Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2025
The trustees present the annual report and accounts for St Cedma’s Church for the year ended 31 December 2025. PURPOSES: , 1a. The expression of the precepts of the Christian religion through engagement with the General Public, and in particular, with the disadvantaged, the sick, elderly and the young. 1b. Enjoyment of Public Worship, the giving and receiving of Pastoral Ministry, improved understanding of the values relating to civil engagement, community cohesion and providing a bridge between diverse groups, improved educational outcomes through the Church’s ministry of Teaching. 2a. Provision of archive records, public enjoyment of cultural and historic buildings and artefacts, appreciation of longstanding Christian Heritage.
BENEFICIARIES:
The activities of St Cedma's Parish are offered for the benefit of the entire population of the town of Larne and its surrounding areas, including some 1,200 individuals (460 households) who have a direct association with the parish of Larne and Inver.
ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2025
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Over the year worship services were held each Sunday. There is a mid-week Holy Communion service with prayers for healing. There is a range of ages drawn from across the full range of social and economic backgrounds in the Larne community. These services provide the opportunity for emotional, moral and community cohesion and development for all participants through involvement in the shared cross generational activity of worship and interpersonal interaction at coffee time offered after Sunday morning worship. A children’s ministry Bubble Church is held on Sunday afternoons once a month.
During the year the clergy continued to hold funerals. Every funeral service involves intensive connection not only with the immediate family, but also with all those from across the community who knew and valued the person who has died. While preparing for and conducting a funeral, emotional, pastoral and spiritual support is given to those most directly affected. However, that specific support continues to be offered for months, and even years after the date of the funeral.
During the year, Baptisms and weddings were conducted at St Cedma’s Church. Each of these occasions introduces a wide cross-section of the public to the community life, and significant heritage of the grade B+ Listed St Cedma's Church (built in 1350). Through community and value-based celebration, long term family and community cohesion is enhanced.
Throughout the year the parish has provided opportunities for community, educational and emotional development through a range of activities. These include.
Parish Piecemakers is a group of women meeting weekly between September and May to sew patchwork and quilting. The members are from various faiths and none but come together to enjoy their hobby. Over the years they have stitched wall hangings to celebrate Christmas and Easter in the church and produced exhibitions in other churches, the Carnegie Arts Centre and given talks on our work throughout the immediate area and beyond
First Friday social group meets monthly for chat and mutual support.
Rainbows and Brownies are drawn from across all areas of the Larne Community. Educational, social and emotional development is enhanced through structured and informal activities, supervised by a dedicated volunteer team of trained teenage and adult leaders. The Inver Art Group meets weekly and provides a learning and skills-based activity to enhance the social and life skills of a group largely composed of the recently retired. In this way new skills are developed or enhanced through peer group and externally tutored sessions and preparation for an annual exhibition of work.
The St. Cedma’s Indoor bowlers meet regularly in Inver Hall and compete with other local groups.
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The “Gardening and Grounds Group” is also a group of (largely) men, drawn together by a desire to maintain the historic grounds and graveyard of St Cedma's church, and other parish properties, through volunteering their time and energies.
Members of St Cedma's Parish are actively involved as volunteers in the Larne Foodbank program. This has enhanced an awareness of social needs and deprivation across the Larne population and has also provided participants with an opportunity to make a positive community difference by providing physical resources and emotional support to those in greatest need.
The hall is used regularly by outside organisations including choirs, weight loss and welfare groups.
This Review can give only a snapshot of some of the activities and benefits of the shared community life of the parish of St Cedma's Larne across the twelve-month period under consideration.
HARM
There is no harm arising from the purposes described.
PRIVATE BENEFIT
Any private benefit arising out of the fulfilment of Christian ministry or to lay staff is essential to the fulfilment of the purpose of the advancement of religion. No trustee receives remuneration, reward or any other private benefit for carrying out their Trustee responsibility.
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DRector Lockhart ’Boe
Date: : wW/4/o2 (
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