Charity Commission Report 2023
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
The trustees present the annual report and accounts for St. John’s Church, Newcastle for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
Objectives and Activities The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion.
The principal function of St. John’s Church, Newcastle, is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of the 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, St. John’s, Newcastle 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. John’s, Newcastle.
Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit
Regular activities at St John’s include a weekly Parent and Toddler Group, Stars on Sunday children’s Club, a weekly After School’s Club, a Craft and Chat Club, Bat and Chat Table Tennis Club, and a Bowling Club . We run a monthly Mother’s Union Group for Ladies with a variety of interesting speakers. We held several very well attended Young Family Events throughout the year. We also held Activity Evenings for Young People during the summer months. Over the Summer months the church was open to welcome visitors and locals alike to enjoy the architecture and some peace and reflection. We hold two weekly Bible Studies which allows people opportunity to explore questions of faith and life. All these activities help to build friendships, provide places where people can meet to learn from one another, share experiences and build healthy communities. Meeting together allows people to encourage and support one another in the ups and downs of life.
We have hosted Songs on the Lawn at which our local schools have provided the Music and entertainment and the whole Community were invited. We held a Coronation Tea Party which was part of the Big Lunch Initiative . We held community Harvest and Christmas Dinners . We held three Men’s Breakfast s and a Ladies Night which were very well attended by the whole community. We held a Choir Concert and three community Carol Services. On Sunday mornings we ran a series called meet the neighbours in which people in a variety of roles shared about their charity or group in the community. We have had local charities like Homestart, the RNLI, Mourne Mountain Rescue and the local Folds and Nursing Homes share about their work in the community.
There are a wide variety of community Groups who use our Halls for a range of activities from two Art Classes, two crochet classes, fitness classes, Homestart, slimming World and Baby Moo classes. All these groups are open to serve the whole community.
St. John’s contributes to other charities and Mission Societies. We support link missionaries in Uganda.
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.