Charities ## **Upper Kilwarlin** **Trustees’ Annual report and Statement of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities For the year ended 31 December 2023** **Charities Number: NIC101677** ## **Upper Kilwarlin** **Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023** ## **Contents** References and administrative details of the Charity Trustees’ report Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees Receipts and payments account Statement of assets and liabilities Notes to the financial statements ## **Upper Kilwarlin** ## **References and administrative details** Charity Name: Charity Registration Number: Contact Address: ## **Trustees** Minister in Charge Rev Canon Ray Sathyaraj Mr.Stephen Gibson Mr John C Clarke (Treasurer) Mr. James Woods (Secretary) Mr Richard McCaw Mrs Olwyn Thomas (Assistant Treasurer) Mrs Maureen Clarke Mr.Roy Humphries Mr Alan Woods Mr Graham Knowles Mr Paul Riley (Rector's Warden) Mr Kevin Thomas ## **Principal Office-bearers** Clergy: Rev Canon Raj Sathyaraj Church Treasurer: Mr John C Clarke Church Warden- Clergy: Mr Paul Riley Church Warden - People: Mr James T Woods ## **Independent Auditor** Karen Brooks ACMA 71 Orangefield Avenue Belfast BT5 6DH ## **Bankers** Danske Bank Donegall Square West Belfast BT1 6JS ## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023** The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for the Best Church for the year ended 31 December 2023. ## **Objectives and Activities** The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion. The principal function of the St.John’s Church of Ireland Parish is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through thework of the St.John’s Church of IrelandParish thewhole missionof theChurch, pastoral, evangelistic, socialandecumenical. Beingopen to andengaging withsociety asa whole and offering support for those needing help are fundamental to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianity. Asaresult of activityin thepursuit of the advancement of theChristian religion, the St.John’s Church of Ireland Parish has custody of propertyand of records, materialsandartefacts of significance to thecultural andreligious heritage andmaintenance of whichis undertaken bytheselect vestry of the St.John’s Church of Ireland Parish. ## **Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit** **Worship and prayer,** is facilitated by Sunday Services which are held every week at St.John’s Church, on the first Sunday inthe monthHoly Communionis celebratedandafamily serviceis heldon thethird Sundayinthemonth. Additionalservices are held on special occasions including Easterand Christmas with thanksgiving services at Harvest in keeping with our rural parish these receive considerable wider community support. **Pastoral care,** the Rector provides such to all parishioners and in particular to those who are suffering illness or who are under stress through peculiar circumstances. This includes regular visits to parishioners nearing the end of their time on earth. Visits to the elderly and infirm, those unable to attendtheir church are also carried out on a regular basis. This was continued by cover from the Diocesan Office when the Rector himself became ill in October. This includes Funerals and the associated Thanksgiving Services for parishioners who have passed away. **Mission andoutreach work,** at home missionis pursued througha small craft groupwhich gathers people from within andwithout thechurch parish to joinin activities which on occasion contribute to events within the Church’s calendar year. St.John’s Church are involved in the support of the Diocese of Maridi in South Sudan with links through the Church Missionary Society (CMS) donating funds when possible and supporting through prayer. **Parish groups,** cover a number of distinct areas;- Sunday School which is held during the educational year before Sunday Morning Services for 45 minutes. Children are provided with guidance and activities as a basis to nurture life in the Christian ideal and on the third Sunday of each month take an active part in Family Service Mothers Union which represents both St.John’s Parish and our nearby sister church of St.James where the aim is to meet the objectives of Mothers Union in Ireland. With thirteen active enrolled members, guest speakers are invited to meetings held every month in alternate church venues. The committee organises a programme which is designed to encourage, educate, raise awareness of social issues both locally and of the worldwide community, and in the spirit of Christian fellowship, support others both prayerfully and tangibly. The members also continue to cement links with other branches, as well as attending area services and council meetings. One of the main aims for the forthcoming year is to encourage more members from both Parishes to attend Mothers Union. St. John's Women’s Institute (W.I.) has a close attachment to the church where the objectives of the organisation are progressed.. The W.I. has contributed to events run by St.John’s Parish involving not only members of the Church, but also members of the local area The Hillsborough Healer Prayer Group which is affiliated with Churches Ministry of Healing is held in St Johns Parish and draws people from our sister church St James and St Malachy’s Parish Hillsborough, as well as intercessors from other denominations. The Group meets on a monthly basis to provide support to those who are sick through prayer. At least twice a year we have special speaker who comes to the meeting and speaks on the subject of prayer. We give annually to the Churches Ministry of Healing. The MissionCommittee whichrepresents both St.John’s Parish andour nearbysisterchurch of St.Jameswhere theobjectives of missionare progressed.Ideas for events are raised a progamme is drafted and people nominated to take forward those agreed for the year ahead. These always include some funds being set aside for other Christian charitable causes. Special events which took place during the year included a coffee morning in the nearby Ballygowan Mission Hall. **Christian witness and outreach** are delivered through regular support to various charities Christian Aid, Tear Fund, Mission to Seafarers, BSR, BCMS Crosslinks, Church Missionary Society, Church’s Ministry of Healing, NI Hospice, Cystic Fibrosis, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust (Children’s play fund), Diocesan Board of Education and Church Army. Many responding with presentations of their work to the congregation at our Morning Service. The **Child protection Policy** of St.John’s Church is in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Safeguarding Turst ## **Statement of compliance with the Charity Commission for NI guidance on Public Benefit** The Parish has given careful consideration to the CharityCommission forNorthern Ireland’sguidance on public benefit to ensurethat theactives enteredinto during the year have helped to achieve the Parish’s objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit. **Financial Review** Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £150,400, including voluntary donations of £3,167 from Gift Aid . The Glebe Land continues to be let out and provided a gross income of £1,800 in 2023. In addition there were receipts on restricted funds of £56,346, including voluntary donations of £580 from Gift Aid, as well as fund raising/donations/transfers for the Parochial hall fund. The planned giving through envelopes and bankers orders decreased by £1,422 (4%) and GiftAid decreasedby £1,860(33%). Total income (excludingany transfers) increased by 159%. This is primarily due to the receipt of Parishioners Gifts (£99,372) and Grant Income (£40,500). £41,888 was spent from unrestricted funds to provide Christian ministry. This included Stipend payments of £12,747 in relation to the Rectors salary. The sum that each parish has to pay in relation to the Rectors Salary, Rectory and Glebe Land cost are determined by a formula based on the number of families per church. The split is currently 34/66 with St Johns paying the greater share. The net result forthe year, excluding restricted receipts/payments, wasa surplus of £108,512, which is a significant increase on the previousyears surplus of £17,414. This increase is due to the receipt of Parishioners Gifts (£99,372). ## **Going Concern** The trustees have reviewed thebudgets forthe year ahead andare satisfiedthat thereare adequatefunds inplace to ensure thatthe Parish can continueits activities and the financial statements for the year ended 2023 can be signed off as a going concern. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ## _**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 (Trustees)**_ All membersof theChurch of Irelandwho are over theageof 18 andare either residentwithintheparish orlive elsewherebuthavebeen accustomedmembers 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. Meetingsof thegeneral vestryare heldat least once ayear. The Select Vestry is elected as part of thisGeneral Vestry meeting. The Select Vestry will hold their positions for a period of one year. SelectVestry membersmay be re-elected annually and thereis no limit on the numberof terms which may be served. ## **Pay and remuneration** The stipend of the Incumbent is paid directly by the Parish in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland andsimilarly office and locomotory allowances are paid. ## _**Organisational Structure**_ The select vestryis responsible fortheday to day management of the parish. The select vestry consists of themember of the clergyserving inthe parish, the churchwardens, the glebe wardens and nine other members of the general vestry elected at the General Vestry. 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 meetingsmay be convened at any timeby thechairperson orthe churchwardens. In 2023 the Select Vestry met 7 times during the year and the average attendance was 78%. ## _**Compliance with Public Benefit**_ The Parish has given careful consideration to the CharityCommission forNorthern Ireland’sguidance on public benefit to ensurethat theactives enteredinto during the year have helped to achieve the Parish’s objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit. ## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities** The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the statement of receipts and payments and statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities inNorthernIrelandwithIncomeof lessthan £250,000requires thetrusteesto prepare astatementof receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year. ## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 (continued)** ## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities (continued)** The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Parish’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any timetheassetsandliabilitiesof theParish. They are also responsible forsafeguardingtheassetsof theParish andhence for takingreasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **Signed on Behalf of the Trustees** **Trustee 1 John C Clarke Trustee 2 James T Woods Date 15 October 2024**