St John’s Church Dunnalong Parish Church Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 31st December 2023
Dunnalong Parish Church
Charity Details
Charity Number: NIC104861 Charity Address: 218 Victoria Road, Bready, Co Tyrone. Trustees: Mrs Catherine Culbert Mrs Kaye Nesbitt Mr David Culbert Mrs Hazel Falconer Mr Stephen Murdock Mrs Avril Murdock Mr Noel McGarrigle Mr Alan Dalzell Ms Avril McMorris Mr Paul Falconer Mr Leonard Downey Office Bearers Rector: Rev Canon Paul Whittaker (retired February 2023) Rural Dean Rev Canon David McBeth (February 2023) Hon Secretary: Mrs Kaye Nesbitt Hon Treasurer: Mrs Emma Buchanan (Ex efficio) Rector’s Churchwarden: Mr Paul Falconer People’s Churchwarden: Mrs Catherine Culbert
Independent Examiner
Mrs Carolann Hamilton, Gribbon Cottage, 86A Dunnalong Road, Bready, Co Tyrone.
Bankers Ulster Bank, 29 Abercorn Square, Strabane,BT82 8AL.
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023
The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for Dunnalong/St John/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 Dunnalong/St John/Derry/Church of Ireland is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of Dunnalong/St John/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, Dunnalong/St John/Derry/Church of Ireland 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 the Dunnalong/St John/Derry/Church of Ireland.
Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit
The church has achieved its objectives by the holding of regular religious services and also holding various youth and other activities for the benefit of the local community. The church holds regular public worship services on Sundays and also on Wednesdays and Fridays during other periods within the Christian liturgical calendar. As part of the Church’s pastoral care to each church family, Children’s’ Sunday School is held each Sunday during school terms. The Trustees have a child protection policy in place under the control of a Safeguarding Trust Panel.
Outside of the worship services, the church is engaged in several outreach programmes into the local community, through organisations such the Luncheon Club (for the senior citizens of the parish), pastoral visitations are carried out by trained pastoral visitors to the infirmed, elderly and bereaved. Every two weeks visits are also made to the local nursing home where prayers are held, hymns sung and bible readings narrated.
The Church also organises an annual fundraising event which is open to everyone in the local community.
The minister may serve on the Board of Governors for Bready Jubilee Primary School, this is covered by one of our Trustees.
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
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
The Parish continues to be in a healthy financial state as at 31 December 2023 with total cash funds of £119146.49 of which £30,507.19 is restricted funds Nationwide 1 year Saving Account Investment, £50,000.00 unrestricted invested with the RCB( The Church of Ireland Representative Church Body in Dublin) and £3,563.70 Luncheon Club Fund.
The trustees consider that the unrestricted funds of the church have sufficient resources and assets available which are adequate to fulfil their obligations. A detailed analysis of parish income and expenditure is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
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 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
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.
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
Pay and remuneration
The Incumbent of the Parish stipend is paid directly by the Diocese, which is in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland together with approved office and locomotory allowances. No other Charity Trustees receive remuneration from Dunnalong/St John/Derry/Church of Ireland.
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 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, Rural Dean 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. In 2023 the Select Vestry met 6 times during the year and the average attendance was 75%.
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 activities 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 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
Mrs Kaye Nesbitt Date: 1[st] August, 2024
Mrs Catherine Culbert Date: 1[st] August, 2024