2022-12-31-annual-report - Hillsborough/Hillsborough/St. Malachy's/Down & Dromore/Church of Ireland

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2022 Trustees' Report

for St Malachy's Parish Church, Hillsborough as required by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough

Reference and administrative details

Charity Name: St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough

Charity Registration Number: 101674

Contact Address: Church Office The Downshire Centre Main Street Hillsborough BT26 6AE

Trustees

From 1 January to 24 April 2022 the Trustees comprised: Ken Allen, Revd Jonathan Brown, Revd Canon Dr Bryan Follis, Lesley Harvey, Brian Hatwell, Letty Lucas, Nigel McCarthy, Gareth McCaw, Dermott McCurdy, Alan Richardson, Miranda Reid, Stephen Reid, Penny Scott, Brian Sparkes, Karen Topping, and Jenny Williams.

From 24 April until 31 December 2022, the Trustees comprised: Ken Allen, Revd Jonathan Brown (until 9 June) Andrew Cunningham, Revd Canon Dr Bryan Follis, Lesley Harvey, Letty Lucas, Nigel McCarthy, Gareth McCaw, Dermott McCurdy, Gareth McGonigle, Miranda Reid, Alan Richardson, Stephen Robinson, Penny Scott, Brian Sparkes, Karen Topping, June Walker and Jenny Williams.

Principal Office-bearers

Clergy: Rector – Rev Canon Dr Bryan Follis Hon Secretary: Mrs Letty Lucas Hon Treasurer: Dr Penny Scott

Rector’s Church Warden: June Walker People’s Church Warden: Stephen Robinson

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022

The Trustees present St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Objectives and Activities

The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion.

The principal function of St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough (often referred to as Hillsborough Parish Church) is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. Being open to and engaging with society 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 pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough 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 St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough.

Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit

To help achieve the advancement of the Christian religion and provide public benefit, the Select Vestry of St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough, continued to support the efforts of our Ministry Team in sharing the truth and love of Christ in our community.

During the first quarter of 2022, COVID regulations continued to require those attending public worship to wear a face mask. This adversely impacted upon our ministry in that some, perceiving an on-going threat to their health, stayed away from Church. The wearing of face masks and the constant washing of hands also made building relationships more challenging and further impeded our efforts to build meaningful community as a Church.

However, the easing of restrictions allowed us to renew our efforts to deepen relationships within Church and also to reach out once again into the wider community and actively welcome new people into our Church. It is therefore encouraging to note a healthy increase in weekly attendance at Sunday Services during the later part of 2022. We also are delighted to have welcomed several new families (from a variety of backgrounds) who choose to join our Church.

As part of our desire to welcome people from all backgrounds, we held a weekend of events to celebrate St Patrick and our Irish heritage. A Ceilidh attracted a large number of parishioners and guests while our Family Service on the Sunday morning was held outside in the grounds of the church. Children and their parents followed a St Patrick’s Trail exploring the Celtic heritage of the Church. Then that evening, a Celtic Praise Service, featuring our own Praise Band and some guest Irish folk musicians, led a large congregation in worship.

To mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, we held a special ‘Songs of Praise’ Service on Friday 3 June. This was followed immediately afterwards by afternoon tea in the Parish Centre. Both the Service and afternoon tea was geared towards our senior members and their friends from the wider community. It was great to see some parishioners who had previously been sheltering at home because of COVID, now feel able to venture out and attend these events.

Over the Jubilee weekend we also organised a Royal Bake-off and parishioners of all ages took part in this competition. The Church also played an active part in the Jubilee celebrations of the wider local community.

Following the appointment of Julie Currie to the new post of Young Families Pastor, a range of activities were organised and held over the next few months. These events - including a Family Weekend at the Kilbroney Centre in Rostrevor - were designed to nurture the young people in the Christian faith and support parents. It was also encouraging that with the easing of COVID restrictions, we once again held a very successful Holiday Bible Club in late July for children of Primary School age.

Following the appointment of our Curate, Revd Jonathan Brown as Rector of Maghera on 7 June, we appointed Lynn McFarland to serve (part-time) as Pastoral Associate with a particular responsibility for the care of our senior parishioners. We also appointed a Youth Intern, Joel Martin, who was later succeeded by Ben-Judah Simpson and Simon Kinnen, to help out (on a part-time basis) in building deeper relationships with teenagers.

As COVID restrictions formally eased, it became more obvious just how much emotional damage had been inflicted upon parishioners by the sustained isolation and disruption of normal social and spiritual activities. Many young people struggled with higher levels of anxiety while a number of pensioners had suffered depression. In reaching out to people of all ages, we have as a Church actively sought to involve people in various activities

and Services. For example, our weekly ‘Coffee & Chat’ has afforded pensioners a warm welcome where they can meet up with others. Meanwhile, our Rector has devoted more time to the pastoral counselling of those individuals or families struggling with different types of problems.

Our Sunday Services have been enriched by the worship at our main 10:30 Service following the appointment of Matt Good, our new Music Director. This engaging worship, along with Bible teaching (by the members of our Ministry Team) which is faithful but also pastorally relevant has helped draw in and bless people, furthermore, the ministry to children and young people linked to this 10:30 Service has seen sustained growth and development during 2022.

In addition to ensuring that each Sunday Service is to a high standard, we have also sought to stage special Services to connect with the wider community. Our partnership with the local primary school was foundational in helping ensure a highly successful Christingle Service. And for the first time since COVID, we were able to hold a full scale Carol Service. Both events were widely advertised in the local community and the church was filled to complete capacity on both occasions.

As well as these show-case Services, we have also continued to carry out week by week a ministry to individuals. Considerable time has been invested with those who have spiritual questions or concerns along with those struggling with a pastoral problem. As the cost of living crisis has become more evident, the Rector’s Discretionary Fund has provided support to individuals and families going through difficulties.

Looking back on 2022, the Trustees believe that it was a year in which St Malachy’s Church meaningfully delivered its aims and objectives. St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for NI guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the parish objectives, as well as providing public benefit to the wider community.

Financial Review

The overall income in 2022 was £449,400, significantly up from £316,368 in 2021. This was mainly due to a very generous legacy from the late John Cochrane of £122,000: for which we record our sincere thanks. The remaining increase of almost £12,000 came from a rise in the voluntary giving of our members.

Given the growing financial pressure from the rising cost of living, we are very grateful to our parishioners for their faithful support.

These accounts have been prepared on a ‘Going Concern’ basis and there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that act significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The Trustees are operating a Reserves policy whereby unrestricted funds held by the charity will cover ten weeks of unrestricted resources expended. For this purpose, unrestricted funds exclude fixed assets and unrestricted resources expended excludes depreciation. The Trustees believe that this level of reserves would be sufficient to continue operating the charity should there be a significant drop in funding.

As at the end of December 2022 unrestricted funds covered 25.7 weeks of unrestricted resources expended and exceed the required policy above by 15.7 weeks.

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 St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough can continue its activities for the next 12 months and that the financial statements for the year end 2022 can be signed off as a going concern.

Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity

Chapter III of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisation. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees.

Recruitment and Appointment of Select Vestry

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 Vestry 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 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 of terms which may be served.

Pay and remuneration

The Rector and Curate receive a stipend and office and locomotory allowances in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. Pension contributions and Employees’ National Insurance are also paid in accordance with Diocesan recommendations.

The Young Families’ Pastor received a salary based upon diocesan staff scales while the Sexton, Church Administrator, Youth Interns, Cleaner and Music Director receive salaries commensurate with their role and experience.

Organisational Structure

The Select Vestry is responsible for the day to day management of the parish. The Select Vestry consists of the member of the clergy serving in the parish, any curate assistant (‘the curate’), the church wardens, the glebe wardens and generally not more than twelve other members of the General Vestry elected at the Annual General 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 deciding how parish funds are to be applied.

The Select Vestry meets at times fixed by the members or by the Diocesan Synod. Special meetings may be convened at any time by the chairperson or by the Church Wardens. In 2022, the Select Vestry of St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough met 9 times during the year and the average attendance was 87%

Statement of Trustees Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statement in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year.

Under that law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity and of the statement of financial activities of the charity for that period.

In preparing these financial, statements, the Trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
make judgments and estimates that they are reasonable and prudent.
state whether the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards and identify the standards in question, subject to any material departures being disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Parish will continue as a going concern.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Parish’s transactions and disclosure with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Parish and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and the provision of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Parish and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Statement as to disclosure to our independent examiners

In so far as the Trustees of St Malachy’s Parish Church, Hillsborough, are aware at the timing of approving our Trustees’ Annual Report:

there is no relevant information of which the independent examiners are unaware; and
the Trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any information relevant to the independent examination and to establish that the independent examiners are aware of that information.

Independent Examiners

The independent examiner Mrs Judith Shortall has indicated her willingness to continue in office, and a resolution concerning reappointment was proposed and approved at the Annual Vestry Meeting.

On behalf of the Trustees

Revd Canon Dr Bryan Follis Rector & Chairman

Mrs Letty Lucas Hon. Secretary

25 April 2023