Charity registration number SC051120 (Scotland) ST ANDREWS MAR THOMA CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 ST ANDREWS MAR THOMA CHURCH CONTENTS Page Trustees, report Independent examinerfs report Receipts and payments account Statement of balan￿S Notes to the financial statements 12-13 ST ANDREWS MAR THOMA CHURCH TRUSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 °No Eye has seen,No Ear has Heard,No Mind has Conceived what God has Prepared for those who Love Him":1 Corinthians 2.9 The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. St Andrew's Mar Thoma was incorporated as a Scottish charity (SCIO) on 13 July 2021. The Church ￿gan as a prayer group then became a parish. The income held by the parish was donated to the SCIO. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance viith the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's constitution the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland} Regulations 2006 (as amended) and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practi￿ applicable to Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102}" (effective 1 January 2019}. Objectives and activities The organisation's purposes are the advancement of religion, specifically the Christian faith. in accordance with the traditions of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar and consistent wth= The Christian Bible - Declaration and Rules of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar Provide its members with regular Christian worship services,in accordance with the traditions of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar To provide pastoral care and organize activities to promote the spiritual life of its members and wider community To make voluntary contributions for evangelistic and charitable work in the United Kingdom and abroad especially India The Charity may participate in collaborative programmes with other Churches with which it has communal relationships and also participate in all acceptable ecumenical relationships as a full member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland {CTBI} Achievements and performance On behalf of the executive committee. let me present the Annual report for the year 2024-25. Our Parish which started in 2001 as a small prayer group has crossed many milestones since, and we are hoping to continue this growth further in the years coming. We started 24 years ago as a small prayer group and God transformed this humble beginning to a blessed parish named St. Andrews Mar Thoma Church, Edinburgh. Our Prayer group was declared as a congregation in the year 2003 and then elevated to a parish on 1 March 2021, and we have now completed four years as a parish. We are the one and only Mar Thoma Parish in Scotland. We received our charity registration on 13 July 2021 and became Scottish Charitable Incorporative Organisation (SCIOI, making us the first Parish in the UK wth SCIO or CIO status. Last year our Parish registered wth HMRC (His Majesty's Revenue and Customs) enabling us to claim GiftAid which was another great achievement. ST ANDREWS MAR THOMA CHURCH TRUSTEES. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Our New chU￿h (StAndrews MarThoma Church. Sheldhill. Falkirk, FK12DT) It has always been our dream to have our church bulding, and through dedication and hard work, we have tumed that dream into realty. IAÈ started searching for a tlace of worship since 2021 and viewed a total of 10 church buildings and put offers for 6 church buildings altogether. On 8 January 2025. the Building Search Committee found the Blackbraes and Shieldhill Parish Church, cY*med by the Church of Scouand, which was available for sale. On 12 January 2025 a viewng was arranged and an executive committee held on same day decided to pui an offer to the church buifvjing within the range of £125.000 to £170,000 after getting approval from the Genera body. An emergency GB which was held on 19 January 2025 after gettj'ng approval from Diocesan Episcopa and GB deaded to put an offer the range of £125,000 to £200,000. During this time, we were able to get in touch %*ith the office bearers of Blackbraes and Shieklhill Parish Church. and we came to know that the congregation was eager to sell the church building to us. as they wished to preserve it as a church and a place of worship. Afler further consultations wth them, we submitted an offer of £95,000 for Blackbraes and Shieldhill Parish Church, located in Shieldhill, Fakirk, FK1 2DT. through Austin Laffety Solicitors. Our offer VRS accepted on 13 FebNary 2025, and we received the keys to the church on 28 March 2025. There were a total of 10 notes of interest induding ours for this church building but our offer was a¢¢epted because the Congregation of Blackbraes and Shieldhill wanted to ensure the building conts'nued to seNe as a place of worship. This marks a historic achievement for the Mar Thoma Church in Scolland. our very first church building in Scotland. A wonderful gift from God Ajmighty for us and for fijture generations. Executive committee meeting held on 22 March 2025 discussed the possibility of having our church consecration on 10 May 2025 { 025 after seeking the avalability of our Diocesan EFHscopa he overall res onsibili of the arrangement consecration was entrusted to ecrelary and Vice president Mr the in charge of p xpress our heante gralltude to our Vicar and President our Vice Presiden nd special thanks to our Trustees. - , for their dedication in managing the finances necessary for acquiring the church building. My sincere thanks to the Executive Committee members and all our parishioners for their unwavenng support and hard work in making our dream come true. Wrthout our support. we COLld not have achieved this mikstone. A special thank you to our arish member, or enerousty agreeing to buikl the new Hdy Madbaha for our church, and to r their great commitment and valuatle contributions. We also thank ayi ertake the painb'ng work. Special thanks or their help in sketching a model for our new Madbaha Once again, l extend my deepest thanks to everyone. v￿ are incredibly proud of the achievements GCYJ has graciousty granted us over the past years. These accomplishments are a direct resLAt of the dedicated and fetvent support of our parishioners. As we bok to the future. it is our humt4e wish and prayer to grow spiritually in and through Christ in the years to Come. Ourvlcar Our Vica took charge of the Parish family from 1 November 2022 and has now Gomp eted two year and six months of their wonderful ministry here. We are blessed to have as our new V￿ar. his spiritual leadership is a great mob"vation for us all. We also express our SIn￿re an s to our Vicar for the valuabbe service arKI guidance offered to the general administration of the parish and pastoral care to members. ￿￿ediCatiOn and enthusiasm is a p(r•verful source of inspiration for all our members to grow spiritually in Christ. Our Parlsh Admlnlstrallon and Church servlces The Parish fun di¢xesan Bishop ive guidance and support from our new ST ANDREWS MAR THOMA CHURCH TRUSTEES. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 By God's grace Now we have our own place of worship. The Reporting year we have been using St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Dalmahoy as our Pla￿ of worship on a rental basis. Rev. Christine Downey, who is the rector of this church, has been very helpful. We have been using St Mary's Episcopal Church, Dalmahoy as our place of worship since JLly 2019. We have had regular Hoty Communion service every 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sunday of the Month at 2.30pm at Sl. Marys Episcopal Church. Dalmahoy. The frfth Sunday seplice is conducted in ttE English order, and our Youth Fellowship members assisl the Vicar during the seprfice, which helps foster greater involvement of our youth in church activibes. At present, we have four prayer groups: Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. HLqy Communion is celebrated every second Saturday of the month in Aberdeen for our members residing in that locality. This year, 11 new members joined our parish. On behalf of SL Andrews Mar Thoma Church, Edinburgh. l èxiend a heartfeli welcome to these new members. On behalf of Executive committee I vA)uld like to expr￿ our heartfelt thanks t bearers of St.Marys Episcopal church Dalmahoy. nd office Current r Thanks to VR aso used St Machan parish church for six months from Juty 2024 till December 2024. Offi￿ bearers of Sl Machan Church for their h* and supporL Area Prayer Groups & Cottage prayer We have four area prayer groups namety Aberdeen, Edinburgh. Glasgow and lQrkcaldy led by prayer ¢c￿rdInatOrs. All prayer groups regularty hold cottage prayers once every morrth. I would like to record a word of appreciation to all prayer group ccbordinators for their initiative. Sunday School Slng to the Lord A new Song .Slng to the Lord all the earth. Slng To the Lord pralse HIS name: proclalm H18 safvation day after day Psalm 96.1-2 Sunday school plays a vital rde in budding faith and character fonnation of a child. It also aids their discovery of their relats"onship with God. A meeting was held on 25 February 2023 where in office bearers for the year 202425 was elected As Following Classes and Tlmings We have 56 students enrolled in Sunday School ts tre year 202425. We have 13 cknes. Common sessions of Sunday school are held every 2nd.4th Sunday from 13.30 to 14.30 at St Marys Episcopal Churth Dalmahoy Sunday school exams were conducted on 25 June 2023 at st Marys Episcopal Church, Dalmahoy. Sessions indude various activities such as singing, stories and Cr￿ Virtual da&ses are held every week fi)r each group as per the agreement and availability of teachers and students Sunday School Exam: Diocesan Sunday school exam was conducted on 23 June 2024 at 2.30pm at St.Marys Episcopal church Dalmahoy. Around 32 students appeared for the exam. Paper evaluvation was managed centrally at Diocesan level by an exam board chaired by Sanoi Achen. World Sunday School da .World Sunday school day was Ce￿brated on 10 November 2024. Sunday School children assist in world Sunday school day service. Semion was given by Sunday sthool student un ays¢ ool chibjren perfomied song during the service.Medals and certificates V￿re distributed to students for their achievements in the annual exam. ST ANDREWS MAR THOMA CHURCH TRUSTEES. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 VBS.'VBS 2024 themed. GO PRO'2 Timoth 2:15 Was conducted on 1740 October 2024 at St Marys Episcopal church Dalmahoy Other Activities."was Leaders trai Peak Dislrict.This was attended b ite Hall Education Centre,Buxton in Sevlka Sangam The St Andrews MTC Sevika Sangam was fwmed in the year 2021. All *vmen above the age of 18 are currently a part of the Sevika Sangam. Our Sevika Sangam attended the Sevika Sangam Annual conference held on 28 May 2024 at Cannel MarThoma Church Liverpool. St Andrews Sewka Sangam ￿lebrated Sewka Sangam day on members assisted our vicar during the Service. sern￿n was given by service a fete sale was conducted for fund raising. Sangam After the rews MTC Edinburgh, I would Ske to express my thanks to 11 off ce bearers for their Dedication and Hard wor Edavaka Mission The first Edavaka Mission meeting of St Andrews Mar Thoma Church was held on 7 March 2021 at 11.45 am on Zoom platfom. 66 members frcyn the parish joined the nevdy formed Edavaka Mission, St Andrews Edavaka Mission have registered with Mar Thoma Vc4untary Evangelist Association, Thiruvalla in the year 2020. Vle gratefully AcknovAedged the fact that the misgon members were able to lead intercessory prayer before parish mission Sunday service. Similarty. parish mission members were ab￿ to partiapate in an or￿Ine prayer meeting organised by UK. Europe and Africa dioceses and lead the wayer. Tlb•ttan Boardèr Mlsslon God gave the grace to collect funds fr¢)m the parish Edavaka mission members to the Tibettan Boarder Missi e ￿0 helped wth our Edavaka mission activitie& Thanks to our Edavaka Mission Secreta or all his contributions. Our Nthyly ekcted Edavaka Mission Secretary i. Youth Fellowship The St Andrews WC Youth Fellowship was fiymed in March 2021, and from there on, Y￿ set our aims to continuousty nurture our relationship wtth Jesus Christ and buikl a vibrant and impactful youth community. We teach our yOLrths to reflect Christ's love and expand His lQngdom for the next generats'on. During the year 2024-2025, the St Andrews MTC Youth Fellowship consisted of around 53 registered youths, along with a great number of intemational students. Throughout the year, youth fellowship conducted several YoLrth Fellowship meetings, in which we praised the Lord with both English and Malayalam devotional songs. and held discussions led b Youth fellowship members Visited Edinburgh Christmas Market on Saturday 28 December 2024 which was great experience for all youths. Thanks to our youth secretary and all office bearers of our youth fellowship for their dedication and hard work This ave ce rated Youth Sunday on 24 November 2024. Our newly elected Youth Secretary i for the year 202&2026. ST ANDREWS MAR THOMA CHURCH TRUSTEES. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Choir The Edinburgh St Andrews Mar Thoma Church Cl)oir was fomied on 19 October 2021 and has been registered with the DSMC. This year we have celebrated 9 June 2024 as Choir Sunday. The Choir has been heavity involved in leading the church in h mns during our monthly and occasionally fortnighty Hcty Communion SeNices. speaal thanks t our Choir Master in her excellent song seledions and to our fellow choir members for akvays leading our hymns. Also, thanks to M nd Thejus Palooran for the instrumental support making the choir even more divine and thanks to for operating the sound system during c￿r Holy Communion Servi￿$. Our churth choir chose to perfom several Christmas Carols during the lead-up to Chnstrnas and our Annual Chnstmas caro service On behalf of St Andrews MTC Edinburgh I would like to express my hearty thanks to Our Vicar choir lead•lWWW and the Choir office bearers of 2024r2025 for all their har ment to the choir. Our Newl oir Master for the year 202&2026 is wor an Comm St Andrew5 Fun ,Family day out On 1 June 2024 the parish organised a BBQ day out at Crai prayer groups actively partiapated. Thanks to convenors nicely c￿ordIna￿.ng the event. toun count ark St. Andrews. Members from all four Onam 2024 This year. we as a parish celebrated Onam on 14 Se our Parishioners. Thanks to the event c