Seagoe Pailsh Church Page 3 Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022 The trustees present the annual report and accounts for Sea8oe Parish Church for the year ended 31 December 2022. Obhectives and Artlvltles The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion. The principal function of Seagoe Church of Ireland Parish is to 5UPPOrt the advancement of the Chrlstian religion by promoting. through the work of Seagoe Parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral. evangellstic, social and ecumenical. Being open to and engaging with society as a whole and offering SUPPOrt for those needing help are fundamental to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianity. As a result of activity in the pursult of the advancement of the Christian rellgion, Seagoe Church of Ireland Parish has custody of property and of records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance of which is undertaken by the Select Vestry of the Seagoe Church of Ireland Parish. Achlevements, Performance & Publlc Benefft The prlmary purpose of Seagoe Parish 15 to promote the advancement of Christian religion and in particular the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrine and practice of the Church of Ireland. A summary of the activities undertaken by the charity to further its purposes in 2023 are as follows:_ We maintain the 1814 parish church, the 1859 Seagoe Old School, the 19305 Rectory (Upper Church Lane). the 1957 St Patrick's Hall IPrincess Way) and the 2CQ8 Parish Centre. The churchyard adjoining the church dates back to the 1930s. In 2022, soclal dlstancing restrictions contlnued throughout January and February, however, were relaxed gradually from March. Throughout the year a weekly service continued to be available online. Attendance at these services were 11,076 people an Increase from 6,309 people in 2021 however a decrease compared to 15,477 in 2019. We also held a weekly mid-week service, and other occasional services not on a Sunday. Attendance at these services were 1.276 people up from $04 people in 2021 and from 638 people in 2020 down from 2,177 in 2019. We provided 32 funeral services for famllles with associated pastoral support and follow up. Seven Baptisms took place either durin8 our main Sunday services or on other occasional dates not on a Sundav. SIX Marrlages took place on other occasional dates not on a Sunday. Havin8 established a misslonary Ilnk with Shyogwe Diotese in 2017 when four Rwandans vlsited the parish for a week, six Seagoe parishioners reciprocated the link by visiting Rwanda in August 2018, We continued to SUPPOrt our link with Shyogwe Diocese in Rwanda through CMSI. In addition to receiving regular updates from the Dio¢e5e, our mi55ion team were in regular contact with Cler8y and people in Shyogwe through the use of social media. We continued to raise funds to support the link, and the mlssion team encouraged the Parish to engage more fully with the link. In 2022 the parish raised £375 to help Zlon Education Centre in Shyogwe Diocese, Rwanda. Throughout the year we invited a few representatives of some of the organisations we sUPPOrt to address us at Church services. We provided a number of special services throughout the year that included Remembrance Day, Harvest, Easter, Christmas, CL&CGB Enrolment etc. all of these drew larger congregations than normal. All these services provide opportunity for Christian teachin& fellowship, and social engagement. The staff and others of the parish offered a range of pastoral engagements to parishioners in their homes. An unquantifiable number of informal visits were made by church members to people in their homes, h05Pital, and nur5in8 homes. The above vi51ts provide support and Christian ministry for a large number of people.
Seagoe Parlsh Church Page 4 Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 20221continued} During 2022, we produced and delivered weeklythree audio CD recording5 of the main Sunday Service to members ofthe congregation whowere notableto attend church.Throughout 2022 we continued to live stream the main service and make a recording available thereafter on our youtube channel and on facebook. In 2022 our youtube channel Sea8oeParish was viewed as a thumbnail 171,900 times, our vide05 viewed 16,566 times for 2,607 hours by 250 sub5criber5. We printed three magazine editions throughout the year, which were distributed to 650 homes to promote our activitie5. Unlike 2021 weekly announcement sheets were produced. This publicity provides opportunity for Christian teachin& advice on what is happenlng In the Church and the wider Christian community. We have a website seagoe.co.uk. Our facebook pa8e facebook.comlseagoeparish has 1,700 followers. We also have an archive website seagoearchives.uk which contains some records from the periods 1672 1734 and 1906 1942. In 2022 it was accessed 2,893 times with 11,426 page views from 38 countries around the world. We were able to meet for regular prayer meetings and fellowship groups through the year which provided useful contatt, fellowship and Christian development. Our outreach work Into Killlcomalne estate has contlnued through Killicomalne Community Church, which is led by Ordained Local Minister, Revd Jim Fleming. There is a weekly Sunday evening gathering in Killlcomaine Community Centre in the form of a 'fresh expresslon, of church. Regular Alpha Courses are run through the year {normally three} and follow up discipleship groups run either in the Community Centre or in 'Victor's Place, which is a community house the church use in the estate. There are weekly Men's and Women's Clubs and a Friday afternoon Bible Studv. Killlcomaine Community Church partners with Christians Against Poverty (CAP) to deliver free debt help to the Portadown area and also runs Llfe Skllls and Job Club courses for CAP. We also run Peaced Together courses for women which, through craft, help with mental health issues. Revd Jim Flemin8 is also church of Ireland Chaplain In Lurgan Hospital. We have two Parent and Toddler groups for the support of parents or carers, The groups met throughout the year with about 30 adults and 35 children attendin8 each week. Christian teaching for children is provided by Sunday Li8ht {Sunday School) throughout the year, with the exceptlon of the summer months. Throughout the year we met on Sunday mornings. Unfortunately, numbers participating have reduced to 25 children. Throughout the year Iwith the exclusion of two month summer break. and Chrlstmas break) we provided a twice monthly Youth Fellowship for teenagers to learn more about the falth; an average of 8 teenagers attended. At all meetings there were at least two leaders. Young people benefit from friendship, mentoring, and knowledge of the falth. One Sunday mornlng a month we provide a cafe youth church whlch attracts on average about 12 young people. Following Covid, clergy have returned to led assemblies In three of the four primary Schools in the area, however they have not restarted in Killicomaine Junior Hi8h School. Assemblies and class teaching supplement and reinforce the Christlan teachlng thatyoung people receive at home, in school and in Church. Our Church Youth Work and Seagoe Youth Group contlnue to combine to offer a wide range of meaningful engagements for young people in two youth centres. We provided a Sunday school, Youth Fellowship, Cafe Youth Church. Church Lads Brigade and two Church Girls Brigade groups, in addition to a wide variety of open youth groups overseen by the staff of Seagoe Youth Group. In addition to the regular weekly activities there were additional Holiday Bible Clubs and an extensive summer program of activities. We hold Messy Church Parties at Easter. the end of October, and Christmas. Hundreds of young people from the Church and wider community engaged with us. The above events provide much needed opportunities for safe friendship and p051tive peer development. faith teaching and life skill development. inclusion of marginalised young people, integration of people from other countries and cultures. Throughout the year we held a weekly bowlin8 club which has increased in number. Usually between 18 and 24 people attending to provide friendship and exercise.
Seagoe Parlsh Church Page 5 Trustee5' Annual Report for the year ended 31 December Z022 (contlnued) The men's group normally meets 8 to 10 times a year with at least 10 attending. The group keep in touch in an active WhatsApp group. From September, a new group called Rubies was formed and is a women's ministry in church reaching ladies of all ages. The leadership group consists of six parishioners. Activities included a weekly walk in September. Visitin8 speaker5 and parishioners spoke on subjerts including Breast Cancer, Faith and Fitness, Fashion and Faith, Beauty, Floral workshop. Activities included a movie night, a jewellery sale and a shopping trip. Many of the meetings involved individua15 sharing their faith, singing and testimonies. On average approximately 50 ladies attended each week. The group is open to both parishioners and non-parishioner. Participants have reported becoming Christians and also experienced an increase In faith. The group 5UPPOrted the charities Hope and Light and Flourish Nl who support those who have been a victim of human traff1cking. Normally the Clergy continue to actlvely engage wlth their counterparts from other denomination5 for fellowship, sharln8 and planning a variety of inter-church events throughout the year in the town. These gatherings meet in our premises and provlde opportunities for ecumenism. fellowshlp, friendship and challen8e to engage with difference. The group In turn organise joint services and event5 throughout the year. These provided opportunities for people from different backgrounds to come together for friendship. fellowship, combined witness and the breaking down of barriers. Approximately 200 people would have been engaged through the year at the various events. Groups were organi5ed to attend a variety of external events such as the Bishop's Bible week, quiet days, mission events and social outings. Such events gather community, help people engage with one another, provide Christian teachlng etc. We provided Safeguarding tralnlng for paid and volunteer leaders who work with children and young people. All our Youth Work is carefully directed by the Select Vestry in ensuring that the Safeguarding Trust guidelines of the Church of Ireland are made know and adhered to. The staff and volunteers avall of regular on8oin8 trainln8. Flnanclal Revlew The maln source of income is derived from Free Will Offering Envelopes. The Flnancial Statements show a surplus of £98,06812021- £101,849) for the year. Golng 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 Parlsh can continue its activities and the financial statements for the year end 31 December 2022 can be signed off as a going concern. Strurtuye, Governance and Management Governlng Document and Con5tltutlon of the Charfty Chapter 111 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishe5 and Parochial Organisation. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees Recruftment and Appolntment of Select Vestry All members of the Church of Ireland who aged 18 or over and are either resident within the parish or live elsewhere but have been accustomed members ofthecongregation, may register as members of the General Vestry of the parlsh, 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 Vestry are held at least once a year. The Select Vestry is elected as part of this General Vestry meeting. The Select Vestry will hold their positions for a period of one year. Select Vestry members may be re-elected annually and there is no limit on the number ofterm5 which may be served.
Sea£oe Parish Church Page 6 Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 202Z {contlnued) Pay and remuneration The incumbent and curate assistants receive a stipend together with office and locomotory allowances in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. Organlsatlonal Strurture The Select Vestry is responsible for the day to day management of the parish. The Select Vestry consists of the members of the clergy Seing in the parish, the churchwarden5, the glebewardens and up to a maximum of 12 other members of the General Vestry elected at the General Vestry. The Select Vestry is normally 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 deciding how parlsh funds are to be applied. The Select Vestry meets at tlmes flxed by the members. Special meetin8s may be convened at any time by the chalrperson or the churchwardens. In 2022 the Select Vestry meet 11 times during the year and the average attendance was 73%. Statement of Trustees, Responslbllltles The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Annual Report and the financial statements In accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standard5 Iunited Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), The law applScable to charlties in the Northern Ireland requlres the trustees to prepare financial statements for each flnancial year which glve a true and fair view of the state of affalrs of the charity and of the incoming resources and appllcation of resource5 of the charity for that perlod. In preparin8 these financlal statements, the trustees are required to.. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 IFRS 1021,. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent,. state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures being disclosed and explained in the financlal statements,. and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless It Is Inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue as a golng concern. The trustees are responsible for keepinE accounting records that dlsclose with reasonable accuracy at any tirne the financial P051tion of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act {Northern Ireland) 2008, the Charitie5 (Accounts and Reports) Regulations INorthern Ireland) 2015 and the provision of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland. They are also responsible for safeguardin8 the asset5 of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other Irre8ulartieS.
Seagoe Parish Church Page 7 TTUStees' Annual Report for the year ended 31 Dember 20221contlnued) Statement as to d15c105ure to our examiners In so far as the trustees are aware at the timing of approving our trustees, annual report: there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's examiner is unaware; and the trustees have taken all step5 that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's examiner is aware of that information. Independent Examlners The examiner, Barry Thompson and Company, have indicated their willingness to continue in office, and a resolution concerning their reappointment was proposed and accepted at the Annual Easter Vestry Meeting. On Behalf of the Trustees Mr Phlllp Holland (Treasurer) Mrs Phyllls Rl¢hardson (Secretary) Date.. 15 May 2023