CARRYDUFF PARISH TRUSTEES ’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2022
The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for Carryduff Parish Church for the year ended 31[st] December 2022.
2022
The celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee was a highlight of the year, and drew young and old to church and to celebratory meals to mark this unequalled reign. It was with great sadness that just a few months later, in early September, we gathered again to give thanks to almighty God for her life and to pray for her family in their loss. So much of the country wept as this immense era came to an end.
We began to pray for "Charles, our king" in our Anglican rites and, for many of us, the words did not come easy. This year will be long remembered.
A year of steady progress has seen numbers at worship strengthen a little, and participation in the routine catering events return to normal. The spectre of the pandemic has subsided from most people's minds, though the sorrows and losses it brought to many remain painful and sad memories.
A small but significant number of relatively healthy and formerly active parishioners continue to hold back in their participation, and we are looking for ways to help them return to the life of the parishes they love. Worshipping in the company of other believers has always been a key part of our Christian journey and must be paramount in our discipleship.
As we look at the change in membership of our General Vestry we see a significant number of members whose life among us has ended, some through poor health and several through the end of life. We commend all who grieve to the mercy of God and give thanks for those who have gone before us for their years of service to God in the life of Carryduff Parish.
In Carryduff Parish a process of giving outside our own needs is followed, where individuals give money to a Mission Account, which is a restricted fund. This, then, must be spent to extend the mission of the church through charitable giving, extensions of ministry, and responding to needs as they arise.
Ministry
We have been blessed in worship in our parish by our supporting organists, especially in 2022, on a more regular basis, by Mr Brian Mulholland. Twice a month or more he has helped us worship God in music and song. The Carol Service at the end of the year was a blessing to us all.
Our experience of Holy Communion remains much as it has done since the pandemic arrived but, with people more relaxed about participation, the changes have become widely accepted as the new normal. We are indebted to those who have assisted us, particularly the churchwardens, in making the receipt of bread and wine at the Communion Table a safe possibility again.
Throughout the year, the parish seeks to provide a pastoral presence through the ministry of the rector, readers and volunteers. We pay tribute to Mrs Marlene Moore and Mr Keith Shaw, our diocesan readers and Mrs Jenny Montgomery, our parish reader. The Lesson readers in Carryduff, ably managed by Mrs Joan Nevin, play a vital role in helping people feel that God's Word is a word for all. We thank all who read lessons, manage screens, welcome worshippers and tidy the buildings afterwards.
Members of the community admitted to hospital or suffering bereavements have been encouraged to make contact with the church so that their spiritual needs are addressed. Whether or not they are active members of the parish, we have sought to help people in their difficulties.
At sad times in people’s lives, the parishioners continue to support families in their times of loss, often providing refreshments and a sensitive welcome to those attending funeral services.
Communication
Good communication is vital to help any organisation or family thrive. As a church family, we need to give communication a high priority. Of course, producing useful materials is only worthwhile when members make use of it.
The trustees (vestry) will be reflecting on the use and format of the magazine, website, notice boards and social media in the months ahead of us and we will value your input.
The Parish Magazine - CROSSROADS - is made available on the church website in easily readable pdf format before it appears in print or via email. We are indebted to our contributors and encourage them in their role of sharing their news with the congregations.
A carefully managed database contains contact records of people on our church records. This is used for the purpose of issuing monthly magazines and maintaining records of contributors ’addresses. A decision by the select vestry to centralise all the relevant contact and finance details was made, to be put into effect in 2022. This process has been slower than anticipated and we are still not in a position to gather all the information in one place. We hope that members within and outside the vestry could assist in making this a reality.
Welcome Leaflet
A highly coloured and well produced four page leaflet was produced to promote the awareness of our church building as a place of worship and friendship in the Carryduff community. Several thousand were delivered by hand by parishioners to homes in the area including newly built developments.
Refugee support
The war in Ukraine, caused by the desire of members of the Russian government to re build the soviet bloc and increase their power has left many people dead, injured and homeless. The refugees number many millions. As soon as the huge needs became public people began to find ways to support both residents and refugees from Ukraine. The church at Carryduff became a rallying point for such donations and we were privileged to make Carryduff church available on several occasions to gather items. It was wonderful to see the support from both Killaney and Carryduff, and the good people of the local areas, as they played their part in reducing the suffering of some.
We have continued to donate food and essentials to The Larder in Mersey Street on a monthly basis. We also filled a large number of shoe boxes with Christmas gifts for children overseas, as organised by Samaritan’s Purse.
Ob ectives and Activities j
The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion.
The principal function of Carryduff Parish is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of Carryduff Parish, 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 Christianity. As a result of activity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, Carryduff Parish 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 Carryduff Parish.
Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit
St Ignatius ’Church was built in 1965 as a worship centre with brilliant stained glass windows surrounding a bright, open and airy arena. With seating for 250 people and room to extend seating for bigger services, it provides the location for weekly and occasional services for the community.
Services took place twice every Sunday and once every Wednesday, with additional midweek services during Lent.
We are partners in mission with other parts of the worldwide church and so donate monies to mission programmes as listed in this report. South Sudan includes our diocesan link diocese (Maridi) and our parish’s partner diocese, (Olo).
It has been our intention to awaken in one another our sense of the importance of spiritual life for people, providing teaching, preaching, encouragements to study the bible and enabling fresh experiences of worship to enliven the heart.
Church Hall
Groups and organisations - using the Church Hall - between them encourage physical activity, community building, education and spiritual growth.
To defray running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning and maintenance, fees were charged for the use of halls by external groups. Other hall users contributed to the expenses as noted. One group stopped meeting in the hall, while other groups began short term uses and more regular uses. This helps to keep the building available for the community.
The halls were maintained to a high standard with the award of an Entertainment Licence.
For the protection of children, the Church of Ireland Safeguarding Trust regulations are applied for every instance where children or vulnerable adults are part of the church’s life. Scouts and Guides follow their own policy in this matter.
At the start of the year a new cleaning contract was awarded on a pro-temp basis and we have seen continued care and attention to detail as the contractor has been made aware of the very specific needs of church properties which sometimes need to be used outside predictable routines.
The church was used by a choir and they have contributed to the funds of the church in response.
Care of Pro ert p y
Painting contractors renewed and repaired some of the exterior painting of the church and hall, with a view to reducing the need for major work in the future. the removal of a large tree from the edge of the road allowed better views of the church and its illuminated cross, and was the cause of much positive comment. With the completion of the church and rectory gates and railings, the renewal of the road surface in the rectory grounds, the addition of new steps and drains and fencing around the rectory, our property looks well set for many years to come.
During the year a Fabric Fund was introduced by the Select vestry to prepare for extensive anticipated expenditure due to take place on the roofs of both the church and the hall, and for survey work to be undertaken to prepare for this. This is part of the ongoing response to a Quinquennial Inspection some years ago.
Public Benefit
The Parish has 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.
Funds
A fund-raising Committee has been formed to facilitate new revenue sources while providing entertaining and rewarding social events. The first such events are due in the spring of 2023.
Trustee Matters
Apart from the rector, who is a trustee, no trustees benefitted financially from the work of the parish. Some trustees provided free labour as they did maintenance using materials purchased by the parish.
General reserves
While the parish has no specified account to hold reserves, it has been our intention to keep a sum of approximately £20,000 of unspecified funds in reserve. This is to guard against dips in income and to provide a decent amount of money should emergency repairs need to take place.
Goin Concern g
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 2022 can be signed off as a going concern.