Trust Property And Funds Held In Connexion With Serbian Orthodox Church Of St Lazar
Charity 251227
Overview
Summary
The available evidence suggests that Trust Property And Funds Held In Connexion With Serbian Orthodox Church Of St Lazar functions as the charitable and property-holding framework around Lazarica, a Serbian Orthodox church in Birmingham. Its role appears to extend beyond worship: it maintains a distinctive physical and cultural setting, convenes a diaspora-rooted but multi-ethnic congregation, and enables volunteer-led community activity. The organisation seems locally anchored while serving a religious community defined partly by shared tradition and partly by openness to wider participation.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Bournville and Cotteridge
Confidence: high
The organisation's official website identifies Lazarica in Bournville as a service venue and advertises both worship and hall hire there. Birmingham City Council also locates the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar Church Hall within Bournville and Cotteridge Ward.
- Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar official website — homepage
Describes Lazarica as a church in Bournville, Birmingham, and states that St Lazar's Hall is available for parties, community groups, classes, meetings and rehearsals. - Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar official website — Service times 2026
Lists Lazarica in Birmingham as a service venue and states that services are delivered there unless specifically marked as taking place in Worcester or Coventry. - Birmingham City Council — Notice of Poll and Persons Nominated, 2026
Lists 'Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar (Church Hall)' as a polling location in Bournville and Cotteridge Ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence supports a permanent and active worship and community-hall site in Bournville and Cotteridge Ward.
- Reasonable interpretation: the organisation's Birmingham identity is centred on this single neighbourhood site rather than on a network of sites across Birmingham. The Charity Commission's Birmingham City operating-area entry does not, by itself, evidence citywide delivery.
- The official 2026 service timetable also lists services in Coventry and Worcester. This supports a regional overall footprint, but the available material does not establish the frequency, scale or governance arrangements of those out-of-Birmingham services.
- There is no current evidence of additional operational sites, routine service delivery, or material delivery partnerships in other Birmingham wards.
Additional evidence needed
- A current trustees' annual report or operational plan specifying the church's regular service locations, the frequency of Coventry and Worcester services, and which entity is responsible for delivering them.
- Information on formal agreements with the Coventry and Worcester venues, if any, to determine whether these are hosted services, partnerships, or independently operated congregations.
- Current attendance or booking data showing whether the Bournville site primarily serves the immediate neighbourhood, a wider Birmingham congregation, or a broader regional catchment.
Areas of work
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A property-based platform for religious and community life
The charity appears to operate principally by sustaining places and resources through which worship, community gatherings and related services can occur, rather than through a narrowly defined programme of direct interventions.
Why it matters
This helps explain why buildings and facilities are central to its civic role: the church and hall may provide durable infrastructure for relationships, cultural continuity and local participation.
Show evidence
“How the charity helps: Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space, Provides Services.”
Source:Charity Commission“St Lazar’s Hall is available for small events including parties, community groups, classes, meetings and rehearsals.”
Source:Organisation
Religious continuity is combined with a wider community welcome
The organisation appears to preserve Serbian Orthodox rites and heritage while presenting participation as open to people beyond a single national or ethnic identity.
Why it matters
This may make it an important bridge between cultural preservation and local inclusion, rather than solely a closed congregational institution.
Show evidence
“To benefit the members of the Church residing in England by the performance of the rites and ceremonies of the Serbian Orthodox Church.”
Source:Charity Commission“Everyone is welcome.”
Source:Organisation“Our congregation is diverse including those baptised at birth from ethnic backgrounds such as Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania plus those that entered the faith later in life.”
Source:Organisation
Volunteer participation appears integral to the operating model
The organisation may depend substantially on distributed voluntary contribution across governance, worship, hospitality and maintenance functions.
Why it matters
This suggests its resilience and community value may rest not only on its assets, but on the relationships and practical skills held by its members.
Show evidence
“Many give their time to help run our events, including trustees and committee, choir, Circle of Serbian Sisters, chefs, gardeners, candle sellers, ushers, altar boys and cleaners.”
Source:Organisation
- It is unclear whether the hall and other facilities are used mainly by congregants, local residents or external groups.
- There is no evidence about the charity's constituent bodies, governance structure, finances or partnerships.
- The extent of its support for people beyond worship and events is not known.
Remaining uncertainties
- Annual reports, accounts and governing documents identifying the charity's constituent organisations and use of funds.
- Information on hall users, community partnerships, attendance and the geographic reach of its activities.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
To benefit the members of the Church residing in England by the performance of the rites and ceremonies of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Charity objects
SEE INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENTS