Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022
The Trustees present the annual report for Tamlaght Parish Church for the year ended 31st December 2022
Objectives and Activities
The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion.
The principle function of Tamlaght Parish Church is to support the advancement of Christian religion by promoting, through the work of the Tamlaght Parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical. Being open to the engaging with society as a whole and offering support for those needing help are fundamental to the practice and benefits of Christianity.
As a result of the activity and pursuit of the advancement of the Cristian religion, the Tamlaght Parish has custody of property and records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance of which is undertaken by the select vestry of Tamlaght Parish.
Achievements, Performance and Public Benefit.
The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parish’s objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit.
Financial review.
Please see separate financial report.
It is the policy of the Trustees to invest and reserve funds to gain the best possible return without putting them at risk.
Our income and expenditure report shows a large deficit for 2022. The trustees hope to encourage improvement of this financial situation in 2023 which was not possible in 2022 due to replacement of windows being a necessity.
Going Concern
The Trustees have reviewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure the Parish can continue its activities and the financial statements for the year ended 2022 can be signed off as a going concern.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity
Chapter III of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organization. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees.
Recruitment and Appointment of Select Vestry (Trustees)
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 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. Meeting of the general vestry are held at least once a year. The Select Vestry is elected as part of this General Vestry meeting. The Select Vestry will hold their positions for a period of one year. Select Vestry members may be re-elected annually and there is no limit on the number of terms may be served.
Organizational Structure
The select vestry is responsible for the day to day management of the parish. The select vestry consists of a member of the clergy serving in the parish, the church wardens, the glebe warden and generally not more than twelve other members of the general vestry elected at the General Vestry.
The select vestry is chaired by the incumbent or any 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 funds are to be applied.
The select vestry meets at times fixed by the members or the diocesan synod. Special meetings may be convened at any time by the chairperson or the church wardens. In 2021 the select vestry met two times due to covid restrictions during the year and the average attendance was 80%
Compliance and Public Benefit
The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that actives 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 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 income of less than £250,000 requires 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 transactions and disclose with accuracy at the time the assets and liabilities of the Parish. They are also responsible for the safeguarding the assets of the Parish and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Dr Richard Gilfillan Mr Ian McAleece
5 April 2023