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 knO￿edge, 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 enhan￿d 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,