St Molua's Parish Church. Stormont Trustees, Annual report and Statement of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities For the year ended December 2022 Northern Ireland Charities Number: 102374 Worshipping GOD Building the CHURCH Reaching the PEOPLE 11
St Molua's Parish Church. Stormont Annual report and finandal statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 Contents Pages References and administrative details of the Charity Trustees. report Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees Receipts and payments account Statement of assets and liabilities Notes to the financial statements
St Molua's Parish Church. Stormont References and administrative detalls Charity Name: St Molu*s Parish Church. Stormont Charity Reglstration Number- 102374 Contact Address: St Molua's Rertory 3 Rosepark Belfast BT5 7RG Trustees Revd Emma Rutherford Mrs Helen Poots Mrs Audrey Healey Mrs Edwina Tester Mrs Heather Loughridge Mr David Beck Mrs Sharon Beck Mr David Watkins CB Mrs Melanie Camiichael Mrs Frances Hastie Mr Denis Hill Mrs Jean Hill Mrs Winnie Hill Mr Malcolm Stanley Ms Margaret Turner Princlpal Offlce-bearers Clergy: Revd. Emma Rutherford Church Treasurer: Church Warden- Clergy: Church Warden- People: Mr David Beck Mr Malcolm Stanley Mrs Winnie Hill Independent Audltor M5 Susan Hunter Bankers Danske Bank PO Box 183 Donegall Square West Belfast BTI 6JS
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31" December 2022 The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for st Molua's Parish Church, Stormont for the year ended 31" December 2022. Objectlves and Artivities The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion. The principal funrtion of St Molua's Parish Churdi, Stomiont is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promotin& through thework of St Molua's Parish Church. Stormontthe 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 fundamentsl to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianity. As a result of artivity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, St Molua's Parish Church, Stormont 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 Molua's Parish Church, Stormont. Athievements, Performance & Public Beneflt BUILDINGS The 1960,5 Church building and front boundary wall of St Molua'5 Church are listed by the Department for Communities as being of afchitectural interest. Over the last 20 years. a considerable amount of work has been carried out on the refurbishment of the church. Whilst the Select Vestry believes the building now to be sound and watertight, regular ongoing maintenance is e55ential to ensure that it remains so. Health and safety regulations now recommend the installation of a fire alarm and emergency lighting in the building. which will be addressed when finan permit. The parochial hall, another unique style of buildin& sits behind the church. It consists of a large main hall with stage. a srnall minor hall, committee room, kitchen and toilets. The Rectory is located around the cornerfrom the church in Rosepark and is in a good state of repair. having undergone substantial refurbishment over the past few years. The installation of a new kitchen and downstairs WC. refurbishment of the rear patio area (with an exterior ramp offering ac55 into the public reception room) meet accessibility requirements. WORSHIP In the advancement of the Christian faith we focus on worship by offering two services each Sunday and a service midweek. We also hold special services during Holy Week & Easter, Harvest. Advent & Christmas, all of which engage more widely with our local community. We also indude an annual service to support the bereaved. After our church services, refreshments are available whid) helps to reinforce a sense of community and belonging. In November 2022 we held a special service and lunch as we commemorated the 60 anniversary of the consecration of the church building. Our servlces are mainly traditional Anglican worship, but our evening seprfice is 'Cafe Church,, which is a more informal style of worship when we meet in the Parish Hall over refreshments. The use of the hall enables us to use multimedia equipment and allows for more flexibility of changes of format. Messy Church has grown and developed. and we now partner with our neighbouring Presbyterian Church to provide this on a monthly basis. This partnership is invaluable as we seek to reach out
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31" December 2022 (Contd) and engage with our local community by providing an infomial 'church' gathering that is accessible to all, focusing on fun, friendship and hospitality. We work alongside other churches in the Deanery & Diocese and in the local area through the Belmont Churches to deliver special services, activities and outreach from time to time. Our Rector regularly meets with other clergy as a member of the Belmont Churches ecumenical group, and three ecumenical services are held each year. We continue to livestream our main Sunday service each week, which is then uploaded to our website. Our'dial-in. phone line service continues for those people who have no internet access. Many people have recognized the benefit of these services as we have been able to reach many more people than those who would have attended 'in-person' servi5 in the past, and it has been an invaluable 'outreach' to the elderly and housebound. PASTORAL Pastoral visitation is undertaken by the Rector and a small pastoral visiting team to those from our community that are housebound, in nursing homes or in hospital. During COVID lockdowns certain restrictions were in place. but the rector continued to be available when required. MISSION, OUTREACH & COMMUPIITY The Parish undertakes a wide range of activities. Information on services. parish events etc. is provided through a regular parish magazine 'Contact' which is delivered to approximately 2(M) households and is also available to view on our website www.stmoluasonline.com Our website continues to be regularly updated and is an invaluable means of communication. All services and activities are also promoted through the use of weekly news sheets, the parish website. Facebook and word of mouth. We have a large visible noticeboard which has been very beneficial given the situation of our church on a main arterial route. During 2022 we embarked on a Church Plant partnership with the diocese as we endeavour to reach out into our local area. Afull time Church plant leader is employed by the diocese and works within the13r8e housing estates located in our parish. In 2022 lin partnership with the Church Plantl St Molua's rdn its first 'Alpha' course which was well attended by a considerable number of people both from the church and local community- A number of other 'follow on, courses have continued to run during the 'Café Church, Sunday evening slot. In partnership with The Churches. Ministry of Healin& St Molua's run a monthly Healing Service which is open to everyone, and these have been very well received locally. As Me55y Church & Muddy Church have grown and developed. we see these as a primary means of connecting with local families and residents in the provision of fun activities and a family meal. In Sept 2022 we started Stormont Community Choir. an outreach activity which has been well supported locally. Community choirs have long been recognized for the positive mental health benefits for those involved, and the choir continues to grow. This endeavour has also given a St Molua's a new means of connecting with residential homes in the parish area as the choir have started to arrange performances and sing along activities. In 2023 we hope to increase our community outreach further through the provision of new groups for men, and for young parents and children.
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 Dember 2022 (Contd) Our church and halls are used by both parish and local organisations. Regular activities include Sunday khool, Ladies, Guild, Knit & Natter, 'Sole Mates. walking group, badminton club, Crafty Folk craft group, Parish choir and bible study groups. We also use the church hall for church social and fundraising events and have a very creative fundraising committee. Regular events have included coffee mornings. soup lunches, cake competitions, a barn dance, 'Breakfast with Santa.. St Patricvs Day lunch, and family quiz evenings to name a few. Local community organisations which meet on our premises include Dundonald Arts Club and a Zumba class. Walking groups from around the province have been able to avail of our provision of morning coffee as they explore the nearby Stormont Estate. We remain a popular COnrt venue for local choirs. who value the amazing acoustic of our church building. In 2022 St Molua's was the venue chosen for recording a 5 part weekly Tr series broadcast on TBNUK, Our Church Hall is used as a polling station at election time. We have run free community fun days for local children- and our annual Christmas tree light5 'switch on, and Carol Singing event is an open invitation to the local community at which free refreshments and entertainment are provided. Members of our parish are active in our local community- we serve as one of the collection points for Dundonald Food Bank. Dundonald Foodbank is one of over 400 Foodbanks throughout the UK, and is run as a joint initiative between seven local churches. In the last 12 months Dundonald Foodbank has helped over 750 people who have found themselves in financial difficulty through no fault of their own. St Molua's are active and committed to mission in our support of many charities both at home and overseas. The charitable allocation of Parish income is decided at an annual meetin& We regularly have guest speakers in church services and at Ladies, Guild meetings from various Christian charities, which have raised awareness and encouraged support from parishioners for these organisations. SAFEGUARDING In all of our activities designed to reach out to families, children and young adults the Parish adheres to the Church of Ireland's child protection policy: Safeguarding Trust. Information on services, parish events etc. is provided through a regular parish magazine 'Contarf which is delivered to approximately 200 households and is also available to view on our website www.stmoluasonline.com PUBLIC BENEFIT The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the attives entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parish's objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit. Flnancial Review 2022 has been a year of recovery after the challenges we have faced from Covid-19. Church services have gradually been re-introduced so that by the end of the year we were operating, more or less. as normal. Attendance is gradually being restored to previous levels and some fund-raising artivities, including the hire of the hall. are also building up again. Nevertheless, like many other charitable organisations it will take some time to get back to where we once were.
Trusteeg Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 20221Contd} In the previous year120211 income from various sources was £113,176- if the ring-fenced Mission Grant which was transferred straight back to the Di0e is taken from this the actual income in 2021 was £100,176. The income for 2022 was £99,825, only a slight decrease on the previous year. In fact, in 2021 we were the recipients of a very generous one-off gift of £6,OCK), if this too is taken off the total income for the year the overall income would be £94,176. The income for 2022 therefore increased by just over £5,500. However. the key point to highlight is the overall trend in income over the pre-covid years. The income in 2019 - the135t 'normal' year- was over £120.0(X) and in 2018 it was nearly £128,000. We will have some work to do if we are to fully recover to pre-covid levels. In 2021 the freewill offering donations had increased slightly but this year it fell by £940 to £64,391.25. In 2019, pre-covid, this figure was £72.796- so the income from free-will offering and plate collertions, our main source of income, has fallen by £8,405 since pre-covid times- a decrease of 11.5%. Some of the shortfall has been addressed by the uplift in income from other sources as the restrittions imposed by Covid-19 have gradually been relaxed. The income from the hire of the hall increased significantly from £740 in 2021 to just under £4.CKXI in 2022. The most positive aspect of thi5 is the fact that this is also an increase on the pre-covid figure in 2019 which was £2,414. In 2019 however £13,569 was raised through fund-raising events, this year it was just £2,015. In 2020 the outgoings were reduced slightly due to savings in utility costs as the halls and church were not in use for prolonged periods and the Diocese reduced their charges- however. in 2021 some of these costs rose once again. This has continued into 2022 where the utility costs were £1,631 higher than 2021- not unexpected given the increased use of the hall and the associated lift in heating costs. Overall, the cost of utilities was £4,584 in 2022, a figure that is likely to increase substantially in 2023. In 2021 we made a conscious decision to increase our charitable donations in spite of the church's redUd income and reduced capacity for retiring collections-this year we dropped to the more normal level of charitable giving and donated £3,427 to local and international charities representing approximately 5% of our freewill offering. This year the income from the Gift Aid Scheme was similar to 2021 at £16,708 indicating that parishioners are still gift-aiding their donations- each year this element of our income becomes more important. This year a number of long-awaited maintenance tasks were conducted in the church and rertory including the replacement of the rectory boiler and installation of AV equipment in the church, as part of which the facilities to record and live-stream our services on-line have been greatly enhanced. This is a developing aspect of the outreach and mission work of the church and makes the services available to a wider population, including those who are unable to attend in person for one reason or another. However, a number of maintenance issues still remain to be addressed, the most obvious of which are the pillars of the church hall which require significant remedial work. We do have some funds in the repair and maintenance account which at first glance appears to be very healthy showing a balance of £28.510. However, much of this money can only be used for specific projects. For example. some funding is by way of a grant from the Diocese specifically for mission and outreach work for children and young families-they cannot be used for maintenance. In addition, £6,000 was money donated in 2019/2020 for the Flower Festival and will be needed for the operating cost5 of the rescheduled festival in May 2023. It has been a blessing to return to a more nornial Set of Circumstan after the challenges presented by the pandemic over the past two years. However, we have further challenges ahead our outgoings on salaries and utilities will necessarily increase, we will therefore have to ensure that our income will be similarly increased.
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31" December 20221Contd) Golng 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 ended 31 December 2022 can be signed off as a going cOnrn. Structure, Governance and Management Govemlng Document and Constitution of the Charfty Chapter111 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland govems Parishes and Parochial Organisation. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees. Recruitment andAppolntment ofselert Vestry [Trtteesj 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 selert 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 remunerntion The rector receives a stipend and office and locomotory allowance5 in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland and details of office and locomotory allowan5. The organist, who is also the director of music re]ve salaries commensurate with her role and experience. Orgonlsationulstnure 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. the churchwardens, the glebe wardens and generally not more than elve other members of the general vestry elected at the General Vestry. The select vestry is chaired by the incumbent or other member of the dergy 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 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 orthe churchwardens. In 2022 the Select Vestry met io times during the year, at times remotely via Zoom. Compllance wlth Public Benefft The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the actives entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parish's objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit.
Trustee Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 20221Contd) Statement of Trustees, Responsibllities The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees. Report and the statement of receipt5 and payments and statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with applicable law and regulation5. The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with Income of le55 than £250,000 requlres 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 hen for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detettion of fraud and other irregularities. Sl8ned on Behalf of the Trustees Trustee I Trustee 2 Revd Emma Rutherford (Chalr) F Hastie (Secretary)