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GILNAHIRK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN
IRELAND
Trustees Annual Report
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104474}

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GILNAHIRK 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
2023 including Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Gilnahirk congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
161A Giln3hirk Road
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC1044741
CHARITY TRUSTEES
The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were
Mrs Carol Anderson
Dr Trevor Gilliland
Miss Hilary Gowdy
Miss Patricia Gowdy
Mr Stephen Jackson
Mr Stephen Jordan (resigned 13/3/231
Mr Andrew Kerr
Mr David McDonald
Mr Colin McRoberts
Mr David Mark
Rev Stephen Moore
Mrs Hilary Morrow
Mr Johnston Morrow
Mrs Judith Morrow
Mrs Julie-may Noteman
Mr Richard Patterson
Mrs Roberta Patterson
Mr Michael Picken
Mr5 Susan Rocke
Mrs Audrey Smallwood
Mr William Smyth
Mr Malcolm Strain
Mrs Heather Taylor
Mrs Rachel Toland
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Minister
Clerk of Session
Treasurer
Rev Stephen Moore
Mrs Heather Taylor
Mrs Hilary Morrow
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Mr John Cummings, 15 Moyne Park, Belfast BT5 7QT
BANKERS
Ulster Bank, Kings Square, Kings Road, Belfast BT5 6JL
SOLICITORS
C & J Black Solicitors, Linenhall House, 13 Linenhall Street, Belfast BT2 8AA

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GILNAHIRK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd)
STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT
The Kirk Session
The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of it5 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 l<irk Session has delegated to its
Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all fund5
and property 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 vote5 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 5 times per 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 ordinance5, The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be
either by the congregation or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected if they obtain two-thirds of
those who vote.
Presbytery
Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation
is the re5pon5ibility 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.
Gilnahirk congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the East 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,

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GILNAHIRK CONGREGATION OF THE pRE5B￿ERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd)
The General Assembly
The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, 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 a week in June for worship and
to conduct its business. At the end of business it is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly
consist5 mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired min5ter5 and a representative elder
appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.
DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE
The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion.
Gilnahirl( 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 Hi5 Spirit, and to enable her members to play their part in fulfilling God's mission to our world.
The congregation's Mission purpose is:
Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church exists to
show the love of God in Christ Jesus,.
Proclaim the gospel and enuble people tofind its healing power,,
Encourage members to worship and learn together, and grow in faith,.
Apply thefaith in practical concern and help to others.
The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as a family of God's people by being:
A Covenant Community.. where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully
toward him and toward one another.
An Intergenerational Community.. where adult5 intentionally take the lead to engage with,
encourage und nurture younger members to maturity in Christ.
An Outward looking Community., where we want the blessings of God that belong to us in the gospel
to become blessingsfor others beyond the bounds of our community.
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 F(7ith, along with the Larger and
Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith
and practice,

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GILNAHIRK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd)
ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES
The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of
the Lord's Supper is observed on several occasions during the year and all those who have been
bapti5ed and who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord's
Supper. The congregation holds regular Bible study meetings and has a range of organisations including
Toddler Church and Kids Church {Children's Ministry)
Roots (Youth Ministry)
Youth Club
Parents and Toddlers
Presbyterian Women
Gilnahirk Friendship Group
Monday Morning Drop In
Men's and Women's Bowling Clubs
Ladies, and Men's Groups
Contact Singers
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Worship and prayer
The congregation meets for worship on Sunday mornings at 11.00am and normally on the first and third
Sunday evenings of each month at 7.00pm. The praise is led by the Choir, supplemented on occasions by
the Praise Group and other Singers, accompanied by the organ and at times by the Band- all under the
leadership of our Musical Director.
During the week the Discipleship Groups provide an opportunity for members to meet together for
fellowship, to study the Scriptures and for a time of prayer.
As well as our regular services during the year we celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism on l occasion,
and we gave than1(5 for the lives of those who died and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved
during the year.
At 31 December 2023 there were 303 communicant members and 316 families connected with the
congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 125.
Pastoral care
Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited on a
regular basis by the minister, a retired minister who provides additional pastoral and preaching support,
elders or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitors.

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GILNAHIRK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd)
Mission and outreach
At a local level the congregation is engaged in schools, worl< through its Youth and Family Worker and
the minister, conducting assemblies in one primary school and one grammar school, and taking a variety
of other classes.
A Holiday Bible Club or other activities for young people take place during the summer.
Members support Dundonald Foodbank by donating non-perishable food items on an ongoing basis.
A variety of charitie5 and good causes are regularly supported by the congregation, with £21,768 being
donated to such in 2023.
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 do mission and outreach on a denominational basis beyond what the congregation could do on
its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for mi55ion personnel at home and overseas,
assists congregation5 With the deployment of locally based staff, enables church planting, provide5 grant
support for the upkeep of church premises, as51St 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 a550 contributes to the denomination's annual World Development Appeal and any
other special appeals.
Presbytery
The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and one of the
elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the
church.
General Assembly
The minister and one of our elders were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June.
Property
No major repairs or refurbishment projects were carried out during the year.

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GILNAHIRK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd)
Organisations
Two Discipleship Groups meet fortnightly for Bible Study, fellowship and prayer, Over 30 adult
members attend regularly.
Toddler Church, Kids Church and Roots provide around 30 children and young people with Bible
teaching and activities on Sundays.
Youth Club offer5 recreational activities for approximately 40 young people fortnightly on Saturday
evenings, mainly in the Church Hall but also at times on trips to various locations.
Each Thursday morning our hall is used by our Parents and Toddlers group. Approximately 20 children
and their carers regularly attend.
The Gilnahirk Friendship Group organises monthly meeting5 or outing5 for approximately 25 older
member5 as well as a Christmas party.
Monday Morning Drop In provides a space for older members and others to meet for refreshments and
chat each week for an hour.
Presbyterian Women offer the 20 or so members Christian fellowship as well as highlighting and
resourcing mission projects in Ireland and overseas.
Between them the Ladies, Bowling and Men's Association cater for over 40 keen indoor bowlers every
week.
The Gilnahirk Ladies, and Men's Groups provide their members (about 50 and 25 respectively) with a
variety of talks from a wide range of guest speakers on a regular basis.
Volunteers
The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by
serving on committees and helping with organi5ation5 and other church activities.

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GILNAHIRK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd)
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 Jesu5 Christ through
the advancement of religion.
The direct benefits which flow from the purpose5 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 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 noticeboards, printed
material, press advertisement, websltes, 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 members of the public.
The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to
Ministers, Missionaries, Deaconesses, Irish Mission worker5 and Lay Agents 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 beneficiarie5 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 statutory
guidance.

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GILNAHIRK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd)
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The congregation'5 main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill
Offering. There were 187 contributors during the year [238 in previous year, 20221 donating a total of
£137,1851£112,608 in previous year, 20221. This does not include the loose offerings.
Total income of the congregation during the year was £211,938 compared to £161,805 in the previous
year.
Total expenditure increased from £188,134 in 2022 to £224,261 in 2023.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Trustee5 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'5 total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section
64131 of the Charities Act {Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a receipts and payments account and a
statement of assets and liabilitie5,
The Trustees are responsible for l<eeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and
explain the congregation's transaction5 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.
Approved by the Kirk Session and signed on its behalf on 20 October 2024 by
Stephen Moore
Heather Taylor