WestKir
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West Kirk Presbyterian
A congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Trustees. Annual Report
for the year ended 31 December 2022
Registered with the Charlty Commlsslon for Northern Ireland
Charity Commission NI Registration No: 104287
West Ktrk Presbylerian Church

West Kirk Presbyterian Church
Trustees. Annual Report
for the year ended 31 December 2022
The Trustees presert their Annual Report and Financial Statsments for the year ended
3 1 December 2022 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.
REFERENCE AND ADMINisfRATIVE DETAILS
West Kirk Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
234 - 236 Shankill Road
Belfast
BT13 2BL
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104287)
CHARITY TRUSTEES
The Charity Trustees who were trustees at the date of this report were:
David Clawson
Peter Burke
Joseph Cummings
Kenneth Davidson
Noel Hunter
David Kane
Fred Maginnis
Vincent Shortt
Patrick Smyth
George Stewart
Roy Thompson
Michael Waddell
Desi Williams
Nomian Windru
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Minister:
Rev. Davld Clawson
Associate Minister:
Rev. Peter Burke
Clerk of Sesslon:
Mr. Roy Thompson
Treasurer:
Mr. David Ritchie
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
PKF-FPM Accountsnts Ltd.
Chartered Accountants & Ststutory Auditors
Unit I, Building 10
Central Park
Mallusk
BT36 4FS
BANKERS
Ulster Bank
Shankill Road Branch
185 - 189 Shankill Road
Belfast
BT13 IFH
SOLICITORS
Hewitt & Gilpin
Solicitors
Thomas House
14 - 16 James Street South
Belfast
BT2 7GA
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West Kirk Presbyterian Church
Trustees. Annual Report
for the year ended 31 December 2022
STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT
The Kirk Session
The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of the 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 who are not connected with any congregation within
its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place in the congregation and seeks to further the
contribution of the Church to Chrlstian 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 members of the Congregational Committee and the other members are elected by the voting
members of the congregation and serve for a period of 3 years. The present Congregational
Committee took up office in January 2019. Following the amalgamation of West Kirk and Crumlin
Road Presbyterian Church, the Committee was enlarged by the inclusion of 6 members of the
former Crumlin Road congregation. To give sufficient time for this enlarged committee to function well
the Kirk Session has decided to delay the election of a new Congregational Committee until 2024.
The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the congregatlon. All
members are entitled to make proposals, speak and exercise equal voting rights at meetings,
except that the Moderator, the minster in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative
but only a casting vote.
Stated meetings of the Klrk Session are held normally eight times in each year, and in 2022 we
have been able to re-establish that pattern.
To be chosen for the office of the eldershlp In the congregatlon 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. Normally we have adopted the former
method. Members proposed are elerted rf they obtain the votes of two thirds of the voting members
present at a meeting of the congregation.
At a meeting of the congregation in January 2022 our assistant mlnister, Peter Burke, was called to
be our Associate Minister and was ordained and inducted to that role at a service condutted by the
North Belfast Presbytery. Later in this ￿port reference will be made to the particular ministry role
to which Peter was appointed.
At the meeting of the congregation in January it was decided to co-opt Paddy Smyth to our Kirk
Session; he had been ordained as an elder in his home congregation prior to joining West Kirk.
Paddy was installetl to our Kirk Session in March at a service conducted by the North Belfast
Presbytery.
So we now have an increased number in our Kirk Session of 2 teaching elders and 12 ruling
elders.
Presbytery
Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 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. West Kirk congregation of the Presbyterian Church ha5 been a55igned to the
North 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 artive duty and elders appointed by the Kirk Sessions of the
congregations in the Presbytery.
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West Kirk Presbyterian Church
Trustees. Annual Report
for the year ended 31 December 2022
The General Assembly
The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church. representing in one body the whole
Church and atting as its supreme legislative, administrative and judicial authority in dealing with all
matters brought before it. The General Assembly is nomially constituted during the first week in
June for worship and to conduct its business. At the end of business it is dissolved. The membership
of the General Assembly consists mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired
mlnisters and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.
Followlng 2 years of very restricted meetings of the General Assembly because of the pandemic
it was good that a more normal General Assembly was held in June 2022.
DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE
The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion.
West Kirk congregation Is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian
Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ is 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 her members to play thelr part In fulfilllng God's misslon to our world.
The purpose and vision of the congregation of West Kirk can be expressed in 3 words:
Maturity , Ministry and Mission. Our aim is to help our members towards maturity of Christian
faith through worship and teaching, so that they express that faith in a ministry of support,
encouragement and care for one another, and in mission to the community and world around us
as we help in practical ways and share with others the Christian gospel to whlch we are commltted.
The congregation aims to fulfil our Purpose and Vision as a family of God's people by ensuring that
our commitment and faithfulness to God and our relationships with each other are built upon the
Word and promises of God.
As a family we seek to care well for the young among us as we engage with them. encourage and
nurture them in the faith of Jesus Christ.
We seek, in ways which will be described later, to be an outward looking fellowship concerned
for the wellbeing of the community in our parish area.
As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland we believe the Bible to be our supreme
authority in what we believe and in how we act. We are committed also to the subordinate standards
of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter
Catechisms, confident that they set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of
Christian faith and practice.
ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES
In our reports for both 2020 and 2021 we were describing pattems of congregational life and
activity far removed from the normal because of the restrictions imposed on churches as on
much of society by the Covid-19 pandemic. During those years there were several periods during
which we could not gather for worship and, when we could, only did so with patterns of social
distancing which lessened our sense of fellowship.
None of our organisations could meet. although leaders did make valiant attempts to keep in
contact with their members online.
Happily we can report that throughout 2022 we have resumed many aspects of our congregational
programme step-by-step. This will be described more fully in the next seciion of the report.
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West Kirk Presbyterian Church
Trustees. Annual Report
for the year ended 31 December 2022
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Worship and Prayer
The congregation meets normally for worship each Sunday at 11.30am in the church building and
at 6.00pm in the Halls. Tea and coffee is available prior to the morning service and following the
evening service we stay for tea and coffee discussing around tables questions relating to the theme
of the sermon and praying together.
We held some services of Thanksgiving for the life of members who died during the year. seNices
in which we sought to comfort the bereaved families and friends.
On Wednesday evenings a small group meet together for prayer. As yet we have not resumed our
Home Bible Study Groups.
At 31 December 2022 there were 85 communicant members of the congregatlon. we held 4 morning
and 2 evening communion services.
230 families have currently some level of connettion with our congregation.
The average attendan￿ at morning worship during the year was 85, with between 25 and 30
attending evening worship.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care visitation which was impossible during the Covid-19 pandemic has resumed
increasingly as we moved through 2022. It is carried out mainly by our minister, the Rev. David
Clawson. and our associate minister, Rev. Peter 8urke
Some elders and others within the congregation help to some extent with this important ministry.
We make every effort to support our elderly members who are no longer able to attend worship
and those mernbers who are unwell or recently bereaved.
Mission and Outreach
The congregation of West Kirk is committed to and active in outreach to our local community.
Communication of the Christian gospel is a vital part of the programme of our organisations.
In addition we have other activities which have an Intentlonal outreach emphasis. A very important
and useful part of our weekly programme is our Thursday Moming Outreach when each week we
invite local people in for tea or coffee and the opportunity to chat. Unfortunately, it was
Impossible to hold this through most of 2020 and all of 2021. We are pleased that we have been
able to resume what is a very popular activity with a wide range of local people.
Another means of outreach in the past were the Men's Breakfasts and Ladies, Breakfasts held on
several Saturday mornings during the year. It is our intention to ￿Surne these in 2023.
Our interest in mission is not confined to the local scene. For many years we have had a partnership
with a Christian medical organisation in the Chernobyl region of Ukraine and many of our members
support a range of Missionary Societies and Relief Organisations.
Not surprisingly the current conflitt in Ukraine has been a source of great con￿rn for those of our
members who in the past visited that country. We have been able to contribute f5nancially to
churches in Ukraine and neighbouring countries which are supporting those displaced as a result
of the war.
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
carried out on a scale beyond which any congregation could do on its own. The 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 support for the
Lbpkeep of church premises and assists with the running costs of Union Theological College, the
Church's training college for ministry students.
Pa9e 5

West Kirk Presbyterian Church
Trustees. Annual Report
for the year ended 31 December 2022
Presbytery
The congregation was represented at the meetings of Presbytery in 2022 by our 2 ministers and 2 of our
elders who played their part on some of the the Presbytery's Committees and Panels.
The General Assembly
At the 2022 General Assembly we were represented by our 2 ministers and 2 of our elders.
In addltion, one of our senior elders was appointed as a member of Assembly by its Nomination
Committee.
Property
The oversight of our property is the responsibility of one of the sub-committees of our Congregational
Committee. During 2022 some important improvements were carried out in our manse and routine
work in our church buildings.
Organisations
We give this brief summary of the activities carried out during the year in some of our organisations
as they resumed more normal programmes after the disruption caused by the pandemic.
Children's Church . During moming worship children up to the age of about 9 years old move into
the Church Hall at the point when the sermon will begin and they ￿Ceive 8ible teachlng.
The Monday Club - After almost 2 years of being unable to meet, this artivity for children of primary
school age resumed in September. The children enjoy a programme designed to encourage thelr
educational, physical, recreatlonal, social and splrltuaS development.
In August some of our leaders. along wlth a PCI team of Young People, ran a 3-day Holiday Bible
Club attended by about 60-70 fflainly local children. As we hoped would happen, some of these
girls and boys then joined the Monday Club.
Presbyterlan Women . This group meets monthly duing the autumn and winter for a programme
designed to stimulate interest in and support for the rni55ion of the Church at home and overseas,
so many of thelr guest speakers will represent such work. Since resumlng in October the group
has been glad to welcome several new members.
Glrls. Brigade Company . This Christian organisation meets each Tuesday evening in several sections
catering for girls. ages 3-18. They carry out a varied programme as devised by the central GB
organisation.
Guide Company . The various sections of the Guides meet on a Thursday evening. They are
registered separately with the Charity Commission and will submit their own report.
Alcoholics Anonymous Group . While this organisation Is not under the oversight of our
COng￿gation, we are glad to accommodate this local group in our Halls each Wednesday
evening.
Volunteers
The Trustees acknowledge with gratitude the invaluable service given by those members of the
congregation who lead with great dedicatton the rdnge of activities described in this report.
Pw6

West Kirk Presbyterian Church
Trustees, Annual Report
for the year ended 31 December 2022
The Church Plant at Carfisle Circu5
In our 2021 report we described the steps which had begun in the autumn of that year towards
planting a new church at Carlisle Circus in one of the buildings owned by the North Belfast
Presbytery Urban Mission Trust on the site of the fomier St. Enoch's Presbyterian Church.
The ordination and indurtiors of Peter Burke as our Associate Minister was an important step in
making this a reality.
So in February 2022, Gra￿ and Hope Community Church, the name given to the church plant,
began to have morning service5 every Sunday. meeting in the Memorial Hall. Initially about 30
people attended each week, but by the end of the year the attendan￿ has risen to 50-60.
On occasions as many as 10 nationalities are represented at the Servi￿ along with, from time
to time, a few local people from the lower Shankill and lower Antrim Road communities.
The hall in which they meet is smaller than they require and they hope that soon they will be
able to use another building on the site. the Hopelink Centre, which is big enough to allow for
a further increase in their attendance and also would provide adequate space to hold a creche.
Grace and Hope Community Church is part of West Kirk and is under the oversight of the Kirk
Session. Two of our ruling elders have joined our associate minister as a leadership team, and
at each Kirk Session meeting a report on the progress and ministry of Grace and Hope is
presented so that the Session can make major policy decisions about this important
development.
PUBLIC BENEFrr 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 as 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 opportunlties for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework
leads to practical expressions of Christian beliets 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 centra5 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 infomial and ad-hoc
feedback from members. their families, and members of the public.
The purpose does not lead tt) harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to
Ministers, Missionaries, Deaconesses, Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents who receive benefits
as a result of their holding office or employment. However, thi5 is inodental 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 pmvided and other
communities throughout Northern Ireland. the Republic of Ireland, and worldwide which benefit from
our engagernent 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 Commissions Public Benefit requirement statutory
guidance.
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West Kirk Presbyterian Church
Trustees. Annual Report
for the year ended 31 December 2022
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewlll
Offering , and in recent years members have been encouraged to donate directly to the Church's bank
account using 3 Direct Payment scheme.
There were 113 contrtbuting frdmilies during the year [112 In previous year. 2021] donating a total of
£69,927 (£67,389 in previous year, 2021). In addition, an amount of £9147 was received in respett of
the Grace and Hope church plant.
Total Receipts of the congregation during the year We￿ £316,449, compared to £130,861 in the
previous year. This included the sum of £177,613 from the bank account of Crumlin Road Presbyterlan
Church following it's amalgarnation with West Kirk.
No further grants were re￿1vable in respett of Covid-19 precautions or Women's Worker funding.
Total expenditure increased from £143,740 to £215,507, mainly due to ￿paYrnent of a loan of £48,253
in ￿spect of our Assistsnt Ministerfs salary, until such time as the Crumlin Road fund5 became
available.
In addition, the rise in the costs of heating oil and electricity added to our expenditure , along with
necessary repairs to the upkeep of the Manse.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES. RESPONSIBILITIES
The purpose of this statement is to distinguish the Trustees, responsibilities for the
accounts from those of the Independent Examiners as stated in their Report.
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial
statements of the congregation In accordance with appllcable law and generally
accepted accounting practi￿.
As the congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000, excluding the proceeds
of an amalgamation with the Former Crumlin Road Presbyterlan Church, the Trustees
have elected under Sertion 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to
prepare a Receipts and Payments Account and a Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are
sufficient to show and explain the congregation's transactions and disclose with
reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position.
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.
Signed to signify approval on behalf of the Kirk Session , by
Mr Roy
hompson
Trustee & Clerk of Session
Mr George
ewart
Trustee & Chairman of Committee
21st. Februa
2023
21st. Februa
2023
Date
Date
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