## TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 

## ST. JOHNS PARISH CHURCH STONEYFORD (NIC101441) 

C/o Hon. Treasurer Jason McCourt 29 The Beeches Manor Lisburn BT28 3PL 

## 1[ST] JANUARY 2023 – 31[ST] December 2023 

## **Trustees:** 

Rev. John Farr, Mrs Jennifer Kennedy, Mr Jason McCourt, Mrs Annie McDonald, Mrs Norma Parker, Mr Terrence Smyth, Miss Rebecca Smyth, Mr Hall McCourt, Mrs Vera McCourt, Mr Desmond McCourt, Mrs Zelda Hearst, Mrs Donna Morrow, Mrs Mae Finlay and Mr Owen Finlay, Ms Avril McCleery, Mr Barrie King and Mr Paul Bickerstaff. 

## **Finances:** 

Following all the transactions of the running of St. Johns Stoneyford the accounts at the end of the year as follows: 

## **Current Account - £25,333 credit.** 

## **St. James Place Unit Trust - £85,602** 

The Church is still live streaming services as it has received encouraging feedback on viewing numbers; this is done via our Facebook account. 

The security and safeguarding of all monies is important to the Trustees and all the money is counted and taken to the Bank under dual control. 

## **Management:** 

The Finances are managed by the Treasurer who reports back to the 17 Trustees at Finance and Vestry meetings on a monthly basis or in between if necessary. Vestry members are elected each year at the annual Easter Vestry. 

## **Purpose:** 

The principal function is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting through the work of the Parish 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 tenets of Christianity. As a result of activity in pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, the Parish has custody of a large body of records, materials and artifacts of significance to the cultural heritage, the maintenance of which is undertaken by the Parish as a secondary charitable purpose. 



## **Public Benefit:** 

The charity Trustees have complied with their duties in line with the Commission’s Public Benefit statutory guidance. 

St. John’s Parish and Gartree Parish have been grouped together under a single cure. This was done on the direction of the Bishop of Down and Connor. 

Regular worship and reaching out into the community as well as other activities both social and fundraising have been carried out though the year to fulfil our statement of Public Benefit. With the normalisation of Sunday services the Holiday Bible Club was able to return and a good response and support was enjoyed by the Stoneyford Community. 

The church community came together to celebrate His Majesty King Charles’s coronation. 

Other retiring collections have been undertaken to support the following that in turn pass it on to benefit those who are less fortunate: 

Christian Aid, Devine Healing Ministries, Church Mission Society Ireland (CMS), Royal British Legion and Crosslinks.