Christ Church Lisburn
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended
31 December 2022. The trnstees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities..
Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l January
2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The chaiitable pU￿oSe of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of relI￿on.
The principal function of Christ Church Lisburn is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by
promoting, through the work of Christ Church, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic,
social and ecumenical. Being open to and engaging with society as a whole and offering support for those
needing help, is fundamental to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianity.
As a result of activity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, Christ Church Lisburn has
custody of property and of records, materials and artifacts of significance to the cultural and religious
heritage, the maintenance of which is undertaken by the select vesty of Christ Church Lisbum.
Community:
Gathering as a community of faith continued post-covid with restrictions easing throughout the year,
allowing more people to be present but also giving them confidence to meet in a building. We had a morning
service each Sunday with at least one evening service each month. Technology enabled us to keep connected
with people in their homes, hospital, care homes or on a staycation. The parish acknowledges the input from
all on the AV tearn, our organist, choir and praise group in shaping the services as well as items for our
worship services. Parishioners also contributed items for Sunday services even when we were together for
worship.
Our parish organisations are led by a great team of leaders and volunteers and allow people to gather in our
halls but make connections into wider community life. There is the parish choir, praise group, men's choir,
hospitality group, Bowling Club, Girl Guides, Tuesday coffee, Bible Study, Badminton Club, Prayer
Fellowship, Tots Together, Craft Group, GFS, CLB, Acorn Club, Messy Church, KLIC, JAM, Wall(ing
Group, and Pastoral Visitors.
We are a community that encompasses people from birth to over 100 years old, with people living
throughout the greater Lisburn area. The clergy team brought leadership to a faith community amidst a post
covid world and the huge impact of the war in Ukraine and rising costs of living. They sought to support
families who lost a loved one while also visiting those in hospital and nursing care with some visiting
restrictions still evident.
The partnership with the local Lisburn Foodbank continued as donations were gathered at diff¢rcnt times
throughout the year. The Foodbank plays a vital role in supporting so many people in our city. We are
grateful that some of our church family are volunteers at the Foodbank. We continued to support the work of
Christians against Poverty and Habitat for Humanity with the PSNI Carol Service held in our church
supporting this charity. We were delighted that two schools from the Council area sang at this service.
Page I

Christ Church Lisburn
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Community- continued
The rector is part of the city centre minister's fellowship and they organised the Good Friday Walk of
Witness as well as services for the community for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and on her death. We
worked with the local council on these services. The clergy team are part of the church leaders faith fonlln
for the council area with a focus on supporting one another through wellbeing. A number of walks were
organised as funding was received. The rector used the 'Take 5, steps to wellbeing for training events for
men, volunteers and leaders with one evening in a local coffee shop where several people were invited by
parishioners who do not belong to the parish.
During Holy Week we had a display of 'Butterflies of Hope, at the church gate. The butterflies were coloured
in by parish groups, Central & Old Warren PS and residents of Woodgrove NH. We were delighted with the
response and our Mayor. Stephen Martin paid a visit as we reflected on the theme during holy week.
The parish office is a place of connections for parishioners and the community.
Lisburn Community Dementia Care group ieturned to its monthly meeting for people in the community
supported by a family member in attendance. Marie Curie in Lisburn held a successful coffee morning and
collection in June in our hall. The Wendy Gibson Ballet Academy uses our premises twice a week for girls
throughout the community.
Compliance with public benefit..
The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on
public benefIt, to ensure that the parish's objectives and activities have helped achieve the charity purpose, as
w¢ll as providing public benefit to the beneficiaries.
Charitable Activities:
Regulai Sunday worship was back to being in the church building with each service also online. The hybrid
nature allowed us to get the KLIC and JAM groups up and going during morning worship for children and
teenagers. Holy Week included services mid-week with the Rev Bobbie Moore being OUT special preacher
throughout the week. As churches in the city, we had our Good Friday Walk of Witness in the open air.
Our parish organisations continued the process of re-opening through the early months of 2022 and this
continued throughout the year, although two of our groups that work with children did not re-open. It was a
wonderful witness to see our halls being used and full of noise and chat.
The seasons of Lent, Easter, Harvest and Christmas gave us a clear focus amidst all the challenges of covid
in our community, with technology again allowing the messages of Christ's death and resurrcctioll, creation,
God's love and coming to us as SavÈour to be so powerful in a world of great uncertainty.
The Select Vesty worked hard, meeting in person to navigate all the legislation and guidance to keep all
safe. Our annual Easter General V¢stry again was held in the church to facilitate social distancing. The
Tower project started in the spring and was completed in early September with Bishop George Davison re-
dedicating it on I September when a number of vestry members. the rector, foreman and architect went to
the top of the scaffolding for a short service. We again thank parishioners for their generosity and giving to
the project, especially when we had no fundraising events. The good news was that the tower project has
been paid for in total. We thank God. The parish gathered on Sunday 25 September for a servÈce of
thanksgiving. Alongside this major work, the lighting in the church was also upgraded.
Page 2

Christ Church Lisburn
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The clergy team continued school assemblies in Central and Old Warren PS. A new initiative called
Transforniing Lives for Good was started in conjunction with Lisburn Cathedral. We started with 2 coaches
in Central PS. We welcomed the choir of Old Warren PS to sing at the Tuesday coffee moming with harvest
songs in October. We recommenced a service in Old Manor home and worked with a few of our parishioners
in pioviding a worship service in local care homes.
The challenges for pastoral care were immense but the clergy team and pastoral visitors endeavowed to keep
in contact with parishioners and support them in a variety of ways. We pay tribute to all our partsh staff and
leaders for their commitment, faith and willingness to adapt to changing circumstances and their support in
shaping worship and ministry. The Contact magazine was a means of communication and contact to the
wider church family.
The impact of the large number of deaths in recent years has been deeply felt in families, parish
organisations and Sunday worship. One additional consequence has been the impact on giving to the life of
the parish, as we saw the FWO declining in 2021, but the giving to the Tower Fund has been amazing and
OUT FWO showed an increase in 2022. The use of standing orders by parishioners has meant that ￿VIng has
been more sustained, particularly over the summer months. Parishioners were generous to a number of
projects and missions including Baby Basics, Lisburn Foodbank and Salvation Arniy.
The Trustees have put in place strong policies to mitigate any potential hann to anyone partaking in Church
activities and have a child protection policy in place under the control of our Safeguarding Trust panel. Our
Trustees ensure that the buildings are well maintained and meet the required safety standards.
Amidst all the challenges, community and the gathering together has been so important in a post-covid
society allowing people to b¢ together. This was seen on Mothering Sunday when we had refreshments
outside the church doors, when we gatbered to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June with a service
and party in the hall, a sponsored walk in June for all ages, the first Messy Church in September to reach out
to young families with a further one in early December. It was encouraging to see new people attending and
valuing this worship in the hall. This complements our uniformed parish organisations working with
children, Tots Together for pre-school children. (which again draws in people from the community), and our
JAM group for P7-Y l O young people who went to the diocesan weekend at Castlewellan castle.
Global connections:
We continued to pray into the many partnerships, particularly in Uganda and BurundÉ. The church family
gathered in February to celebrate l O years of partnership with St Apollo school and Fields of Life. The rector
launched his book 'Never Lose Hope, in July, telling the story of this partnership. In early auiumn, we held a
couple of meetings to explore a potential visit to Uganda in February 2023. Parishioners continue to sponsor
children at St Apollo.
Wc were delighted to host Bishop Aime Joseph and Mama Benigne from Gitega Diocese, Burundi in August
for a couple of days as they shared in parish life. They joined with other churches in our city for a picnic in
Wallace Park in the early afternoon.
Our Harvest Appeal supported the local foodbank and clergy training in Uganda, as well as supporting
charities and agencies locally and globally.
Page 3

Christ Church Lisburn
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
We started the year with net current assets of £439,134. Our income for the year was £394,755 and our total
expenses were £570,419. This gave us a net deficit of £175,961, after adjustments for depreciation and
transfers between funds and leaves us with net current assets of £266,744 on 31 December 2022.
You will see from the accounts that we are showing a deficit this year, and this is primarily due to
completing the renovation to the Church Tower and restoring the church to a safe building for the promotion
of our important message. Due to the overwhelming support of parishioners however, we have paid for all
the work and have ended in a very strong f￿anCIal position going forward.
Reserves policy
The Trustees, are aware of the importance of keeping sufficient monetary reserves in our general account to
enable good control on cash flow and to meet the demands of the day-to-day running of the church.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
Chapter I I l of the Constittition of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisations. The
select Vesty members are the Charity Trustees.
Going Concern:
The trustees have reviewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequate funds in
place to ensure that the parish can continue its activities and the financial statements for the year 2022 can be
signed off as a going concern.
Recruitment and appointment of select vestry (trustees)
All members of the Church of Ireland who are over the age of 18 and are either resident within the parish or
live elsewhere but have been accustomed members of the congregation for at least three months, may
register as members of the general vesty of the parish, allowing them to attend and vote at meetings of the
general vestry and to stand for election to the select vestry. Meetings of the general vesty are held at least
once a year. The select vestry is elected as part of the General Vesty meeting. The Select Vestry will hold
their positions foT a period of one year. Select Vesty membeis may be re-elected annually and there is no
limit on the number of ternis that may be served.
Organisational structure
The select Vestry is responsible for the day-to-day management of the parish. The select vesty consists of
the members of the clergy serving in the parish, any curate assistant. the chutchwardens and generally not
more than twelve other members of the general vestry elected at the Easter Vestry meeting.
The Select vestry is chaired by the incumbent or other member of the clergy officiating in the parish. Select
vestry members are responsible for making decisions on matters of general concern and importance to the
parish including how parish funds are to be applied.
Tbe select vestry meets at times fixed by members or by the diocesan synod. Special meetings may be
convened at any time by the chairperson or the churchwardens. In 2022 the select vesty met 12 times during
the year
Page 4

Christ Church Lisburn
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity number
101245
Principal address
Parish Offtce
Hillsborough Road
Lisbum
Co. Antrim
BT28 IJL
Trustees
Ven Paul Dundas - Chair
Mrs Beth Harris
Mr Stephen Long- Hon. Secretary
Mr Ivan Anderson
Mr David Bodell- Hon Treasurer
Mr Johnston Boyle
Mrs Valerie Christy
Mr Thomas Ringland
Mr Eric Thompson
Mr Mervyn Dougherty
Mr Jack Craig
Rev Derek Harrington - Curate
Mrs Janice Thompson
Mr Kevin Thompson
Mr Alex Henderson
Mrs Vera Hewitt
Independent Examiner
Mccleary & Company Ltd
Chartered Accountants
Garvey Studi05
14 Longstone Street
Lisburn
Co. Antrim
BT28 ITP
Bankers
Danskc Bank
62-66 Bow Street
Lisburn
Co. Antrim
BT28 IYS
Page 5

Christ Church Lisburn
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
Approved by order of the board of trustees on l O May 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
Mr David Bodell - Trustee
Page 6