# **ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 www.stbrigidsglengormley.org Charity Registration Number: 102650 **NEWTOWNABBEY/Mallusk/St Brigid, Glengormley/Connor/Church of Ireland** For the year 1 January to 31 December 2023 ## **Administrative Information** **Charity Name:** NEWTOWNABBEY/Mallusk/St Brigid, Glengormley/ Connor/Church of Ireland **Also known as:** St Brigid’s Glengormley **Charity Registration Number:** 102650 **Address:** 48 Ballyclare Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 5HL **Trustees during 2023:** Jeanette Allen; Jonny Allen; Ernest Arthur; Molly Grattan; Roy Greer; Bill Hall; Eileen Howe; Nevin Kidd; Doug Kirch; Audrey Manning; Victor McCabe; Una McCormick; Isobel McGladdery; Revd Jacob Mercer; Kevin Mooney; Robert Smyth; Ann Stewart; John White. **Current Trustees:** Jeanette Allen; Jonny Allen; Ernest Arthur; Roy Greer; Eileen Howe; Nevin Kidd; Audrey Manning; Isobel McGladdery; Revd Jacob Mercer; Kevin Mooney; Robert Smyth; Ann Stewart; John White. **Principal Office-Bearers during 2023:** Chairperson: Revd Jacob Mercer Honorary Treasurer: Jeanette Allen Honorary Secretary: Isobel McGladdery **Bankers:** Danske Bank, PO Box 183, Donegall Square West, Belfast BT1 6JS **Independent Auditor for 2023:** Cathal Doyle FCA Chartered Accountants Ireland Unit 1, Creagh Industrial Estate, Toomebridge, BT41 3UF 1 **NEWTOWNABBEY/Mallusk/St Brigid, Glengormley/Connor/Church of Ireland** For the year 1 January to 31 December 2023 ## **Annual Report** The trustees present the annual report and accounts for St Brigid’s for the year ended 31 December 2023. ## **1. Aims and Purposes** The principal function of the charity is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of this parish church, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. As a result of activity in pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, St Brigid’s has custody of property and of records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage of the community, including various records of baptisms, confirmations, marriages and burials. The Select Vestry undertakes the maintenance of these and access to our records is available upon request. Our beneficiaries are, therefore, both those who choose to be part of our community of faith and those from the wider community who may request help in a variety of areas. ## **2. Objectives and Activities** Our Mission Statement during 2023 said, “We commit ourselves to: Celebrate the living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Care for others; Cultivate personal growth in Christ; and Communicate Christ to the world.” We fulfilled these commitments through regular worship, especially on Sundays; by providing practical and spiritual care and friendship to the bereaved, lonely, housebound and ill; by offering funeral and wedding services; by providing opportunities for Bible study, corporate prayer, and service of the church and wider community; by putting on events for the wider public at which the Christian good news is shared; and by partnering with other organisations that promote the advancement of the Christian religion through prayer and finance. In planning the activities of St Brigid’s we have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit. ## **3. Achievements and Performance** **Overview** 2023 has been a year of ups and downs. As a church we suffered the loss of a number of highly valued congregation members to cancer but we have also seen signs of growth: financially we have taken a big stride forwards towards sustainability for the future; we have had new members join our church; and we have started up new ministries in addition to continuing with the patterns of ministry established in 2022. **Worship and Prayer** Services of worship took place on Sunday mornings at 10.30am and there were services of Holy Communion on Wednesdays during Lent. When Revd Jacob Mercer was on annual leave, Sunday ministry was provided by Diocesan Readers and OLMs. Each month we also held a Prayer Meeting to pray corporately for 2 ## **NEWTOWNABBEY/Mallusk/St Brigid,** ## **Glengormley/Connor/Church of Ireland** ## For the year 1 January to 31 December 2023 the needs of the church, parish and world. During the year the total number of funeral services conducted was 8, all of which were at St Brigid’s. There were no marriages and no marriage blessings. There were 3 baptisms and, wonderfully, 7 people were confirmed. **Youth Ministry** We began a new monthly event in January called CONNECT. It’s for 11-18 year olds and includes worship and Bible teaching, food and games. An average of 25 young people have been coming each month – some from St Brigid’s, some from other local churches, and some as guests. Thank you to the volunteers who help run the evening and who cook and serve the food. In addition to CONNECT three young people attended the excellent Diocesan youth weekend away called Connor Takes the Castle in October and a Diocesan Youth Event at Christmas. In October, five young people from St Brigid’s were Confirmed by the Bishop of Connor at a special Sunday Service. They, together with two adult members of the congregation, completed a Confirmation Preparation Course led by Revd Jacob Mercer. **Little Fishes** 2023 was our first full year of running Little Fishes since the pandemic. Little Fishes is a group for toddlers aged 0-4 and their parents and grandparents. The group provides a place for young children and parents to make friends and find support as well as being a safe and friendly space to ask questions about Christianity. Attendance has been high (around 15-20 children every week) and we have made contact and established relationships with many local families. We ended the year with a Little Christmas Celebration. A large number of volunteers are involved in the set-up and running of Little Fishes and we are grateful for all their hard work. **Christmas Outreach** We held two events designed to be welcoming and beneficial both to the church community and local members of the public. The first was our Christmas Afternoon Tea attended by about 100 people, including many guests. The event included afternoon tea, Irish dancers, an accordion band and a Christmas song sing-along. The second was Glengormley Community Carols, an evening service of carols and readings with an explanation of the Christian faith. This had an attendance of 167 people. These events were advertised online and by delivering 1000 Christmas card flyers around the local area. **Website and Online Presence** Our website www.stbrigidsglengormley.org is our online shop window. During 2023 the website had had about 1500 users with 11 visits to the site per day. We run a sermons podcast to make our teaching as accessible as possible and during 2023 and during the year we clocked 561 plays. We also continued to provide recordings of our services on YouTube for the benefit of anyone unable to attend church in person — each service is watched on average 49 times. **Giving Sundays** At the end of January and beginning of February we designated two Sundays as Giving Sundays, services with a special focus on giving, generosity and supporting the ministry of the parish. During these services we laid out our financial situation and the need to increase our income. We also produced a giving booklet setting out our needs and how people might respond. The response was excellent and, as detailed below, financial giving by the congregation has increased by about 63%. This increased level of giving has remained stable since then. This will enable us both afford the stipend for our minister going forward and make new plans for growth. 3 ## **NEWTOWNABBEY/Mallusk/St Brigid,** ## **Glengormley/Connor/Church of Ireland** ## For the year 1 January to 31 December 2023 **Priorities Funding** In March we were granted £6226 by the Church of Ireland Priorities Fund. This was with a view to starting monthly youth events and an evening service, as well as improving our communication with users of our buildings. So far we have installed a new projector and PA system in the church lounge; a digital display screen in the porch to advertise our groups and events to the hundreds of people who use our car park; solar powered spotlights to illuminate our road sign; and we have erected some new notice boards; and some large notice boards in the lounge. This grant is not reflected in our accounts as we have not yet drawn down the money to cover our expenses. **Ecumenical Relationships** St Brigid’s is part of Newtownabbey Churches Fellowship, a group of local ministers from Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Church of Ireland, Congregational and Independent churches. We organise Christian outreach events for the whole Newtownabbey community, including the annual Bible Week (see www.newtownabbeybibleweek.org). **Buildings and Fabric** Every 5 years our church building and Rectory are surveyed by a firm appointed by the diocese. The surveyor produces a report on the state of the buildings and provides a schedule of works categorised in order of importance. Much of the work recommended in that report was completed in the second half of 2023 so that we continue to have well-maintained buildings with no major issues. In addition to work recommended as part of the Quinquennial Inspection we have also made significant improvements to the fire safety features of our church premises following the recommendations of an independent fire safety inspection. **Safeguarding** Our Safeguarding Panel oversees all aspects of safeguarding in line with Church of Ireland policies. Further information about Safeguarding at St Brigid’s can be found at www.stbrigidsglengormley.org/safeguarding. ## **4. Financial Review** by Honorary Treasurer Jeanette Allen We present our accounts in the format suggested by the Charities Commission for Northern Ireland. We use the Receipts and Payments basis for reporting, and all transactions clearing the bank between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023 have been included in these figures. Funds are divided between Restricted and Unrestricted. The accounts presented show: Receipts of £116,377.97 Payments of £98,145.31 Surplus of £18,232.66 Receipts are up significantly; this is primarily down to the congregation’s response to the Giving Sundays in February 2023. The response to this cannot be underestimated – without this increase in giving there would have been a substantial deficit and we have avoided this by keeping the general vestry informed and asking for help to prevent this. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who reviewed their giving over the course of 2023. 4 ## **NEWTOWNABBEY/Mallusk/St Brigid,** ## **Glengormley/Connor/Church of Ireland** For the year 1 January to 31 December 2023 Payments also increased but this was expected and reported on in last year's report. There were several influences on this. As mentioned previously, we had a full year of stipend to pay, which was our first from 2020. There was also increased expenditure in relation to property maintenance for both the church and the rectory, predominantly as a result of our Quinquennial Report. There was a reasonable amount of work needing completed but whilst this is an ongoing process a great deal of this has been carried out this year. The Select Vestry meets once a month, and a report of incomings and outgoings is presented at each meeting. Any decisions are made as a collective body, based on the information presented at the meetings. Sincere thanks to Cathal Doyle, our Independent Examiner for the year ended 31 December 2023. Cathal has checked the accounts and is satisfied that they present a true and accurate picture of the financial position. The Annual Accounts were approved by the Select Vestry at its meeting on 10th April 2024 and received by the General Vestry at its meeting on 14th April 2024. ## **5. Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity** St Brigid’s Church is governed in accordance with Chapter 3 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland (www.ireland.anglican.org/about/the-constitution-in-full). The Trustees of the charity are the members of the Select Vestry. ## **Recruitment and Appointment of the Select Vestry (Trustees)** The Select Vestry comprises the priest-in-charge of St Brigid’s, the two church wardens, the two glebe wardens (all ex officio), and generally up to twelve additional members elected annually from among the registered members of the General Vestry. Anyone over the age of 18 who (i) lives in the Parish of Mallusk or lives elsewhere but has attended St Brigid’s for at least three months and (ii) makes a financial donation in such a way that their name can be recorded against that donation, is entitled to register as a member of the General Vestry. Membership affords the right to vote at meetings of the General Vestry and to stand for election to the Select Vestry. The General Vestry ordinarily meets once a year and as part of that meeting elects the Select Vestry. Members of the Select Vestry hold their positions for a period of one year and may be re-elected annually. There is no limit to the number of terms they may serve. The Select Vestry appoints the Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. The list of Registered Members was revised on 22 February 2023. There were 49 members of whom 25 are resident in the parish. The annual General Vestry meeting took place on 26 March 2023. The accounts for the year ending 31 December 2022 were received, the registered members appointed Cathal Doyle as their Independent Examiner for this report, and the Select Vestry were elected to serve for the next year. In addition Ernie Arthur and Nevin Kidd were appointed as Glebe Wardens and Kevin Mooney and Jonny Allen were appointed as Churchwardens to serve 5 ## **NEWTOWNABBEY/Mallusk/St Brigid,** ## **Glengormley/Connor/Church of Ireland** ## For the year 1 January to 31 December 2023 for one year. We also elected members of Diocesany Synod and Parochial Nominators to serve for the next three years. ## **Pay and Remuneration** In his role as Priest-in-Charge, Revd Jacob Mercer, received a stipend at the Church of Ireland’s National Minimum Stipend rate as well as office and locomotory allowances from the Church of Ireland. The Select Vestry was then invoiced monthly to reimburse the Church of Ireland. The Select Vestry paid Doug Kirch (a Trustee) to work as the church sexton for 10 hours per week at a rate of £10.50 per hour. Doug resigned from this role early in the year. No other payments were made to trustees except reimbursements for purchases made on behalf of the church. ## **Management of the Charity** The Select Vestry is chaired by the priest-in-charge and is responsible for the finances, fabric and furnishings of the church as well as legal compliance and safeguarding. It is the responsibility of the Select Vestry to support the priest-in-charge in his responsibility for directing worship, mission, and ministries in accordance with the beliefs and practices of the Church of Ireland. The Select Vestry met 10 times during the year. End. This report was formally adopted by the Select Vestry of St Brigid’s at its meeting on 10th April 2024. ## **Signed on behalf of the Trustees** **_____________________________________________________** Isobel McGladdery, Honorary Secretary **_____________________________________________________** Jacob Mercer, Chairperson 6 Independent examiner's report to the charity trustees of Newtonabbey/ Malluskl St Brigid, Glengormley/ Connor/ Church of Ireland (NIC 102650) I report on the accounts of the Association for the year ended 31 December 2023. Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charit7es Act follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under section 6519)(b) of the Charities Act state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examiner's report I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act. My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters. My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe: 1. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act 2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records 3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act 4. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (41 listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention. Cathal Doyle FCA Chartered Accountants Ireland Unit 1, Creagh Industrial Estate, Toomebridge, BT413UF NEWTOWNABBEYIMallusklSt Brigid's, Glengormleylconnorlchurch of Ireland Receipts and Payments Account NIC102650 st Brigid's For tho poriod from GLENGOftMLEY&MALLUSK 0110112023 3111212023 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted lunds Total funds Last year A1 Recel Is Free Will Olleiin Buildin Fund Loose Collection Gill Aid Gill Da Use of Premises Fundraisin Mission Fundraisin General Other Recei Bank Interest 80.761.18 80.761.18 182.00 46,632.36 3.712.00 1,222.12 9,697.22 646.39 19.720.00 1,315.82 605.40 6,608.37 106.91 0.00 182.00 2.329.71 2,329.71 0.00 1.576.00 11.294.26 1,683.83 447.90 18,042.82 160.28 1,676.00 11,294.26 1.307.19 289.90 17,004.66 160.28 0.00 276.64 168.00 1,038.26 0.00 Al Sub total (Gross incom8 for Ihe Annual Relum) 114,723.07 1,664.90 116,377.97 90,168.69 A2 Asset and Inve8tment sales (see tables 18nd 2 in 88clion 7 01 Ihe uidance . Proceeds from sale ol fixed asset Loan re men15 received A2 Sub total 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Total receipts 114.723.07 1.664.90 116.377.97 90.16S.69 A3Pa mènts Salaries and Wa es Diocesan General Fund Recto Costs Church Overheads Office Ex enses Church and Halls Maintenance Other Curch Costs Teachin and Resources Outreach Charitable Donalalions Gifts and Tokens Vacanc Costs Reclor Alleralions Bank Fees 64.148.90 0,3S6.17 1,178.36 17,052.03 307.11 10.608.72 667.10 1.166.17 1.138.08 2.610.12 37r.67 64.14B.90 8,366.17 1,178.36 17.062.03 307.11 10,790.72 567.10 1.166.17 1,138.08 2,610.12 377.67 32.B1 t.13 7,806.38 990.06 8,469.79 80.J8 2,366.76 718.13 249.00 182.00 180.00 1,123.00 0.00 4,418.80 16 766.36 0.00 483.98 463.98 A3 Sub total 97,963.31 182.00 98,146.31 76,968.77 A4 Asset and investment purcha8e8 (see tables l and 2 in section 7 of the UAdance Purchase of investments Loans made A4 Sub total o.oo 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0,00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Total payments 97,963.31 182.00 98.145.31 75.968.77 Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds lastyearend Cash funds this year end 16,759.76 12,216.37 32,098.72 61.074.85 1,472.90 .12,216.37 12,216.37 1.472.90 18,232.66 14,196.82 0.00 30,116.27 44,315.09 44,315.09 62,547.75 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI 1210412024 Iyi4 MEWIOWNABBEYIM