St Thomas's Parish Church, Belfast Trustees, Report for the year ended 31 December 2022 Charity no. 101975 St ThomL75 5 Pansh Church, Belfost Tru5tees' Reportfor the year ended31 December2022 Contents Page (s) Charity information Trustees, report St Thomas's Puri5h Church. BelAast Trustees. Reportfor the yearended 31 December2022 Poge I Charity Information Trustees The Rev. P Jack Prof A Aughey Ms. S Aughev Mr. Kchan Mr. P Dundas Mr. C Eneh Miss M Howe Mr. D G King Mr. P King Mr. N Mulholland Iresigned April 20221 Mrs. A Oxley Mr. O Paulin Registered charity number 101975 Registered address St Thomas's Parish Church clo The Rev P Jack 28 Church Road Newtownbreda Belfast BT8 7AQ Bankers Danske Bank Donegall Square West Belfast BTI 6JS Website WWW.Stthomas.connor.an lican.or Facebook facebook.com/stthomasbelfast Twitter @Stthomasbt9 St Thoma5'5 P(yrish Church, Belfast Tru5tees' Reportfor the yearended 31 December2022 Pg9e 2 Trustees, Report The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022. Charitable purposes The principal purpose of St Thomas's Parish Church, Belfast is to support the advancement of the 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 artefacts of significance to the cultural heritage, the maintenance of which is undertaken by the Parish as a secondary charitable purpose. Background St Thomas's Parish Church is located in South Belfast, Northern Ireland and is part of the Church of Ireland, which is a member Church of the world-wide Anglican Communion. We are committed to be a beacon for God in the City-through our witness, openness and friendliness to We welcome and include everyone, in our worship, prayer and activities. We seek to reflett God's love for all people and all creation. We seek to seNe God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in prayer, worship and lifestyle. We are committed to excellence for God. we welcome all who wish tojoin us in our work and fellowship. Whether you are from Belfast or visiting the city, you will be very welcome in our Church. Details of activities, achievements. performance and public benefit During the year we held in person services and meetings at our Church in accordance with Government and Diocesan guidance. Worship and prayer The main focus of activity is the public worship services which take place on Sunday morning. We have a range of service5 over the course of each month including a monthly family service, together with a number of special services throughout the year, which people who attend find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. On the 3rd Sunday evening of each month we have Evening Prayer with the Belfast Bach Cantata Consort. Children and young people also take an active role in Family Services and other worship services including bible reading and leading the prayers. Sunday Morning Prayer and Holy Communion services take place throughout the year. We held a number of special services during the year including a number of funerals and burial of ashes. St Thoma5 s Parish Church, Belfvst Trustees. Reportfor the yeorended 31 December2022 Page 3 Trustees. Report (cont'd) We also had the popular Christingle SeNice and the Service of Nine Lessons & Carols by candlelight during Advent. Visitors who attend St Thomas, for worship all receive a very warm welcome. We are one of the few Churches in Northern Ireland to have a peal of 8 bells ringing each Sunday morning with regular practices and an active bell ringing society. Postoral care Some members of our Parish are unable to attend Church due to ill health or age. The Rertor visits pastorally all Church members who have requested it, to pray with them and celebrate Holy Communion either at their homes or in hospital. The Rector also makes significant pastoral visits throughout the year, to both those who are members of the parish and those who are not. During 2022 when it was not possible to make in-person visits online and telephone calls were made instead. St Thomas's also has ongoing ecumenical relationships, for example, with the Clonard Pilgrims and Clonard Monastery. 5t Thomas's is also a welcoming and embracing Christian community which reflects the diversity of a modern and international Northern Ireland. Members of our Church regularly visit those who cannot attend to keep them in touch with Church life. Mission, evangelism ond charitable giving Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. During the year we were able to support the work of the following organisations:_ Water Aid1£401,. Food donations were made to The Trussell Trust food bank in South Belfast during Harvest and throughout the year together with a Harvest donation of £40. During Christian Aid week members of our Church collected £527 plus gift aid. All monies raised were passed on directly to Christian Aid. Other activities We were pleased to be able to facilitate, on request, public access to the Church building and records. Beneficiaries All of the Church-based attivities listed above, which cover the youngest child to the oldest adult within the Church, are open to the population of South Belfast and beyond. St Thomus's Parish Church, Belfast Trustees'Reportfor the yearended310ecember2022 Page4 Trustees, Report (cont'd) Financial review Total receipts of unrestricted funds were £81,202 with restritted receipts of £167. This included church collections of £36,748, a legacy of £9,028 and receipts from property use of £23,429. We also received a support grant of £7,174 from the Department for the Communities Covid-19 Charities Fund. We are very grateful to the generosity of all who have contributed during the year. Total payments of unrestricted funds were £88,286 with restricted payments of £33,933. Unrestricted payments included wages, salary and other employment costs of £52,979. diocesan payments of £12,167,. electricity. water & gas of £7,137 and insurance of £6,641. Restricted payments included work and professional fees on the church rectory. The overall result for the year was an excess of payments over receipts of £40,850. At the year end the cash on hand and bank balances of unrestricted funds was £16,959 and restricted funds of £1,718. The selert vestry will continue to attively review and monitor the financial position of the Parish to attempt to seek to address deficits and to build unrestricted reserves in accordance with our Reserves Policy over the medium to long term. Structure. governance and management Governing Document ond Constitution of the Charity Chapter 111 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland (see www.ireland.an lican.or about the- constitution) governs Parishes and Parochial Organisation. The select vestry members are the Charity Trustees. Recruitment ondAppointment of Select Vestry (Trustees) 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. St Thomas's Parish Church. Belfast Tru5tees'Reportfor the yearended 31 December2022 Po9e 5 Trustees, Report (cont'd) Organisationol Structure The select vestry is responsible for the day to day management of the Parish. The select vestry consists of the Rector of the Parish, the churchwardens. the glebe wardens and up to twelve other members of the general vestry elected at the General Vestry. The select vestry is chaired by the Rector. Select vestry members are responsible for making decisions on matters of general concern and irnportance 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 the churchwardens. In 2022 the Select Vestry met 9 times during the year. An inter-related system joining the central, diocesan and Parish provides additional assistance and sharing of expertise across the structures of the Church as well as achieving a consistent manner of dealing with issues. All Church property is vested in the Representative Church Body. Pay and remuneration The Rector of the Parish receives a stipend (£37,035) together with a motor allowance 1£6,5911 in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. No other trustee received pay or remuneration during the year. Administrative information Details of the trustees who served during the year, registered address and charity registration number are given in the Charity Information section on page l. Compliance with Public Benefit The select vestry has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the attivities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parish's aims and objectives, as well as providing public benefit. St Thomas's Purlsh Church, Belfast Trustee5'Reportfor the year ended 31 December2022 Puge 6 Trustees, Report (cont'd) 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 in Northern Ireland with Income of less than £250,000 requires the trustees to prepare a statement of receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year. 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 time the assets and liabilities of the Parish. 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. Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf: 2sztrD•- ZDZ3