BILLY PARISH CHURCH DIOCESE OF CONNOR TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31[s][t] DECEMBER 2025 CHARITY NUMBER NIC102901 Trustees Mrs Rosetta Gault Mr Brian Bolt Mr Paul McKeeman Mr Brian Brown Snr Mr Ivan Kane Mr Tommy McConaghy Mrs Pam Traill Mrs Leanne Smyth Rev. Geoffrey Haugh Mr James Callaghan Principal Office Bearers Treasurer: Mr Brian Brown Jnr Secretary: Mrs Julie Brown Churchwardens: Mr Martin McLean, Mrs Louisa McGoogan Billy Parish Church, 1 Cabragh Road, Bushmills, Property Address Co Antrim, BT57 8YH The New Rectory, 231 Castlecat Road, Dervock, Independent Examiner Ballymoney, Co Antrim, BT53 8BL Mr Craig Hogg, Chartered Accountant, Postal Address 76A Carrowreagh Road Armoy Ballymoney BT53 8RS Bankers Danske Bank, 22 The Diamond, Coleraine, BT52 1DE
Objectives and Activities
The Charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion, the principal function of Billy Parish Church is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. Being open to and engaging with society as a whole and offering support to those needing help are essential to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianity.
As a result of activity in the pursuit of advancement of the Christian religion, Billy Parish Church has custody of property and records, material and artefacts of significance to cultural and religious heritage and the maintenance of which is undertaken by the Select Vestry. Achievements, Performance and Public Benefit
As a church, we provide services of Holy Communion and Morning Prayer as well as informal services of the word and children's services. We also provide for baptisms, weddings and funerals and pastoral support which include hospital visitation and home visitation by the Rector. For our children we run a Sunday School and there are various opportunities for people to meet together for prayer, fellowship and Choir.
As a parish we are active in raising funds and supporting the work of mission societies and various charities, which include Bushmills Community Association, Alzheimer's Society, NI Children's Hospice, NI Air Ambulance, RNLI, Church Army, Mission to Seafarers as well as many church run charities and missions. We have special collections for CMSI, Bishops' Appeal and Christian Aid
Our Child Protection policy is in accordance with Safeguarding Trust policies of the Church of Ireland. The Select Vestry have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission'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.
Financial Review
The Charity Trustees consider the financial results for the year to 31[s][t] December 2025 and the financial position at that date to be satisfactory. The income in the parish from various sources was £57848, with outgoings of £54021.
The Bank balance at 31[s][t] December 2025 was £118612.03
The Charity Trustees have no specific policy relating to the holding of reserves.
Going Concern
The Charity 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 31[s][t] December 2025 can be signed off as a going concern.
Structure, Governance and Management
• Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity
Chapter 3 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs parishes and parochial organisations. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees.
- Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees
All members of the Church of Ireland who are over the age of 18 and have been accustomed members of the congregation for at least 3 months, may register as members of the 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 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 of Charity Trustees
Acting in his role as the Rector of Billy Parish Church, the Reverend Geoffrey Haugh receives a stipend, office and locomotory allowances in accordance with the figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. No other Charity Trustee receives any remuneration from Billy Parish Church.
- Organisational Structure
The Select Vestry is responsible for the day to day management of the parish. The Select Vestry consists of the member of the clergy serving in the parish (the incumbent), the churchwardens, the glebe wardens and generally not more than 12 members of the General Vestry elected at a General Vestry Meeting. 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.
- Statement of Trustees' Responsibility
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and its financial activities for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is appropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operational existence.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Church and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.