Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2025
The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities Inch Parish Church for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Objectives and Activities
The principle objective of Inch Parish Church is to support the advancement of the Christian religion, and the benefits thereof, through its various activities and ministries. Broadly speaking this fall into the following five categories: evangelical, ecumenical, pastoral, social and charitable. Practically this means that we engage with society as a whole, on a cross-community basis, offering both spiritual and practical support to individuals and families as they have need.
As a result of its activities and pursuant with its mission, Inch Parish Church has custody of property, land and buildings, fabric and furnishings, records and registers, materials and artefacts of significant cultural, historical and religious value, the maintenance of which is undertaken by the Select Vestry of Inch Parish Church.
Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit
Inch Parish Church together with Christ Church Kilmore forma joint parish under the leadership of the Priest in Charge Revd. Dr. Claire Aylward who was installed on the 10¢ October 2025. As a joint parish we seek to pursue the mission of the Church: evangelical, ecumenical, pastoral, social and charitable under the aegis of the Church of Ireland.
As a joint parish we seek to pursue the mission of the Church: evangelical, ecumenical, pastoral, social and charitable under the aegis of the Church of Ireland.
We provide weekly and occasional services of Morning Prayer, Holy Communion, Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals and adjunct pastoral support including, the visitation of the sick, the elderly, the infirm and the bereaved. Each Church also runs its own Sunday school.
As a joint parish we are involved in the broader community and as part of our mission seek to work alongside all other Civic, Charitable, School and Church organisations addressing local needs and on occasion, worshipping together.
We provide support and premises for the following organisations: Cubs, Beavers, Scouts, Art Group, Bowls.
We raise funds and donate monies from our own resources to local and international charities.
As a joint Parish and on a completely voluntary basis, we operate the Kilmore & Inch Food Bank, which supplies emergency food parcels to both individuals and families. The Food Bank works closely with the following, Social Services and other statutory bodies, all of whom refer clients to us.
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Financial Review e The accounts show that the Church General Fund had a surplus of £3,926.90 for the year before transfers. The general fund received £10,978.76 from Inch Community Hall.
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© The church received a bequest from the estate of the late Walter Love to be used for the benefit of the Parish. The bequest has been credited to a designated fund to be held until the Select Vestry has decided how it is best used for the benefit of the Parish.
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© Inch Community Hall made a surplus of £10,978.76 which was transferred to the General Fund. e A fund was established for matching costs for an application to the Northern Ireland Communities Infrastructure Fund from special events,
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© The Graveyard Fund has increased by £1,860.00 during the year as again there was costs to maintenance of the wall.
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© Inch Parish Church with Kilmore Parish Church were the partnership churches for the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Mid-Down Debt Centre. On termination of this partnership in August 2025, the monies held in the Debt Centre account were transferred to the Kilmore Parish Church Account on behalf of the Grouped Parishes of Kilmore and Inch in consultation with CAP. It was agreed with CAP that the funds would be held by the group until CAP NI advised if they should be transferred directly to CAP or to such other debt centre as directed by CAP.
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Trustees’ Annuai Report for the year ended 31 December 2025 (Cont).
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e A Rejuvenation Grant is awarded by the Diocese of Down and Dromore to assist small parishes within the Diocese who have experienced a challenging season to: © renew their focus on ministry and evangelistic outreach, o gather internal resources to live out their calling to ministry and outreach, ©O enter a new season of ministry fruitfulness, and © become a more active witness in their local community. This funding is being used by the parish to support regular ministry and outreach activities such as children’s and youth, Alpha Courses etc.
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e There were a number of transactions through other restricted funds in respect of one-off events. e The balance of the Parish’s main (No 1 Account) at 31st December 2025 was £29,377.10 an increase of £7,324.96 from the beginning of the year. The balance includes £5,827.22 in restricted funds.
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e The Parish is bound by the Church of Ireland ‘Duty of Prudence’ for church trustees to ensure that the parish is and remains solvent and by annual accounting principles to remain a going concern. Our aim has been to keep sufficient free reserves to provide, as per good practice guidelines for charities, cover for 6 months in relation to known liabilities. Our present reserves meet this requirement.
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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 2025 can be signed off as a going concern.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity
Chapter Il! of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisation. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees Recruitment and Appointment of Select Vestry (Trustees)
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 membersofthe 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 Parish is jointly responsible, with Kilmore Parish Church for payment of the stipend, office and locomotory allowances to the incumbent and for payment of the stipend, office and locomotory allowances to the incumbent and the incumbent received the stipend and allowances as prescribed by the Diocese. Organisational Structure The select vestry is responsible for the day-to-day management of the parish. The select vestry consists of the Priest in Charge, the Churchwardens, the Glebe Wardens and generally not more than twelve other members of the General Vestry elected at the Annual Easter Vestry Meeting.
The select vestry is normally chaired by the Priest in Charge. The responsibilities of the Select Vestry are detailed in the Third Chapter of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland, with members being primarily responsible for all matters relating to parochial land, buildings, fabric, fixtures and fittings, the Church Graveyard and ensuring adequate insurance cover of the same. The Select Vestry has responsibility for the management of all Parish’s Income and Expenditure.
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2025 (Cont)
The Select Vestry also has responsibilities governed by general and Charities legislation.
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.
Compliance with 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.
Statement of Trustees’ 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 charities in Northern Ireland with Income of less than £250,000 requires 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 hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Signed on Behalf of the Trustees
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Priest in Charge Rev. Dr. Claire Aylward 4 fm \or \ 2l.
Honorary Secretary Mr. Julian Sandford : ‘ aia \o\ ze
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