FIRST PRESBYTERLAN CHURCH
NON-SUBSCRIBING
BANBRIDGE
ANNUAL REPORT
2023
Charity No. NIC 100336

YL4R ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Minister: Rev Brian Moodie
Session:
Mr S Agnew (Clerk)
Mr IU Russell; Mr D Stevenson
Mr R Mcclean; Mrs C McAlister
Mrs K Bushby; Mrs C Brown
Mr R Hutton; Mrs E Hutton
Hon Secretary: Mrs C McAlister
Hon Treasurer: Mrs E Hutton
Committee: Mr T Shields; Mrs L Shields; Mrs V Mccullough
Mr D little; Mrs D Whan
Stipend Treasurer: Mr IU Russell
Sunday Collection: Mrs E Hutton
Charity Collection: Mr R Mcclean
Publicity Officer: Mrs K Bushby
Organists: Mr Stephen Thompson; Mrs Julie Black
Trustees: Mr RJ Russell; Mr T Shields
Mr D Stevenson; Mr R Mcclean
Mrs K Bushby; Mr D Iittle
Sunday School Superintendent: Mrs C McAlister
Child Protection Officer: Mrs D Whan
Building Maintenance Officer: Mr D little
Church Supervisor: Mr D Little

Flrst Presb
erian Non-subscrlbin
Church Banbrid
Minlster's Re
ort for the Year 2023
In December 2023. it was my 3rd year of ministry in Banbridge. Difficult to think
how the time has flown.
As can be seen from the very comprehensive Honorary Secretary's Report.
2023 was a productive year. which included visits from Rev. Stephen Reain-
Adair, Moderator of the Presbytery of Bangor; the Right Rev. Lena Cockroft,
Moderator of the NSPCI; as well as guest preaching by Mr Paul Mccabe. Dr
Tony Moodie and Rev. Colin Campbell.
Preaching topics that were embarked on by myself included:
Exploring Genesis
Exploring Exodus
Exploring Numbers
Exploring Deuteronomy
Wrestling with Joshua
Get out your pruning shearsl
What have you dedicated your life to
The Priceless Gem and Living Water
A short history of Mothering Sunday
Can you sin before you are born?
Can Doubt Sometimes be a Good Thing?
When last did your heart burn within you?
A Story of Cross-community Compassion
Waiting and Belonging
The Wind and Flame of Divine Love
A Mountain-Top Experience
Where does courage come from
A Life of Joy
The Sound of Silence- A reflection on the song lyrics
Imagine- a reflection on John Lennon's song
Everything l Own - a reflection on Bread's Hit Song
That's How the Light Gets In - Reflecting on Leonard Cohen's song
Anthem
Into my Arms (Interventionist God) - a reflection on Nick Cave's song.
Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water- A reflection on the song lyrics
Turn Turn Turn - A Harvest Sunday Refection
One Day at a Time 12 Steps to Sanity
The Courage to Change- One Day at a fime
Hope for Change- One Day at a fime
Making a Decision- One Day at a fime
Facing Ourselves- One Day at a fime
He Ain't Heavy- Remembrance Sunday

Coming Clean- One Day at a fime
Hope: Reflecting on the Life and Teaching of Victor Frankl
We also had a number of special services that included:
Easter Puppet Show with Beany and Sheenie
Songs of Praise- Celebrating the Coronation Weekend.
Country Gospel Service
Beany's Christmas Rap- Puppet Show
Carol Service
In addition. there were a number of reflections on 'This Day in History, as we
briefly reflected on significant dates and people throughout the year. These
included:
The birthday of Dr Seuss
The birthday of King Henry11
The death of Teny Pratchett
Abba's Song- Boomerang
Iraq War, Supernovas and Psalm 8
Beethoven and Richard Dawkins
Hans Christian Anderson and Dr Martin Luther King
Sir Isaac Nevhon
Shakespeare, To be or not to be?
Sir Tim Berners-Lee - World Wide Web and Unitarian Universalism
The Founding of Volkswagen
Tiananmen Square. Emily Davison and Churchill's Speech
Lord Alfred Tennyson's Religious Views
All of these sermons and reflections have been made available on the Church
Website, the YouTube Channel shared with the Dromore Congregation, as well
as on the Church Facebook page.
Special services that took place over the year included our hosting of the
World Day of Prayer on the 3rd of March as well as the Ordination and
Installation of new Elders on the 29th November.
We also had the opportunity to celebrate the baptism of Luke Alistair Robert
Shields, son of Gavin and Siobhan. brother to Olivia and Archie and grandson
of Lynda and Tom, at a special Sunday afternoon service on 16th April 2023.
A very big thank you to all who, in visible and invisible ways, have contributed
to and helped to enrich and make our Sunday Worship Services special,
whether this is opening up and closing, helping to decorate the church for
special occasions. providing flowers, assisting with readings, singing solos or
simply being a warm. friendly and welcoming presence for regulars and visitors
who come through our doors.

Attendance at Church Services remains steady. It is always encouraging to see
that we can attract wider family and friends to our special services. And yet all
of us in the congregation, and especially in the leadership ought to be mindful
of the fact that in order to ensure a future for our congregation. we need to
attract more people to our services. whether those be from within our existing
church families. or new-comers. A question, that we might all need to
consider, is what our unique identity and contribution is. within the churches of
Banbridge and how we can use that unique identity and contribution. to
attract those who cannot find a home in any of the otherchurches in the town.
Boosting our profile on social media. particularly on Facebook, may be one of
the most effective ways of advertising ourselves in the town.
Apart from those who have assisted in various ways, hidden and visible. with
Sunday Worship Services. I wish most especially to thank our Elders and all in
our Committee, who help with the smooth running of the Church. I feel
honoured to serve with each of them. And in this regard. it would be remiss of
me not to celebrate the ordination and installation of our three new elders in
November 2023- Elaine and Rodney Hutton. and Colette Brown.
Rev. Brian Moodie
1910212024

HONORARY SECRETARY'S REPORT 2023
According to official records, 2023 was apparently the hottest year
on record for the UK and for Northern Ireland was the wettest year
since 2002. So wet. that there wasn't a long enough dry spell to see
the Committee's plans to have the outside of the Church painted
fulfilled. although we did manage to have the Graveyard gates
painted. Hopefully. 2024 will be a drier. brighter year for everyone
and the Church will get its much needed facelift.
We are grateful to the members of the Congregation for their continued
support throughout the year. Attendances have been fairly regular. with some
very good attendances at the special sepiices such as Mothering Sunday,
Easter, the Songs of Praise serrfice for the King's Coronation, the Country
Gospel Service in June, the Harvest, Remembrance Sunday, the Nativity
Puppet Show and the Carol Serrfice.
Baptism
On Sunday 16tt) April 2023, Luke Alistair Robert Shields son of Gavin and
Siobhan, brother to Olivia and Archie and grandson of Lynda and Tom, was
baptised.
Thanks are extended to:
Rev Moodie for continuing to provide an online sermon for those members
of the Congregation unable to attend Church and for maintaining the
Church's Internet site
Mrs Karen Bushby for maintaining the Church's Facebook page and for her
articles in the local papers: Karen has recently been appointed as Editor
for the new look Denominational magazine, iNSPiration, which will now be
published on a quarterly basis
our organists, Mr Stephen Thompson and Mrs Julie Black
those members of the Congregation who supply flowers for the pulpit
throughout the year. and
all the members of the Congregation who play a part in getting the Church
ready for services each Sunday.
Sympathy is extended to all the members of the congregation who have been
bereaved during the year.

REVIEW OF EVENTS 2023
January
We welcomed Mr Paul Mccabe, who led our seprfice on Sunday 15th January
and Rev Stephen Reain-Adair from our Killinchy Church and Moderator of the
Presbytery of Bangor, who exchanged pulpits with Rev Moodie on Sunday 29th
January.
February
On Sunday 5th February. thanks were extended to our organist, Julie, for her
donation of Junior Mission Praise Hymn Books for our use.
March
On Friday 3rd March, the local World Day of Prayerwas held in our Church. The
service, which was well attended, was led by Mrs Wendy Moodie and Mrs
Karen Bushby. Representatives from the other Churches in the town took part
in the service, which was written by the women of Taiwan. Thanks were
extended to the ladies of the Congregation for providing refreshments after
the serrfice.
There was a good attendance on Mothering Sunday, the 19th March. Rev
Moodie played the guitar and sang a funny song for the occasion and Heidi
& Luke Hansen handed out gifts to all the mothers and ladies present. Thanks
are extended to Mrs Elaine Hutton for putting together the gifts.
Aprfl
On Palm Sunday. the 2nd April. all the readings were from Matthew's Gospel
and candles were lit for Passion Week. There was a good attendance at the
service on Easter Sunday 9th April when Rev Moodie and Wendy put on a
puppet show to tell the Easter story. Thanks to Mrs Elaine Hutton for leaving a
basket of creme eggs in the hall for everyone to dip into.
May
There was a good attendance on Sunday 7th May when we held a Songs of
Praise Service to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles 111. During the
service, Ellen Forsythe gave us a beautiful rendition of the hymn 'Be Thou my
Vision,. Communion Service was held on Sunday 141h May, when Rev Moodie
was assisted by Mr Bertie Mcclean and Mrs Carol McAlister. At the end of the
Service, presentations were made to Mr Jim Russell. Mr Noel Cruikshanks and
Mrs Sylvia Cruikshanks in recognition of their long service to the Church as Elders
and Committee members. The service on Sunday 21st May was led by Mr Paul
Mccabe.

June
There was a very good attendance at the Country Gospel Service on Sunday
18th June. The musical ensemble. who led the praise, included Rev Moodie,
together with his mother Margaret and his wife Wendy on guitar; lead vocalist,
Mrs Maureen Smyth. from our Dromore Church; and Julie. our organist, on the
electric piano. As it was also Father's Day. Heidi and Luke Hansen handed out
gifts to all the Dads and men present. Again thanks are extended to Elaine for
putting together the gifts.
July/August
The service on Sunday 2nd July was led by Mr Paul Mccabe and the service
on Sunday 30th July was led by Mr Tony Moodie. Mr Paul Mccabe took the
service on Sunday 27th August.
September
The Service on Sunday 3rd September was led by Mr Tony Moodie and during
the service, a candle was lit by Mrs Karen Bushby to mark the l Oth anniversary
of the passing of her mother, Mrs Denise Russell. During Rev Moodie's holiday,
the services on Sunday l Olh 17th and 241h were taken by, Rev Lena Cockroft,
Mr Tony Moodie and Rev Cockroft respectively.
October
The Church. as always, was beautifully decorated for our Harvest Service on
Sunday I st October. Thanks are extended to Mrs Elizabeth Stevenson, Mrs Sylvia
Cruikshanks and Mrs Vera Mccullough for all their hard work. Rev Moodie took
the service during which Ruby Bushby sang 'ln Christ Alone. and Ellen Forsythe
sang 'How Great Thou Art,. During the service, Rev Moodie dedicated our
new electric piano, which was presented to the Church by Mr Jim Russell and
his daughters Karen and Diana. in memory or Jim's wife. Denise, who died on
3rd September 2013 and son. Keith. who died on 121h December 1987 at the
age of 16. A large number of non-perishable food items were donated by the
Congregation and these were later delivered by Rev Moodie and Mrs Vera
Mccullough to the Storehouse Banbridge Community Foodbank.
November
Communion Service was held on Sunday 5th November 2023. Mr Dougie
stevenson and Mr Bertie Mcclean assisted Rev Moodie in the serving of the
wine and bread. Thanks were extended to Mrs Sylvia Cruikshanks for baking
the shortbread and to Mrs Colette Brown for obtaining the non-alcoholic wine.
There was a good attendance at the Remembrance Day Service on Sunday

12th November when the wreath at the war memortal was laid by Mr Alfie
Hazley and Binyan's words were read by Mrs Sharon Hansen. The Last Post and
Reveille were played by Mr Stephen Thompson on the organ. Thanks are
extended to Mrs Elizabeth Stevenson for her usual beautiful poppy displays. On
Wednesday 29th November, a Service was held for the installation of 3 new
Elders for the Congregation, namely Mr Rodney Hutton, Mrs Elaine Hutton and
Mrs Colette Brown. The Sepiice, which was led by the Moderator of Presbytery,
Rev Stephen Reain-Adair. was well attended with a good number of Presbytery
members in attendance. Thanks were extended to the ladies for providing
refreshments after fhe serrfice. Our Service on Sunday 26th November was led
by Mr Paul Mccabe.
December
The Church was again beautifully decorated throughout the Christmas period
and thanks go to Mrs Sylvia Cruikshanks and her daughter. Karen. for the
various displays on the windows and throughout the Church. Thanks also go
to David Little for putting up and decorating the Christmas tree and to Mrs
Edna Agnew and Sam for providing the Advent v￿eath. the first candle of
which was lit by Rev Moodie on Sunday 3rd December. As Rev Moodie had
covid. our Service on Sunday l Oth December was led by Rev Colin Campbell.
There was a good attendance at the Carol Service, which was held on Sunday
17th December. Readers at the Serqice were Mrs Charlene Little. Mrs Vera
Mccullough. Mr Alfie Hazley. Mrs Sylvia Cruikshanks and Mr Tom Shields. During
the service, Ellen Forsythe played '0 Holy Night. on the electric piano and
members of the Congregation placed paper hearts on the Christmas tree to
remember relatives and friends no longer with us. There was a good
attendance on Sunday 24th December, when the puppets Beany and
Sheenie, aka Rev Moodie and his wife Wendy, made a further appearance to
retell the Christmas Story. There were also a number of musical items with Bella
Shields playing the electric organ and accompanying her sister Charlotte in
singing 'When a Child is Bom, Bella also played the electric piano and sang a
solo of 'Hallelujah' and Sarah & Ellen Forsythe sang 'Gloria in Excelsius Deo,.
After the Service, Santa made a surprise visit and handed out selection boxes
to all the children vtho were present.
There was a good attendance at the service on Christmas morning, during
which, Ruby Bushby, accompanied by her Dad Matthew on guitar, sang
'Mary, Did you Know?,
Thanks were extended to everyone who brought donations of toiletries for our
Christmas Appeal for Bamardo's. Our final Seplice of the year. on Sunday 31 st
December. was led by Mr Paul Mccabe.
Carol McAlister

Honora
Treasurer's Re
ort 2023
Our thanks must go to our church members for their generosity
throughout 2023. While we continue to see a decline in our ordinary
collection each year, our total stipend collection (envelope and
regular monthly bank transfers) for the year has increased by I l.5Y.
from last year. We raise over £900 in total annually to the various monthly
retiring charity collections and as a small congregation we should be proud of
this. Our chosen charities are always grateful for the donations they receive
from us.
A number of members are now opting to pay stipends directly into our church
bank account and if any other church member needs further details about
how to do this. please do not hesitate to contact me.
Our church income was again boosted this year by payment of Gift Aid claims
made for 2022. which amounted to £3.579.55. Thank you to everyone, who has
already signed up to the Gift Aid scheme. The scheme allows the church to
claim 25 pence for every pound that you have already given to the church.
providing that you are a taxpayer. It is a very simple process and forms are
available for anyone, who has not yet signed up to Gift Aid and would like to
do so.
This year, we were in the position to invest a total of £75,000 into a 2 year 5g.
fixed interest bond with the Progressive Building Society and I thank Rev
Moodie and Mr Sam Agnew for their help and advice regarding this.
Our main outlays during 2023 were for the usual church insurance, graveyard
maintenance and heating oil costs. It had been our aim to get the exterior of
the church building repainted. but poor weather during the summer of 2023,
meant that these plans had to be put on hold until 2024. Hopefully this work will
now be carried out over the coming months.
I would like to thank the other members of the congregation, who have helped
me during the year- Mr Jim Russell for his work as Stipend Treasurer, Mr Bertie
Mcclean for collecting the weekly charity donations and Mrs Carol McAlister
for her help & advice throughout the year. l am grateful to you all.
Thanks also to Mrs Jocelyn Girvan for independently verifying our accounts for
2023.
Once again. many thanks to all the members of our church- your continued
support is greatly appreciated. I hope and pray that 2024 will be another good
year for our church and for us all.

ANNUAL REVIEW
Sll end Collection
Ordina
Collection
2017
£13.744
£529
2018
£13,145
£516
2019
£11.946
£224
2020
£11,225
£50
2021
£14,383
£223
2022
£14,862
£170
2023
£16.586
£129
Elaine Hutton - February 2024
io

STIPEND FOR YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2023
STIPEND
GIFf AID 2022
£138.75
£600.IM)
£1.070.
£350.
£262.50
£75.00
£1,080.(K•
£267.50
£150.
io
£75.
16
£140.
£750.IK•
18
£155.Tr)
21
£70.
22
É640.¢XJ
£ts2.50
£63.75
26
£550.¢X)
£101.25
27
£485.(K)
£220.
£117.50
£37.50
28
£550.(h)
£410.
£116.25
£215.IXI
£62.50
35
£61.25
£560.
£135.CN)
£455.LW)
£1￿.00
39
£106.(K)
£26.75
45
£290.00
47
£60.
£ify).
49
51
£510.
£130.
52
£35.
£550.
93
951105
ioi
£137.50
£872.IXI
£560.(KI
£209.
£14￿.
£109.
£28.IKI
107
£109.
£28.
112
£110.
119
120
121
£iio.(M)
£4150
io.Th)
£￿50
£280.W)
£530.00
£50.
122
£130.Th)
132
£sio.
£122.50
137
£360.LM)
£90.00
Interest
£66.55
TOTALS
£16y6.fy)
£3.579.55
Charity No.NIC100336
Stipend Treasurer: Mr RJ. Russell
Auditor: Mrs. J. Girvan
li

No. l Account - Year Endin
RECEIPTS
31 December 2023
PAYMENTS
Balance @ bank Jan 01
Stipend lenvelopes}
Annual Stipend (via bank)
Ordinary Collettion
Rent -silver Band
Wayleave
Sustentation Fund
Ground Rents
Gift Aid 2022
Ministry Expenses No.4 Acc
Dividends
Church Magazines
Burial Fee Cyril Woods
UK GOITh Energy Support Payment
£61.105.65 Minister's Salary
£12,276.00
including HMRC & Pension
£4,310.00 Vints - Payroll Serrfices
£129.IXI Pulpit Supplies
£150.00 Church Cleaning
£6.92 Organist & Relief
£2,085.00
£150.00 Electricity
£182.97
£105.tKJ Oil
£1,887.08
£3,579.55 Website maintenan￿/DOrna1n Name
£217.00
£I,000.(M) MG Fire Services
£192.00
£2,248.87 Transfer to Progressive 2yr Savings Bond £45.000.00
£106.40 Sunday School Gifts
£120.95
£50.(X) Long Service Gifts (3 Elders}
£72.48
£600.00 Benevolent Fund
£ioo.00
Insurance
£2,159.66
Annual Postage Expenses
£76.19
N.1. Water/Sewerage Charges
£181.68
Catering Kettle
£49.26
Weedkiller
£58.00
Reimbursement UK Visa Application
re: Rev Moodie
Rev Moodie sundry expenses
Church Magazines
£10,547.35
£433.20
£306.00
£720.00
Charlty Collectlons
Southern Area Hospice
Alzheimers
Kidney Research
Children's Hospice
Orphan Fund
Graveyard
B Positive
Poppy Appeal
£132.(hJ
£130.
£65.IXI
£iio.00
£40.00
£175.00
£95.00
£80.00
£2,404.00
£9.31
£85.36
£827.00 Denomlnational Funds
Joint Inc & Mod Fund
Sunday School Fund
Sustentation Fund
Rem. Synod
Trustee Co. Fund
Bodel Mackenzie
Ministers. Widows, Fund
Orphan Society
Porter Fund
Students & Ministers
£285.00
£49.00
£430.00
£45.00
£10.00
£20.00
£ico.00
£i(Kl.00
£30.00
£50.00
Donatlons
Graveyard Donations.
D Bryans
S Curran
£50.00
£ioo.00
£1,119.00
Charity Collections
Southern Area Hospice
£S0.IXI Alzheimer's Society
Nl Kidney Research
Nl Children'5 Hospice
£100.00 B Positive
£9.61 Poppy Appeal
£iw.00
Harvest Donations:
Mr & Mr5 Mccarrison
£132.00
£130.00
£65.00
£iio.00
Other:
Mitchell family
Just Giving
J Grossmith re:weekly organ practice
Loose change donated
for retiring collection charity
£ioo.00
£80.00
£617.00
money 5entdirertly to charity not included infigures.'_
£8.IX) Christion Aid
Balance @ bank Dec 31
£ioo.00
£18.438.51
£87,062.00
£87,062.00
12
Charity No. Nici¢J1336 - Treasurer." Mrs. E. Hutton-. Independent Examiner: Mrs. J. Girvan

No. 2 Account - Ben Dickson Fund - Year Endin
Jan l Balance @ Bank
£171.18
31 December 2023
Dec 31 Balance
Bank
£171.18
£171.18
£171.18
No. 3 Account- Renovation
Jan l Balance @ Bank
Rent Dunbar School
Dunbar School - Year Endin
31 December 2023
£54,642.79
Graveyard maintenance
£1,300.00
£8,150.04
Painting of graveyard gates
£370.00
Church guttering maintenance
£560.00
Deposit for church painting
£4,470.00
Dec 318alance @ Bank
£56,092.83
£62,792.83
£62,792.83
No. 4 Account- Manse - Year Endin
31 December 2023
Jan l Balance @ Bank
£43,139.28
Ministry Expenses
Dividends
£3.104.96
Transfer to 2yr savings bond
Interest
£48.64
Dec 31 Balance @ Bank
£46,292.88
£1,000.00
£30,000.00
£15,292.88
£46,292.88
Dunbar Fund - Year Endin
31 December 2023
£1,957.21
Bank fees
£1.98
£99.26
£2,058.45
Jan l Balance @ Bank
Interest
Dividends
£30.20
Dec 31 Balance @ Bank
£2,028.25
£2,058.45
Charity No.NIC100336
Treasurer..
Independent Examiner:
Mrs. E. Hutton
Mrs J. Girvan
13

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN (NON SUBSCRIBING) CHURCH
BANBRIDGE
Annual General Meeting - Tuesday 12 March 2024 at 7.30 p.m.
AGENDA
Welcome & Opening Prayer
Apologies
Correspondence
Minutes of last AGM - March 2023
Matters Arising
Report of Hon. Secretary
Report of Hon. Treasurer
Election of Officers
Election of Presbytery & Synod Representative
Any other business