Donegall Street Congregational Church Trust Reg15tered Charity No. IC)2063 Chairman.. Rev fom Boyle 15 Glen Ebor Park Belfust B T4 2JJ Hon 5ecrettsry.' Position Currently Vocant Hon Treasurer.. John Chapman 25 Rffchhill Park Belfast BT5 6HG Trustees Annual Re ort- l Januar to 31 December 2018 Introduction and Background Donegall Street Congregational Church has existed on its present site Since the early 18005. The church's trust deed dates from December 1804. By 2012 the existing congregation was declining in numbers and most members were elderly. The church's office bearers recognised that the situation was not sustainable in the longer term. At the same time, they were conscious of the church's original remit of providing a Christian witness in the area in which it is located. The Ulster University has recently acquired substantial land beside the church and was in the process of relocating from its site at Jordanstown. This created an opportunity and need that the existing church felt unable to meet. The Donegall Street church became aware of a new and growing church (Redeemer Central Belfastl, which was meeting in rented premises and was outgrowlng those premises. Thev urgently required larger accommodation but lacked the resources to finance such a move. The doctrines and Structure of the Redeemer church were broadly in agreement with those of Donegall Street Congregational Church. Following discussions between the two churches it was decided that the objectives of both could be satisfied as follows- l. Donegall Street Congregational Church ceased to hold service5 at the end of 2012. 2. Redeemer Central Belfast rented the Donegall Street church premises from January 2013 and held services in it from that date. 3. Redeemer Central Belfast leased the premises from the trustees on an annual basis, free of rent, and made quarterly payments to the trustees of Donegall Street Congregational Church to reimburse the trustees for building maintenance and insura nce costs. 4, The remainin8 member5 of Donegall Street Con8regational Church were free to attend Redeemerfs services or to move to another church of their choice. In either event the church'5 former minister, Rev. Tom Boyle, would contlnue to visit them and provlde pastoral support for as long as they wished. This arrangement continued until the end of 2015 when the situation was reviewed. The leasing arrangement, having worked to the satisfaction of both partie5, was renegotiated
and a new 20 year lease was signed and became effective from 29 February 2016. Under the terms of this lease the annual rent from Redeemer to the Donegal Street Trustees is one pound lif demanded). The Redeemer church is fully responsible for all maintenance and repairs to the Donegall Street Church building. The Donegall Street trustees are responsible for insuring the building and are reimbursed by quarterly payments from Redeemer. The lease includes a right of first refusal to purchase by Redeemer Central 8elfast should the trustees decide to sell the premises at any point during the term of the lease. Purp05e5 and Public Beneflt The purposes of Donegall Street Congregational Church are set out in the church's trust deed as follow5 - 'Set up, finish and maintain in repair the house of wor5hSp now bui5ding on the said lot of Bround for the public preaching of the gospel and dispensing other divine ordinance5 amongst the church and intending statedly to worship in the said house and also for supporting the institution by doing whatever the trustees or their successors in office or thei¥ quorum shall deem necessary for that end. In view of the numerical decline in membership of Donegall Street Congregational Church, the tru5tee5 believe that by leasing our church premises to Redeemer Central 8elf3St, we have continued the Christian ministry and witness which has been maintained unbroken for more than 200 years to people in Central Belfast. In addition, through the ministry of Redeemer Central Belfast, the Donegall Street Congregational Church has sought to establish a witness to the student body of the U15ter Universlty which has recently been established beside the church premises. The trustees believe that through their actions and decisions during the year they have had due regard to the Charity Commission's public benef it guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant. Year ended 31 December 2018 l. Tru5tee5 and offlce Bearers Two trustee5 resigned during 2018- Rev. Raymond McLarnin and Rev. Chris McKinven. The 115t of trustees on the Charity Commission website has been amended tg reflect this. Efforts to replace them are currently in progre55. 2. Artivitles and Beneficiaries As Donegall Street Congregational Church no longer functions a5 a practicin8 congre8ation, all activities in the premises consistent with the trust deed are carried out by Redeemer Central Belfast. In additlon to regular services of public worship the Redeemer church conducts community support activities within the area.
The trustees maintain their pastoral support of twenty former church members through regular visitation by the former minister and current chalrman of the trustees, Rev. Tom Boyle for which he receives a contrlbution towards hls expenses. The trustees are not aware of any private beneflt to any Individual arlsing from the work of Donegall Street Congregational Church, 3. Flnan¢e A5 per Receipts and Payments accounts under separate cover. Hon. Treasurer