SEAVIEW CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2025 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104453)
SEAVIEW CONGREGAnON OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities at that date REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Seaview Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 94 Shore Road Belfast BT15 3QA Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104453) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Rev Edward Hyndman David Mccormick George Mccrory Gordon Spratt PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev Edward Hyndman David Mccormick Gordon Spratt INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mr Simon Hopper Hopper & Co 6 Doagh Road Ballyclare Co Antrim BT39 9BG BANKERS Northern Bank Limited Va Danske Bank 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, being 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 the Congregational Committee of the Congregation the temporal affairs of the Congregation including administering all funds and propety belonging to the Congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained Minister and the Ruling Elders of the Congregation. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meeting5, except that the Moderator, being the minister in active duty in the Congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. ststed Meetings of the Kirk Session are held once in each of the months of January, February, March, April, May, September, October and November in each year. 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 selettion of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the Congregation or by the Kirk Session. Members are nominated to serve as elders if they obtain two thirds of the votes of voting members who vote in an election held for the purpose of nominating voting member5 to the office of the eldership. PSbYtery 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 congregation5 assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Seaview Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has been assigned 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 active duty, and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation assigned to the Presbytery. The General Assembly The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is the supreme court of the Church, representing in one body the whole Church and acting as its supreme legislative, administrative and judicial authority in dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly is normally constituted during the first week of June in each year for worship and to conduct its business. At the end of business it it is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the active members of each congregation, retired ministers, and a representstive elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the Congregation is the advancement of religion. Seaview Congregation of the 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 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 member5 to play their part in fulfilling God's mission to our world. The Congregation's mission plan is expressed in its purpose in the following words: "We seek to glorify God and to share Christ with others through worship, teaching, fellowship and lifestyle,: The key words in the statement expressing our aim as a Congregation are "to glorify God and to share Christ,; and the words which follow describe how we seek to achieve it. In our Sunday services we engage together in worship, we are tsught from the Bible, and we find fellowship with one another. These elements are also found in the meetings of the organisations of the Congregation. We seek to encourage those in the community around us to join with us in Sunday services and to attend our organisations. Lifestyle concerns how we express our faith individually and collectively in how we live and how we relate to those who are not members of the Congregation and with whom we share the message of the gospel. ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES The Congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join with the Congregation in those services. The Sacrament of the Lord s Supper is observed on three occasions during the year and all those who have been baptised and who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted as Communicant Members of the Congregation. We welcome all who in sincerity profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to participate in the Sacrament. The Congregation holds regular Bible Study and Prayer Meetings and has a wide range of organisations including: Sunday School Ignite Girls, Brigade Christian Explorers Teaching English Classes Craft Club Walking Club ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and Prayer The Congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.00 am. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowshipi to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. Members of the Congregation and its organisations participate in leading elements of Sunday worship from time to time and some members read the scripture lesson Sunday by Sunday on a rota basis. Once each month those who wish meet at the end of Sunday worship to discuss the focus of the sermon that day, to consider its application, and to pray. Services are made available for members, and others, to access over the internet.
The sacrament of baptism was observed once in the year for one infant. At 31 December 2025 there were 45 Communicant Members and 102 families connected with the Congregation. The average weekly attendance at Sunday worship was 46. Pastoral Care Members of the Congregation who are unable to attend church due to illness or age are V151ted by the Minister or Elders, and a flower ministry delivers flowers to such members and to those who have been bereaved. Mission and Outreach At local level the Congregation through its organisations engages in outreach throughout the year to the local community, mainly by providing activities, friendship and fellowship appropriate to the age5 of those attending the organisation. The Congregation also supports the Presbyterian Orphan Society. The Congregation 5UPPOrts the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to support the the wider mission of the denomination and also to carry out mission and outreach on a denominational basis beyond what a 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 upkeep of church premises, assist with the running costs of Union Theological College (the Church's training college for ministry students), and financially supports congregations in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership, and pastoral care. The Congregation also contributes to the denomination's annual World Development Appeal, Sunday School Project, and any other special appeal such as those made by the Moderator of the General Assembly from time to time. The Congregation directly supports a number of worldwide mission organisations by way of donations to a fund named the Interdenominational Mission Support Group, the donations to that fund being distributed annually. The Congregation through Christian Explorers supports an annual "Shoebox Appeal" in which small gift5 are sent to children and teenagers in needy parts of Europe. Presbytery The Congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our Minister. General Assembly The Minister attended attended the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Property Significant work was carried out to parts of the roots of the church ha115, including replacement of a flat roof over rtain upper halls of the church. Organisations
The organisations of the Congregation and short descriptions of their activities are set out below: Sunday School: The Sunday School meets during the Sunday morning service and is for children aged up to approximately twelve years of age. Numbers attending vary but would not normally exceed six. The programme is varied and includes singing, prayer, Bible stories, missionary stories, art, craft and drama. The teachers seek to convey the message to the children that Jesus loves them and desires to be their Saviour and friend. Ignite.. Ignite is an organisation for young people of secondary school age run in conjunction with Alexandra Presbyterian Church. It is led by two leaders from Alexandra and one from our Congregation, and it meets on a fortnightly basis on Sunday evenings, with some other outings from time to time including a special summer week. The format of meetings is relaxed with a mix of games, activities, Bible teaching and discussion. Girls, Brigade: The Girls, Brigade mts on Monday evenings and is for girls of pre-school age up to the age of eighteen. The organisation meets in sections distinguished by age and each Section provides activities appropriate to the ages of the girls within it. In addition to the weekly activities within the halls the girls also engage in activities of the wider Girls, Brigade organisation where possible such as games and competitions. An annual enrolment service at which girls and officers are formally enrolled is held in the church and the organisation puts on an annual display at which their work during the year is demonstrated to parents, friends and members of the Congregation. Christian Explorers: Christian Explorers meets on Wednesday evenings and is an organisation provided for children aged from four to e1ve years. The programme is gospel-based and is intended to help children to develop physically, mentally, creatively and spiritually. It5 elements are worship, game5, Bible storie5, crafts, puzzle5 and refreshments. Most of those attending are from outside the membership of the Congregation. English Classes: Those attending are divided into groups depending on their level of English. All those attending the classes also join together for a time of refreshment, chat, building friendships and exchanging news. Bible Study: The group meets on alternate Thursday evenings with attendance generally in the order of twelve or so. In the meetings there is Bible teaching and discussion, followed by a time of prayer. Craft Club: The Craft Club meets on Friday mornings and is attended both by members of the Congregation and others from outside, most living in the local area. Walking Group.. In the summer months members of the Congregation and others meet on alternate Wednesday evenings for a walk in the greater Belfast area. The walks provide an opportunity to meet others and enhance friendships. Volunteers The Trustees acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees, leading in organisations, and helping in the various activities and events which take place within the Congregation.
PUBLIC BENEFrr srATEMENT 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 beliets 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 opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework leads to practical expressions of Christian beliets and standards in the local community such a5 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 noticeboards, printed material, press advertisement, websites, Social media and in other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the services and informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their families, and members of the public. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to Ministers, mis5ionarie5, Deaconesses, Irish Mission Worker5 and Lay Agent5 who receive benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. However this is incidental and necessary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of thi5 purpose are members, their families, other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect 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 secular organisations, charities, and individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commission Public Benefit requirement statutory guidance. FINANCIAL REVIEW The Congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering, either by direct contributions through envelopes or by stsnding orders. The number of contributing families in 2025 was 67 compared to 72 the previous year. Contributions in 2025 through Freewill Offerings totalled £69,387 which was an increase of £5,431 over the previous year. This was due to a number of donations to church funds along with an increase in contributions from existing members. Total income in 2025 was £100,475, a decrease of £7,244 compared to 2024. This decrease was primarily due to a bequest of £20,000 received last year (2024) but not in 2025. Although a bequest of that size was not received in 2025 this was partly offset by the increase in contributions from church members mentioned above along with transfers from the Bequest Account of the church.
Total expenditure for 2025 was £124,309 which was an increase of £22,942 over the previous year. This increase was mainly due to the cost of repairs carried out on the roof of the Main Church Hall and the replacement of the flat roof on the Minor Church Hall. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the Financial Statements of the Congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice. As the Congregation's totsl income does not exceed £250,000 the Trustees have elected under Section 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 to disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time it 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. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 2026 and signed on its behalf by 10 day of March E J Hyndman 10 March 2026 Date: Rev Edward Hyndman David Mccormick 10 March 2026 Date: David Mccormick
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRusfEES OF SEAVIEW CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND