Armagh/Richhill/St. Matthews/Armagh/Church Of Ireland TRUSTEES'ANNUAL REPORT, STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ASSETS AND LIABILITIES st FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Charity number 104041 CCNI 0019674 Armagh/Richhill/st. Matthews/Armagh/church Of Ireland st Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Contents Pa References and administrative details of the Charity Trustees, report Independent Examiner's report Statement of Fina ncial activities Armagh/Richhill/St. Matthews/Armagh/Church Of Ireland References and administrative detai15 Charity Name: St Matthew's Church, Parish of Richhill Charity Registration Number: NIC104041 Contact Address: c/0 14 Woodcroft Avenue, Richhill, BT619JW Trustees are the members of the Select Vestry Rev Gary McMurray- Chairperson Garfield Mccoy Rector's Church Warden appointed 10th May 2023 th Danielle Turton appointed Peoples, Church Warden 10 May 2023 Mr Billy Attwell Mrs Mary Caldwell Mrs Tanya Campbell MrTimothy Campbell Mr Gerry Piddock Mrs Flo McNally Mr Gary McNally resigned towards the end of the year Mrs Lorraine Hall Mr Lawson Burnett Mrs Carol Burnett Mrs Linda Pillow th Mr John Davies resigned 10 May 2023 Armagh/Richhill/st. Matthews/Armagh/Church Of Ireland References and administrative details contd/ Principal office-bearers: Chairman: Revd Gary Mcmurray, Rertor of St Mathew's Church Richhill Mr Garfield Mccoy Rector's Church Warden Mrs Danielle Turton People5, Church Warden Mr Billy Attwell Honorary Treasurer Mrs Mary Caldwell Honorary Secretary Independent Examiner: Andrew Gilpin ACCA WHR Accountants 26 The Square Moy DUNGANNON Co Tyrone 8T717SG Bankers: Danske Bank Armagh Armagh/Richhilllst. Matthews/Armaghlchurch Of Ireland Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31" December 2023 The trustees present their Annual Report and Statements of Receipts, Payments, Assets and Liabilities for st St Matthew's Church, Parish of Richhill, for the year ended 31 December 2023. Objectives and Activities The Charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is: The advancement of Christian religion, by promoting, through the work of St Matthew's Church, Parish of Richhill the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. St Matthew's is a gospel-centred church reaching out to our community and our world with the love of Christ. Being open to and engaging with society as a whole and offering 5UPPOrt for those needing help are fundamental to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianity. The purposes of St Matthew's Church, Parish of Richhill, are: Bringing together in a fellowship of loyalty and devotion all who care for St Matthew's Church, Parish of Richhill, and its continuing witness to the glory of God. Assisting in the maintenance and preservation of the Church and its buildings. Achievements, Performance and Public Benefit Activities In 2023 The Parish has continued to meet the public benefit requirement, e.g. public worship, support for the provision of public worship and other activities through which Christian witness and outreach are delivered. Towards the end of 2022 the Trustees were still following the Church of Ireland policies and protocols, th th when on Friday 17 March 2023 the House of Bishops decided, that from Sunday 28 May 2023 that we cease from using individual cups and return to using the Common Cup. This movement went very smoothly, encouraged by Church attendance and anecdot31 evidence indicated that attendances had not yet returned to pre Covid and the number of communicants had not decreased. The dedicated team of leaders and volunteers who had worked face to face with the various church groups and organisations while some had returned others were making tentative preparations to do so. All leaders and volunteers of the various organisations are vetted by Acces5 Nl. The benefits of public worship include contributing to spiritual wellbeing of participants, and reinforcement of Christian values. The Church has also a Facebook page. The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Comrnission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered during the year have helped to achieve the Parish's objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit. During the course of the year the Trustees continued their usual support to St Matthew's, while the parishioners continued their support for the parish through their Free Will Offering also, and the Craigavon Foodbank. As we look to the future, we want to continue to live out our Mission Statement- that, St Matthews is a Gospel-centered Church reaching out to our community and our world with the love of Christ. Armagh/Richhill/st. Matthews/Armagh/Church Of Ireland Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 315t December 2023/contd st Financial Review- Year ended 31 December 2023 Income Weekly and Annual Subscriptions Refund of Tax on Gift Aid Collections- Loose Special Income from Bequests 66,664.04 8,706.27 2,289.24 756.19 1,206.54 Sundry Income: Sunday School Collections In Lieu of Flowers Sundry Donations Youth Worker Bank Interest Magazine Adverts Sundry Fundraising 297.30 745.00 11,420.00 350.00 81.71 900.00 701.91 9,104.58 23,600.50 103,222.78 Expenditure: Diocesan Charges Stationery and Printing Light and Heat Repairs Insurance Rates Sundry Expenses Sexton's Fees Charities/Missionary Societies Bank Charges Sunday School Expenses Organ Fees and Expenses Rectory Repairs Special Collections Nl Water 63,771.12 1,749.87 10,574.13 5,362.58 3,643.56 1,195.85 2,294.53 4,286.04 5,993.50 460.76 156.13 175.00 680.00 756.19 404.00 101,503.26 Surplus for year 1,719.52 Opening Balance due by Danske Bank 7,204.46 Notes: Closing balance in bank includes £8,425.27 Paraguay Fund Closing balance in bank includes provision for £14,000 to be received from HM Revenue and Customs in respect of gift aid refunds for 2 years. Closing balance in bank provides for an amount of £34,020.18 due in respect of Diocesan Charges not paid at the year end. Armagh/Richhill/St. MatthewslArmagh/church Of Ireland Financial Review- Year ended 31st December 2023 contd/ The members of the Select Vestry see their main challenges as the need to manage the Church's finances to maintain the fabric of the Church buildings and pay increased running costs. As we review the yearthat is past, major structural work was carried out on the Church Tower as well as replacing the living room ceiling in the Rertory. There is much to make us thankful to God. We rejoice in the grace of God and the generosity of 50 many to bring the tower work to completion. We rejoice in the new ministries that have begun Messy Church and Youth Fellowship, and for the continuation of the orEanisations that are thriving. The commitment and dedication of so many to use their time, talents, and treasure to serve the Lord is greatly appreciated and will be fully recognised on the Last Day by him. There is much to make us thankful. Yet we recognise the challenges that we face - the ongoing cost of sustaining the parish and making some head way on clearing our debt to the diocese. The need for more to step up in service, particularly at this time in Sunday School. The constant demands of maintaining our buildings. As we look to the future, we do so in the name and with the power of the Living One who has conquered death. The powerthat raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us who believe-and so we give of ourselve5 to oursaviour and King. To him be the glory. Amen. Structure. Governance and Management Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity Chapter 111 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) Vestry members: In pursuant to Chapter 3, part I, Section 3 of the Constitution, the General Synod requires that any member of the Church of Ireland over the age of 18 years registered or claiming to be registered as a resident or an accustomed member and must be an annual subscriber of a sum not less than £50 per annum. Contributions made through an envelope system are deemed to be qualifying subscriptions to the Sustentation Fund of the parish of which he or she wishes to be a vestry member. Allowing them to attend and vote at meetings of the general vestry and to stand for election to the Select Vestry. Select Vestry members may be re-elected annually and there is no limit on the number of terms which they may serve. Pay and remuneration- The incumbent of the Parish receives a stipend paid via the Diocesan Office together with telephone and locomotory allowances as approved by the Gener31 Synod of the Church of Ireland. Organisational Structure - The Select Vestry is responsible for the day-to-day management of the parish, which consists of the member of the clergy serving in the parish, who is Chairperson of the Select Vestry, the churchwardens, the grebe wardens and generally not more than twelve other members of the vestry elected at the General Easter Vestry. Armagh/Richhill/St. Matthews/Armagh/church Of Ireland Structure, Governance and Management continued/ The Select Vestry is chaired by the incumbent or another member of the clergy officiating in the parish. Select Vestry members are responsible for making decisions on matter5 of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding how parish funds are to be applied. The Select Vestry meets at times agreed by the members. Special meetings may be convened at any time by the chairperson or the Rector's warden. In 2023 the Select Vestry met 11 times during the year, with an average attendance th of approximately 93/. The General Easter Vestry was held on Wednesday 10 May 2023. Compliance with Public Benefit: 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. Statement of Trustees Responsibilities The Trustees (Select Vestry members) are responsible for the 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 transattions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the asset5 and liabilities of the Parish. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Parish and hence fortaking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Signed o ehalf of th rust Trustee I Trustee 2 Date /b- ArmaghlRichhilVSt. Mattheivs/ArmaghlChurch Of Ireland Independent Examiner's Report to the Charity Trustees of ArmaghlRichliilllSt. MatthewslArrnaghlChurch Of Ireland I report on the accounts of tlie Charity for tlie year ended 31 Deceniber 2023. Respective rcsponsibilities of charity trustces and cxaminer: As die charity's trustees you are respoiisible for the preparation of the accounts iii accordance with the Charities Act (Northem Ircland) 2008. Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit, and is eligible for Independent Examination, it is my responsibility to: exainine tlie accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Conimission under section 65(9)(b) of tlie Cliarities Act to state whetl)ei" p￿tiCUlar m