Ardstraiv Parish Chureh Trnstees Annual report and flnanelal statements for the year ended 31 Deeembcr 2023 References and gdmRnistratlve detalls Charity Name: Ardstraw Parish Church Charily Registration Number: NIC104677 Contact Addres5: The Rectory 2 Bunderg Road Newtownstewart Co Tyrone BT78 4NQ Trustees Rev. Ivan Dinsmore Mr Andy Buchanan Miss Dorothy Crawford Mr F.InersDn Doniiell Mr lan Donnell MrRonnie Hill Mr James Jamieson Mrs Carol Johnston Mr Alan Miller Mrs Dawn Pinkerton Mr Trevoi. Pratt Mrs Irene Spratt Mr John Wilson Mrs. Helen O'connor Mr Colin Mcclelland Prlnelpal Office-bearers Clergy: Rev. Ivan Dinsmore Chiiirh Treasurer: Mrs Dawn Pinkerton Cliurch Warden- Clergy: Mr lan Donnell Church Warden- People.. Mr Jolin Wilson lftdependent Examlner McFarland Arnold & Co Bankers Danske Bhnk 8 Main Street 5-7 Market Street Newtownslewart Oniagh Co Tyrone BT78 IBN Co Tyrone BT78 4AA Ardstraw Parlsh Chureh
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 Deeember 2023 The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assels and Liabilities for Ardstraw Parish Church for the year ended 31 December 2023. Structure, Governance and Management Governing Documenl and Conslilulion oflhe Charity Chapter III of the Constithtion of ihe Church of Ireland governs Parlshes and Parochial Organis'ation. The Select Vestry members are ihe Charity TsleeS Recriiilmenl andAppoinlmenl ofselect Veslry (Trustees) All members of ihe Church of Ireland who are over ihe age of 18 and are either resident within the parish or live elsewhere but have been accuslomed members of the congregation for dl least three monlhs, may register as members of the general vestry of the parish. allowing them to attend and vole al meetings of the general vestry and to stand for eleolion to 11)e s¢le¢t vestry. Meetings of the general vestry are held al least once a year. Tlie Select Vestry As elected as part of this General Vestry m¢etiiig. The Seleot Veslry will hold their positions for a period of one year. Select Vestry members inay be re- elected annually and there is no limit on the number of terms which may be served. Pay and remunerolion The Incumbent of the Par&sh stipend is paid directly by the Diocese, which is in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland togeiher with approved office and locomotory allowances. Organisalional Siruelure The Select Vestry is responsible for the day to day managemenl of the parish. The select vesliy consists of the member of the clergy serving in the parish, the churchwardens, the glebe wardens and 8enerally not more than Iwelve other members of the general veslry elected at ihe Easter Vestiy. The Select Vestry is chaired by the incumbent or oiher member of the clergy Ol¢lating in the parish. Seleci Veslry members are responsible for making decisions on matters of general concern and importai)ce lo tlie parish including deciding how parish fvnds are to be applied. The Sele¢t V¢slry meets at times fixed by the member5 or by the diocesan synod. Special meetings may be convened at any time by Ihe chairperson or the churchwardens. In 2023 the Select Vestry met 3 times during the year hnd the average attendance was 670/ts. Objeetlves and Aetivitie5 The Charitable puiyose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion. Ardstr#w Parish Chureh Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 D¢eember 2023 {eontlDued) The principal fvnclion of Ai'dslraw Parish Church is to support the advancemeiit of the Chrislian religion by pi'omotiiig, Ihrough the work of Ardslrdw Parish Church the whole mission of the Church. pastoral, evangelislic, social and ecumenical. Bein8 open to and engaging with society as a whole and offering support for those needing help are fundamental lo ihe practical delivery of the benefIls of Christianity. As a result of activity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, Ardstraw Parish Chuirh has custody of property and of records, malerials and artefacls of slgnificance lo the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance of which is undertaken by the Select Vestry of Ardstraw Parish Cliurch. Aehlevements. Performanee & Publle Benefit The Parish of Ardstraw exists for Ille purpose of the advancement of the Christian religion in the NewÈownstewart area. To Implement this purpose. we provide many services lo our local ¢ommunily. The main function of the Parish is lo provide opporlunilies for parishioners and other inembers of tlie
community lo worship God, Sunday by Sunday. To this end, the Parisl) provldes a regular Sunday mornin8 worship service each Sunday at I I.00am. This enables members of Ihe community to partake in the sacrainenl of Holy Communion which is celebraled on the first Sunday of eacli month. and to be laught from Ilie Bible every Sunday. Of course, our worship is open to anyone who wlshes to come, from all backgrounds and all faiil)s or Iione. In recenl limes we have welcomed iiot only people from a Christian background, but also those of other faiths including Baha'i. Buddhist and those who have no belief at all. We are, of course, welcoming to those of all races. genders aiid orientalions. In praolice the vast majority of our worshippers are from a Chui'ch of Ireland background. but our Church welcomes all to the Lord's Table in the sacrament of Holy Communion. On other Sundays the maiii service is"Morning Prayer" which ts a more simplified servtce of readings. hymns and prayers. Pastoral care 18 provided by the Rector, asslsted by the parlshioners. This includes home visits. hospital visits, oounselling where needed, and a listening ear where sotneone just needs to talk. Parishioners and others are regularly reinembered in prayer. Pastoral Care is provided al times of difficulty e.g. bereavement and al times of celebration e.g. a marriage or baptism. Our Church has an opeji. welcoming non-judgeinental attitude to baptism in that we welcome all who come to be baplised and refrain from altaching conditions lo their parlioipation in the sacrament, as some Churches do. Mission and outreach include a Youth Fellowship group which ineets on Tliursday evenings during term time and is open to the entire cotnniunity and is geared towards teendgers. Usually around a dozen young people attend this group each week. There is also a Confimialion ¢lass, which is held on Thursday evenings. A similar number of young people attend Ihis group. Both of these groups are aimed at outreach lo teenagers and young people in order to share the faith with them and encourage ihem in this important stage of their life. The Mother's Union is an outreach group comprtsed of ihe ladies of ihe Church {although it is open to men also). In practice our branch in ¢ommon with most branches has an entirely female membership. As well as supporting Ilie families of the parish, the Mothers, Union supports ihe wider community in varlous ways. Members knit "Trauma Teddies" for use when children are admitted to hospital. A child is Ardstraw Parish Chureh Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 De¢¢mber 2023 (eontinucd) given one of ihe teddies and this can be a comfort to a scared and ill or injured child in the strange and inliinidaling enviroKllnent of a hospital ward. Kit bags are also collected and dislrffibuted to hospitals containing emergency supplies of necessary items su¢h as toothpaste, soap, eto. These are given to people who have been admitted to hospital suddenly and do not have such items with them. In addition, the Mothers, Union fundraises in support of mission at holne and abroad. They provide a contact centre where children of eslranged parenls can meet with the parent whom they no loiiger live witli iii a safe and coinfortlng environment. Mothers, Union provides "Away from il all" biraks or days out for families whose family life is golng through a difficult perlod. The Parish supports number of orphans financially as part of the Tyrone Protestant Orphan So¢iety. This provides "no strings attached" financial asslstance for Children who have lost one or both parenls. Grants are usually received in August and before Christmas. Several times each year, the Parish provides a free lunch for seniors and ihose who are prevented from attending Church due to illness or advancing age. Transport is provided to and from these events free of charge by Church members. Since Easter 2020 we have been fjnancially supporting the communily of San Jor8e in Cebu City, Philippines. by providin8 donations lo enable food to be purchased and distributed amon8 poor families in Cebu. The Parish operates a Charity Shop in partnership with Cancer Focus. This provides many servlces to tlie community. iiot least in pi'oviding a place where unwanted items can be reused and resold lo the benefit of others. It provides opportunities for people lo volunteer their time and talents iii tlie seivice of the wider community. Il also provAdes a place for people lo Come and cl)at and meel other people. And not least, of course, the shop raises a substhntial amoujit of money which supports the work of Caiicer Focus. The Parish is very conscious of the duty of care thal we have to fhose who participale in our events and use our premises. We have a strict safeguarding policy in place whioh protects our Children's Mintstry. This is regularly reviewed and Iraining is frequently available in ihe Pai'ish. The Safeguarding Policy is reviewed every three years by the Diocesan authorities to ensure that our young people can participate in all Church activities confIdent of the protection they deserve. In addition, several community groups not aftfilialed with the Church use the Parish Hall throughout the week. 'fhese include the Day Care Centre on Wednesdays and the local branch of the Wonien's Institute who meet in our building once every month.
A significant number of people request access to the Parish Records each year. These are held in the Parisli Office and can be accessed free of charge by appointment with the Rector. Church buildings an also be accessed at any lime by appointment with the Rector or a member of the ¢oiigre8ation. Ardstraw Parish Lhureh Trustees, Annual Report for th¢ y¢or ended 31 Deeember 2023 (eontinued) CompllAnoe with Publie Benefit The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on publi¢ beiiefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parlsh's objectives and aotivilies, as well as providing public benefit An whatever way we can. We hope to continue to do 50 for many years to come. Financial Revlew Tolal income of the Parish during tlie year was £61.045 (2022- £68,032) and tolal expenses were £64.555 (2022: £77.750) leaving a deficit of £3,510 for ihe year ended 31 Deceniber 2023. Tlie Parish conlinues to be in a healthy slote as at 31 December 2023 wilh total cash funds of £31,842. A detailed analysis of parish income and expendithre is sel out on page 8 to the ftnancial statements. Golng Coneern Tlie truslees have reviewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequale funds in place to ensure that the Parlsh can ¢oJiÉinue its activities and Ihe financial slatements for ihe year ended 31 De¢ember 2023 can be signed off as a going concern. Statement of Trust¢es' Responsibilitios The Iruste¢s or¢ responsible for preparing the Ttvstees. Report and the statement of receipts }d payjnents and slalemenl of assets and liabtltlies An accordance with applicable law and regulalions. The law applicable to charities in Northem Ireland with liicome of less than £250,000 requires the trLlStees to prepare a stalement of receipts and paymenls and a ytatement of assets and liabilities for eacli fiiiancial year. The trnslees are responsible for keeping accounling records that are sufflcienl lo show aiid explain the Parish's transactions and disolose with reasonable accuracy at any tlme the assets and liabilities of the Parisli. Tliey are also respoiisible for safeguardin8 the assets of the Parish and hence for taking reasonable steps for Ihe prevention and detection of fraud and other Arregulai'ilies. Slgned on Beh¥lf of the Trusteeg jl&/L .),.p,- ohn Wilson Mrs Dawn Pinkerton D•te Date Ardstraw Parish Chureh Independent Examiners Report to th¢ Trustees of Ardstraw Parish Church We report on the financial slatemenls of Ardstraw Parish Church for the year ended 31 Deceinber