Bellaghy/St Tida’s/Derry/Church of Ireland Trustees’ Annual Report and Assets and Liabilities for the year ended 31 December 2023
Charities Number: 104778
The trustees present the annual report and Assets and Liabilities Bellaghy/ St Tida’s/ Derry/ Church of Ireland for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Objectives and Activities
The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of religion. The principal function of Bellaghy/ St Tida’s/ Derry/ Church of Ireland is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of “Bellaghy/ St Tida’s/ Derry/ Church of Ireland" the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, 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, Our Parish has custody of records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance of which is undertaken by the select vestry of Bellaghy/ St Tida’s/ Derry/ Church of Ireland.
Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit
Worship and Prayer
Bellaghy/ St Tida’s/ Derry/ Church of Ireland is keen to offer a range of services over the course of the year that our community can find beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. All are welcome to attend our weekly Sunday Services. As well as our regular Sunday Services we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. Through baptism we thank God for the gift of life, in marriage public vows are exchanged with God's blessing and through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for the life which is now complete in this world and commend the person into God's keeping.
Bellaghy/ St Tida’s/ Derry/ Church of Ireland held their annual harvest thanksgiving service and carol service which was well supported by the parishioners of the church and visitors. These services were enjoyable thanks to those members and guests who provided special singing and readings from the Gospel.
Provision of Pastoral Care
Some members of our parish are unable to attend church due to sickness or age. The clergy have visited church members who have requested it, to celebrate communion with them either at their homes or in hospital.
Mission and Evangelism
Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. For being of a small parish, Bellaghy/ St Tida’s/ Derry/ Church of Ireland continues to strive to support other appeals and during the year.
Statement of Compliance
The Parish 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.
Financial Review
Bellaghy/ St Tida’s/ Derry/ Church of Ireland continues to improve financially for a small parish. The parish has 2 accounts:
Account No 1 [Main account] had a closing balance of £67,843 a decrease of £2,733 from the previous year.
Account No 2 [Repairs account] had a closing balance of £65,753 This account has not been used and the movement is due to bank charges.
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 2023 can be signed off as a going concern.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity
Chapter Ill 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.
Pay and remuneration
Where the Incumbent of the Parish stipend is paid directly by the Parish, provide information that the incumbent receives a stipend in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland and details of office and locomotory allowances.
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 curate, the churchwardens, the glebe wardens and generally not more than twelve other members of the general vestry elected at the General 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 including deciding how parish funds are to be applied.
The select vestry meets at times fixed by the members or by the diocesan synod. Special meetings may be convened at any time by the chairperson or the churchwardens.
Compliance with Public Benefit
The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the actives entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parish's objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit.
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and Annual Accounts 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 annual accounts and 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
Anne Davison, Hon Treasurer
Independent Examiner’s Report of the accounts to Bellaghy/ St Tida’s/ Derry/ Church of Ireland. Charity No: 104778
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on pages 1 and 2.
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:
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examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act
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follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act
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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:
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That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act
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That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records
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That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
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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.
Darren Stevenson BSc Hons, FMAAT, ACPA Certified Public Accountants Association 81a Galgorm Road Ballymena Co Antrim BT42 1AA
12 March 2024
Ballyscullion Parish Church Charity Registration No: NIC104778
Statement of Financial Activity for the year ended 31 December 2023
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | |||||
| Giving | 28,113 | 24,813 | |||
| Gift Aid | 5,218 | 5,296 | |||
| Covid Grant | - | 1,510 | |||
| Easter Appeal | 310 | - | |||
| Harvest Appeal | 285 | - | |||
| Diocesan Grant | 2,000 | ||||
| Orange Service | 429 | - | |||
| Graves | 1,430 | 2,370 | |||
| Donations | 1,280 | 2,000 | |||
| Interest | 161 | 177 | |||
| RCB Distribtution | 497 | 476 | |||
| CIT Distribution | 1,716 | 1,892 | |||
| Conacre | 1,800 | 1,800 | |||
| Bishops Confirmation | - | 136 | |||
| MacMillan Cancer | 370 | 500 | |||
| Transfer | - | 881 | |||
| Pakistan Table Quiz | - | 220 | |||
| Girls Brigade | 200 | 100 | |||
| Bellaghy RBP | 456 | - | |||
| BBQ | 285 | - | |||
| Royal British Legion | 559 | - | |||
| Total Income | 45,109 | 42,171 | |||
| Expenditure | Organists Repairs Telephone Accountancy Insurance Light, Heat & Power Water Rates Diocesan Assessment Bishops Appeal Royal British Legion Sunday School Rev Brian Honorarium Envelopes Bank Charges Love/Faith/Hope Orange Service Flowers Laptop & Projector Confirmation Expenses Coronation Expenses Jubilee Cancer First Aid Bellaghy RBP NHSCT Grant Pakistan Table Quiz General Out & About Bus Transfer |
570 142 471 480 1,591 5,143 335 33,380 - 559 319 - 184 131 838 429 357 - 65 999 - 765 456 370 - 258 30 - |
- 100 712 480 1,487 8,320 317 30,624 500 - 169 900 219 128 975 - 40 1,214 212 - 740 - - - 571 506 - 881 |
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| Total Expenditure | 47,872 | 49,094 | |||
| Net Surplus/(Deficit) for the year ended 31 Dec 2023 | (2,764) | (6,923) | |||
Ballyscullion Parish Church Charity Registration No: NIC104778
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2023
| Bank and Cash Balance's Main Account Repairs Account |
Balance Balance at start Receipts Payments Movement at end 70,576 45,109 47,842 (2,733) 67,843 65,783 - 30 (30) 65,753 136,360 45,109 47,872 (2,764) 133,596 |
|---|---|
On behalf of the Trustee's
Mrs Anne Davison, Treasurer