St Molua's Parish Church. Stormont Trustees, Annual report and Statement of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities For the year ended December 2023 Northern Ireland Charltles Number: 102374 Worshipping GOD Building the CHURCH Reaching the PEOPLE
St Molua's Parfsh Church. Stormont Annual report and financial sL*ements for the year ended 31 December 2023 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 financlal statements
St Molua's Parfsh Church. Stormont References and admlnlstratlve detslls Charity Name: St Molua's Parfsh Church. Stormont Charity Registration Number". 102374 Contact Addres5". St Molua's Rectory 3 Rosepark Belfast BT5 7RG Trustees Revd. Emma Rutherford Mrs. Helen Poots Mrs. Edwina Tester Mrs. Heather Loughridge Mr. David Beck Mrs. Sharon Beck Mr. David Watkins CB Mrs. Frances Hastie Mr. Denis Hill Mrs. Jean Hill Mrs. Winnie Hill Mr. Malcolm Stanley Ms. Margaret Turner Mr. David Blemings Mrs. Grace Blemings Prlnclpal Office-bearers Clergy.. Revd. Emma Rutherford Church Treasurer: Church Warden- Clergy.. Church Warden- People: Mr David Beck Mrs Sharon Beck Mrs Jean Hill Independent Audltor Ms Susan Hunter Bankers Danske Bank PO Box 183 Donegall Square West Belfast BTI 6JS
Trustee< Annual Report for the year ended 31" December 2023 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 Dember 2023. Objectlves and Actlvltles The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the adVanrnent of religion. The principal function of St Molua's Parish Church, Stormont is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promotin& through theworkof 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 needin8 help are fundamental to the practical delivery ofthe benefits of Christianity. As a result of activity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian reli8ion, St Molua'5 Parish Church, Stormont has custody of property and of records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religlous heritage and maintenance of which is undertaken by the select vestry of St Molua's Parish Church, Stormont. Achlevements, Perforniance & Publlc Benefft BUILDINGS The 1960's Church building and front boundary wall of St Molua's Church are listed by the Department for Communities as being of architectural interest. Over the last 25 years, a considerable amount of work has been carried out on the refurbishment of the church. Whilst theselect Vestry believesthe bullding nowto be sound and watertlght, regular ongoing maintenance is essential to ensure that it remalns so. Health and safety regulations now recommend the installation of a fire alarm and emergency lighting in the building, which will be addressed when finances permlt. The parochlal hall, another unique Style of buildin& sits behind the church. It consists of a large main hall with stage, a small mlnor hall, committee room, kitchen and toilets. The Rectory Is located around the corner from the church in Rosepark and is in a good state of repalr, having undergone substantial refurbishment over the past few years. The installation of a new kltchen and downstalrs WC, refurbishment of the rear patio area (with an exterior ramp offerlng access 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. Our Sunday morning services are mainly traditional Anglican worship, but our evening service takes the form of 'Cafe Church,, whith 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. Following the success of last yearfs 'Alpha' course we contlnue to follow range of discipleship courses in our 'Café Church, Sunday evening slot. We also hold special services during Holy Week & Easter, Harvest, Advent & Christmas, all of which engage more widely with our local community- We also include an annual Servi to support the bereaved. After our church services, refreshments are available which helps to reinforce a sense of community and belonging. Our monthly Messy Church has grown and developed through our partnership with our neighbouring Presbyterian Church as we seek to reach out and engage with our local community
by providing an informal 'church' gathering that is accessible to all, focusing on fun, friendship and hospitality. We continue to work alongside other churches in the Area Deanery & Diocese and in the local area through the Belmont Churches to deliver special services, activities and outreach from time to time. Our Rertor regularly meets with other Cler as a member of the Belmont Churches ecumenical group, and three ecumenical services are held each year. We continue to livestream our main Sunday Servi each week. which is then uploaded to our website. Our'dial-in, phone line Servi 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 nurslng homes or in h05Pital. MISSION, OUTREACH & COMMUNITY The Parish undertakes a wlde range of activities. Information on services, parish events etc. Is provided through a regular parish magazine 'ContacV which is delivered to approximately 200 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, parish Facebook page, and word of mouth. We have a large visible noticeboard which has been very beneficial given the situation of our church on a main arterlal route. The Diocesan Churth Plant partnership continues In the parish, where a fijll time Church plant leader {who is employed by the diocese} works within the large houslng estates located within our parlsh boundary. We have increased our community outreach throu8h the provision of a parent & toddler group called 'Little Angels, which started In September 2023. Thls group for young children and their parentslguardlans has been received as an invaluable service to our local community. Other new outreach activities include the provision of a group for retired men who gather for fellowship and friendship. and 'Souper Saturdav - a monthly soup lunch. Community choirs have long been recognized for the positive mental health benefits for those Involved, and Stormont Community Choir at St Molua's continues to 8row. This outreach activity has been very well supported locally, and the connections with residential nursing homes in the parish area have developed and flourished. offering concerts and sin8alon8 events. Our Rector takes regular church services in nursin8 homes, and some choir members have also been engaged in helpin8 to lead worship. In partnership with The Churches, Ministry of Healin& St Molua's run a monthly Healing Service which is open to everyone and has been well received locally. Messy Church & Muddy Church have grown and developed and are seen as a primary means of connetting with local families and residents through the provision of fun activities based around a worship theme, followed by a family meal. Our church and halls are used by both parish and local organisations. Regular activities taking place include Sunday School. Ladieg Guild, Craft & Chat, 'Sole Mates, walking group, badminton club. 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 dan, curry evenin&'Breakfast with Santa.. St PatrICS 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 concert venue for local choirs. who value the amazin8 acoustic of our church building. Our Church Hall is used as a polling Station at election time. 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 over400 Foodbanks throughout the UK, and is run a5 a joint initiative between seven local churches. st Molua's are artive 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 annu31 meeting. We regularly have guest speakers in church services and at Ladies. Guild meetings from various Chrlstian charities, which have raised awareness and encouraged support from parishioners for these or8anisations. SAFEGUARDING In all of our activities designed to read) out to families, children and young adults the Parish adheres to the Church of Ireland's child protection policy: Safeguarding Trust. Information on service5, parish events etc. is provided through a regular parish magazine 'ContacV which is dellvered to approxlmately 200 households and is also available to view on our website www.stmoluasonline.com PUBLIC BEAIEFIT The Parlsh has glven careful conslderatlon to the Charfty Commission for Northern Ireland'5 guidance on public benefit to ensure that the actives entered into durin8 the year have helped to achieve the Parish's objectives and actlvities, as well as providing public benefit. Flnanclal Revlew 2023 has been a year of consolldation now that the impart of the pandemic has lessened. Our incorne streams are more or less back to normal - in particular we are able to receive income from the hire of the hall and conduct fund raising events in the way we would have done pre<ovid. However, with that comes the withdrawal of the Government support we had benefited from over the past three years. In the previous year {20221 income from various sources was £99,825 the income for 2023 increased to £130,221, a substantial increase However, the income in 2019- the last 'normal' year- was over £120,000 and In 2018 it was nearly £128.000. The expenditure for 2023 was also substantlally higher at £130,000. In 2022 the freewill offering donations fell by £940 to £64.391.25 this year it increased slightly to £65,162 an increase of £771. In 2019, pre-covid. this figure was £72,796-so the Income from free-will offerin& the main source of Income, has not recovered from pr0Vid times. The Income from the hlre of the hall fell by approximateEy £8CM) in 2023 -however this is still an increase of just under £800 on the pre-covid figure in 2019. The key element in this yearfs income was the money raised through fund-raising activities. In 2019 £13,569 was raised through fund-raising events,12019 being the last full year such events were possible). this year it was over £19.560. Much of this was raised through the lon8- awaited Flower Festival. This event alone raised early £15.000 in clear profrt after all expenses were deducted. The calendars based on the Flower Festival added a fijrther £l,OCQ approximately after printing costs. In 2022 the utility costs were E4,584, this year they doubled to £9.263. These costs should be reduced in the comlng year as the price of gas continues to fall. This year we increased our charitable donations to local and
international charities to £5,606- an increase of £2.200 from the previous year- representing approximately 8.7% of our freewill offering. This year the income from the Gift Aid Scheme fell slightly to £15,204- however this should increase substantially in 2024 due to the income from the Flower Festival. This year on-going maintenance tasks have continued-some unexperted including the leaky roof in the church hall which has already cost the church £3,500 from the general account in the effort to repair this with little success. The repair and maintenance account appears to be healthy, showing a balance of £19.223. However, much of this money is'restritted funds. which means that they can only be used for specific projects and includes the grant from the Di0e specifically for mission and outreach work. 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 ended 31. December 2023 can be signed off as a going concern. Structure, Governance and Management Govemlng Lyocument ond Constltutlon ofthe Charfty Chapter111 of the Constltutlon of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisation. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees. Recrultment ondAppolntment oASelert Vesty (Trustees) All members of the Church of Ireland who are over the age of 18 and are elther resldent withln the parish or live elsewhere but have been accustomed members of the con8re8ation for at least three months, may register as members ofthe general vestry ofthe parish, allowlngthem to attend and vote at meetings of the general vestry and to stand for electlon to the select vestry. Meetings of the general vestry are held at least once a year. The Select Vestry 15 elected as part of this General Vestry meeting. The Select Vestry will hold thelr positlons 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 remunemtlon The rector recelves a stipend and office and locomotory allowances in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland and details of Offi and locomotory allowances. The organist, who is also the director of music receives a salary wmmensurate with her role and experlence. Orqantsatlonal Strurture The select vestry 15 responsible for the day-to-day management of the parish. The select vestry conslsts of the member ofthe clergy serving In the parish, the churchwardens, the glebe wardens and generally not more than twelve other members of the general vestry elected at the General Vestry. The select vestry is chaired bythe 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 includin8 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 io times during the year. at times remotely via Zoom. Compliance with Public Benefft
The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on publi 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. Statement of Tru5tees' 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 charitie5 in Northern Ireland with Income of less than £250,OLK) 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 transaction5 and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the assets and liabilities of the Parlsh. They are also responslble for safeguarding the a55ets of the Parish and hen for takin8 reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. SIBned on Behalf of the Trustees Trustee I Trustee 2 Rev Emma Rutherford Ichalr) F Hastle (Secretary)