Trinity Church Belfast
Trustees’ Report
The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 30 June 2025 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act 2006 purposes.
The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2008, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Objectives and activities
Objects and aims
The Charity is established for charitable purposes only, specifically the advancement of Religion (specifically the Christian Faith), the advancement of education, the advancement of community development, and the improvement of the holistic life of communities in Northern Ireland.
The Charity changed its name from Urban Mission Initiatives to Trinity Church Belfast (‘TCB') on 28 April 2022.
The charity achieves its objectives through initiatives including (but not limited to):
(i) Resourcing and facilitation of the local church known as Trinity Church Belfast;
(ii) Raising awareness and understanding of Evangelical Christian beliefs and practices;
(iii) Carrying out missionary and outreach work within the local community area served by the Trust and wider afield;
(iv) The formation of new churches and associated initiatives;
(v) The support of community transformation enterprises within the local community area served by the Trust and wider afield; and (vi) Holding ofregular public worship services.
Objectives, strategies and activities
The charity seeks to:
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Provide management and accountability structures for planning, personnel, financial and marketing ventures associated with church planting.
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Educate and aid existing church communities and organisations in the principles of church planting.
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Conduct both religious and non-religious events and services to form contacts and connections within urban centre dwellers and users.
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Produce a lasting church planting commitment within planted churches.
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Establish and improve education and training programmes to support existing churches in their church planting with expertise, oversight and finance.
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Initiate, support and sustain church planting networks and movements.
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Trinity Church Belfast
Trustees’ Report
Public benefit
Advancement of Religion
TCB promotes teaching from the Word of God, the Bible, at worship services at churches planted by TCB (‘TCB Churches'), with services open to all members of the public. We also promote the development of existing believers at TCB Churches, helping them to understand the Christian faith more deeply, and how the Gospel is transformative of every aspect of life. We encourage individuals to respond to teaching received through prayer, worship and Christian service. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose are: an improved sense of wellbeing for those attending TCB Churches as they enjoy fellowship with others and receive teaching, and the promotion of Christian values for the benefit of individuals, churches and communities. The indirect benefits which flow from this purpose include the moral improvement in society as a whole which religion is considered to encourage.
Advancement of Education
We promote teaching about Evangelical Christian beliefs in TCB Churches, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose are spiritual, moral and intellectual development, through teaching of the Bible, of members of TCB Churches and the public, and the development of individual skills and capabilities of Church members who are involved in teaching and ministry at public worship services.
Advancement of Community Development
TCB seeks to reach out into the local communities in which its churches are based, and to be viewed as being open to all sectors of the community. We seek to transcend the traditional Protestant and Catholic divide existing in Northern Ireland. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose are: the encouragement of those who live in the locality of TCB Churches as they participate in activities organised by the Churches, and the provision of practical assistance such as food and clothing to those who may be in need.
The organisation’s direct beneficiaries are churches, para-church organisations and charities within the Belfast area who wish to benefit from the church-planting resources and experience that TCB offers. Communities and society in general will also benefit indirectly from the work of TCB as new churches are planted and existing churches strengthened. The benefits listed above will be evidenced through informal feedback from those who make use of TCB’s resources.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
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Trinity Church Belfast
Trustees’ Report
Achievements and performance and plans for future periods The work of Trinity continued through 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025. Weekly public worship and prayer meetings continued.
We thank Cherryl Graham and the small team behind the Blossoms work for their continued commitment to serving babies and their parents. The local community continues to amaze us with their generosity with toiletries, pre-loved clothes and financial gifts. There is also a supportive group that we might call “Friends of Blossoms” who support us through their craft, knitting and dropping in either on an occasional Thursday or at our annual coffee morning. We thank all these people for their faithfulness and support.
Our minister Lee Eagleson continues to form links as chaplain of Brantwood Football Club. The club in the past year has formed a Reserves team which has. seen the number of players almost double and with it the opportunity for pastoral support and witness.
Lee also continues to connect to Peas Park. The Blossoms’ Easter Egg hunt is now an annual event. Our church enjoyed joining them for their Summer Fair - especially our children.
Lee’s work with the wider City To City movement saw a course on church planting and revitalisation (called Center Church Unpacked) being run in St. Paul’s and St. Barnabas. Much of this expertise has been grown through past investment over a number of years by theTrinity Church Belfast (formerly Urban Mission Initiatives) charity in this training.
We thank our partnerships, especially Wellington Presbyterian Church. Their continued pastoral, prayerful and financial support is invaluable. We also thank Crosscollyer Church for their continued provision of the building on Somerton Road.
Financial review
TCB seeks to comply with best practice in managing the finances of the charity.
The balance sheet as at 30 June 2025 reflected cash at bank and on hand of £31,148 (2024: £23,865). The total Net Current Assets as 30 June 2025 were £34,445 (2024: £24,623) and unrestricted reserves were £32,685 (2024: £24,909).
Income from charitable activites and donations for the year totalled £33,749 (2024: £17,280). Expenditure on charitable activities for the year totalled £24,432 (2024: £24,232). This resulted in a net surplus of £9,317 (2024: Deficit of £6,952).
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Trinity Church Belfast
Trustees’ Report
Policy on reserves
The charity aims to use their income in furtherance of their objectives.
Trustees and officers
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Trustees:
| NEagleson |
|---|
| CE Graham |
| Y Lin |
| PS Wilkie |
Senior Management / Leadership Team:
Lee Eagleson, General Secretary
Structure, governance and management
Nature ofgoverning document Trinity Church Belfast is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 2 June 2011 and registered with the Charities Commission for Nothern Ireland on 15 April 2015.
The charity is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association and all activities are delivered in accordance with charity and company law.
Recruitment and appointment oftrustees
The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law. New Trustees are recruited who share the aims of the charity and can be appointed accordingly by approval of the Board. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and received no benefits from the charity.
Induction and training oftrustees
Most trustees are already familiar with the practical work of the charity however if further training is required this is provided by the Charity.
Arrangements for setting key managementpersonnel remuneration
Key Management Personnel consist of the Senior Manager whose remuneration is fixed by the Trustees.
Organisational structure
The organisation is managed and directed by its Trustees. The Trustees are elected annually and meet regularly during the year.
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Trinity Church Belfast
Trustees’ Report
Relationships with related parties
Trustees
None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from an employment with the charity or a related entity.
No trustee expenses have been incurred.
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
The trustees (who are also the directors of Trinity Church Belfast for the purposes of company Jaw) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland".
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company 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 affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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e select suitable accounting policies and apply them. consistently;
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° observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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° make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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¢ state whether applicable accounting standards, comprising FRS 102 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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° prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
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Trinity Church Belfast
Trustees’ Report
Small companies provision statement
This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.
The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 26 March 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
N Eagleson Trustee
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