N.I. Charity Commission Number NIC 104850
Annual Report of the Trustees and Congregational Accounts 31st December, 2023
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Joymount Presbyterian Church
Church Office 1 Robinsons Row Carrickfergus Co. Antrim Bankers Dankse Bank High Street Carrickfergus Co Antrim Office telephone 028 9335 0926 (9-1 Mon, Tues and Thur) Manse telephone 028 93603685 Website www.joymount.org
Our Vision
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND, as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in the Scriptures, exists to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit to enable her members to play their part in fulfilling God's mission to our world.
We in JOYMOUNT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH publicly affirm that Jesus Christ is Saviour and Lord. We encourage people to become members and we want members to:
Come to Jesus - To acknowledge Him as Saviour and Lord. Grow in Jesus - To become more like Jesus. Go for Jesus - To journey out in life with Jesus
Our Church
Joymount Presbyterian Church is part of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) and is supervised by the Presbytery of Carrickfergus. Joymount was established in 1852 and exists to make known and proclaim Jesus Christ, Saviour and Lord and encourage members to follow and serve Him.
We meet at 11.00am each Sunday morning and at 6.30 pm on the first and third evenings of the month. We continue to record our morning service and post it on our website and Facebook to allow those who are housebound to follow the service. Our services follow the Christian calendar starting with Advent and continuing through to Pentecost. We observe the Sacrament of Communion 4 times each year. Our special evening Communions to mark the start of Advent was restarted. The Rev. John Stanbridge was installed as Minister in February 2023. We welcome him and his wife Lesley into our community.
Joymount is a busy and active congregation, as can be seen from the list of organisations from the local community which make use of our premises for their activities. We reach out far into the community with our work through the church organisations. Many of our members are involved in the management of some of the local organisations and schools. We make the church available for local organisations to use the premises for their weekly activities and for their services of worship. We organised Easter and Christmas Outreaches in the local shopping centre and weekly market to promote the name of Jesus.
Our ministry team continue to provide teaching, counsel, leadership and pastoral care for the members of the congregations with backup from the Kirk Session. The sick, the elderly, the bereaved and the troubled are visited in their times of need.
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The Kirk Session
The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Under the congregation’s governing document, The Code, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the congregation and of persons not connected with any congregation who are within its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and service in the local community. The Kirk Session has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congregational Committee.
The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the congregations. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote.
Stated meetings of the Kirk Session are held 10 times a year and as required.
To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the congregation or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. An election to choose 8 Elders was held in October and having been affirmed by a congregational meeting the 8 Elders-Elect have been attending a series of training sessions which will carry into the new year. It is hoped the installation of the new Elders will be around March 2024.
Presbytery
Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Joymount Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Carrickfergus Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.
During the year we were represented at Presbytery by our Minister and Representative Elder along with a depute Representative Elder who will become our Representative Elder next year.
The General Assembly
The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, representing in one body the whole Church and acting as its supreme legislative, administration and judicial authority, in dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly is normally constituted during the first week in June for worship and to conduct its business. At the end of business, it is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired minsters and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. We were represented at the Assembly by our Minister and Representative Elder.
Purpose
Joymount Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in the Scriptures, and exists to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable her members to play their part in fulfilling God’s mission to our world.
The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as a family of God’s people by being: - A Covenant Community: where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward one another.
- An Intergenerational Community: where adults intentionally take the lead to engage with, encourage and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ.
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An Outward looking Community: where we want the blessings of God that belong to us in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our community.
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As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible is the supreme authority over all we do, and that the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice.
| Members of the Ministry Team |
|---|
| Minister Rev. John Stanbridge ( Installed 3rd February, 2023) |
| Assistant Minister None |
| Senior Pastoral Assistant Rev. David Brice |
| Members of Support Staff |
| Church Administrator Mrs Hilary McGavock |
| Church Officer Mrs Andrea Matheson |
| Cleaner Mrs Catherine McCormick |
| Musical Director Mr Raymond Smyth |
| IT Support Mr Andrew McKeegan |
| Church Officials |
| Clerk of Kirk Session Mr Stephen Drake |
| Treasurer Ms Gillian McCallion |
| Committee Secretary Mrs Isabelle Strugnell |
| Rep to Presbytery Mr Andrew McKeegan |
| Members of Kirk Session and Trustees under the Charity Commission |
| James Adair Sharon Adamson Evelyn Bates Martha Blair |
| Edwin Boal Jane Boal James Bodles David Bothwell |
| Peter Denney Sharon Donald (resigned 17th April 2023) James Dunlop |
| Stephen Drake Gillian McCallion Rosemary McFarland (resigned 17th April 2023) |
| Andrew McKeegan Hilary McGavock Robert Magee Gary Montgomery |
| Avril Morrison (died 24th May 2023) |
| Francis Picton Isabelle Strugnell Graham Wills |
| Elders Emeriti or non Trustees |
| Herbert Holmes Elizabeth Pherson William McCartney |
| Stuart Nelson Sharon Donald Rosemary McFarland |
| Church Committee |
| Clarke Adair Denise Difallah Kay Fowles Kerry Laughlin |
| Diane Loughridge Ronnie McClune Rosie Montgomery Elizabeth Picton |
| Jennifer Smyth Chris Strugnell Philip Thompson Aaron Walker |
| Church Organisations |
| Bowling Club Boys’ Brigade Bus Stop Coffee Group |
| Thursday Sale (non-operational at present) Girls’ Brigade |
| Joymount History Club Joymount Friendship Club Men’s Group |
| Mums and Tots Presbyterian Women Pause (Youth Club) |
| JAM (Sunday Schools) Youth Fellowship (UNITE) |
School Board of Governors
Oakfield Primary School Victoria Primary School Carrickfergus Academy -Junior Campus (formerly Downshire Community School)
Organisations using our premises
Art Club Badminton Club U3A Committee
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Statistics on the Congregation
| All families under pastoral care of the Congregation | 389 |
|---|---|
| Persons of all ages in above families | 800 |
| No. of families who contributed to FWO | 269 |
| Attendance at: | |
| morning worship | 134 |
| evening worship | 8 |
| Sacrament of Baptism | 1 |
| Admitted to the Lord's table for first time | 4 |
| Total persons on Communion Roll | 228 |
| Those taking at least 1 communion during year | 141 |
| Kirk Session | |
| Male | 12 |
| Female | 10 |
| No. attending Bible Study/Fellowship meetings outside Sunday Services | 15 |
| No. attending Bible Class or Sunday School | 15 |
| No. Attending non-uniformed organisations for children/young people | 12 |
Employment 2023
1 Vacancy Convenor (ended 31st January), 1 Minister (commenced 3rd February), 1 Senior Pastoral Assistant, 1 Musical Director, 2 caretakers/Cleaners, 1 Church Administrator, 1 IT Support. (The Senior Pastoral Assistant and the IT Support are self-employed)
Volunteers
The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with our church organisations and other activities. Your efforts are most valued.
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Property Report
| March | Test & issuing of Electrical Installation Condition Report, Emergency Lighting Certificate and Halls report for Entertainment Licence plus replacement of faulty light fittings |
|---|---|
| April | New meter fitted by NIE in No. 1 Robinson’s Row – this was an update by NIE so there was no cost |
| Fire Extinguishers Service – church, halls, manse, No. 1 certified – Central Fire Protection |
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| Fire Alarms Service – certified halls and church – Longmore | |
| Electrical circuit tripin No. 1 repaired | |
| May | ATC visited site and adjusted strategyas requested byCommittee |
| Rendingrepaired on Manse chimney– KDL roofing | |
| June | ATC – new control switch fitted to heatingsystem in downstairs hall |
| Breaker fuse repaired for lights in lower hall – John Thompson | |
| Church Windows cleaned – Colin Hamilton | |
| July | Church boiler serviced – Geoff Castles |
| Shelvingin upstairs resource room for storage – HandyTo Know | |
| August | Gas boiler service – No. 1 and Manse – Manse & No. 1 – Carse Plumbing |
| Church front door varnished –price for varnish | |
| Leaf Blowerpurchased for Caretaker | |
| Gas meter replaced in No. 1 asper Firmus Energy– no charge | |
| October | Hinge replaced on trapdoor in lower hall |
| Repair to office door in No. 1 | |
| Emergency Exit lights changed to LED x 10, sensor re-sited in ladies toilet, light replaced outside hall– Thompson & McCurdy |
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| ‘Breakglass’ keybox fitted in kitchen | |
| Powered EVNI – PAT testingof church,halls,No. 1 | |
| November | Light repaired in resource room |
| Chain attached in choir room to keeptables safe | |
| Fire Alarm Service – certified halls and church - Longmore | |
| Roof leak repaired andgutteringcleaned – KDL solutions | |
| EmergencyExit light replaced in upstairs hall | |
| Lift serviced – Olympic Lifts Ltd. | |
| December | ATC – changed batteries in heatingsystem |
| Batterychanged in fire alarm in No. 1 | |
| Manse lawnmower serviced |
The painting of the outside of the church was unable to be carried out during 2023 due to inclement weather and it is hoped that this can be done during 2024.
During January 2023 £15,571.62 was paid out of property being the remainder of work and fitting out needed to get the Manse ready for new Minister.
James McGavock, Property Convenor
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Committee Report
A supper was arranged by committee on the evening of Friday 3 February following the Installation Service of Rev John Stanbridge as the new Minister at Joymount.
A major role of committee is to make sure that necessary jobs that are easily forgotten do get attended to, and so members have access to monthly reports on the finances, deciding priorities and giving permission for maintenance and building work and looking into insurance requirements and health and safety issues. In all of this we ask questions and make sure things are done correctly.
Phil Thompson formally retired from Property Convenor with effect from 31 January having spent many invaluable years providing expertise and advice which was greatly appreciated. Phil provided a detailed list of committee records of all maintenance carried out to the church and manse for 2022/23.
Jim McGavock was co-opted onto a new Property Sub-Committee together with Aaron Walker and Andrea Matheson. Jim Dunlop agreed to join this Committee when specialist appraisal is required and when larger projects are undertaken. The Committee revisited and revised plans for major alterations to the layout of the front of the church following feedback from a Congregational meeting and relevant specialist advice.
A Congregational meeting was held on 29 October to gain approval for the revised plans to alter the front of the church; this will expand the facilities for the choir and music group, refurbish and update the organ and facilitate disabled access and egress. Total cost for this building project was estimated to be £128,000. The motion was passed and now goes forward for Presbytery and PCI Architectural Committee for formal approval. Work is hoped to begin in 2024 and the congregation will be updated on progress and costs involved. It was agreed to ask each organisation to nominate four people to be on a rota for serving tea after morning services. Weeding and hedge clipping around the church grounds has been carried out by volunteers. Troy Matheson has been employed to assist with seasonal cutting and tidying.
Funding from the ‘Thursday Sale’ was provided by Committee for a coach to take Tots and Co on their annual outing in June and Easter and Christmas outreach activities.
‘Fibre with BT Business’ was installed for the Internet and phone at No. 1 and Church. Recycling of paper cups used on the premises is now carried out.
Church Boiler serviced and Gas Inspection carried out in No. 1 and Manse. Gas meter in No. 1 replaced by Firmus. A Fire Alarm Test and Service was carried out by Longmore Electronics. Some potholes in car park have been filled in. Roof repaired and guttering cleaned. Emergency Exit light replaced in upstairs hall, and lift serviced. Light repaired in resource room. Several coffee tables were purchased to replace broken and redundant stock.
Isabelle Strugnell, Committee Secretary
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Kirk Session Report
This was the year when we welcomed our seventh minister and the first to have been appointed in the 21st century, Rev John Stanbridge along with his wife Lesley. Having gone through all the processes of selection and call, John was installed at a service on 3 February 2023 with Rev David Kelly as Moderator of Presbytery, Rev Dr Colin McClure, Clerk of Presbytery, and charge given by Rev Mark Russell. The church was well filled with members of John and Lesley’s family circle and members of his previous congregations of Ballycastle and Croaghmore.
For minister and session it has been a year of getting to know each other and our ways. Praise God it has been an easy process! Session continues to meet each month (usually) and now often has an informal meeting with a leader of one of the organisations before the main meeting so that session knows how things are going and the leaders know they have session on their side.
Rev John has brought an emphasis on prayer to our congregational life. It began with an elders’ away day on 24 June with some very practical guidance on effective prayer by Colin Millar, which all who attended found helpful. Since September we have held a monthly 24 hours of prayer, the first on a Monday, which turned out to be not very practical, then on a Saturday. The minister’s room has been turned into a prayer room with more comfortable seating and a variety of aids to prayer. The 24 hours from midnight on the Friday to midnight on the first Saturday of the month is divided into hourly slots and people come in individually or sometimes as couples to pray. Many have been surprised that when they’re able to concentrate on prayer the hour passes quickly.
A main concern has been to increase the number of elders, depleted by deaths and retirements and not replaced because of the vacancy and Covid. In February Session asked Presbytery for permission to call up to six new elders. Permission was granted and we were given leave to call two more following two further retirements. The congregation nominated a number of people from whom Session chose a list of suitable candidates. The minister then asked the individuals for permission to put their names forward. At a congregational meeting on 10 September the following were approved by the congregation:
Gordon Bates, Linda Beattie, Denise Difallah, Kay Fowles, Joanne Magee, Ruth McKeegan, Elizabeth Picton, Aaron Walker
At the end of 2023 they are still in training and will be ordained after interview by Presbytery. Session is grateful to these individuals and to God that they are prepared to be considered for the eldership. Session plans to hold an election of Committee once the new elders are in place.
Communion services took place in January, March, June and October and elders have returned to handing out tokens to their districts, some of them also covering vacant districts. The Lord’s Supper was also celebrated on Easer Sunday evening and the evening of the first Sunday in Advent. Rev John, supported by Session, has changed our form of communion so that the congregation is again (as in the past) served before minister and elders. Also, the children are brought back into church so that they are part of the family of the church during communion. At the October communion four people joined the church on confession of faith and two by transfer from another congregation.
We have continued to try to tell people outside the church about Jesus through singing and gifts of sweets with appropriate greetings at Christmas and Easter in the De Courcy Centre and town market. On each occasion around 2,000 people were reached. Many passers-by were delighted to receive them and to hear the familiar hymns and carols and a few came to Joymount as a result.
Frank Picton was our representative at the General Assembly this year and Andrew McKeegan at Carrickfergus Presbytery. Andrew was shadowed by Robert Magee who will take on the Presbytery role next year.
During the year Sharon Donald retired from active eldership after 29 years and Rosemary McFarland after 20 years. Session is grateful for their faithful service to the church and to their districts. The death of Avril Morrison in May while still an active elder was a shock to all of us. She had been an elder for 32 years as well as contributing to church life in Girls’ Brigade, PW, Joyboys and much more.
We ended 2023 with our Christmas events, the visit of the CWA Band, Childrens’ Nativity play, Carols by Candlelight and on Christmas Day we hosted our neighbours in 1st Carrickfergus Church at our Christmas Day service.
Clerk of Session
Stephen Drake
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Treasurer’s Report
2023 was the start of a new chapter in Joymount with the installation of our new minister.
Despite the ongoing cost of living challenges our members have continued to generously support God’s work here in Joymount.
It is very encouraging to note that our regular direct giving has increased by around 15%. and the associated gift aid continues to be an important source of income. Overall our income is up around £24K.
Expenditure is up this year as expected. This is largely due to an increase in staff costs and also the costs of refurbishing the manse. This was offset to a certain extent by the dropping out of vacancy costs. Overall expenditure has increased by almost £80K.
Our target for United Appeal in 2023 was £14,245 and we exceeded this by £675. Our target for 2024 is £13,007. The World Development Appeal for 2023 focused on hope for the displaced. We were able to contribute £3,148 to this appeal.
Property income and expenditure varies year on year depending on the work required and the property convenor’s report outlines the work carried out in 2023.
All our bank accounts are in a healthy state although it must be remembered that there is money accrued in the No. 1 account which will be required for payments in January and February of the next year. The money in Virgin Money now gives us our designated reserves.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor 9 v 7
Gillian McCallion
Church Treasurer
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Joymount Presbyterian Church Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities For the year ending 31 December 2023
The trustees present their financial statements for the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) preparing their financial statements.
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The charity trustees (who are known as the members of Kirk Session) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved by the trustees on 18 March 2024
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