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