CLERGY, OFFICERS, AND REPRESENTATIVES (on 31st December 2023)
CLERGY
Bishop of Connor Archdeacon of Belfast Rural Dean of North Belfast Rector of St Peter & St James, Belfast Honorary Assistant Priest Associate Minister
The Rt Rev’d George Davison The Venerable Barry Forde The Rev’d Brian Lacey The Rev’d Brian Lacey The Rev’d Dr Ken Houston The Rev’d Andrew Irwin
SELECT VESTRY (comprising Senior Officers and Representatives)
Rector Rector’s Churchwarden People’s Churchwarden Rector’s Glebewarden People’s Glebewarden Honorary Secretary Honorary Treasurer Representative Representative Representative Representative Representative Representative Representative Representative Representative Representative
The Rev’d Brian Lacey Daphne McClements Margaret McKenna Black Victor Davis Michael Moore Yvonne Crozier Ashlee McCune Adam Alexander Noel Beattie Jill Bradley David Cromie Dora Hanna Sandra Hutchman Matthew Lambert Sarah McCusker Quintin Mulligan Clodagh Webb
SAFEGUARDING TRUST PANEL
Panel Member Panel Member Panel Member
The Rev’d Brian Lacey Clodagh Webb Philip Williamson
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PARISH OFFICERS
Choir Librarian Convenor of St Peter’s Bridge Club Convenor of St Peter’s Crafty Goodness Convenor of St Peter’s Walking Group Coordinator of the Count Team Coordinator of Church Flowers Coordinator of Groundskeepers Coordinator of Intercessors Coordinator of Refreshments Free Will Offering & Gift Aid Secretary Organist & Choir Master Parish Administrator Parish Reader Parish Reader (in training)
Noel Beattie Florrie Greer Daphne McClements Jill Bradley Hilary Shields Sandra Davison Noel Beattie Rosemary Johnston Sandra Hutchman Noel Beattie Robert Thompson Anne Cromie David Cromie Dora Hanna
DIOCESAN SYNOD
Clerical Synodsperson
Lay Synodsperson Lay Synodsperson Lay Supplemental Synodsperson (1) Lay Supplemental Synodsperson (2)
The Rev’d Brian Lacey Sarah McCusker Quintin Mulligan Michael Moore Clodagh Webb
BOARD OF NOMINATION
Parochial Nominator Parochial Nominator Parochial Nominator Parochial Nominator Supplemental Nominator (1) Supplemental Nominator (2) Supplemental Nominator (3) Supplemental Nominator (4)
David Cromie Dora Hanna Noel Beattie Ashlee McCune Jill Bradley Yvonne Crozier Adam Alexander Michael Moore
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REGISTERED MEMBERS (as recorded on 20th February 2023)
Max Abbott Rebecca Delaney Vi Johnson Quintin Mulligan Hilary Adams Julie Douglas Rosemary Johnston Anne Noblett Adam Alexander Olivia Dornan Jane Keyes Bertie Nulty Kenneth Archer Betty Frazer Jim Knowles Karl O’Connor Olabimpe Archer Joan Gallagher Janice Knowles Caroline O’Kane Annette Beattie Peter Gallagher Laura Lacey Meta O’Neill Noel Beattie Albert George Gareth Larmour Forde Patterson Colin Bell Frances Gooding Matthew Lambert Karen Patterson Moya Bell Derek Graham Joan Lawther Margaret Patterson Roy Bell Lovelle Graham Dorothy Logan Mary Anne Quigley Jill Bradley Barbara Greenlees Deirdre Madill Anne Roberts Marie Burrowes Michael Greenlees Garnet Maguire Eileen Sharpe Lisa Faulkner Byrne Florrie Greer Hazel Maguire Norleen Sharpe Brian Callaghan Valerie Guest Anna McAlpine Hilda Sherwood Alan Campbell Adrian Hall Pamela McCamley Hilary Shields Tom Campbell Dora Hanna Dorothy McCausland Colin Stark Vivien Clarke Kathryn Hennessy Daphne McClements Vivien Stark Billy Clarke Carolyn Hilditch Ashlee McCune Anne Stewart Michelle Cole Wes Holmes Sarah McCusker Ernie Stewart Peter Coiley Ken Houston Beryl McDowell Heather Swan Margi Crawford Patricia Houston Margaret McK Black Eileen Taylor Anne Cromie Joyce Hunter Ivor Millar Jaqueline Thompson David Cromie Cheryl Hurson Lila Millar Joan Walker Samuel Cromie Jane Hurst Ann Mitchell Adele Watt Thelma Cross Sandra Hutchman Harold Mitchell Clodagh Webb Aaron Crozier Sam Hutton Florence Moore Jim Wilson Yvonne Crozier Harold Jacobs Michael Moore Philip Williamson Victor Davis Basil Jeffers Edith Morrow Brian Davison Eileen Jeffers Margaret Mulligan Sandra Davison Brian Johnson Peter Mulligan
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT
INTRODUCTION
We are the Parish of St Peter & St James, Belfast, and our charity number is 101020. We were formed in 1900 and registered with the Charity Commission in 2014. Our address is St Peter’s Church, Fortwilliam Drive, Belfast, BT15 4EB. The governing document of the Church of Ireland is our Constitution, which can be viewed online at www.ireland.anglican.org/about/the-constitution.
As a Christian Church, the purpose of our parish is to worship the Triune God, to proclaim the Good News of our salvation by and through our Lord Jesus Christ, to teach the Bible and Christian theology, to pray for the world and ourselves within it, to equip people for Christian ministries, to care for people in need, and to form supportive and encouraging friendships. Many people are involved in our worship, in our mission and ministries, in the management of our resources, in the care of our buildings and grounds, in organising activities and events, and in representing us. We are grateful for each other.
MINISTRY
There were two baptisms, one wedding, and seven funerals.
Our Bible Fellowship met on Thursday evenings, discussing Matthew’s Gospel. In September, two new groups were formed, each meeting monthly: The Discipleship Group – which was open to members of our neighbouring parishes as well as our own - met to learn about the theory and practices of Christianity, and a Bible Study Group met on the last Wednesday morning of each month, following our mid-week Holy Communion, at which we studied the Book of Micah. In addition, on several occasions during the year, a short service of prayers, Bible reading, and reflection, was delivered online using ZOOM.
Our Bereavement Group, which met once a week during March and April, provided a safe and supportive space for those who were mourning to talk through their feelings.
Four parishioners were involved in the “Transforming Lives for Good” project, which supported children in local primary schools with their emotional wellbeing. This project came to an end in July.
In August, our Prayer Group completed their training with the Acorn Healing Academy, which had been conducted online once a month for a year. There were four Healing Services in church, and private prayer was offered after most services.
Our Community Larder in the halls provided essential food and hygiene products for those from our local community who were struggling financially, and we made donations of such items to both the North Belfast Food Bank and the Welcome Organisation.
Recognising that we are limited in what we can do ourselves, we also raise funds to support other charities which help people at their point of need, whether at home or abroad. In May, a sponsored walk raised funds for Christian Aid. During the Autumn, we took part in the Blythswood Shoebox Appeal. In addition, our Bridge Club donated to Marie Curie and Lighthouse, and our Charities Action Group donated to ChildAid. Over the course of the year we raised funds for the Friends of the Cancer Centre, Air Ambulance NI, Prison Fellowship NI, Sands NI (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death), and Tearfund. We also supported the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, and the Bishop’s Appeal. A fundraising concert was held in St Peter’s on 1[st] December by the Cavehill Community Choir, which was very well attended.
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WORSHIP
Our main act of worship was at 11am on Sundays throughout the year, with our praise beautifully amplified by our robed choir. These services followed a pattern of Holy Communion on the first and third Sundays, and Morning Prayer on the second and fourth Sundays.
For much of the year, there were also services at 10am on Sundays, with a Family Service on the first Sunday, Holy Communion on the second and fourth, and Morning Prayer on the third. During that time, our Kids’ Church met in the halls, providing age appropriate praise and learning for children. There was also a traditional service of Choral Evensong at 6pm on the first Sunday of most months.
In addition to our regular mid-week services on Wednesdays at 10:30am, evening services were held throughout Holy Week and in the run up to Christmas – including our service of Nine Lessons and Carols, which is always popular with members of our local community.
Our guest preachers were the Rev’d Brian Courtney, the Rev’d Andrew Irwin, the Rev'd Mellisa Jeffers, the Rev’d Alan Millar, the Rev’d Clifford Skillen, and Mr Graham Chipperfield. Continuing our tradition of providing Student Readers, Parish Readers, and Diocesan Readers with training placements in a liturgically traditional and choral setting, we were joined by Mr Jonny Watson, a second year Student Reader at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, from January until April.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Every week, our Walking Group met on Monday mornings, Crafty Goodness met on Tuesday mornings, and the Bridge Club met on Wednesday afternoons.
Our parish halls were also used by various community organisations and businesses, including: Baby Sensory, Brownies, Glandore Dog Training Club, Guides, Little Kickers, North Belfast Historical Society, PhysioPilates, Priory Singers, Rainbows, Unislim, and the Belfast School of Speech and Drama.
On 18[th] May, St Peter’s was used as a polling station for the Northern Ireland Assembly elections.
A Men’s Breakfast was organised on 11[th] March, and lunches open to the local community were organised on one Wednesday of each month. We invited young people from our local primary school to children’s parties on 21[st] January and 30[th] September.
There were celebratory lunches in the Lansdowne Hotel on Petertide Sunday on 25[th] June, and again on 16[th] December in the run up to Christmas.
St Peter’s was open to the public two days each week for private prayer or tourism, and we were delighted to welcome students from Goodenough College on two occasions.
Both St Peter’s and St James’ have featured as locations in television and film productions in recent years. In February 2023, the BBC drama “The Woman in the Wall” was filmed in St Peter’s. For exterior shots, the adjacent road was renamed “ Bothar an Mhuilinn ” (Mill Road) to reflect its fictional location in the Republic of Ireland. At the same time, scenes of the film adaption of the Niall William’s novel “Four Letters of Love” were filmed at St James.
We were very grateful to various teams organised by the Probation Board, who tended the grounds at both St Peter’s and St James as part of their Community Service.
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MANAGEMENT
The Rector is responsible for managing worship, mission, and ministries in accordance with the beliefs and practices of the Church of Ireland. In addition to officiating and preaching at regular and occasional acts of worship, he conducted baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and provided pastoral leadership.
The Select Vestry is responsible for the management of our human, physical, and financial resources, and the implementation of civil and canon law. It met nine times during the year (once a month, except during July, August, and December). Its members, who are deemed Trustees for the purposes of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, were the Rev’d Brian Lacey, Adam Alexander, Noel Beattie, Margaret McKenna Black ( from April ), Jill Bradley, Peter Coiley ( until April ), David Cromie, Yvonne Crozier, Victor Davis, Dora Hanna, Sandra Hutchman, Matthew Lambert, Daphne McClements, Sarah McCusker, Michael Moore, Peter Mulligan ( until April ), Quintin Mulligan, and Clodagh Webb ( from April ).
Although the parish is predominantly a voluntary organisation, we employed four members of staff: Anne Cromie (Parish Administrator), Robert Thompson (Organist & Choir Master), and – until March - David Cromie (Ministry Assistant), and Laura Lacey (Coordinator for Transforming Lives for Good).
Any adult who subscribes financially to the parish, in such a way that their donation can be recorded against their name, is entitled to register as a member, enabling them to participate at the General Vestry, with the right to vote for – and stand for election to – our Select Vestry. The list of Registered Members was revised on Monday 20[th] February. There were 111 members.
The General Vestry met on Sunday 23[rd] April 2023 to receive the financial accounts for 2022 and to elect a new Select Vestry. The members present appointed David Hunter (of D. Hunter & Co., Chartered Accountants) as their Independent Examiner for this report.
The Trustees who approved this report on Monday 18[th] March 2024 were the Rev’d Brian Lacey, Noel Beattie, Jill Bradley, Dora Hanna, Matthew Lambert, Daphne McClements, Ashlee McCune, Sarah McCusker, Michael Moore, and Clodagh Webb.
In the production of this report, the Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, under section 4(b) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (as amended).
Signed on behalf of the Select Vestry on 18[th] March 2024 by
Brian Lacey Ashlee McCune
_____ _____
Rev’d Brian Lacey, Rector Ashlee McCune, Honorary Treasurer
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HONORARY TREASURER’S REPORT
OVERVIEW
We ended 2023 with a deficit of £7,517 (compared to a deficit in 2022 of £17,067). Our assets at the end of the year amounted to £241,441 (compared to £248,958 in 2022). They are comprised of fixed assets of £114,636 and net current assets of £126,804.
It is positive that planned giving in the form of FWO and standing orders (which forms the core of our income) remained stable, and that our income was boosted by increased hall hire and the award of grants but the fact that our income still fails to meet our day to day running costs remains an ongoing challenge.
INCOME
Total income in 2023 amounted to £138,927 compared to income in 2022 of £115,120.
Our main sources of income remained the same: contributions from members of the congregation, donations from parish organisations, proceeds from filming that took place on church premises, various grants, rental income, and distributions and interest from investments.
FWO envelopes, standing orders and annual subscriptions amounted to £56,847 in 2023. We are pleased to report that this is an increase of £2,140 compared to the previous year. We are very grateful for your contributions and also thank you for giving generously to the Harvest Special Collection in October 2023 which raised £1,640 for general funds. The financial stability of our church is inextricably tied to our generosity as believers and it is our hope that such generosity is founded on joyful gratitude for God’s provision and the recognition that all we have comes from and belongs to Him. In this spirit of gratitude, may we all review what we are comfortably able to contribute, especially if it has been some time since we last considered any increase.
We thank our parish organisations, the Bridge Club and Crafty Goodness, for their contributions to general funds which totalled £1,350.
The church makes use of Gift Aid (the legitimate recovery of tax from HMRC on certain types of financial income) which enabled us to reclaim almost £19,000. This will continue to be an important source of income to the parish and it is particularly important for those who give regularly to the parish to declare Gift Aid wherever it is legitimate to do so. Please contact Noel Beattie should you require a form.
Filming on church premises generated £7,600. This money has been classified as designated funds and has been added to film income from previous years. The Select Vestry will determine its investment and allocation on the advice of the Finance Committee in the coming months.
Grants continued to be important in funding mission projects. We were fortunate to receive total funds of £1,452 from Belfast City Council which funded catering and supplies for the Friendship Club and newly formed “Still Active” group. Further engagement with the local community was facilitated by grant of £300 from TLG which funded a children’s party. We received £4,160 from the St James’ Endowment Fund which covered the costs of employing our two ministry assistants, David Cromie and Laura Lacey, into early 2023, and we were delighted to receive a further £15,989 towards the ministerial apprenticeship post awarded to Robert Long and various musical applications.
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It is pleasing that income from hall hire increased substantially and brought in £15,588 from a wide range of users from charitable, political, educational and leisure sectors (as detailed in Note 20 to the accounts).
Rooms in the former St James’ church were hired by St Stephen’s Coptic Orthodox Church until September 2023 which generated rental income of £1,350.
We hold investments with M&G Charifund, the Progressive Building Society, the RCB (cash on deposit and in the General Unit Trust) and in unit trusts with the Church of Ireland Trustees. You will find the income from these investments detailed in Note 4, and various distributions deducted from the expenses to which they pertain under expenditure. The investments themselves are laid out in Note 12.
EXPENDITURE
Our expenditure in 2023 totalled £146,444.
No significant works in the church were undertaken in 2023 but expenditure beyond general repairs and maintenance included asbestos encapsulation at a cost of £624 as legally required for health and safety purposes, and electrical work at a cost of £598. You will find our general running costs detailed in Notes 7-9 to the accounts (which reflect the impact of rising inflation and utility costs just to keep our church running).
Regarding St James, the most significant cost was £5,580 for the removal of the finial in order to stabilise the spire; this was prudent and necessary to ensure the safety of the building.
Rectory bathroom renovations costing £6,660 were covered by funds received from filming which have been classified as designated funds to include such repairs. Other small maintenance works at the Rectory totalling £1,038 came out of general funds.
The Diocese receives the bulk of its income through the General Fund assessment on all parishes and we paid our share of £9,686 in 2023 in full.
Clergy expenditure (including relief clergy and pension contributions) was £58,804 (an increase of just over £4,900 compared to 2022). The Rector received a stipend and office and locomotory expenses in accordance with figures provided by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland.
We believe in the importance of using our resources to support good causes beyond the mission of St Peter’s and our parish boundaries and we were pleased to support Air Ambulance NI, Friends of the Cancer Centre, Tearfund, Sands NI and Prison Fellowship NI with donations of £323 each comprised of donations from parishioners and the proceeds of the Cavehill Community Concert (as detailed in Note 20 to the accounts). Parishioners also generously donated £267 to the Bishops’ Appeal and gave £143 to the Poppy Appeal as well as supporting the Blythswood Shoebox Appeal by filling boxes and making cash contributions.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank you for your continued financial support and acknowledge that giving takes many forms; the time, talents and resources given so freely by so many of our members in addition to monetary contributions are much appreciated.
We are very grateful to Noel Beattie for his continued efforts in recording planned giving and claiming the associated Gift Aid and to all those involved in collecting, counting and banking church collections. We thank David Hunter for his assistance and the preparation of the Independent Examiner’s Report.
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ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS (received by 31[st] December 2023)
| 002 | £450 | 086 | £500 | 182 | £100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 003 | £300 | 087 | £720 | 184 | £710 |
| 004 | £1,500 | 089 | £100 | 185 | £240 |
| 007 | £560 | 090 | £120 | 186 | £600 |
| 008 | £220 | 091 | £480 | 187 | £760 |
| 012 | £480 | 092 | £540 | 190 | £500 |
| 014 | £1,150 | 094 | £700 | 196 | £240 |
| 016 | £780 | 096 | £445 | 197 | £1,300 |
| 017 | £1,100 | 099 | £600 | 202 | £100 |
| 018 | £850 | 100 | £745 | 203 | £120 |
| 023 | £480 | 105 | £720 | 209 | £1,160 |
| 026 | £1,930 | 109 | £732 | 211 | £1,800 |
| 028 | £870 | 110 | £300 | 217 | £700 |
| 032 | £760 | 112 | £120 | 218 | £1,560 |
| 034 | £450 | 114 | £100 | 221 | £510 |
| 037 | £900 | 115 | £250 | 223 | £169 |
| 038 | £180 | 116 | £1,000 | 224 | £390 |
| 042 | £1,160 | 117 | £300 | 226 | £120 |
| 044 | £1,100 | 118 | £200 | 228 | £350 |
| 047 | £330 | 121 | £490 | 234 | £1,200 |
| 048 | £500 | 124 | £480 | 235 | £760 |
| 052 | £660 | 125 | £180 | 237 | £120 |
| 057 | £720 | 127 | £480 | 238 | £380 |
| 060 | £1,300 | 128 | £610 | 244 | £1,310 |
| 062 | £865 | 131 | £300 | 245 | £220 |
| 063 | £320 | 139 | £360 | 247 | £300 |
| 066 | £430 | 142 | £142 | 248 | £235 |
| 069 | £520 | 153 | £480 | 251 | £1,440 |
| 070 | £2,440 | 155 | £240 | 252 | £1,200 |
| 072 | £495 | 156 | £490 | 255 | £205 |
| 075 | £140 | 162 | £600 | 256 | £910 |
| 077 | £250 | 171 | £1,280 | 257 | £455 |
| 078 | £610 | 174 | £1,200 | ||
| 085 | £384 | 177 | £480 |
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