CHURCH OF IRELAND DIOCESE OF DERRY & RAPHOE ST. LURACH'S PAIUSH OF MAGHERA TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER2022 The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2022. Reference and administrative details Registered Charity Name Church of Ireland, Diocese of Dery & Raphoe, St. Lurach's Parish of Maghera Charity registration number NIC104777 Principal office 15 Church Street Maghera Co Londonderry BT46 SEA The trustees Stephen Richardson Elizabeth Davison David Montgornery Elizabeth Montgomery Adeleine Selfridge Nigel Selfridge Pearl Moore Alana Shie15 Stephen Drennan Hilary M¢Kenzie Robert Rainey Alistsir McKinley Mervyn Hutchinson Noel Booth Alan Workman Rev Jonathan BTown Accountsnts PFS Accountants and Auditors Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants 122 Main Street Dungiven Co Dery BT47 4LG Strueture, governance and management St. Lurach's Parish of Maghera is a charity managed by the tStees. Objectives and activities The charitable Purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion. The principal function of St Lurach's Parish of Maghera is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promotin through the work of St Lurach's Parish. the whole mission of the Church. pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. Being open to and engaging with society 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 Lurdch's Parish of Magherd has custody of propety and of records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance of whi¢h is undertaken by the Select Ve5ty of St Luwh'5 Parish of Magher Page 2
Achievements,Performance & Public Benefit During the year the Charity had receipts of £78.866 this includes monies from off¢ring5. collections, donations, grants and inwme from investments. To help achieve the advancement of the Christian religion and provide public benefiL the Select Vesty of St Lurach's. Maghera & Killelagh, continued to share the truth and love of Christ in our community. Our vision statement: "A family that loves Jesu5 and has his heart for the world" is at the ¢entre of all carried out by the Parish and charity. During the first half of 2022, we were mu¢h in the recovery stage frorn COVID. Importantly. childTen'5 work was focused on continuing to enrich the lives of primary-school aged children. Although adults have suffered from isolation and loneliness throughout the pandemi¢. ¢hildren, with &s yet undeveloped social and relational skills have perhaps been more greatly impacted than we have realised. As sueh. our spiritual care and nurture for children has been a vital ministy and public benefit to our community. This was demonstrated and showcased in an "E&ster Trail" in April. and a'children's Day" in May. Along with this attention to children, in June. multi-generational gatherings were facilitated with a"Bring-and-Share" lunch and Setting up a BBQ-stall for a ¢ommunity day at the Maghera Wall Garden. Our pace quickened &s we moved towards the end of the summer. At the beginning of September, we held a"24-Hour Prayerf. event, which invited members of the Parish and community to bring all their cares - spiritual, emotional, and practical - to God. for themselves, the Parish. and the community. All were welcome and St Lurach's Church remained open throughout the night to be accessible to everyone in Maghera and beyond. This preceded the launch of a community'creation Trail" in September in the Rethory Grounds which was very well attended and proved a 8t sucGess. Additionally. a hardship fund for those in need within the Parish was also established. Utilising the changing seasons. Harvest w&$ Gelebrated with a speoial lunch in October. And as we moved into November, along with welcoming the Royal British Legion on Remembrance Sunday. we also held a"Remembering our Loved Ones" service on the same evening. The devastation which COVID has caused meant that there have been many bereavements during these last three years which were not properly or norn)ally marked. Restrictions on funerals and the inability to gather together at such a time of loss and grief has created and exacerbated already deep wounds. So, this community service was for all to share their grief together at a special service to receive comfort and strength from one another and from the LORD our God. Children's ministry continued and increased throughout the year. From the Parish's Sunday School group climbing from I I to 19 each week, to special events held for primary-age children such as a "Festival of Light" to coincide with All Hallow's Eve. Additionally, we hosted a children'5 Christmas party and enjoyed the children telling'The Christmas Story" in St Lurach's in early December. Then in later December, there was a special "Christingle" Sunday focused on children and young families &s part of our spiritual outreach into the community with the love of God Along with a return of a Parish Christmas dinner. a special series of events and services OCCUed during December including Carol Services in both churches, a very successful "Community Carols by Moonlight" held at the Rectory. and a "Five Lessons and Carols" service at "Mullagh Court" sheltered housing. In spite of the difficult last few years during the pandemi¢, we believe that the Parish of St Lurach's, Maghera & Killelagh has meaningfully delivered its aims and objectives. The ¢harity listed as "St Lurach's Parish, Maghera" has given careful consideration to the 'Charity Comrnission for Nl. guidance on public benefit to ensure that the artivities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the parish objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit to the wider community. All in all, we are pleased that our recovery from the effects and impact of COVID are palpable and we intend to carry forward all the good work done and completed by the end of 2022. We look forward with anticipation and excitement to all that 2023 will hold. Page 3
Financial review During the year the charity made a net deficit of £4,265. This is shown on page 6 of the a¢counts. The trustees, annual report was approved on 17 October 2023 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: Rev. Jonathan Brown Trustee Robert Rainey Trustee Page 4