Trustees’ Annual Report
for the year ended:- 31 st December 2025
The Trustees present the Annual Report and Statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for St. Patrick’s Parish Church Kildress for the year end 31[st] December 2025
Objectives and Activities
The charitable purpose of The Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion. The principal function of St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Parish Church Kildress is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of the St. Patrick’s Parish Church Kildress, the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic and social.
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 activity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Parish Church Kildress has custody 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 St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Parish Church Kildress.
Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit
The Advancement of the Christian Religion.
The Parish Church exists primarily, and above all else, as a place of Christian worship. Services of public worship are held on Sundays at 12.00 noon. Holy Communion is celebrated once a month and Morning Prayer (Holy Baptism as requested) for two Sundays of the month with the 4th Sunday a family service. Weekday services include Holy Communion for seniors is held on the third Thursday of each month at 10.30 am. Others, such as Ash Wednesday Service, Harvest Service and Confirmation with Holy Communion take place according to the Church calendar. Additional services, Christmas and Holy Week are held in season. The Parish is in the terminology of the Church of Ireland, mostly ‘resident’ members with a small number of ‘accustomed’ (persons living outside the parish boundary) members. The average number of parishioners in 2025 for Sunday worship would normally be approximately 110. This is a vibrant and busy parish, and the range of parishioners is from a few months to 96yrs.
Worship and Pastoral Care.
The Parish Church is chosen by parishioners to mark significant events in their family life. In the course of 2025, the following took place – two Holy Baptisms, two Weddings and four Funeral services.
A prayer meeting was held face to face most Wednesday evenings during 2025 involving both parishioners and some from neighbouring parishes. A bible study
group meets face to face or virtually on Wednesday mornings at 10.00am usually for 6-week sessions with a break of a few weeks and then another beginning. In September 2025 this was joined together to form a Bible study and Prayer meeting at 8pm on Thursday evening each week that look at the sermons.
Sunday school meets most Sundays in the Parish Halls and consists of 4 classes for P1 – P7. This year seen the start of the Kildress Youth fellowship. A sunday evening programme running weekly for young people 11-14 and 14-18 from 6:30pm to 8pm. During 2025 there were 65 children enrolled.
The Parish also hosts youth organisations which include, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides and the Mother’s Union. There is also a Bowling Club and a Dramatic Society associated with the Parish.
The Kildress Bowlers meet throughout the year on a Friday in the church hall with their now annual tournament taking place for a week in September, while the Dramatic Society practised for a play to take play in February 2026.
The Rector, visits parishioners who are sick, at home or in hospital, or in residential/nursing homes. He also celebrates Holy Communion with those unable to attend the Parish Church at Christmas and Easter, and at other times as requested.
Under the leadership of the Select Vestry the Events Group organises social events during the year which act both as opportunities for fellowship, outreach and fund raising. During 2025, a number of fundraising events, which also offer an opportunity for fellowship and outreach were held. These included a very successful ‘Tractor Run’ which involved participants from across the local community and included a barbeque and in addition, fun activities for the children.
The Kildress Crafters Group continued to meet regularly over the winter months for crafting chat, coffee and treats. This event also proved to be a very successful outlet for the production of the parish walled garden, especially the potato crop. In addition, the parish offers hospitality to bereaved families associated with the parish and others who make use of the graveyard attached to the church. This quality service is greatly appreciated by the family and friends of the bereaved and is a significant revenue stream for church funds.
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.
Financial Review
2025 Audited financial report at attached pdf.
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 Parish can continue its activities
and the financial statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2025 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 Organisations. 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. Meetings 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 which may be served.
Pay and Remuneration
During 2025 the parish was vacant under the oversight of the Rural Dean, who chaired meetings of the Select Vestry. The majority of Sunday services were conducted by the Rev Canon Drew Dawson, a recently retired member of the ordained ministry. Both members of the clergy receive their stipend from the Armagh Diocesan Office of the Church of Ireland until the Institution of the new Rector in September 2025.
Organisational Structure
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, the church wardens, the glebe wardens and generally not more than twelve other members of the general vestry at the General Vestry. The Select Vestry would usually be chaired by the Incumbent, but during the vacancy by the Rural Dean. Select Vestry members are responsible for making decisions on matters of general concern and importance to the parish including how parish funds are to be applied. The Select Vestry meets at times fixed by the members. Special meetings may be convened at any time by the chairperson or churchwardens. In 2025 the Select Vestry met eight times during the year and the average attendance was 16.
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 are responsible for preparing the Trustee’s 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 statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year.
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities (continued)
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.
Signed on Behalf of the Trustees
Trustee 1:- Ken Hunter
Trustee 2:- R.J Huey
Date:- April 2026 _