## **Killaney Parish Church** St Andrew’s ## **Trustees’ Annual report and Statement of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities** **For the year ended 31 December 2022** Charities Number: 103322 ## Contents ||Pages|| |---|---|---| |References and administrative details of the Charity||2| |Trustees’ report||3| |Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees||8| |Receipts and payments account||9| |Statement of assets and liabilities||10| |Notes to the financial statements||11| ## **Killaney Parish Church** References and administrative details Charity Name: Killaney Parish Church Charity Registration Number: 103322 Contact Address: 21 Church Road, Lisburn, County Antrim, BT27 6UP Trustees Regis Calard Gary Crothers Stephen Lowry Fiona Chew Pamela Foreman Maire Mack James Chew David Gill Norman May Bill Connor Johnny Gray Colin McClintock Florence Coulter Betty Green Adrian Cousins Margaret Harrison ## Principal Office-bearers Clergy: Rev Stephen Lowry Church Warden – Rector: Marie Mack Church Warden – People: Adrian Cousins Glebewarden – Rector: Gary Crothers Glebewarden – People: Norman May Honorary Secretary: Colin McClintock Honorary Treasurer: Ruth Watson Independent Examiner: Francis Buchanan Bankers Danske Bank 62-66 Bow Street Lisburn BT28 1YS ## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2022** The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for Killaney Parish Church for the year ended 2022. ## **2022** The celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee was a highlight of the year and drew young and old to church and to celebratory meals to mark this unequalled reign. It was with great sadness that just a few months later, in early September, that we gathered again to give thanks to almighty God for her life and to pray for her family in their loss. So much of the country wept as this immense era came to an end. We began to pray for “Charles, our king” in our anglican rites and, for many of us, the words did not come easy. This year will be long remembered. A year of steady progress has seen numbers at worship strengthen a little, and participation in the routine catering events return to normal. The spectre of the pandemic has subsided from most people’s minds, though the sorrows and losses it brought to many remain painful and sad memories. A small but significant number of relatively healthy and formerly active parishioners continue to hold back in their participation, and we are looking for ways to help them return to the life of the parishes they love. Worshipping in the company of other believers has always been a key part of our Christian journey and must be paramount in our discipleship. ## **Killaney** There were no new additional members in our General Vestry, but, sadly, a number of long term dedicated members have reached the end of their life among us, and we thank God for their memory and their support of the life of St Andrew’s. The initiation of a new Donations Policy in Killaney Parish has seen the vestry undertake to reflect the generosity of parishioners to the parish with proportionate gifts to causes which reflect the values we hold dear. The outcome of this policy may be seen in the financial report. ## **Ministry** We have been blessed in worship at our parishes by our supporting organists, especially in 2022, on a more regular basis, by Mr Brian Mulholland. Twice a month or more he has helped us worship God in music and song. The Carol Service at the end of the year was a blessing to us all. In Killaney a new phenomenon of power-cuts affected public worship on a number of occasions. We were unable to identify the new potential cause in the local neighbourhood, but after many representation to the power supplier a higher rated circuit breaker was placed in the local transformer from which our church and neighbouring properties draw power. We await the success of the remedy to be evident by having no more interruptions to worship. The electrical failure at our Service of Lessons and Carols brought a reaction. of quiet determination typical of the people from both parishes who were present for our first Joint Carol Service. Our experience of Holy Communion remains much as it has done since the pandemic arrived but, with people more relaxed about participation, the changes have become widely accepted as the new normal. We are indebted to those who have assisted us, particularly the church wardens, in making the receipt of bread and wine at the Communion Table a safe possibility again. Throughout the year the parish seeks to provide a pastoral presence through the ministry of the rector, readers and volunteers. We pay tribute to Mrs Marlene Moore and Mr Keith Shaw, our diocesan readers and Mrs Jenny Montgomery, our Parish Reader. The Lesson readers in Carryduff, ably managed by Mrs Joan Nevin, and in Killaney by Mrs Marie Mack, play a vital role in helping people feel that God’s word is a word for all. We thank all who read lessons, manage screens, welcome worshippers and tody the buildings afterwards. Members of the community admitted to hospital or suffering bereavements have been encouraged to make contact with the church and their spiritual needs are addressed. Whether or not they are active members of the parish, we have sought to help people in their need. At sad times in people’s lives the parishioners continue to support families in their times of loss, often providing refreshments along with a sensitive welcome to those attending funeral services. ## **Communication** Good communication is vital to help any organisation or family thrive. As a church family we need to give communication a high priority. Of course producing useful materials is only worthwhile when members make use of it. The trustees (vestry) will be reflecting on the use and format of the magazine, website, notice boards and social media in the months ahead of us and we will value your input. The Parish Magazine - CROSSROADS - is made available on the church website in easily readable pdf format before it appears in print or via email. We are indebted to our contributors and encourage them in their role of sharing their news with the congregations. A carefully managed database contains contact records of people on our church records. This is used for the purpose of issuing monthly magazines and maintaining records of contributors’ addresses. In 2022 parishioners have begun donating food and essentials to Ballynahinch Foodbank on a monthly basis to assist this local organisation in their support of local people going through difficult times. We filled a number of shoe boxes with Christmas gifts for children overseas, as organised by Samaritan’s Purse. ## **Objectives and Activities** The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion. The principal function of Killaney Parish is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of Killaney Parish, 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, Killaney Parish 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 Killaney Parish. ## **Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit** St Andrew’s Church is a nineteenth century listed (B2) building with simple plain and coloured glass windows surrounding a traditional worship place. With seating for up 120 people it provides the location for a weekly service for the community, as well as the location of weddings and funerals for people with and without pre-existing connections to the parish. One main service each week reflects a monthly cycle, including a Parish Communion service, services of Sunday Morning Prayer and all age worship. It has been our intention to awaken in one another our sense of the importance of a spiritual life for people, providing teaching, preaching, encouragements to study the bible and enabling fresh experiences of worship to enliven the heart. ## **Hall Use** Our church hall was virtually unused in 2021 due to Covid. This gave the parish an opportunity and stimulus to reflect on the viabiity and usefulness of the hall, and a project was undertaken, successfully, to obtain a grant from DAERA to help refurbish the property. This work was due to commence in March 2022. Our hall programme is designed to encouraged physical activity, community building and spiritual growth. The car park is also used by local families while a school bus collects and delivers children there safely each day. To defray running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning and maintenance, donations for heating and lighting are requested of hall users. For the protection of children, the Church of Ireland Safeguarding Trust regulations are applied for every instance where children or vulnerable adults are part of the church’s life. ## **Property and Maintenance** The graveyard continues to provide a significant source of income beyond gifts by regular subscribers. As part of a cycle of work further cast iron windows were removed for repair and to be replaced on completion. Specifications for the planned placement of new paths in the graveyard were developed. While parking for disabled spaces is not commensurate with the visual appearance of the church and car park, areas adjacent to both the church doors and hall doors are left vacant for such usage where needed. A portable ramp is provided for the use of wheelchair users to come into the church building and is regularly put in place for them. ## **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. ## **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 2022 can be signed off as a going concern.