Christ Church (Congregational) Abbots Cross Trustses Annual Report Perlod 1 January 2023 to 31" Docombor 2023
Trustees Annual Re Charlty - Christ Church (Congregational) - also known as Abbots Cross Congregaional Nl charity reference- NIC103423 Principal address - Christ Church (Congregational), Doagh Road. Newtownabbey, County Antrim, BT37 9QW. Introductlon This report covers the period 1 January 2023 to 31" December 2023. Our registration as a chafity was on 12° May 2016. The congregation at Abbots Cross is an unincorporated institution made up of all those who tske up membership (non-members are known as adherents but do not have 'voting rights,) and govemed by a constitution. At 31° December we had 126 members. Under the constitution there is provision for a leadership body appointed by the members and made up of the serving Minister (rf one has been appointed) and Deacons. The 8eNing Minister is generally regarded as the Chairperson, a Secretsry and Treasurer are appointed from wilhin the Diaconate and ratrfied by the members of the Congregation. At 31 December 2023 there was not a serving minister and there were 6 men serving in Ihe role of deacon. The Annual Business Meeting at which amongst olher reports, accounts are brought to the members is held in February each year, with subsequent Church Meetings in June, September and December. The congregation is also subject to the trusts placed upon it by Trust Deed in which the property is also settled, under the requirements of the Trust Deed number of persons have been appointed by and on behalf of the congregation as 'holding trustees, to holdlegal title to the buildings in which the congregation meel and lo the house used as the Ministerfs manse. Ob Our Charitable Purposes are set out in the Covenant section of our constitution as follow8: We engage therefore, wlth the aid of tho Hoty Splrll to walk together in Christlan love; to strive forthe advancement ofthls church In knOedge, holiness and comfort; to maintain the worshlp, ordinances, dlscipline and doctrlnes; to contribute cheerfulty and regularly to the Church; the reliaf of the needyi th8 spread of the Gospel to all nations. These purposes are advanced by means of our weekly public services, outreach into the local communrty, organisations meeting in our premises, missionary interest and prdctical support.
Trustses For the purpose of charity law. the serving Minister and Deacon8 have the day-to-day role for the administration and management of the church on behalf of the members and are identified as the chaiity trustees. In January 2023 the serving Minister resigned after serving for 12 years. Deacons are elected for a period of 3 years and on retirement are eligible for rwlection. Instead of all retiring at the same time, one third of the Deacons retire by rotation eath year. During the period of this report the following persons served as charity trustees: William Annette, Jeffrey Adair, Brian Bell, Samuel Carson, Andrew Cuthbert (until February 2023), Rev. Trevor Gillanders (until January 2023), Andrew Kirkpatrick (until March 2023), Thomas McLernon (until March 2023), Mark Thompson, David Walker. The seNing minister and deacons also have oversight of the splrltual well-boing of the congregation. Spiritual well-being is provided by meeting together each week for corporate fellowship, worship and prayer. Our pastoral care indudes visitation of those in hospitsl and or the housebound and we have strengthened our pastoral care capacity with the involvement of a retired Congregational minister which has been vital. While at the time of wrikn.ng we do not have a serving minister, on 9 November 2023 8 Spe(Mal Meeting of Church members voted to 'call' a new minister and Lord willing we look forward with great anticipation to seeing this process reach completion in 2024. Publlc Bonefft The Irustees confirm they have regard to the Commission's public benefrt requirement. While the former Minister and 1 other fonner trustee received a salary and relevant expenses from the congregation, this was an incidental private benefrt necessary to further our charitable purposes as set out in our purpose statement available to view on our registration page on the Charity Commission for Northem Irpland website. As an evangelical congregationldenomination we seek to share and wilness our Christian faith to the local community by inviling attendance at our weekly public services. We acknowledge the contribution of all those folk who take on the additional responsibility of organisation and or leadership in the following ministries:. Stepping Stones children's ministry, crèche. youth fellowship, Girls Brigade, Little Lambs (mums & tots), Boys Club. youth dub, English class (for foreign nationals living in our local area), door to door visitation. It has been very encouraging to have different nationalities joining with us, people who have come from other nations induding India & Africa. All our church activilies were in place during this year and our congregation remained very faithful in their attendance and participation. The Trustees remain aware of the 'duty of care, to children. All persons working with children must be subject to an enhand disdosure under cuffent legislation and this applies to persons working in organisations associated with the church. Our safeguarding policy remains in pla and at the 31" December 2023 there had not been any 'abuse' daims made, nor are we presently aware of any circumstances which might reasonably be expected to give rise to a daim for abuse.
Flnanclal R8view We must record sincere appreciation to our congregation (members and adherenls) for their continuing support and this made tt possible for us to meet our ongoing financial commitments. Wrth several properties to maintain, during the year we have had to carry out a number of repair and maintenance projects. A number of persons give their offerings under the Govemment's 'Gift Aid, scheme. Accounts are prepared on an income and expenditure basis and we will comply with the requirement to disdose and submit the information required in the Annual Monitoring Retum and to publish our accounts in line with our understanding of CCNI guidance. Our gross incomo for the year as reported here at 31 December 2023 in our No.1 account was £140,539 with expendtturo of £125.667. We maintsin a close interest in 'missionary' endeavour at home and abroad and each week we donate at leasl 1 Ook of weekly income to students and full time Christian workers approved by the Church (full Church memberg) and on each tenth Sunday give the entire offerings to other designated missionary work as disdosed in our accounts. No.1 Account {balancé 31° December 2023): £61,961. Swd on behBW ofthe TrusteoS'.- Trustee Tru6tsè Ic,