PARISH OF BALLYPHILIP AND ARDQUIN
Annual report and statement of accounts for the year ended 31.12.2022
REFERENCES AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Charity name
Parish of Ballyphilip and Ardquin
Charity registration number
NIC 102622
Contact address
Church Street, Portaferryi BT22 ILS
TRUSTEES AND OFFICE BEARERS
TRUSTEES (SELECT VESTRY)
Rev. Canon Gill Withers B.Ed. {Chairl
Michael Beckett
Elizabeth Browne
Eveleigh Brownlow MBE
Rhoda Dorndorf
John Johnston
Elaine McFeeters
Lorna Peacock
James Quinn
Mark Rebbeck
Nancy Sheridan
Kathleen Smyth
Cecilia Stephens
Vivienne Youn8
Rev. Jennifer Montgomery lex officiol
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Rettor
Rev. Canon Gill Withers B.Ed.
Assistin8 minister
Rev. Jennifer Montgomery
Lay readers
Ka￿n McAlpine
Rosemarie Armstrong-woodroffe
Honorary secretary
Elaine McFeeters
Honorary treasurer
John Johnston
Rettorfs churchwardens
St James's. Ballyphilip
Kathleen Smyth (until 31.03.20221
Elizabeth Browne (since 01.04.2022)
Cecilia Stephens
The Abbacy. Ardquin
People's churchwardens
St James's, Ballyphilip
The Abbacy. Ardquin
Elaine McFeeters
Mark Rebbeck

Parish of 8allyphilip and Ardquin
Tnjstees, annual report for the year ended 31.12.2022
Glebe wardens
Rectorfs glebe warden
Vacant {until 31.03.2022)
Rhoda Dorndorf (since 01.04.2022)
Vacant (until 31.03.20221
Irivienne Young (since 01.04.2022)
People's glebe warden
OTHER OFFICE BEARERS
Parochial nominator
Elizabeth Browne
Supplemental parochial nominator
Vacant
Diocesan synods person
Michael Beckett
Supplemental diocesan synods person
Vacant
Free will offerings recorder
John Johnston
Organists
Jennifer Bryce
Winifred Irvine
Elizabeth Lyttle BEM
Choir coordinator
Sarah Alcorn B.Sc. (until 30.06.20221
Vacant (since 01.07.20221
Health and safety officer
Vacant (until 31.03.20221
Rhoda Domdorf (since 01.04.20221
Caretaker
Thomas Leebody
Independent examiner
Guardian Chartered Accountants
2 William street
Newtownards
BT23 4AH
Bankers
Danske Bank
Donegall Square West
Belfast
BTI 6JS

Parish of Ballyphilip and Ardquin
Trustee￿ annual report for the year ended 31.12.2022
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31.12.2022
The trustees present the annual report and the statements of receipts and payments and of assets and liabilities
for the Parish of Ballyphilip and Ardquin for the year ending 31.12.2022.
The trustees first wish to record their gratitude to Kathleen Smyth and Sarah Alcorn who have stepped down
after many years of dedicated service to the parish and the community as churchwarden and choir co-ordinator
and to thank the following for their generosity to the parish-.
Mrs Sian Wells for a donation in memory of her father. Lt Col. Fred Beringer, late RE.
Eveleigh Brownlow, Martin Ellison, and Cecilia and Nick Stephens for donations in kind towards the
upkeep of St James's and the Abbacy.
The Upper Ards Historical Society for a donation to the restoration of St James's.
Mr and Mrs Oliver Sava8e and Mr and Mrs Rowland Savage for allowing worshippers to park on their
property when services are being held in the Abbaci.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion.
The principal function of the Parish of Ballyphilip and Ardquin is to 5UPPOrt the advancement of the Christian
religion by promotin& through the work of St James's. Ballyphilip and the Abbacy. Ardquin 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 artivity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, the Parish of Ballyphilip and
Ardquin has Custody of property and of records, materials and artefacts si8nificant to the cultural and reli8lOUS
heritage ofthe parish and the Upper Ards. The maintenance of these items is undertaken by the selett vestry of
the Parish of Ballyphilip and Ardquin.
ACHIEVEMENTS, PERFORMANCE, AND PUBLIC BENEFIT
ADVANCEMENT OF RELIGION
PASTORAL Acriviry
At least one act of public worship has taken place in the parish each week throughout the year. Services of Holy
Communion and Morning Prayer were held in St James's whenever the weather permitted.. at other times. they
were held in the Parish Centre. The heating system in the Parish Centre failed in November and since then all
services have been held inthe Abbacy.The experience has been a testoffaith and notwithstandingthe disruption
and inconvenience, fifteen to twenty people of all ages have consistently attended servi￿5 at Ballyphilip and at
Ardquin.
EVANGELISM
The parish has supported Christian missions and charities with donations totalling £1,725 to the Church of Ireland
Bishops, Appeal, Christian Aid Ireland, Eggshell Cambodia, Tearfund, and World Vision as well as distributing gifts
from the rectorfs discretionary fund, commonly known as Brown's Charity, to elderly and deserving parishioners
and townsfolk at Christmas and Easter or, where appropriate, at othertimes in the year.
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
The parish raised £ICKJ each forthe Air Ambulance Nl through an Easter ballot and colletted £155 for The Royal
British Legion during Remembrance, while individual parishioners attively sUPPOrted the recently established

Parish of Ballyphilip and Ardquin
Trustee< annual report for the year ended 31.12.2022
food bank and the Parish Centre was used for inter-denominational and cross<ommunity social, cultural, and
recreational activities as well a5 for private and family funrtions.
ECUMENICAL ACTivirY
The parish worked with other denominations on public evangelism during the Portaferry Gala week in July, in
holding an ecumenical carol service during Advent, and in providing an opportunity for prayer and reflertion on
St Sylvesterfs Day, 31 December. These activities weakened divisions between denominations and opened minds
to the Holy Spirit and to Our Saviourfs words.
In the same sense of Christian unity, whenever there is a fifth Sunday in a month, parishioners from Ballyphilip
and Ardquin join their fellows from Greyabbey and Kircubbin Parish or their neighbours from Portaferry
Methodist Church in common worship. At least one united orjointsep4ice takes place every quarter, the location
alternatin8 between St James's, Ballyphilip and the Methodist Church or between St James's and either 5t
Saviourfs, Greyabbey or Holy Trinity, Kircubbin. The worshippers meet after the service for refreshments and
Christian fellowship.
HERITAGE AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
THE AB8ACY
Maintenance and repair work has contlnued. A fire safety inspectlon has been carried out. the main door has
been repainted, and work will start to clear the 8utters and replace a faulty li8htin8 control panel.
STJAMES'S
The heating system in St James's, Ballyphilip failed in 2020 and cannot be repaired. Environmental, physical, and
fire safety constraints preclude installing a new oil-fired boiler. An under-pew electrical heating 5yStem, similar
to that in Holy Trinity. Kircubbin, will be installed as part of the church's restoration programme.
In accordance with advice from the parish's insurers, the church and the adjacent graveyard have been closed
after autumnal storms brought down masonry from the tower of the church. No decision on reopenin8 the
church or 8raveyard will be made until a structural survey of the church has been carried out.
BALL YPHILIP PARISH CEAITRE
A storm dislodged the cowling of an extraction fan on the roof of the building. Efforts to arrange repair of the
cowling and fan are on80ing.
The defunrt boiler will be removed and a new one installed during the first quarter of 2023.
MARGARET HURST DWELLING
The tenant vacated the property in September 2022. The property had become ne8lected during the tenancy, in
part because routine inspections were not permissible during lockdowns. Remedial works are being carried out
to secure and make the property habitable, pending a decision by the select vestry on its future.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC BENEFIT
The trustees have carefully considered the Charitycomrnission for Northern Ireland'sguidance on public benefit
to ensure that the artivities which were started during the year have helped to achieve the parish's objectives
and activities, as well as providing public benefft.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Receipts in 2022 came to 391,18512021. 88,456). while payments amounted to £122.98712021: 82,932}. leaving
balance of £268.19812021: 5.5241. The figures for 2022 include £330,030 from the sale of the glebe lands and
share) in Shell plc, while those for 2021 include a Substantial legacy. several large one-off donations, and a refund
of costs for repairs at the rectory. If these and similar items are excluded from the accounts, the parish's annual
income each year was about£60,OCMJ. half of which coming from free will offerings and other donations.

Parish of Ballyphilip and Ardquin
Trustee< annual report for the year ended 31.12.2022
Payments for 2022 include £59,296 for clearin8 the Abbacy Restoration loan, which will save the parish over
£7,000 annually in interest and capital repayments. The loan was cleared by drawing £60,000 from the proceeds
of the glebe lands sale. The £250,0¢)O which remained from the sale wa5 invested in the RB General Unit Trust
INI) and produced an income of £6,367.
With over £30,000 raised towards the restoration of St James's. the parish's financial posttion has been stabilised
and the parish can consider its long-term future. Having reviewed the budgets for the year ahead, the trustees
are Satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the parish can continue its activities and that
the financial statements can be signed off as a going concern for the year ended 31.12.2022.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, AND MANAGEMENT
GOVERNING DOCUMENT AND CONSTITUTION
Chapter 111 of the Church of Ireland constitution governs parishes and parochial organisation. The members of
the selett vestry are the charity trustees.
RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF SELEcf VESTRY {TRUSTEES)
All members of the Church of Ireland who are overthe age of 18 and are either resident within the parish or live
elsewhere but have been accustomed members of the congregation for at least th￿e months, may register as
members of the general vestry of the parish, allowingthem to attend and vote at meetings of the general vestry
and to stand for election to the seleec 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
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 meets forty percent of the stipend and allowances which the rettor receives from the Parish of
Greyabbey and Kircubbin. Visiting clergy. lay readers, and organists re￿1ve a fee for each service they conduct
or at which they play. The caretaker is paid weekly in accordance with the National Living Wage.
ORGANISATIONAL STRucfuRE
The select vestry is responsible for the day-to4ay management of the parish. The select vestry consists 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. Retired members of clergy resident
in the parish are ex officio members of the selett vestry.
The selectvestry is chaired bythe incumbent or other member of the clergy officiatin8 in the parish. Selert 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 or the churchwardens. In 2022 the Select Vestry met 8 times during
the year and the average attendance was 60%.
SAFEGUARDING POLICIES
The parish's safeguarding, data protection, and copyright policies are compliant with Church of Ireland
guidelines. Health and safety policy and documentation followguidance issued by Ards and North Down Borough
Council.
Advice has been received from the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities. Ards and
North Down Borough Council, and the Diocese of Down and Dromore on the restoration of St James's. Further
advice will be sought from the RCB Library on safeguarding heritage ttems during restoration works.

Parish of Ballyphilip and Ardquin
Trustee< annual report for the year ended 31.12.2022
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC BENEFIT
The trustees have carefully considered the Charitycommission for Northem Ireland's guidance on public benefit
to ensure that the activities which were started 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 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 an income of less than £250,1J)O requi￿5 the members of 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 adequately 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 to prevent and
detect fraud or other irregularities.
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
. {Rector)
. (Hon. Secretary)
Date..........