Page 2 Trusteeg Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for the Parish of Donaghmore Upper. 5t Patricvs for the year ended 31 Deomber 2023. Objectlves and Actlvltles The charitable purpose of the Churth of Ireland is the advancement of reli8ion. The principal function of the Parish of Donaghmore Upper, St Patricvs is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promotin& throu8h the work of the Parish of Donaghmore Upper, St Patrick's Church of Ireland, 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 artivity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, the Parish of Donaghmore Upper, St Patrlck's has custo(ty 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 Parish of Donaghmore Upper, St Patrlcvs. Achlevements, Performance & Publlc Benefft The Church exists primarlly. and above all else, as a pla of Christian worship. Services of public worship are held each Sunday morning throughout the year. Evening services are held on Wednesday nights durin8 Lent, each night in Holy Week {both shared with our sister parish), in March for the Girls Friendly Society enrolment, at HarvestThanksgivin& and a Christmas Carol Service. Since the enfor lockdown in the early months of 2021 all services have also been broadcast online. The parish is always pleased to host 8roups from the wider community, and does so annually for the Orange Order. The local Primary School hold their annual Carol Servlce in the Church. There are good working relationships with other local churches. There is a recently established service for Christian Unity WeeK alternatin8 With St Patricvs Roman Catholic Church in Donaghrnore. Durin8 the year 2023 there were three baptisms one rnarria8e and five funeral services in the church. The Church was built In 1843 wlth a grant from the Board of Flrst Frults, and enlar8ed and revorlented during the 1860$ by the addition of a semi-circular apse, vestry and tower. The parish supports a small but active Sunday School. which meets most weeks from September to May, a Girls Friendly Society which meets weekly throughout the winter, and there is a Mothers Union meetlng monthly. The local Wl and Open Door Club make regular use of our parish hall. as does the Historical Society. Parish finances and fabrlc are cared for by the Select Vestry. Varlous fund raising and social events are held each year. The parish supports several missionary groups, particulady CMS and the Church Army. There is also a series of special appeals and collertions for various local and international groups and in light of international disasters.
Page 3 Trustee Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 (contlnued) Financial Review The chief Sour of revenue for the church continues to be parishioner donations which are supplemented by gift aid daim5. The church recorded a total deficit in 2023 of £1,47712022: surplus £25.764). driven mainly by necessary repairs to the parish hall. Careful financial management has continued in order to control costs where possible. It is the Trustees. policy to hold a level of unrestricted funding to meet at least one yearfs running costs. Going Concern The Trustees have reviewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the Parlsh can continue its activitie5 and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 can be signed off as a goin8 concern. Structure, Governance and Management Governlng Document and Constltutlon ofthe Chaiity Chapter111 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisatlon. The Selett Vestry members are the Charity Trustees Recrultment and Appolntment of Selert Vesty (rrustees) All members of the Church of Ireland who are over the age of 18 and 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 thegeneral vestry ofthe parish, allowingthem 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 15 elected as part of this General Vestry meetin8. The Select Vestry will hold their positions for a perlod 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 remuneratlon Select Vestry members are not remunerated for their services as Trustees. Any payments to Trustees for services unrelated to their role as a Trustee are approved by the Select Vestry. Such decisions are taken on the basis of good governance and being in the pursuit of the objective5 and activities of the parish. Oryontsatlonalstrurture The Select Vestry is responsible for the day-to-day management of the parish. The select vestry consists of the member of the clergy serving in the parish. any curate assistant {"the curate-l. the churchwardens. the glebe wardens and generally not more than twefve other members of the general vestry elected at the General Vestry. The Select Vestry is chaired by the incumbent or other member of the clergy officiating in the parish. Select Vestry members are responsible for making decisions on matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding how parish funds are to be applied. The Select Vestry meets at times fixed by the members or by the Diocesan Synod. Special meetings may be convened at any time by the chairperson or the churchwardens. In 2023 the Select Vestry met 2 times durin8 the year and the average attendan was 60.5%.
Page 4 Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 (contlnued) Compllance wfth Public Benefit The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the artives entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parish's objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit. Statement of Trustees, Responslbllltles The trustees are responsible for preparing theTrustees' Report and the statement of receipts and payments and statement of 355ets and liabilities in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with Income of less than £250,OIXI requires the trustees to prepare a statement of receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilltles 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. Slgned on Behalf of the Trustees Raphael Burnslde Wlnlfred Hewltt Ih 7 Aprll 2024