Diocese of Westminster
Annual Report & Accounts 2019
Report of the Directors of the Corporate Trustee – Year to 31 December 2019
Introduction
The Directors of the Corporate Trustee (i.e. the Trustees) present their statutory report together with the consolidated accounts of Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2019. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies on pages 53 to 57 of the attached accounts and comply with the Charity’s Trust Deed, with applicable laws and applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and with the requirements of 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). Purpose and Activities The Purpose of the Charity
The Charity’s Trust Deed states that the purpose of the Westminster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust is ‘advancing the Roman Catholic religion in the diocese by such means as the Archbishop may think fit and proper’. The diocese comprises 212 parishes and 208 schools located in the boroughs of London lying north of the Thames and west of the Lea River, in the Borough of Spelthorne in Surrey, and in the County of Hertfordshire. The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ to bring his light into the world, and all its activities are as small candles lit from his paschal flame. Everyone who follows the Catholic faith is called to become more like Christ, shining as he did with loving obedience to God the Father and loving care for all persons. It is the teachings and actions of Jesus that shape Catholic practice, and therefore the activities of the Charity. These include worship of God and participation in the sacraments, all of which Catholics believe to be effective signs instituted by Christ himself; the education of children and all the faithful; and also the work of the Church to build, support, and sustain the wider community and care for all those in need. The Gospel of Matthew (25:34-41) memorably recounts how Christ taught that anyone who feeds the hungry, gives drink to the thirsty, clothes the naked, welcomes the stranger, or visits the prisoner not only ministers to those in need, but also serves God. The Charity therefore fulfils its purpose by offering religious and pastoral services, educational programmes, and charitable support and assistance to all who live within its
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borders: approximately 430,000 self-identifying Catholics and roughly 4.2 million other residents. The main vehicles for these ministries are parishes and chaplaincies, schools, and outreach agencies coordinated by Caritas Westminster. When setting the Charity’s aims and planning its work for the year, the Trustees give careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. Hope Today: The Light of Christ in Our Communities
The primary point of contact with the Charity for most of its benefactors is through its parishes, schools, ethnic chaplaincies and other small groups. These communities are at the heart of the spiritual life and practice of their members, offering them not only a place of worship, but of understanding, belonging, and support. Although the activities of these communities can appear ordinary, even mundane, their impact and importance in the lives of their members should not be underestimated. The social cohesion offered by parishes and chaplaincies extends beyond their own membership and the strangers they welcome: many of these groups are involved in initiatives to make their local areas safer and more welcoming, or have sought out opportunities to enter into ecumenical and interfaith partnerships that improve mutual understanding between faith groups, and offer social support to a broad cross-section of society, irrespective of the religious belief or practice of those benefitted. The fruits of these initiatives (examples of which can be seen on the following pages) are a beacon of hope to many in a society that too often appears to be fragmented and turbulent. Parishes
Parishes are geographical regions centred around a church and administered by a priest. The parish church is usually the hub of Catholic activity in a parish: Mass, the heart of Catholic spiritual life, will be offered there almost every day, especially on Sundays when it may be offered several times; the sacraments of Baptism, Penance, Confirmation, Holy Communion, and Marriage are conferred there; and outside of these liturgies the facilities are often used by various groups (such as prayer and faith-sharing groups, charitable organisations like food banks, youth groups, parent-toddler groups, nurseries, and other community associations) to meet, and to coordinate and carry out their activities. All places of worship are open to the general public for prayer, for quiet and peaceful reflection, for access to burial grounds, and to experience the rich history and beauty of their architecture and the numerous devotional artefacts, stained glass windows and other religious works of art located in them. Their meaning in sustaining parishioners and the local community has been made markedly clear
