Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church
· a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Trustees' Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022
Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC104268
1
an SAINTFIELD ROAD PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022, including a Balance Sheet as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Saintfield Road con8regation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland: Myrtledene Road, Belfast, BT8 6GQ Co. Down, Northern Ireland. Registered Charity in Northern Ireland: NIC104268 CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year, or who were trustees at the date of this report, were: Malcolm Buchanan Gordon Campbell th Iris Francey (resigned 7 January 2023) Andrew Hamilton Gavin Hamilton Heather Lowry Jean Mcclune William Mcclune lan Mullen Jonny Patterson Lorna Rodgers Neil Templeton David Thomson Johnny Bell Robert Clarke th John Francey {resigned 7 January 2023) Derek Henderson John Hamilton Jonny Mcclune Ali5tair Mccracken Heather Montgomery Alison Mullen David Rice Alison Templeton Alf Thompson Ben Walker (Minister) PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev. Ben Walker Dr. Alistair R. Mccracken Mr. Ross Withers ACA
an SAINTFIELD ROAD PRESBITERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS Finegan Gibson Limited BANKERS Danske Bank Limited Donegall Square West Belfast BTI 6JS STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Session The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Under the congregation's governing document, the Code, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the congregation and of persons not connected with any congregation who are within its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and service in the local community. The Kirk Session has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are also member5 of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the congregation. All members are entitled to prop05e, Speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk Session are held eight times per year, monthly September to May. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the congregation or by the Kirk Session.
an SAINTFIELD ROAD PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's form of governance, the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the South Belfast Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. The General Assembly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, representing in one body the whole Church and acting as its supreme legislative, administration and judicial authority, in dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly is normally constituted during the first week in June for worship and to conduct its business. At the end of busine55, it is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired ministers and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ, 15 grounded in the Scriptures, and exists to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable its members to play their part in fulfilling God's mission to our world. As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible is the supreme authority over all we do, and that the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice. During the year, the Kirk Session continued work on a new vision statement under the general theme 'Life together with Jesus" Five task groups I'communicating the vision,; 'Next Steps,; 'Pastoral care,, 'Partnership with Belvoir Presbyterian Church,, 'Reimagining
an SAINTFIELD ROAD PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland Life Groups ) set up by Kirk Session in 2021 considered these area5 more fully. The groups, each led by. an elder but involving others who are not on Kirk Session met regularly, reported to the Kirk Session and to the congregation throughout the year. Recommendations will be implemented during 2023. In 2022 the Rev Ben Walker took on responsibility as Convenor of the vacancy in Belvoir Presbyterian Church. After lengthy discussion by the Kirk Sessions of both congregations and by a dedicated group of representatives from both congregations the recommendation has been made to appoint an Associate Minister who will be part of the SRPC staff but will work mainly in Belvoir. It is hoped that an appointment can be made in 2023, dependant on putting in place a sustainable funding package. ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation usually meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lord'5 Supper is observed on several occasions during the year. The congregation holds regular prayer and Bible study meetings and has a wide range of orEanisations. Other external organisations also use our church premises and are supported by the congregation. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.00am and the 5ervice5 are also broadcast through live streaming. On some Sunday evenings, and during the week, meetings for prayer are held or also live streamed. Life Groups meet in homes or in the Church for Bible Study and prayer. At 31 December 2022 there were 285 communicant member5 and approximately 289 families connected with the congregation. The average week attendance at Sunday morning worship was approximately 230.
an SAINTFIELD ROAD PRESBITERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due t'o sickness or age are normally visited on a regular basis by the minister, elders or by a member of the congregation. The structure for pastoral care has been reviewed during the year with implementation of changes in 2023. Mission and outreach The congregation is involved in many differing types of local mission activity throughout the year. The congregation also supports workers overseas, including financial support. The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission, which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to SUPPOrt the wider mission of the denomination and to carry out mission and outreach on a denominational basis, beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The PCI United Appeal Fund provides financial support for mission personnel at home and overseas, assists congregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church planting, provides grant 5UPPOrt for the upkeep of church premises, assists with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's training college for ministry student5, and financially supports congregations in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of the Presbytery of South Belfast by our minister and one of the elders. This provide5 an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The minister along with an elder nominated by Kirk Session normally attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast. The 2022 General Assembly was held in June. However, the minister and the nominated elder both tested positive for Covid the week of the Assembly and were therefore unable to attend in person. As far as possible they followed proceedings online.
an SAINTFIELD ROAD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland Property Building work to restore the Church buildings was completed in 2018. During 2022 it was only necessary to carry out small scale work to maintain the facilities. Grants were received from external sources to enable the construction of a community garden. Organisations There are a range of other organisations in the church which enjoyed re-establishing normal patterns of meeting and use of Church facilities. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members, and the general public, by making known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The direct benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining of an understanding in Christian beliefs a5 Set out in the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards (the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms), leading to spiritual and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework leads to practical expre55ions of Christian beliefs and standards in the local community such as through the care of those in need (including the sick, disabled and bereaved). Generally, the above benefits are delivered locally by congregations and their members, or are facilitated through presbyteries or are organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources in almost all cases. Public access is made known through the use of notice boards, printed material, press advertisement, websites, and social media or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the services and informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their families, and member5 of the public. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to ministers and employees who receive benefits as a result of their holding office or employment or, on occasion,
an SAINTFIELD ROAD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland members serving either locally or overseas. However,.this is incidental and necessary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are members, their families, other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect contact with, the community in which pastoral services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and worldwide which benefit from our engagement with and support for both Christian and other secular organisations, charities and individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commission's public benefit requirement and statutory guidance. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through Freewill Offering, together with donations to the Support Fund (specifically for mission and property) There were approximately 220 contributors to the General Fund during the year donating a total of £142,3881£132,327 in 2021), excludin8 Gift Aid. Total income of the congregation during the year was £244,454, compared to £238,471 in the previous year, although that included a bequest of £27,308. Grants of £3,437 were claimed and received. Total expenditure was £280,372 compared to £266,960 in 2021. This was primarily due to increases in staffing costs and utility costs. RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPEcf OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the congregation and the financial activities for that year. In preparing the financial statements the Trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
an SAINTFIELD ROAD PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Congregation will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the funds transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the congregations and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities {1 January 2019)" They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS AND GOING CONCERN The Trustees are of the opinion that the congregation has sufficient resources at the date of approval of these financial statement5 to meet commitments which will arise in the year from the date of signing this report and, subject to the continuing support from members, to fund, on an on-going basis, the congregation's current activities and other financial commitments. RESERVES POLICY The Trustees have considered the level of unrestricted reserves that it is appropriate to hold, taking account of current and ongoing commitments. It is the policy of the Trustees to hold between three and six month's normal expenditure. The Trustees also bear in mind the bank balance available and the net current asset position. At the year-end unrestricted reserves were £110,06712021 £93,512).
Presbyter an SAINTFIELD ROAD PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH a Congregatlon of The Presbyterlan Church In Ireland RISK REVIEW Following the fire damage, the Trustees have considered the rlsks around security and have enhanced the measures which were In place. A review of other major risks, including child protection and data security, has been undertaken by the Trustees and systems and procedures implemented to manage identified risks. The principal risks are in relation to the likelihood of reputational damage and financial risks associated with the expectation of on- going financial support from members. These risks are mitigated by the Trustees, and the Congregational Committee, regularly monitoring the various activities of the congregation at stated meetings and by encouraging members in their regular giving. Regulartraining with regard to issues such as child protection is given. oz2 Ross Withers ACA (Treasurer) Date They have been approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 20 April 2023 and signed on its behalf on 25th June 2023 by ',£-./.":1,T.L.'l Rev Ben Walker (Minister) L_Q. Dr. Alistair Mccracken {Clerk of Session) 10