St Colmanell's Church of Ireland Annual report and financial statements For the year ended 31 Dernber 2023 Charities Number: NIC103119
St Colmanell's Church of Ireland Annual report and financial statsments for the year ended 31 December 2023 Contents Pages References and administrative details Trustees, annual report Independent examinerfs report to the Trustees Statement of financial activitie5 Statement of financial position Notes to the financial statements 10-16
St Colmanelys Church of Ireland References and administrative details Charity Name: St Colmanelys Church of Ireland Charity Registration Number: NIC103119 Contact Address: 42 Church Street Ahoghill Ballymena Co Antrim BT42 2PA Trustees Dr Thomas Moody Mrs Elaine McDonald Mrs Rosemary Frayne Mrs Heather Rainey Rev Dennis Christle Mr George Coulter Mr William Armstrong Mrs Donna Ashcroft Mr Stephen Mccallion Mr Raymond Rainey Mrs Anne Kee Mr Philip Thornpson Mrwilliam Shaw Mr Nigel McNeil Mr Bernard Frayne Mr Paul Leggett Mrs Eileen Shaw The following trustees resigned during 2023:_ Mr Gordon Brown Princlpal offi-bearers Clergy Church Treasurer Church Warden- Clergy Church Warden- People Church Secretary Rev Dennis Christie Mr William Armstrong DrThomas Moody Mr William Shaw Mrs Heather Rainey Independent Examiner Potter Finnegan Limited Chartered Accountsnts Unit 25 The Courtyard Business Park 190 Galgorm Road Ballymena Co Antrim BT42 IHL Bankers Danske Bank Business Plus PO Box 183 Donegall Square West Belfast BTI 6JS
Trusteeg Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The trustees present the annual report and accounts forthe St Colmanell's Church of Ireland for the year ended 31 December 2023. Objectives and Activities The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of Christianity. The principal function of St Colmanell's is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenic31. Being open to and engaging with society as a whole and offering support for those needing help are fundamentsl to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianity. As a result of activity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, St Colmanell's has custody of property and of records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance of which 15 undertaken by the select vestry of St Colmanell's. Achievements. performan & Public Benefrt The church has achieved its objectives by the holding of regular religious services and also holding variou5 youth and other activities for the benefit of the local community. The church holds regular public worship *rvices on Sundays and worship services on Wednesdays and Fridays. Calendar year 2023 continued on from 2022 with Church services returning to normal based worship on a Sunday. "Normal" services consisted of Sunday morning prayer worship with the fourth Sunday of the month being an all-age service with a more relaxed format. An evening service was also conducted once a month. Sunday morning attendance ranged from 80 to 110 attendees compared with the normal 140 to 160 pre-covid. Sunday School and creche are fully funttioning on a Sunday mornin& Outside of the worship services. the church is normally engaged in several outreach programmes into the local community, through organisations such the Knitting aub. Church members continue to engage in outreach programmes by sending cards at Easter and Christmas. The Church Fete resumed in 2023 along with other SucsSfUl outreach activities, i ncluding a Varlety Night and a Pre-loved Clothes Sale. The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northem 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 Revlew The trustees consider that the unrestricted funds of the church have sufficient resoUrS and assets available which are adequate to fulfil their obligations. A detailed analysis of parish income and expenditure is set out in the note5 to the financial statements. General giving has been reviewed by the Trustees and it is recognised that it may take some time for income to return to "normal" levels. Severdl letter5 and presentations on giving have been presented to the congregation, with regular givers indicating a willingne55 to provide additional support rf required. The number of givers by monthly standing order had increased to more than 65 by 31 December 2023. which provides a regular incotne to meet ongolng overheads. During 2023. the Parish distributed IO% of free will offering to Charitable causes across the lo(zl and wider community. Distribution.to charitable causes will continue in 2024. Donations to the buildings fund have stabilised to an average monthly giving of £1,500 per month at the end of December 2023. As the new Parish Centre is a longer term project the Trustees are not immediately concerned about this and fundraising activity has increased during 2023 to help recovery in the medium tenn. It should be noted as the buildings fund is not a wholly restricted fund, it has been agreed that, if required, funds can be moved to support all c05t5 of the church.
Trustee Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 (continued) The trustees allocate income specifically designated for building projects to a buildings fund. This is held to provide funds for future building projects as the need arises. Funds are currently being accumulated to assist with the intended future construction of a new Parish Centre. Full planning approval has been granted for the new Parish Centre. Enabling work to secure the planning approval took place during 2023 and building work will Commen when final costings have been received. 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 2023 can be signed off as a going concern. Structure, Governance and Management Governing Document and Constituti-on of the Charity Chapter111 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland govern5 Parishes and Parochial Organisation. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees. Recruitment and Appointment oASelert Vestry 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 accustorned members of the congregation for at least three months, may register as members of the general vestry of the parish. This allows them to attend and vote at meetings of the general vestry and to stand for election to the select vestry. Meetings of the generdl vestry are held at least once a year. The Select Vestry is elected as part of thls General Vestry meeting. The Selert Vestry will hold their position5 for a period of one year. Selert 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 stipend of the Incumbent of the Parish is paid directly bythe Parish in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. Organlsational Strurture The select vestry is responsible for the day to day rnanagement 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 maktng 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 conyened at any time by the chairperson or the churchwardens. In 2023 the Select Vestry had 10 face to face meetings and an Easter Vestry. The average attendance was more than 75%. Statement of Tru5tees' Responsibilities The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Trustee Annual Report forthe year ended 31 December 2023 (continued) 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 wtth 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 fin3nci31 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 estirnates that are reasonable and prudent state whether the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable Accounting Sta ndards and identify the standards in question, subject to any material departures being disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and prepare the financial statements on the going concem 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 anytime the financial position of the Parish and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Art (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 hen for tsking re350nable Steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Statement as to dlsdosure to our Examiners In so far as the trustees are aware at the timing of approving our tru5tees' annual report: there is no relevant information of which the Independent Examiner is unaware: and the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to estsblish that the chariws Independent Examiner is aware of that information. Independent Examiners The independent examiners, Potter Finnegan Limited. have indicated theirwillingness to continue in office, and a resolution cOnrnIng their reappointment will be proposed at the Annual Easter Vestry Meeting. On Behalf of the Trustees Rev Dennis Christie Dr mas Moody Mr IllIaM Armstrong Date: . 08 April 2024