St. Mary's Parish Church Ballybeen Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023 Charities Number:NIC102199 st Trustees annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Contents Page References and administrative details Trustees, Annual Report Independent examiners, report to the Trustees Statement of fi n ancial activities Balance sheet 10 Notes to the financial statements 11 St Marws Parlsh Church, Ballybeen References and administratlve details Charity Name: St Mary'5 Parish Church, Ballybeen Charity Registration Number.. NIC102199 Contact Address.. I Craigleith Drive, Dundonald, Belfast, BT16 2RY Trustees Chri5 Adair Eva Cheshire Jirn Cheshire Daniel Crawford Elaine Edwards Dawn Ferguson Noel Gordon Jon Judge David Manning Ruth Manning Freda Rutherford Megan Ross Jim Myles Karen Myles Joanne Rice Colin Stitt David Haaijer John Harris Prlnclpal Offlce-Bearers Clergy.. Rev J Cheshire (Rector),. Rev Noel Gordon INSM Curate} Honorary Secretary Ruth Manning Honorary Treasurer: David Manning Church Warden- Rector's.. Jim Myles Church Warden- People's.. Freda Rutherford Independent Examlner GMCG Portaadown 17 Mandeville Street PORTADOWN BT62 3PB Bankers Ulster Bank Llmlted 112 King's Square King's Road Belfast BT5 7EA St Marvs Parlsh Church, Ballybeen Tru5tee5' Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The trustees present the annual report and accounts for the St, Mary's Parish Church, Ballybeen for the year ended 31 December 2023. ObJectlves and Actlvities The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion. The principal function of St. Mary's Parish Church, Ballybeen is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of St. Mary's Parish Church, Ballybeen 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 are fundamental to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianitv. As a result of activity in the pursUIt of the advancement of the Christian religion, St. Mary's Parish Church, Ballybeen has custody of property and of records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance of which is undertaken by the Select Vestry of St. Mary's Parish Church, Ballybeen. Achlevements, Performance & Public Benefit st Mary's Church achieves its purposes through varying activities including public worship, prayer, provision of pastoral care, mission and outreach, parish groups and special events. The following are some of the activities carried out over the course of this year. 2023 At A Glance This past year has been full of so many encouragements and signs of growth as a church. And this morning we want to celebrate that. In addition to all our ongoing ministries, last year we ran the Alpha Course, which saw a nu mber of people give their lives to the Lord, in addition to others making recommitments to follow Him through the course and of the year. During Holy Week, In addltlon to our norrnal 5ervice5 and Easter Celebration we also held a special Messy Church event for our children and young people, before running a new discipleship course called Life Explored. In May we celebrated the Klng's Coronatlon by hosting a fabulous Community Fun day, at which around 1,000 people turned up. In June we hosted a SOMA Mission Team, who helped us press into our focus on praying for our community. We prayed on the streets, we prayed in our 2417 prayer room, and together we brought our church and community before the Lord. We also held a special Baptismal 5ervlce on Father's Day. In July and August we helped once again with the School Uniform Project, which saw an even bigger uptake this year, before holding our own 5 evenings of Hollday Blble Club, engaging very successfully with about 80 children and their families, from our church and community. We also participated in the Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention. In September we started up another new course called Dlscipleship Explored. On October I the Rector was appointed the Archdeacon of Down. This was both a huge honour and a new challenge for st. Mary's. This also brought new blessing5 in God'5 provision as well. Through the diocese we now have access to f unding to cover the rector's working for the diocese two days a week. As we came into the last part of the year, we had our Harvest service, a Light Party at Halloween, then our Remembrance Service as usual, before putting on a very full December schedule in the run up to Chri5tma5, including 3 special Advent Sunday evening of Worship and Prayer, involvement with the Ballybeen Light Switch On, followed by our BB Carol Service, and a standing room only Community Carol Service hosted this year at Christ Church. The women coordinated a shared Advent Bible Reading plan as well as a fabulous Chrlstmas craft morning, the Rector did two stints as BelFast Cathedral's Black Santa, there was the ever popular Seniors Christmas Dinner, a fantastic Carol Service, a hugely successful Nativity Service on Christmas Eve, before celebrating together the joy of Christmas Day. To top it off, during Christmas week our youth leaders put on a lock-in for our young people. As we move forward as a church, we are excited about what God is doing, and the Erowth we see happening. We are thankful lor all that we've been able to achieve during 2023 and are so very thankful to all who volunteer and give of their time, talents and treasures to make our ministries possible. Thanks also go to our Youth and Families Intern, Lorcan Speier, for all that he has continued to do to facilitate our Youth and Families, work in the parish. We are a people who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good I St Marvs Parlsh Church, Ballybeen Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 (continued) Publlc Worship We strive in the leading of our public worship to create an environment where all are welcome. We provide an opportunity where a wide range of people may encounter and worship God. Our main Sunday morning service welcomes people of all ages and this is complemented in the evening by courses, events and services geared towards evangelism. dlscipleship, and worship. Special services are held leading up to Easter and at Harvest and Remembrance Day, and at Christmas our Nativity and Carol Services attract additional visitors. We value the involvement and leadership of many people, including welcome teams, musicians, Sunday School and Youth Leaders, Readers and Intercessors. We pray regularly for our community and those in need. We have experimented with different evening service formats. Pastoral Work We seek to offer care to parishioners of all ages and to support people at significant points in their lives. Clergy and our pastoral teams vislt vulnerable and older people who are in care homes, assisted housing or who are less able to attend church to provide pastoral and spiritual support. Visits are made to parishioners in hospital and in preparation for baptisms and weddings. We also conduct funerals for church members as well as for the local community. Contact and care for one another also takes place informally across the parish. Parlsh Groups In addition to those mentioned above, parish groups meeting this year included Silver Threads la weekly club for senior citizens), a Men's Fortnightly Bible study, a monthly meeting for over 60s, Beenies (weekly toddler's group), Kids, Church and Youth Fellowship as well as Life Groups. There are also well attended GB and BB uniformed organisations. Local community We are involved in the local community through membership of the local Ballybeen Improvement Group IBIGI, involvement with our local Primary School, as well as in organising a Holiday Blble Club (under normal circumstances), and working together with local churches to organise joint services and outreach where possible. Soclal Outreach The parish has undertaken to engage with the wider society, particularly those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged, through social outreach activities. In the past year this has taken the form of: Foodbank - ongoing collection, sorting and delivering of foodstuff, clothes and household items in Partnership with the Dundonald Foodbank, supporting people in need in the Dundonald area. Financial assistance to missionary and humanitarian organisations working in other countries - especially the 3rd World. Partnership with Redeeming our Communities, Northern Ireland in Ballybeen Partnership with the Ballybeen Improvement Group Public Benefit The Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parish's objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit. Regular worship, outreach into the community and beyond, fundraising efforts and pastoral care, particularly for the sick and elderly help us to meet our public benefit responsibilities. Our church hall is used by a variety of organisations during the week. Access to Church properties is restricted for public safety to key holders and St Mary's Church mitigates potential harm from activities by implementlng Safeguarding Trust, the Church of Ireland'5 Child Protection Policy. St Mar¢s Parish Church, Ballybeen. Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Icontinuedl Financial Review In summary we finished the year with £31,400 12022: £15,400) in our General Fund £5,342 12022.. £4661 in our Development Bank account and with loan5 totalling E165,30012022'. £184,537) for our refurbishment programme. In total we have spent £592,113 on the extension and refurbishment of the church and hall. In 2021, we borrowed £210,000 from the Ulster 8ank with repayments over 15 years. Despite increased interest rates, we were able to reduce the loan by £19,227 in 2023, down to £155,300. Going Concern The trustees have reviewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the Parish can continue its activities and the financial statements for the year end 31" December 2023 can be signed off as a going concern. Structure, Governance and Management Governing Document und Constitutlon of the Churity Chapter 111 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisation. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees. Recrultment and Appointment oASelect Vestry 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. Pay and remuneration The Rector receives a stipend and office and locomotory allowances in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland and pension contributions and Employees National Insurance are paid in accordance with Diocesan recommendation. Organi5atlonal Structure The Select Vestry is responsible for the day to day management of the parish. The Select Vestry consists of the member of the clergy serving in the parish, any curate assistant I'the curate"), the Churchwardens, the Glebewardens and generally not more than twelve other members of the general vestry elected at the General Vestrv. 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 3re to be applied. The Select Vestry meet5 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 St Marvs Parish Church, Ballybeen Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Icontlnued} Statement of Trustees, Responslbllities The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulation5. The law applicable to charities in the Northern Ireland requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have prepared the financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice in the United Kingdom laccounting standards issued by the Financial Reporting Council in the UK including Charities SORP IFRS 1021 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 IFRS 1021 "and promulgated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in the United Kingdom and United Kingdom Lawl Under that 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 the affairs of the charity and of the statement of financial activities of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to.. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent state whether the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards and identify the standards in question, subject to any material departures being disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it Is inappropriate to presume that the Parish will continue as a going concern. 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 financial position of the Parish and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, the Charity IAccounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and the provlsion of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland. They are also responslble for safeguarding the assets of the Parish and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. On Behalf of the Trustees iJ.W kJoQ ep Rev J Cheshire Rev N Gordon 14 April 2024