Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2023 The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments. including Assets st and Liabilities for Termoneeny Parish (Church of Ireland) for the year ended 31 December 2023. Objertives and Activities The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of lIgIon. The principal function of Termoneeny Parish 15 to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through its work, the whole pastoral. evangelistic. social. and ecumenical mission of the Church. Being open to and engaging with society as a whole and offering support for those needing help are fundamental to the practical delivery of Christianity's benefits. As a result of its activity in advancing the Christian religion, Termoneeny Parish has custody of property and records, materials, and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage. The select vestry of Termoneeny Parish maintains these. Achievements, Performance & Publlc Beneflt Worshi and Pra Termoneeny Parish Church is under the incumbency of the Reverend Philip Benson and is part of a larger group that includes Desertmartin Parish IKnocklou8hrim). The parish offers a wide range of weekly public acts of worship, including Morning Prayer and the celebration of Holy Communion. Our worship is conducted in accordance with the Church of Ireland's Book of Common Prayer, and we also join with our sister parish for the bi-annual "Confirmation" of faith service, led by the diocesan Bishop. We also provide for baptisms, weddings, funerals. and ongoing pastoral care. Special services throughout the year include Christmas Carol Services, Lent/Holy Week Seniices and Advent Services, which all provide intimate and reflective environments for worship. All are welcome to attend our worship services. er In addition to our regular services, some parish members cannot attend church due to sickness or age. Rev Benson regularly visited such parishioners to celebrate Holy Cornmunion with them, offering pastoral care and practical support to them either in their homes or in hospital/nursing care homes. We have also introduced live streaming, allowing those unable to attend our services in person to participate from home. This is particularly important for those who are housebound or are unwell. At Dresent. there are 72 families conslStin£ of 161 individuals. The averaRe weeklv combined church attendance was 70, which increased at special festivals. We celebrated no baptisms or weddings and held two funerals in our parish this year. In addition, the parish has hosted religious services in association with local community groups such as the Loyal and Masonic orders, including the Orange Order and the Royal Black Preceptory. Rev Philip is also a member of the Board of Governors for Knockloughrim and Magherafelt Primary Schools and is part of a rota for leading morning assemblies.
Additionally, in association with "Mid Ulster Clergy Together," an ecumenical group representing a diverse range of Christian denominations within the Mid Ulster council area, we have participated in community-wide acts of worship and supported the Magherafelt Food Bank Christmas appeal. Termoneeny Parish has engaged in Safe Church" training and is a registered Safe Place" to support those in our community suffering from domestic violence. Sunda School & Mess Church Our parish has a well-established Sunday School, open to all children of preschoollprimary school age. We also hold regular Messy Church-style events throughout the year, which are open to the wider community and well attended. Children and young people are an essential part of our parish. Rev Benson has a regular children's address during our worship services, and children from the Sunday School participate in our monthly family services. Other Parish Activities Other parochial groups include our Bible Study, Ladies Group, Indoor Bowling Club, and Craft and Chatter Group. These groups draw membership from our parishioners and the wider local community. We also hold several events over the year, including a children's Easter E88 Hunt, an open-air service, and a Picnic and Parish Dinner. Over the year, we have continued to develop our Parish News magazine, which is distributed to our parishioners and freely available at the back of the churches. The magazine keeps our parishioners informed of important matters affecting our parish and includes article5 that help develop our knowledge and faith in Jesus. Mission and Evan elism The church supports mission partners and other local charities. such as Crosslinks, Bishops, Appeal, Tearfund, local Foodbanks, Poppy Appeal, CMSI. and the Air Ambulance. Cross Communi Relationshi The Select Vestry continually works to improve relationships with other denominations, particularly within the Roman Catholic community. Rev Benson takes an active role in the local clergy group5, which include representatives from many of the local churches. These groups are inter- denominational and organise joint events and shared services and represent their congregations in the public sphere by raising their concerns about social issues. In addition, many of the activities and events we organised during the year were supported by all sectors of the community, and everyone was made welcome to share in our activities and our services. Representatives of the parish sit on the Derry and Raphoe Dlocesan Synod, providing an important link between the parish and the wider structures of the Church of Ireland. Public Bene The benefits of public worship include contributin8 to the spiritual well-bein8 of participants and the reinforcement of Christian values, together with practical support to struggling local families through Termoneeny Parish Church partnerships with specialist support organi5ation5. Our Child Protection Policy is in accordance with the Safeguarding Trust policies of the Church of Ireland. We confirm to you we have mitigated any potential harm from the parish'5 activities by observing the requirements
of the Church of Ireland Safeguarding Trust policy for the protettion of children and vulnerable adults. The Parish has carefully considered the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guldance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered during the year have helped to achieve the Parish's objectives and activities and provided public benefit. Financial Revlew The results for the year are set out on pages nine to fifteen. which the Trustees consider to be satisfactory. The reserves of the parish are held for the advancement of its charitable purpose. other than restricted reserves which are held for a designated purpose. Going Concern The trustees have reviewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that adequate funds are in place to ensure that the Parish can continue tts activities and that the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 can be signed off as a going concern. Strurture. Governance and Management Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity Chapter111 of the Church of Ireland Constitution governs Parishes and Parochial Organisations. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees. Recrultment and Appolntment 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 re8iSter as members of the 8eneral 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 8eneral 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 to the number of terms that may be served. Pay and Remuneration The parish does not pay the rertor directly. A monthly assessment is paid to the Diocese, which comprises a stipend, locomotory allowance, employerfs national insurance and employerfs clergy pension contribution. No other trustee receives remuneration, reward, or other private benefit for carrvinq out their trugtÈÈ rÈsDonsibilitv. 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, any curate assistant ("the curate }, the churchwardens, the glebe wardens and generally not more than twelve other members of the general vestry elected at the Easter Vestry. The select vestry is chaired by the incumbent or 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 inGludins decidin6 how parish fund5 are to be applied.
The select vestry meets at times fixed by the members or bythe diocesan synod. Special meetings may be convened at any time by the chairperson or the churchwardens. In 2023, the Selert Vestry met nine times during the year, and the average attendance was 94%. Compliance with Public Benefit Termoneeny Parish has carefully considered the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the artivities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parish's objectives and activities and provided a public benefit. Statement of Trustees. Responsibilltles The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report, the statement of receipts and payments, and the statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with an Income of less than £250,000 requires the trustees to prepare a statement of receipts, payments, and assets and liabilities for each financial year. The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records sufficient to show and explain Parish's transactions and always accurately disclose Parish's assets and liabilities. They are also responslble for safeguarding the Parish's assets and, hence, for taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. Signed on Behalf of the Trustees Chairperson: Rev hlllp Benson Tre urer: Mr obert Lennox Date: 21 l•