TRUSTEES'ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023 DownpatricklBright Parish ChurchlDown & Dromorelchurch of Ireland Charity Registration Number: NIC 103716 Trustees Mrs M l Edgar MrA Edgar Mrs L McGaw Mrs W Edgar Mr Morris Edgar Mr J Edgar MrA Edgar Mrs M Edgar Mrs F Edgar Mrs Jennifer Edgar Mrv Edgar Mrs J Law Mr W Milligan Mrs S McGaw Mr J Strain (Rector's Warden) (People's Warden) (Honorary Treasurer) (Honorary Secretary) The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for Bright Parish Church, Downpatrick, Down & Dromorelchurch of Ireland for the year ended 318t December 2023. Objectives and Actlvlties The principal function of Bright Parish Church is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of Bright Parish Church the whole mission of he Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. Being open to and engaging with society as a whole and offering support to those needing help are fundamental to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianity. As a result of activity in the puisuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, Bright Parish Church has custody of propety and records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and Maintenan of which is undertaken by the select vestry of Bright Parish Church.
Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit Bright Parish Church is one of a group of churches under the urnbrella of LAMP. As a joint parish we seek to pursue the mission of the Church: evangelical, ecumenical, pastoral and social under the rules of the Church of Ireland. We provide weekly and occasional services of Morning Prayer, Holy Communion, Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals, including pastoral support, hospital visitation and home visitation of the elderly, the sick, the bereaved and the infirm. We support and provide premises (Church Hall) for weekly Sunday School for Children and meetings. We seek to be welcoming to all people. We are involved in the community and woik with other churches in the broader area. We raise funds and donate monies from our own resources to local charities like Bishops Appeal, Royal British Legion, national and international charities through CMS Ireland. Financial Review The Parish accounts for year ending 3181 December 2023 closed with cash funds of £27,144.12 in the current account, £75.93 in the Business ReseNe Account and £32,356.81 invested in United Trust Bank. The church is aware of increasing costs with steady or declining general income but with continued fund raising etc are satisfied there are sufficient funds in place to ensure that the Parish can continue its activities in the future. The Rectory has since been sold and Ihe proceeds are lodged with Representative Church Body, these proceeds are being used to finan major refurb work of Bright Parish Church to future proof it for generations to come.. The Church Building and Graveyard are deemed to be Heritage assets as defined by the Charities SORP (FRS102). The Heritage assets are not included in the statement of assets and liabilities as information on the cost or valuation is not available and such information cannot be obtained at a cost commensurate with the benefit to the users of the accounts and to the parish. The Church Hall likewise is not recognised in the parish statement of assets and liabilities. Structure, Governance and Management Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity Chapter111 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisations. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees. Recruitment andAppolntment of Select Vesty (Trustees) All members of the Church of Ireland who are over the age of 18 are either resident within the parish or live elsewhere but have been accustomed members of the congregation for at least three months, may register as members of the select vestry. Meetings of the General Vestry are held at least On a year. The Select Vestry is elected as part of this
General Vestry meeting. The Select Vestry will hold their positions for a period of one year. Select Vestry members may be re-elected annually and there is no limit on the number of terms which may be served. Pay and remuneration The Parish contributes a monthly sum of £1,100.00 to Lecale Churches for Ministry and Pastoral care. A monthly amount also goes to the Diocesan Office for expenseslpensions. Oryanisational Structure The select vestry is responsible for the day to day management of the parish and are responsible for making decisions on matters of general conrn and importance to the parish including deciding how parish funds are to be applied. Compliance with Public Benefit The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Cornmission 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. Statement of Trustees, Responslbilities The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees. Report and the statement of receipts and payments and statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with Income of less than £250,000 requires the trustees to prepare a statement of receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year. The trustees aTe responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Parish's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the assets and liabilities of the Parish. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Parish and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Signed on behalf of the Trustees Honorary Treasurer: Mrs L McGaw 2014 Honorary Secretary: Mrs F Edgar