Whltehead Congregational Church
Report of the Trustees, for the year ended 31st December 2023
Achievements and Performance
The Trustees offer a range of services duringthe week and overthe course of the yearthat we hope
our community finds both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. A Drop-ln Club meets on the first
Tuesday of each month. This club is self-funded and does not receive any grants. It is attended by
members of our own church, members from neighbouring congregations, families, and friends. It is
well attended with an average of 50 people. There have been two outings over the year visiting
Hillmount Garden Centre and Harrisons of Greyabbey Garden Centre with other outings organized
later in the year. Speakers are invited to attend at each meeting. Dementia Nl, Friends and other
organization have given talks. Any donations collected were given to Friends of Cancer. Worship
and Prayer A warm welcome is extended to all without distinction who attend our Sunday services.
This coming together of the congregation on Sunday mornings at 11:30am for worship 15 important,
for worship nurtures and expresses faith through praise and prayer, scripture and sermon, music
and sacrament. In this way people learn about the Gospel, develop their knowledge and trust in
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and are encouraged to live out their faith in the local community.
As well as our regular services, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the
milestones of the journey of life. Through Christian baptism we thank God forthe gift of new life, in
Christian marriage a man and a woman exchange their vows in public seeking God's blessing on
their union, and through funeral services, friends and family comfort one another in their grief and
give thanks for the life which is now complete in this world and commend the person into God's
keeping. At the end of the year there were 33 families on the Church register. There has been one
addition during the year, and one was removed eitherthrough death or because they moved away
from the parish. The average weekly attendance was 28, but this number increased at Harvest and
our Christmas carol service and special worship of Praise and Fellowship Sundays with visitors from
neighbouring congregations, families and friends. The sacrament of Holy Communion was
celebrated on the first Sunday of each month, with an average attendance of 18. During the year
we celebrated O baptisms and O weddings and conducted two funerals.
Pastoral Care Some members of our congregation are unable to attend church due to sickness or
age. Some are domiciled at home and in care homes. Our minister has visited all such and
celebrates Communion with members who have requested it in their homes. He also distributes
gifts to the elderly and housebound at Christmas. He also gives pastoral support to families in
times of crisis. Mission and Charitable Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. We
support missionary, charity and disaster appeals in additional to agencies of the Congregational
Union of Ireland, such as:

Whitehead Congregational Church
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Report of the Trustees, for the year ended 31 December 2023
In Compiling this Report the Trustees have had regard to the Northern Ireland Charity Commission's
Public benefit requirements statutory guidance.
Ob ectives and Activities
In setting objectives and planning for its activities, the Trustees note that the charity has given due
consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relatingto public benefit,
and to its supplementary public benefit guidance on the advancement of the religion.
These benefits are demonstrated through informal feedback from members and their families,
members of other churches and the public, members of the church committee at their stated
meetings, opportunity being provided generally at the annual congregational meeting. The
Committee ensured that there is no likelihood of the charity's purpose leading to harm to anyone
and that any personal benefit is entirely incidental and integral to its fulfilment of its charitable
purpose. The charity fulfils its objectives by providing benefit to its members and the public by
enabling ordinary people to live out their Christian faith as part of our local community through:
Worship and prayer. learning about the Gospel; and developing their knowledge and
confidence in the Christian faith.
Provision of pastoral care for people of the congregation.
Mission and charitable support.
The charity undertakes numerous activities to further its purposes. Information regarding these is
publicly displayed on the church premises, Facebook page and on the church website. Public
access is made known using printed material, press advertisement, websites, and social media or
in other ways.
Public benefit Statement
The direct benefit which flows from this purpose is the provision of Christian religious activities
open to all. The benefits are evidenced by the conduct of regular services of Christian worship and
the maintenance of an inclusive Christian community. There is no harm arising from these
benefits.
The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is in relation to those in paid employment
within our congregation who receive benefits because of their holding office or employment.
However, this is incidental and necessary to further our charitable purpose. There are no other
private benefits.
The Charit¢s beneficiaries are all those members of society who wish to be part of or associate
with a Christian organisation, their families and other individuals that the Congregation is in dirett
and indirect contact within the community.

Whitehead Congregational Church
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Report of the Trustees, for the year ended 31 December 2023
•The Orphan Society
• non-perishable food collected at Harvest service for the local Whitehead Storehouse for the
relief of poverty.
agencies such as Barnabas Fund and Embrace Middle East work to bring hope and aid to
churches in areas of religious persecution.
Royal British Legion poppy fund and Royal Airforce Association.
Gifts of toys for the Salvation Army's annual Christmas Appeal
a registered Cardiac Arrest Defibrillator is located on the front of the church building for public
use in emergencies.
The church has good relationships with other churches in the town and held joint services with
them including during Lent and Holy Week and a Civic Carol Service. The church also participated
in the annual Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph. It is also shared in a Rota of services in
local care homes.
Financial Review
During the year the Income amounted to £24,72612022: £25,482) and the expenditure was
£27,832 (2022: £23,627) as detailed in the Annual Accounts.
Reserve Polic
The amount of reserves {all unrestricted) amounted to £203,971, the composition of which is
detailed in the Annual Accounts.
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The Church premises are Insured for £2,798,321 as at 31 December 2023.
The trustees are confident that the congregation can meet whatever emergency expenditure it
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can anticipate. There are no material liabilities as at 31 December 2023.
Structure Governance and Mana
ement
The method of appointment of Trustees members is set out in the Church's Constitution. Its
membership consists of the minister and members elected by those members of the congregation
who are on the electoral roll of the church. Members of the congregation are eligible for election
to the Trustees. The Trustees are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern
and importance to the congregation including deciding on how the funds of the Trustees are to be
spent and meet on a regular basis during the year The Trustees met at times during the year.

Whitehead Congregational Church
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Report of the Trustees, for the year ended 31 December 2023
Name of Charity
Whitehead Congregational Church
Charity number
Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland: NIC103170
Principal Address:
33 Chester Avenue, Whitehead. BT38 9QL
Points of Contact:
The Secretary, Mr D Stevenson, 19 Donegall Rise, Whitehead. BT38 9NL
Trustees
The Charity Trustees {being those in a position of governance) are the Church Committee.
Members who served on the Committee at any time from 1st January 2023 until 31st December
2023 being:
Rev Chris Barron,
Mr. David Stevenson,
Mrs. Joan Moore
Mr. Ernest Clarke,
Mrs. Linda Todd
Mrs. Heather Carroll
Mr. Max Scott,
Mr. Sam Larkham
Ms. Irene Thompson
Mrs. Hazel Larkham
Princi
al Officers:
Rev Chris Barron, Minister
Mr. David Stevenson, Secretary
Mr. Ernest Clarke, Treasurer
This report was approved by the Trustees on 12th February 2025 and signed on its behalf by:"
Mr. David Stevenson, Secretary
Mr. Ernest Clarke, Treasurer