Church of the Ascension. Cloughfern Parish
126 Doagh Road. Newtownabbey, Co. Antrin BT37
Trustees. Annual Report Year Ended 31st December 2022
Charity No: NIC103261
Trustees
Between I" January and 3151 De￿fflber 2022, the followin8 held a positK)n of Trustee:
Revfim Cfose (Chair), Jennrfer Boyd. aare Campbell. Joanne D￿{enson. Jane Dunn, Nomian Dunn, David Garland,
Diana Harrington, Sandra Harvey, Christine Hunter, Billy Ingram, Tanya Kay, Kerry Mcllwaine, Alan MCN￿￿,
Karyn McNiece, Elizabeth Mcwattefs, Irene Orr. Caroline Tares, 8art)ara Turkington and Gillian Webb.
Ob"ectNes and ActNities
The principal objertNe of the Church of the Ascension, Cloughfem Parish, is to support the advancement of the
Christian faith by promotin& through its work, the whole mission of the church - pastoral. evangelical, social and
ecumenical. Fundamental to the prartical delivery of Christianity is being open to, and engaging with. socEty as
whole and offering support to those who need it.
Cloughfem Parish has custody of property and records pertainingto cultural and religious heritage, malntenance of
which is undertaken by the Selectvestry of the church.
Achievements PerfOrrnan￿ and Public Benef6t
The year 2022 marked not only the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth11, but that of our own church,
which was dedicated on 24th May 1951 To mark these landmark events, a speaal service was held on 3rd June, and
we had a jubilee lunth in the church hall on 4th June. Thanks to obtaining a Socal Council grant, current and former
parishioners. their famity and friends, and communlty were able to attend free of tharge.
Although Covid is still wlth us, restrirtions have been eased, and thurch services, youth organisations. dubs. groups
and social meetingsare all taking pla￿ as nornial-but we continueto bevigilanL Home visits have also resumed,
and information/support is also still available via telephone, our parish website, and our Facebook page.
All charities continued to feel the effects of the pandemic on their fundraising. In spite of this, enabled by the
financial supportof it5 parishioners, we were able to support intemational charitles such as the Church Missionary
Societyand the Samaritans, Purse, as well a5 a number of charities specrfically for Ukrnine (the 8ishop's Appeal for
Ukraine, the Disasters Emergency Committee. and Belfast Cathedral Fund for Ukraine). We also supported local
charsties by donating to the Royal BrTtish Legion, UNICEF. Shelter Nl, Crossroads Care Nl, Parkinson, s UK in Nl, and
Dementta Nl. We continue to support our localfoodbank, both with food items and monetary donations, which is
ongoing. This winter we also provided practical help by distributing blankets to help those struggling wlth utllty
bills in the cUr￿nt cost of INing crisis.
Our Charity Shop opens two days 3 week, and Continues to be very popularand well supported both by
parishioners and the wider community. It has been able to make charitsble donations to: Transfomiing Lives for
Good, St. Anne's Cathedral (induding the Black Santa Sit-out). the Nl Chest, Heart and Stroke Association. Hope
House, The Welcome Organisation, and Alzheimerfs Nl. as well as providing a vital Sour￿ of funds for our Church.
During the year, our coffee morning supported Macmillan Can￿r Care. and Christian Aid.
Flnancial Review
The Parbsh began the year with a balan￿ from 2021 for Cash in Hand and Bank of £37534.11. Total Receipts for
2022 came to £87177.36, which is up by £6402.55 on previous year. This was mostly due to the successful fund
raising of the Charity Shop.

Total ReSoU￿S Expended came to £93891.9), a 5i8nrficant increase of £19884.72 on the r￿Ure for 2021. Thi5 was
mainly due to the cost of repair of the Churth bell tower (£7776); replacing lights in the Churth (£3120}; the
sepiices of a tree surgeon (£2791.50. and necessary dearance and gardening work in spare ground on our
property. which was a safety hazard. The remainder were costs of general repairs to fixtures/fittings, general
grounds maintenance. and inuea5ed energy costs.
At the end of 2022 the balance for Cash In Hand and at the Bank was £30721.￿.
Pa
and Remuneration
On the Schedule of Approved Stipends set by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland, Mlnimum Approved
Stipend is £31.1(Xl per annum. Our Priest-in-charge was appointed on the understanding that he would work 5
days instead of the usual 6, and would therefore be paid pro-rdts. General Synod also give a guide value for
Expenses of Off ice Allowan￿ of per annum and locomotory alloWan￿S of £65￿ per annum. The Parish
contribution to the 'Clergy Defined Contribution Pension Scheme, (induding the Trer Cure" element of £336.92)
was £6634.68 for the year 21J22.
Mana
ement
M embersof the Select Vestry (who are a150 the Charity Trustee5} are elected annually at the Easter General Vestry.
They are responsible forthe day-to-day managementofthe parish, andfor deciding on matters of general con￿rn
and importance, including how parish funds are to be applied. The fInan￿S a￿ mana8ed by the Honorary
Treasurer, who reports to the Select Vestry at monthty meetin8s. Special meetings can be convened between
scheduled dates, rf necessary. Records of meetings are kept by the Honorary Secretary.
Statement of Trustees. Res
onsil)ttities
The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that show and explain the Parish's transactions, and
disclose, with reasonable accuracy. at any time, the assets and liabilities of the Parish.
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustee< Report. together with the Statement of Receipts and
Payments, and Statement of Assets and Liabilities, in accordan￿ with applicable law and regulations. They are
also responsible forsafeguardingthe assets of the Parish, and hence fortaking reasonable steps forthe prevention
and detection of fraud and other irregularit*s.
Signed on behaff of the Trustees:
Trustee I:
Trustee 2:
Date:
93