TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025 Downpatrick/Bright Parish Church/Down & Dromore/Church of Ireland
Charity Registration Number: NIC 103716
Trustees
Dean Henry Blair Mrs M | Edgar - (Rector’s Warden) MrA Edgar - (People’s Warden) Mrs L McGaw - (Honorary Treasurer) Mrs W Edgar - (Honorary Secretary) Mr M Edgar Mrs F Edgar Mr V Edgar Mr J Edgar Mrs M Edgar Mrs J Law Mr W Milligan Mrs S McGaw Mr J Strain
The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for Bright Parish Church, Downpatrick, Down & Dromore/Church of Ireland for the year ended 31** December 2025.
Objectives and Activities
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 pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, Bright Parish Church has custody of property and records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance 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 umbrella 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 a weekly Sunday School for Children and a Table Tennis Club. We seek to be welcoming to all people. We are involved in the community and work 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 31** December 2025 closed with cash funds of £89,607.00 in the current account, £77.88 in the Business Reserve Account and £35,663.20 invested in United Trust Bank.
Please note grants of £55,260.33 for church refurb are included in the above current account balance.
The balance remaining from sale of rectory invested in Representative Church Body, Dublin, is £14,731.88.
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 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
Chapter III of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisations. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees.
Recruitment and Appointment of Select Vestry (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 once 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 £1,180.00 to Lecale Churches for Ministry and Pastoral care. A monthly amount also goes to the Diocesan Office for expenses/pensions.
Organisational 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 concern 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 Commission for Northern lreland’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’ Responsibilities
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 are 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
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Honorary Treasurer: Mrs L McGaw (cot mg IAS is 23/2 | 24
Honorary Secretary: Mrs F Edgar £ = Cols LS wavze)
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