2022-12-31-annual-report

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022

The trustees present the annual report and accounts for Portglenone Church of Ireland for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Objectives and Activities

The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion.

The principal function of Portglenone Church is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of Portglenone Church 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 activity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, Portglenone Church has custody of property and of records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance of which is undertaken by the select vestry of Portglenone Church

Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit

The church has achieved its objectives by the holding of regular religious services and also holding various youth and other activities for the benefit of the local community. The church holds regular public worship services on Sundays and also on various weekdays.

Outside of the worship services, the church is engaged in several outreach programmes into the local community, through organisations such as freezer ministry (distributing meals to people in need) bible study and front room (church hall is open for prayer and tea during certain days). The church also organises annual events which are open to everyone.

The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the actives entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parish's objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit.

Financial Review

The trustees consider that the unrestricted funds of the church have sufficient resources and assets available which are adequate to fulfil their obligations. A detailed analysis of parish income and expenditure is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

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 31 December 2022 can be signed off as a going concern.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity

Chapter Ill of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisation. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees.

Trustee’s Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022 (Continued)

Recruitment and Appointment of Select Vestry

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 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. 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

Where the Incumbent of the Parish stipend is paid directly by the Parish, provide information that the incumbent receives a stipend in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland and details of office and locomotory allowances.

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, any curate assistant ("the curate"), the churchwardens, the glebe wardens and generally not more than twelve other members of the general vestry elected at the General Vestry.

The select vestry is chaired by the incumbent or other member of the clergy officiating in the parish. Select 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 75%.

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

The law applicable to charities in the Northern Ireland requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have prepared the financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice in the United Kingdom (accounting standards issued by the Financial Reporting Council in the UK, including Charities SORP (FRS 102) " Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) "and promulgated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in the United Kingdom and United Kingdom Law) Under that law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity and of the statement of financial activities of the charity for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• • make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

Trustee’s Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022 (Continued)

• state whether the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards and identify the standards in question, subject to any material departures being disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Parish will continue as a going concern.

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 financial position of the Parish and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and the provision of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland. 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.

Statement as to disclosure to our Examiners

In so far as the trustees are aware at the timing of approving our trustees' annual report:

• there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditor is unaware;

• the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditor is aware of that information.

Independent Examiners

The independent examiners, TAG Accountants (N.I.) Ltd have indicated their willingness to continue in office, and a resolution concerning their reappointment will be proposed at the Annual Easter Vestry Meeting.

On Behalf of the Trustees

Mrs Mandy Taylor

Mrs Iris Smith