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THE FRIENDS OF ARMAGH CATHEDRAL
Trustees, Annual Report
st
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Charities Number: NIC100129

THE FRIENDS OF ARMAGH CATHEDRAL
Annual Report for the year ended 3q8t December 2023
Contents
Pages
References and administrative details of the Charity
Trustees, report
Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees
Receipts and Payments Account
statements of assets and liabilities
Notes to the Financial Statements

THE FRIENDS OF ARMAGH CATHEDRAL
References and administrative detalls
Charity Name..
Charity Registration Number:
Contact Address:
The Friends of Armagh Cathedral
NIC100129
clo Armagh Robinson Library
43 Abbey Street
ARMAGH
BT617DY
Trustees
The Very Revd Shane Forster (Chainnan)
Mrs Mary Caldwell (Hon. Secretary)
Mr David Hamilton (Hon. Treasurer)
Mr Brett Hannam (Membership Secretary)
Dr John Faulkner (Joint Editor of 'Cathedra'_ retired Apn'l 2023)
Dr Gill Faulkner (Joint Editor of 'Cathedra'_ retired April 2023)
Dr Stephen Day (Joint Editor of 'Cathedra'_ from Apn'l 2023)
Mrs Carol Day (Joint Editor of 'Cathedra'_ from Apn'l 2023)
Lady Sheil (representing the Cathedral Chapter)
Mrs Ann Cassidy
Mr Tommy Reddick (retired Apn'l 2023
Mr Andrew White
Mrs Sylvia Phillips
Mr Robert Someniille
Mrs Fiona Cleland (resigned Apn'l 2023)
Mr Donald Kerr
Mrs Angela Kerr (co-opted Apn'l 2023)
Principal Office-bearers
Chairman: The Very Revd Shane Forster, Dean of Armagh
Hon. Secretary". Mrs Mary Caldwell
Hon. Treasurer.. Mr David Hamilton
Independent Auditor
Bankers
Arnold Courtney, FCA
William Courtney & Co
26 The Square
Moy
DUNGANNON
Co Tyrone
BT717SG
Primary Account..
Bank of Ireland
Beresford House
11a Upper English Street
ARMAGH
BT6178H

Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2023
The trustees present the annual report for the year ended 31$t December 2023
Objectives and Activities
The Charity's objectives are..
(i)
the advancement of religion, and
the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science.
The purposes of the Friends of Armagh Cathedral are:
(i)
bringing together in a fellowship of loyalty and devotion all who care for the ancient
foundation of the Cathedral Church of St Patrick, Armagh and its continuing
witness to the glory of God, and
assisting in the maintenance and preservation of the Cathedral.
Achievements, Perfomiance & Public Benefit
Activitles In 2023
On Tuesday 25th April 2023, the Friends Annual General Meeting was held in Annagh Masonic
Hall and was followed by a dinner. The Dean chaired the meeting and provided an overview
of the past year in the life of the Cathedral.
On Sunday 141h May 2023, the Friends Annual Service took placed in St Patrick's Cathedral
at 3.15pm. The preacher was the Very Reverend Kenneth Hall, Dean of Clogher and Rector
of St Macartin's Cathedral in Enniskillen.
The Autumn Event was held in the Armagh Masonic Hall, on Thursday 10th October 2023.
The Guest Speaker was Dr Stephen Timpany, Organist and Master of the Choristers at the
Cathedral. His chosen subject was music and in particular the workings of the Cathedral's
three manual organ.
The editorial team of Drs John and Gill Faulkner produced the sixteenth issue of the Friends,
magazine 'Cathedra'. After reviews of the life of the Cathedral, of the work of the Friends, and
of the music of the Cathedral, this issue contained a special article on 'The Parish Churches
of Annagh City, written by Canon W.E.C. Fleming. 'Cathedra' was distributed free-of-charge
to all members of the Friends. Copies of 'Cathedra' were also made available at the Diocesan
Synod and on the Cathedral website as well as being posted to members at a distance.
'C8thedra' conveys to members of the Diocese and to all those who are interested in church
life on the Hill of Armagh, something of the yearly services, events and activities in and
associated with the Cathedral.
The Friends Christmas card this year featured a picture of the Cathedral's Christmas tree,
lectern and organ pipes. Cards were sold as part of a fundraising venture for the Cathedral.
The Cathedral Shop is operated by members of the Cathedral staff and volunteers. In 2023,
the Friends provided stock for the shop, which made a gross profit of £597.79.
Payments for admission to the Cathedral made through the shop's card readerwere forwarded
to the Cathedral Treasurer.

Benefits Provided
In the course of the year, the Friends continued their usual support of the Cathedral. They
paid for the Cathedral's Wi-Fi broadband account. They also provided certain consumables,
such as Advent and votive candles, candle oil and Communion wafers.
Going Concern
The trustees have reviewed the resources for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are
adequate funds in place to ensure that the organization can continue its activities and that the
financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2023 can be signed off as a going
concern.
Governing Document and Constltution of the Charity
The Friends of Armagh Cathedral are govemed by their own goveming document, known as
the Constitution. It was last revised at the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 23rd April
2015, when the number of lay members to be elected at the AGM to the Management
Committee each year was increased from one to three.
Recruitment and Appointment of the Management Committee (Trustees)
The Dean of Armagh, who is ex-officio Chairperson of the Committee, is appointed by the
Archbishop of Armagh.
The Representative of the Cathedral Chapter is one of its members, appointed to the Chapter
by the Archbishop of Armagh. The Chapter appoints its representative at one of its meetings,
held approximately quarterly, when a vacancy occurs.
The Representative of the Cathedral Board is one of its members, usually but not necessarily
one of its lay members, appointed at one of its meetings, held quarterly in the year.
The six lay members of the Friends, the Honorary Secretary, Mernbership Secretary, and
Honorary Treasurer are elected for a two-year term at the annual general meeting of the
Friends, half being elected in alternate years.
The Editors of 'Cathedra', being members of the Friends, are members of the committee by
virtue of his or her office.
The Constitution of the Friends also allows for the co-option of up to four people, to hold office
until the next Annual General Meeting, and without prejudice to their being co-opted again. In
the case of the joint editorship of 'Cathedra' by Drs John and Gillian Faulkner, one of these is
regarded as having been co-opted.
Pay and remuneration
No member of the Management Committee re￿IVeS any remuneration for work on its behalf.
Out-of-pocket expenses may be reclaimed on production of receipts, as arising.

Organlsational Structure
The management of the Friends of Amiagh Cathedral is vested in its Management Committee,
constituted as above. The Management Committee is chaired by the Dean.
The Committee meets as required by the programme of activities. In the year 2023, the
Management Committee met in person and online via zoom.
Compllance wlth Public Benefit
The Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern
Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year
have helped to achieve the organization's objectives and activities, as well as providing public
benefit.
Statement of Trustees. Responslbilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the statement of receipts
and payments and statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with applicable law and
regulations.
The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with income of less than £250,000 requires
the trustees to prepare a statement of receipts and payments and a statement of assets and
liabilities for each financial year.
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to show and
explain the organization's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its
assets and liabilities. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the organization
and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other
irregularities.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Trustee 1......
Trustee 2 .
Date...