TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
ST. JOHNS PARISH CHURCH STONEYFORD (NIC101441) C/o Hon. Treasurer Jason McCourt 29 The Beeches Manor Lisburn BT28 3PL
15" JANUARY 2025 — 315" December 2025
Trustees:
Rev. John Farr, Mrs Jennifer Kennedy, Mr Jason McCourt, Mrs Norma Parker, Mr Terrence Smyth, Miss Rebecca Smyth, Mr Desmond McCourt, Mrs Donna Morrow, Mrs Mae Finlay and Mr Owen Finlay, Ms Avril McCleery, Mr Barrie King, Mrs Pamela Geddis, Mrs Sharon Harbinson, Mrs Nicola McCann, Mr Peter Hunt and Mr Al Beattie.
Finances:
Following all the transactions of the running of St. Johns Stoneyford the accounts at the end of the year as follows:
Current Account - £48,067 credit.
St. James Place Unit Trust - £102,940
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 16 Trustees at Finance and Vestry meetings monthly or in between if necessary. Vestry members are elected each year at the annual Easter Vestry.
The Church and the church hall suffered minor damage to the roof in this years severe weather and repairs are ongoing.
Activities:
The Church is still live streaming services as it has received encouraging feedback on viewing numbers; this is done via our Facebook account.
The church hall and the Stoneyford community have recently benefited from a new hall user, Mrs Rachel Dornan who is teaching a Pilates class twice a week. The church hall is also used by Stoneyford Community Association who run various activities and events through the year.
Purpose:
The principal function is to support the advancement ofthe 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.
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.
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STONEYFORD PARISH ;ST JOHN’S CHURCH
14 April 2026
Dear Parishioners,
I would like to thank you for your continuing support for myself and Angla over the past year, especially during my recent illness. I was really overwhelmed by your kind messages and Prayers and support for Angela. I testify that they are bearing fruit and assure you of my ongoing commitment to Stoneyford Parish going forward. I would especially like to thank the wardens, Donna, Zelda, Dessie and Terence, Treasurer, Jason, Secretary, Jennifer and all the members of the Select Vestry who have been leading the Church here in Stoneyford.
Thanks go to our Organist Rosemary who retired after around 30 years of service to the Parish last Autumn, we wish her well in her retirement, We are very blessed to have a team of Musicians in Meta, Shannon, Alistair, Andrew and Lucy who have taken over from Rosemary in this Ministry going forward. Lucy completed her Organ Scholarship through the Church of [reland last year.
I would also like to take the time to thank those whose ministry in the Church is not as obvious. Those who keep the grass cut in the graveyard and grounds, keep the graveyard regulated, clean the church and hall, help with the Summer Kids club etc. etc., The ‘Lawn Rangers’ headed by Zelda and her team of volunteers have continued the maintenance of the Church grounds for the past year. Others are involved in the cleaning and maintenance of the Church and Hall. Fantastic Ministries which all can appreciate and opportunities for everyone to get involved in serving in the church.
The excellent giving in Stoneyford continues as is the tradition in this hard-working Parish allowing the increase of God’s Kingdom both in the fabric of the buildings and in the Gospel mission. St John’s continues to work with Mission Partners such as Christian Aid, CMS, CEF and Crosslinks. To share in the wider work of Christ’s church incarnate here on earth.
I would like to pay tribute to the work of the Stoneyford Community and Youth Association for the great seniors’ club that they run in the Parish Hall. I know that many
of our members enjoy participating in these activities along with the wider community. We are always glad to support them in their events and activities in the Community when we can.
We still have good numbers tuning into our services online, a valuable resource for those unable to get to Church for Sunday services, Funerals and Weddings. I would like to thank all those who have made this continuing ministry possible, in particular, Jason, Jennifer, Lyndsey, Sarah, Claire, Dessie, Caroline and Rebecca for their time and talents. We are open to more Volunteers for these jobs.
On a sadder note, we have had 5 deaths in the Parish over the past year, Brendon Leckey, Margaret Hilditch nee McCourt, Stanley Lowrey, Ruby Willis and Wallace McMillan, Vicars church warden for over 20 years. Their families are still very much in our thoughts and prayers. New members through Baptism are Luna McFarland, Amber Rooney and Finley Ard. It was great to see Gareth and Debbie McCourt and Jonny and Lauren Pierce joined in Holy Matrimony.
We also ran an ‘Alpha Course along with Gartree, Glenavy and St Joseph’s Parishes. I know that many of our members enjoyed taking part and even leading in the Project.
It just leaves me to wish you all a blessed year to come in St John’s, Stoneyford.
“On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 16
Yours in Christ,
Reverend John Farr, 60 Belfast Road, Glenavy, Co. Antrim, BT29 4HR J20far@hotmail.com Tel.: 07808 399579