# **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR CHRIST CHURCH, ARDKEEN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31.12.2023** # **Northern Ireland Charity No. 103749** ## **REFERENCES AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** Charity name Parish of Christ Church, Ardkeen Charity registration number NIC 103749 Contact address 90 Ballygelagh Road, Kirkistown, Newtownards, Co Down , BT22 1AE ## **TRUSTEES AND OFFICE BEARERS - SELECTED AT GENERAL EASTER VESTRY 25/04/2023** ## **TRUSTEES (SELECT VESTRY)** Zoe Adair Heather Adair Hayley McCullough Yolande Truesdale Robert Adair Eileen McMurray Vanessa Crawford Kenneth Hughes Suzanne Truesdale ## **PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS** Church reopened 4[th] July 2021 and services are taken by Melanie Houston, Diocesan Reader from St Mark's Parish in Newtownards with different retired clergy taking Holy Communion. Honorary secretary Yolande Truesdale Honorary treasurer Zoe Adair Rector’s churchwarden Zoe Adair People’s churchwarden Vacant Glebe warden Robert Adair Assistant Glebe warden Vacant OTHER OFFICE BEARERS Parochial nominator Yolande Truesdale Supplemental parochial nominator Heather Adair Diocesan synods person Zoe Adair Supplemental diocesan synods person Hayley McCullough Free will offerings recorder Zoe Adair, Heather Adair, Hayley McCullough, Eileen McMurray, Robert Adair Organists James McKibbin Health and safety officer Vacant Independent examiner Barry Mitchell,CPFA, 2A Ballyrawer Avenue, Carrowdore, Newtownards, Co Down, BT22 2HJ Bankers Danske Bank, PO BOX 183, Donegall West, Belfast, BT1 6JS Sort code : 95-03-48 Account number : 10045349 ## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT** The trustees present the annual report and the statements of receipts and payments and of assets and liabilities for the Parish of CHRIST CHURCH, ARDKEEN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31.12.2023 ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion. The principal function of the Parish of Christ Church, Ardkeen is to support the advancement of religion by promoting through the work of its church, the whole mission of the Church: pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical. Being open to and engaging with the whole of society and offering support for those needing help are fundamental to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianity. ## _**PUBLIC WORSHIP**_ Weekly worship is on a Sunday morning from 10.30am with further services at Harvest and Christmas in 2023. The parish is grateful to Melanie Houston who is now our permanent Diocesan Lay Reader. ## _**SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT**_ During the past year of 2023 the parish has continued having a cup of tea/coffee after Church on a Sunday in the Church Hall. Discipleship Explored was ran for 8 weeks in the church hall starting in April. Three evenings of favourite hymn singing (The Big Sings) were held from easter once a month and each service was followed by supper in the Church Hall, these events were opened to all members of the community. On the 21[st] of July we had a car boot and cake sale. We ran a Bible Society course on zoom from September for 7 weeks. We joined the neighbouring Cloughey Presbyterian Church on Remembrance Sunday for a special service at the memorial garden in Cloughey followed by breakfast in our Church Hall. On the 25[th] of November we held a Christmas cake and craft sale in the Church Hall. On the 17[th] of December we held our annual Christmas Carol Service at 8pm followed by supper in the hall. On Christmas Eve we held a special Christingle service at 7.30pm which was aimed at children. ## _**HERITAGE MANAGEMENT**_ As a result of activity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, the Parish of Christ Church, Ardkeen has custody of property, records, artefacts, and materials which have significance for the cultural and religious heritage of the parish and the Upper Ards. The select vestry is responsible for the maintenance of that property and those records, artefacts, and materials. During the past year, parish records and property have been available for family history research should anyone have wished to view them when the Church was open and upon arrangements at any other time. ## **COMPLIANCE** The parish’s safeguarding, data protection, and copyright compliance policies are in accordance with Church of Ireland guidelines. ## **PUBLIC BENEFIT** The trustees have carefully considered the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities which were started during the year have helped to achieve the parish’s objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit. Services of divine worship are open to everyone, subject only to the constraints of public health measures, and there are no restrictions on people receiving hard copies of service sheets. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The trustees have reviewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the parish can continue its activities and that the financial statements can be signed off as a going concern for the year ended 31.12.2023. The financial statements which follow have been aligned with the diocesan financial reports. ## _**PROPERTY MAINTENANCE**_ _NO MAINTENANCE COMPLETED DURING 2023._ ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, AND MANAGEMENT** Chapter III of the Church of Ireland constitution governs parishes and parochial organisation. The members of the select vestry are the charity trustees. All members of the Church of Ireland who are over the age of 18 and are resident within the parish or who live elsewhere but have been accustomed members of the congregation for at least three months may register as members of the general vestry of the parish, allowing them to attend and vote at meetings of the general vestry and to stand for election to the select vestry. Meetings of the general vestry are held at least once a year. The select vestry is elected as part of the general vestry meeting. The members of the select vestry hold their positions for a period of one year. Select vestry members may be re-elected annually: there is no limit on the number of terms which may be served. The select vestry is responsible for the day-to-day management of the parish. The select vestry is chaired by the rector and where there was no rector then someone appointed by the Diocesan Office, Belfast. Select vestry members are responsible for making decisions on matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including how parish funds are to be applied. The select vestry meets at times fixed by the members in accordance with guidance from the diocesan synod. Special meetings may be convened by the rector or the churchwardens. The parish meets a percentage of the stipend and allowances. The diocese pays the fees and allowances of visiting clergy and lay readers. The Organist receives a fee for each service at which he plays. ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES** The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and 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 an income of less than £250,000 requires the members of 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 adequately 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 to prevent and detect fraud or other irregularities. Signed on behalf of the trustees (Rector) Vacant (Diocesan Reader) Melanie Houston Secretary- Yolande Truesdale Treasurer Zoe Adair