**St Columba’s Parish Church, Ballynascreen**
**Trustees’ Annual Report and Statement of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities**
**For the year ended 31 December 2024**
**Charities Number: NIC 104701**
1
## **Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024**
## **Contents**
References and administrative details of the Charity
Trustees’ report
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees
Receipts and payments account
Statement of assets and liabilities
Notes to the financial statements
2
## **References and administrative details**
Charity Name: St Columba’s Parish Church, Ballynascreen
Charity Registration Number: NIC 104701 Contact Address: The Rectory 12 Rectory Road Tobermore Magherafelt BT45 5QP
## **Trustees**
Rev Rosie Diffin Mr James Henderson Mrs Margaret Henderson Ms Margaret Johnston Ms Ann McKeown Ms Kathleen McKeown Ms Mary McKeown Mr David Wallace (resigned Nov. 2024) Mrs Lucinda Hughes Mr Thomas Hughes Mr John Andrews (Sen.) Mr John Andrews (Jun.) Mrs Violet Andrews Mr Stanley Hepburn Mr Andrew Hepburn
## **Principal Office-bearers**
Clergy: Honorary Secretary: Honorary Treasurer: Rector’s Church Warden: People’s Church Wardens:
Rev. Rosie Diffin Ms Margaret Johnston Ms Kathleen McKeown Vacant Mr Stanley Hepburn
## **Independent Examiner**
W McGillian & Co. Ltd 5 Tobermore Road Draperstown Magherafelt BT45 7AG
## **Principal Bankers**
Ulster Bank 20 Broad Street Magherafelt BT45 6JR
3
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2024**
The Trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for St Columba’s Parish Church, Ballynascreen, Draperstown for the year ended 31 December 2024.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion.
The principal function of St Columba’s Parish Church is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of St Columba’s Parish Church, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelical, social and ecumenical. 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 Columba’s Parish Church 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 Columba’s Parish Church.
## **Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit**
As a church we provide a weekly service of Morning Prayer and a once per month service of Holy Communion. We also provide for baptisms, weddings, funerals and pastoral support.
Our Child Protection Policy is in accordance with the Safeguarding Trust policies of the Church of Ireland.
As a parish we are active in raising funds and supporting the work of mission societies. We have mission partners whom we directly support as a parish.
## **Financial Review**
Financial reports are reviewed throughout the year and a review on completion of the annual accounts.
Total receipts for the year (£20,299) were greater than total payments (£19,301) increasing the total cash funds held by £998. Net assets at the year-end were £416,551 (31/12/2024)
## **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 December 2024 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 Organisation. 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.
4
## **Pay and Remuneration**
The Rector is not paid directly by the Parish. A monthly assessment is paid to the Diocese which comprises Stipend, Locomotory Allowance, Employer’s National Insurance and Employers Clergy Pension Contributions.
## **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 and generally not more than twelve other members elected at the General Vestry.
The Select Vestry is chaired by the Incumbent. Select Vestry members are responsible for making decisions on matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding how parish funds are to be applied.
The Select Vestry meets at times fixed by the Incumbent. Special meetings may be convened at any time by the Chairperson, the Secretary or the Church Wardens.
## **Compliance with Public Benefit**
St Columba’s Parish Church 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. There continues to be no private gain to any individual member.
## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ 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 a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year.
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**
**Ms Kathleen McKeown Treasurer ______________________________ Rev. Rosie Diffin Rector _______________________________ Date: ____________________________**
5
## **Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of St Columba’s Parish Church, Ballynascreen**
I report on the accounts of St Columba’s Parish Church, Ballynascreen for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 13
.
## **Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner**
As the charity’s Trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act
- follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.
My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity Trustees concerning any such matters.
My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe:
1. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act
2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records
3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
4. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.
## **Date**
## **for and on behalf of W McGillian & Co. Ltd Financial Accountants**
5 Tobermore Road Draperstown Co Londonderry BT45 7AG
6
|**Receipts and Payments Account for the year**|**Receipts and Payments Account for the year**|**Receipts and Payments Account for the year**|**ended 31 December 2024**|**ended 31 December 2024**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Endowment**|**Total**|**Total**|
||**Note**|2024|2024|2024|2024|2023|
|**Receipts**|||||||
|Donations
|**2**|15,966|884||16,850|20,698|
|Other Receipt|**3**|200|
-|
|200|953|
|Rental of Land||700|
-|-
|700|700|
|RCB Grant||-|||-|-|
|Bank Interest||644|161|-
|805|633|
|Grave Fee||50|
-|-
|50|-|
|Investment Income|**9**|1,694|
-||1,694|1,576|
|**Total Receipts**||19,254|1,045|
-
|20,299|24,560|
|**Payments**|||||||
|Diocesan Assessment||10,852|||10,852|11,138|
|Running Costs|**4**|841|-|-
|841|1,683|
|Rectory Costs|**5**|800|-|-
|800|1.065|
|Maintenance Costs|**6**|1.312||-
|1,312|6,171|
|Charitable Donations|**7**|-|1,000|
|1,000|890|
|Administration Costs|**8**|3,828|-|-
|3,828|3,278|
|Support of A & J Quill||-|240||240|-|
|Support of C Holmes|||173||173|-|
|Choir/payment||100|
-||100|240|
|Bishop’s Appeal|||70||70|264|
|Bank Charges||85|
-|-|85|82|
|**Total Payments**||**17,818**|
**1,483**|**-**|**19,301**|**25,061**|
|**Surplus/Deficit of Receipts**||**and1,436**|**(438)**|
**-**
|**998**|**(501)**|
## **Signed on behalf of the Trustees:**
**Ms Kathleen McKeown _______________________________ Trustee**
**Rev Rosie Diffin _______________________________ Rector**
**Date:**
7
## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2024**
|**Notes**
**Cash Funds**
Bank Accounts
Cash on Hand
**Total Cash Funds**
**10/11**
**Investment Assets**
**12**
Investments in RCB Unit
Trusts
Investments in CIT Unit
Trusts
NFU Mutual Mixed
Portfolio
**Total Investment Assets**
**Assets retained for the**
**Parish’s own use**
Fixtures & Fittings
Church Plantation (small
area of land beside
church)
**Total Assets retained**
**for the Parish’s own use**
**13**
**Total Assets**
**The funds of the parish**
Endowment funds
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**Total charity funds 14**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Endowment**
**Funds**
**Total**
**Total**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
46,622
12,662
- 59,284
58,286
-
35
- 35
35|
|---|---|
||**46,622**
**12,697**
**- 59,319**
**58,321**|
||-
- 263,974 263,974
246755
-
- 12,382 12,382
11,294
55,918
-
- 55,918
52,732|
||**55,918**
**- 276,356**
**332,274**
**310,781**|
||5,000
-
-
5,000
5,000
20,000
-
-
20,000
20,000|
||**25,000**
**-**
**-**
**25,000**
**25,000**|
||**127,540**
**12,697**
**276,314 416,593**
**394,102**|
||276,356
276,356
258,049
127,540
127,540
123,401
12,697
12,697
12,652|
||**127,540**
**12,697**
**276,356**
**416,593**
**394,102**|
## **Signed on Behalf of the Trustees**
**Ms Kathleen McKeown ______________________________ Trustee Rev Rosie Diffin ______________________________ Rector**
**Date:**
8
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024**
## **1. Accounting policies**
Set out below are the principal accounting policies which have been adopted in the compilation of the Receipts and Payments Account and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
- **(a) Receipts and Payments Account**
All items of income and expenditure included within the Receipts and Payments Account have been accounted for on a cash receipts basis.
## **(b) Statement of Assets and Liabilities**
## **(i) Assets retained for the Parish’s own use**
The assets of the Parish, retained for its own use comprise:-
- Church Buildings
- Small piece of land known as the Church Plantation
- Fixtures and fittings
The two Church Buildings are deemed to be Heritage assets as defined by the Charities SORP (FRS102). These Heritage assets are not included in the statement of assets and liabilities as information on the cost or valuation is not available and such information cannot be obtained at a cost commensurate with the benefit to the users of the accounts and to the parish.
Fixtures and Fittings in the churches are recognised at an estimate valuation provided by the Trustees.
The Church Plantation has limited use to the Parish and is valued accordingly by the Trustees. The Mid Ulster Council uses part of it as a children’s play area and pays an annual rent for its use.
## **ii) Investments**
Fixed asset investments comprising investment in RCB/CIT Unit Trusts as well as in NFU Mutual are stated at fair value at each year end date. Investments in unquoted investments are recorded at cost and are assessed annually for impairment.
## **iii) Endowment Funds**
Endowment funds are funds, the capital of which must be retained either permanently or at the congregation’s discretion: the income derived from the endowment is to be used either as restricted or unrestricted income funds depending upon the purpose for which the endowment was established in the first place.
9
## **Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (continued) 2. Donations**
||**Unrestricted**
**Restricted Total**
**2024 2024**
**2024**
£
£ £
7,498
-
7,498
900 -
900
- 884
884
2,220 2,220
751 751
3,397 - 3,397
1,200
-
1,200
**15,966 884**
**16,850**
200 200
**200-**
**-**
**200**
491
-
491
96
-
96
162
-
162
92
-
92
-
-
-
**841-**
**841**
322
-
322
236
-
236
242
-
242
**800**
**- 800**
150
- 150
136 - 136
1,026
-
1,026
**1,312**
**-**
**1,312**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**2024**
**2024 2024**
200
200
-
200
200
-
200
200
-
200
200
-
200
200
**-**
**1,000 1,000**
221
-
221
1,972
- 1,972
432
-
432
246
-
246
178
- 178
148
-
148
431 - 431
200-200
3,828
**- 3,828**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted Total**
**2024 2024**
**2024**
£
£ £
7,498
-
7,498
900 -
900
- 884
884
2,220 2,220
751 751
3,397 - 3,397
1,200
-
1,200
**15,966 884**
**16,850**
200 200
**200-**
**-**
**200**
491
-
491
96
-
96
162
-
162
92
-
92
-
-
-
**841-**
**841**
322
-
322
236
-
236
242
-
242
**800**
**- 800**
150
- 150
136 - 136
1,026
-
1,026
**1,312**
**-**
**1,312**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**2024**
**2024 2024**
200
200
-
200
200
-
200
200
-
200
200
-
200
200
**-**
**1,000 1,000**
221
-
221
1,972
- 1,972
432
-
432
246
-
246
178
- 178
148
-
148
431 - 431
200-200
3,828
**- 3,828**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted Total**
**2024 2024**
**2024**
£
£ £
7,498
-
7,498
900 -
900
- 884
884
2,220 2,220
751 751
3,397 - 3,397
1,200
-
1,200
**15,966 884**
**16,850**
200 200
**200-**
**-**
**200**
491
-
491
96
-
96
162
-
162
92
-
92
-
-
-
**841-**
**841**
322
-
322
236
-
236
242
-
242
**800**
**- 800**
150
- 150
136 - 136
1,026
-
1,026
**1,312**
**-**
**1,312**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**2024**
**2024 2024**
200
200
-
200
200
-
200
200
-
200
200
-
200
200
**-**
**1,000 1,000**
221
-
221
1,972
- 1,972
432
-
432
246
-
246
178
- 178
148
-
148
431 - 431
200-200
3,828
**- 3,828**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|Freewill Envelopes
Annual Sustentations
Mission Focus
Loose Collections
Carol Service Collection
Gift Aid-Small Donations and Planned giving
Miscellaneous Donations
**TOTALS**
**3. Other Receipts**
Compensation: Ulster Bank
**TOTALS**
**4. Church Running Costs**
Church oil
Electricity
Water Rates
Visiting Speakers
Service of Fire Extinguishers
**TOTALS**
**5. Rectory Costs**
Heating Oil
Electricity
Telephone
**TOTALS**
**6. Maintenance Costs**
Church Repairs: Gutters
Servicing of Boiler
Grass Cutting
**TOTALS**
**7. Charitable Donations**
CMJ Ireland
CMS Ireland
Crosslinks
SAMS
Faith Mission
**TOTALS**
**8. Administration Costs**
Expenses of Office
Insurance
Audit Fee
Copyright Licence
Gift Aid Administration Fee
Printing of Church Envelopes
Purchase of Microphone
Kilcronaghan Connect Outing
**TOTALS**|
|||
||
|||
|||
|
|
10
## **9. Investment Income**
|**9. Investment Income**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|RCB COI Trustees|232|-|232|
|RCB Unit Trusts|1,462|-|1,462|
|**TOTALS**|**1,694**|**-**|**1,694.**|
|**10. Total Cash Funds**
|**Unrestricted**||**Restricted**|
|Bank Current Account|46,622||874|
|Organ Repair Fund|-||2,976|
|St Anne’s Business Reserve
|||8,812|
|**Total Bank**|46,622||12.662|
|**Cash Accounts**|**-**||35|
||46,622||12,697|
## **11. Movement in Funds**
||**At 1 Jan**|**Incoming**|**Outgoing**|**Transfers**|**At 31 Dec**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**2024**|**Resources**|**Resources**||**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Restricted funds**||||||
|Charities|990|884|1,000|-|874|
|Organ Repair Fund|2,940|36|-|-|2,976|
|St Anne’s Fund|8,721|125||-|8,846|
|Total restricted|12,651|1,045|1,000||12,696|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||||
|General Fund|45,669|19,253|18,301|-|46,621|
||45,669|19,253|18,301|-|46,621|
|**Total funds**|**58,321**|**20,298**|**19,301**|**-**|**59,319**|
## Purposes of Restricted Funds
Charities Fund – Monies for donations to charitable and missionary organizations
Organ Repair Fund – a fund to provide the maintenance of the church organ
St Anne’s Fund – a fund for the running and repair of St Anne’s
11
## **12. Investment Assets**
|**Opening value at 1 Jan 2024**
Changes in valuation
**Closing value at 31 Dec 2024**|**NFU Mutual**
**Mixed**
**Portfolio**
**£**
**52,731.76**
+3,186.69
**55,918.45**|**CIT Unit**
**Trusts**
**£**
**11,294.04**
+1.088.18
**12,382.22**|**RCB Unit Trusts**
**£**
**246,755.32**
+17,218.41
**263,973.73**|**Total**
**£**
**310,781.12**
+21,493.28
**332,274.40**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
## **13. Assets retained for the Parish's own use**
|**Opening cost at 1 Jan 2023**
**Additions**
**Closing cost at 31 Dec 2023**|**Fixtures &**
**Fittings**
**Plantation**
**Land**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**5,000**
**20,000**
**25,000**
-
-
-|
|---|---|
||**5,000**
**20,000**
**25,000**|
**14. Reconciliation of Charity Funds Balance b/f at 1 Jan 2024 394,102 Add Surplus for 2024 998 395,100 Increase in Value of Investments 21,493 Balance b/f at 31 Dec. 2024 416,593**
## _**15. Transactions with the Trustees**_
The parish paid expenses of £800 relating to the running costs of the Rectory which is occupied by the Rector. No trustee or a person related to a trustee had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the Charity during the year
## **16. Governance Costs**
Governance costs of £432 were incurred during the year which relates to fees paid to the independent examiner. Governance costs are included within Administration costs in the Receipts and Payments Accounts.
12