,448
266
-
-
1,272
3,274
3,967
2,923
-
-
162,845
83,299
15,027
16,254
-
-
20,353
16,821
18,944
19,177
-
-
183,198
100,120
35
35
-
-
-
-
35
35
-
-
-
-
18,909
19,142
-
-
183,198
100,120
13,819
12,959
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(132,922)
99,579
237,078
13,819
12,959
-
(132,922)
99,579
237,078
5,806
5,518
-
-
-
-
19,660
18,512
-
(132,922)
99,579
237,078
(666)
665
-
-
83,619
(136,958)
-
-
-
-
-
-
54,272
53,607
17,078
150,000
229,056
366,014
£53,606
£54,272
£17,078
£17,078
£312,675
£229,056

15

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

SCHEDULE OF EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Cost of generating funds
General fundraising
Support and governance costs
Salaries
Postage
Printing & Stationary
Telephone
Independent examination and accountancy
Insurance
Bank charges
31 December
2024
£
35
£35
15,762
320
1,195
448
1,200
487
213
19,625
31 December
2023
£
35
£35
14,850
752
571
446
1,200
438
220
18,477

16