THE OLD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, TEMPLEPATRICK
899 Antrim Road, Templepatrick, Co. Antrim, BT39 0AH
NI Charity Registration No. 101157
2018 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
1[st] January 2018 – 31[st] December 2018
Once again all the church organisations had another busy and fulfilling year.
Services were conducted every Sunday morning by our minister. We had no Baptisms in the Church this year, but to our great sorrow we have had several funerals, of long standing and faithful members.
Our minister maintains a link with the other Churches in the area, of all denominations, including the exchange of Pulpits, for Sunday morning services, and they come together as a group of Church Leaders, to lead the community in its Annual Palm Sunday InterDenominational Service, & also the Annual Carol Singing at the Christmas Tree Light Switch on, which is a cross community event, & open to those of all faiths. Refreshments are served in our hall afterwards, and ALL are welcome.
Our minister visits all church members at least twice a year and she also visits hospitals, Nursing & Residential homes. She visits the homes of those who have been bereaved and anyone who requests a visit.
Our session members also carry out many duties including visits to members of the congregation. They help to organise Harvest Services and distribute some of the produce to the sick, elderly and housebound members of the congregation, and they also help to organise & take part in Special Services. There is also the Annual Remembrance Service, The Annual Songs of Praise Service, The Christmas Service of Nine Lessons & Carols, and of course our Watchnight Service on Christmas Eve (at 11.45pm) which is open to all and well attended by all the community, of all ages.
The church committee also had a busy year organising and carrying out repairs and improvements to church property and grounds.
On the first Sunday of each month, we have a cup of tea, after the service & a Charity Box for McMillan Cancer Support is placed on the tea trolley should anyone wish to leave a donation.
A Coffee morning and Quilt Exhibition was held in May, which was very well supported by the local & wider communities, and again this year proceeds were donated to the Charity, “Esophageal Cancer”.
At the end of September, after our Harvest Thanksgiving Service, once again, we also donated a large quantity of vegetables to the Salvation Army, Centenary House Belfast, which provide food and accommodation for the homeless.
During November and December, the Congregation continue, to collect and donate food items and gifts, to the local “Homestart Christmas Appeal” in Antrim, which helps needy & struggling families during the festive season.
The Sunday School meets every Sunday morning (except July and August). The Sunday School also take part in Special Services.
The Ladies group continues to meet and they constantly provide catering & refreshments for every occasion.
The church hall is used by the A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous), which meet every Monday, 52 weeks of the year (doors ALWAYS open on a Monday evening), NO MATTER what the date or day.
The Historical Society, which includes members from the local community, meet every week (except July and August) in the church hall.
The Horticultural Society, also made up of community members, meets weekly in our hall.
The hall is used for pilates on Wednesday & Thursday evenings, which is proving to be very popular with the community.
The hall has also been used by families, wishing to offer refreshments and a cup of tea after funeral services.
On occasion our hall has been used by Drama Groups, Theatre Schools, Choirs, Birthday Parties and many other activities have taken place there. Our hall is available to the entire local community.
In carrying out these activities throughout the year the Trustees have had regard to the public benefit ensuring that the Church works to enrich the lives of church members, their families, youth organisations, and the wider community. In doing so, the Church seeks as its charitable purposes to promote the inalienable right of every Christian to search the records of Divine Truth for his own instruction and guidance, to form his own opinions with regard to what they teach, and to worship God in sincerity, agreeably to the dictates of his own conscience, without privation, penalty, or inconvenience inflicted by his fellow-men.
The Church is governed by Trust Deed and acts in accordance with ‘The Constitution and Code of Discipline’ of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland.
The following individuals served as Charity Trustees during the year and on the date that the Trustee Report was approved: Dr Joan McMaster and Mr Samuel Blair.
The Church is considered to be in sound financial standing at the close of the financial year ending 31[st] December 2018.
This concludes the Trustees’ Report. Signed: Joan McMaster Dr. Joan McMaster (Trustee and Hon. Secretary) Date: 09/09/2019