St Patrick’s Parish Church
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 31 December 2025
Charity Number 103249
St Patrick’s Parish Church Newry
References and administrative details
Charity Name: St Patrick’s Parish Church Newry Charity Registration Number 103249 Contact Address 12 Moor Hill Road Newry Co Down BT34 2QJ
Trustees Rev Scott McDonald Alison Clements Derek Clements Jim O’Brien Melanie Gregg Shirley O’Brien Gordon Patterson Ruth Patterson William Patterson Cherry Patterson John Russell David Taylor Samuel Taylor Norma Williamson
Principal Office Bearers
Clergy Rev Scott McDonald Church Treasurer Alison Clements Church Secretary David Taylor Church Warden Clergy William Patterson Church Warden People Derek Clements
Independent Examiner Mrs Viviane Adamson M.B.E Donard View, 19 Newry Road, Banbridge, BT32 3HP
Bankers Danske Bank Hill Street Newry
Trustees' Annual Report for year ended 31 December 2025
The Trustees present the annual report and statement of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for St Patrick’s Parish Church for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Objectives and Activities
The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion.
The principal function of St Patrick’s Parish Church is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of the St Patrick’s Parish Church Newry 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 St Patrick's Parish 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 St Patrick’s Parish Church Newry.
Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit
The 2025 year has been another year of significant challenge for the parish, for parishioners and for wider society as the profound impacts of the cost of living crisis continues to touch the lives of so many. St Patricks Parish Church has continued to make a difference to people’s lives in the Parish and the surrounding area.
St Patrick’s Parish Church Newry provides weekly services of Morning Prayer, including Kids Church, along with baptisms and funerals. We provide pastoral support, to the elderly, sick, the bereaved and the infirm.
We have worked and supported, along with other local churches, the YMCI Foodbank which provides food and help to anyone in need in the Newry area.
The select vestry carried out general maintenance to the graveyard throughout 2025, and also general maintenance to the church building and the church hall during 2025.
We are involved in our community and seek to work with all other organisations, schools and Churches in the area, addressing local needs and occasionally worshipping together.
We provide support and premises to our youth groups. Our church hall is also used by several local organisations for instructional and educational activities.
The fabric of our church building and our church hall form a focal point for our charitable mission of advancing the Christian religion and hold much heritage value to the area of Newry.
We raise funds and have donated monies to the Diocese for overseas mission, CMS Nepal, and The Royal British Legion.
Our Child Protection Policy is in accordance with Safeguarding Trust policies of the Church of Ireland.
The Parish have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’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 December 2025 and the financial position at that date to be satisfactory.
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 December 2025 can be signed off as a going concern.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity
Chapter 111 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisation. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees.
Recruitment and Appointment of Select Vestry (Charity Trustees)
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 the 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.
Payment and Remuneration
The position of clergy is held by the Rev S McDonald who was appointed in August 2020 and receives a stipend of £20744p.a. Office allowance of £399.96p.a. and locomotory allowance of £3500.04p.a.
No other Charity Trustees received any remuneration from St Patrick's Parish Church Newry.
Organisational Structure
The Select Vestry is responsible for the day to day management of the parish. The Select Vestry consists of the current minister Rev Scott McDonald, the church wardens, the glebe warden and generally not more than twelve other members of the general vestry elected at a General Vestry Meeting.
The Select Vestry is chaired by the current minister or his representative. 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 2025 the Select Vestry met eight times during the year and the average attendance was 80%.
Compliance with Public Benefit
The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland'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.
Statement of Charity Trustees' Responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the Statement of Receipts and Payments and Statement of Assets and Liabilities in accordance with the applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with income of less than £250,000 requires the Trustees to prepare a Statement of Receipts and Payments and a Statement of Assets and Liabilities for each financial year.
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 assets and liabilities of the Parish. 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.
Signed on Behalf of the Trustees
Mrs Alison Clements
Date 19.02.26