HIGH STREEf PRE5BERIAN CHURCH, ANTRIM, CHARITY REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023 This report includes inforniation required by the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the Statement of Recornmended Practice for Accounting by Charities 2005 as applicable to charitles entitled to prepare accounts on the reteipts and payments ba51s. AOMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Hlgh Street Presbyterlan Church. Antrim is a local church of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland and is a member church of the general Assembly of the Church. It wa5 re8lStered on 1510812016 as Charfty Number 104909. High Stréèt C_hurch is situated at 22 Steeple Road, Antrim BT41 IDN. Telephone 9446 8339, email info@highstchurch.org. The members of the Elders. Meeting for the tlme being are recognised as the charity trustees. Those who served from 1st January 2020 until the date thls repurt Was approved are: Rev Colin Kerr McDowell Mrs Nancy Agnes Bonar MT Jame5 Sarnuel Gleghorne Mr David James Gleghorne Mr5 Margaret Mary Kemp5ton Mr Robèrt Edward Campbell Mr William Canning Mr Robert Coulter Bonar Mr Herbert Hewitt Mrs E5me Miskelly Mr lan Saunders Mr Christopher lan fitterington The Church building and ihe man>e at IG Beechfield, Antrlm BT41 IBS. are vested in High Street Presbyterian Church as trustees and held for the benefrt of High Street Presbyterian Church in accordance with the trusts applicable to Presbyterian Church In Ireland properties,
5fRucfuRE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMEKr The Kirk Session The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Under the congregation's 8oveming document. The Code, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyteri3n Church in Ireland. The Kirk Session promotes the spiritual interest of the congregation and of persons not connected with any congregatlon who are wlthln Tt5 bounds. It ensure5 pastoral care 15 in place in the congregation and seeks to further the c(Jntribution of the Church to Christian witness and Servi in the local community. The Kirk Session has delegated to it5 Congregatlonal Commtttee the temporal affalrs of the congre8ation induding administering all funds and property belonging to the con8rogation. Members of the Kirk session are exryofficio 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 vote5 at meetings, except that the Moderator, the ministers in active duty in the congregation, has no dellber3tive but only a cartinE vate. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congTegation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the offi can be either bythe congregation or by the Kirksession. Members are elerted if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. Stated meetings of the Klrk 5es5ion were held 9 times throughout the year. Presbytery Under the Presbvterian Church in Ireland form of governan the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responslbility of a Presbytery which 5upertntends generally the spiritual and temporal affair5 of the congregatlons assigned to it by thÈ Gener31 Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. High Street congre8ation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Templepatrick Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the presbytery [}sIst3 mainly of the active minigters of congregations assigned to it by thp_ General Assembly, ministers who have retired from attive duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk session of the congregation. In-person presbytery rneetin65 have now recommenced, Pre5byLtry meets Six times per year and five of the meeting5 take place in High Street church. this is because of our central location. The General Assembly The General Assembly 15 the supreme court of the Church, representing In one body the whole Church and acting as its supretrie legislative, administration and judicial authority, In deÈlin8 Wlth all matters brought before it. The General Assembly met from the 215t to 24 of June 2023 for worship and to conduct its business. At the end of business, It Is di55olved. The membership of the fjeneral A55embly cons15ts mainly of the artive rnini5ters of each onsregation. retired ministers and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.
DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of lIgIOn. High Street congregation of the Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Pre5byterlan Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland. as a Refomed Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in the Bible and exists to love and honour God and enable her member5 to play their part in fulfilllng God's mlssion. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcorne to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper 15 obseNed on four occaslon5 during the year and all those who have been baptised and who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are admltted to the Lord's Supper. The congrègation holds regular bible study meetings and has a wide range of org3ni5ations. Worshlp and prayer The congregation normally meets forworship each Sunday at 11am and on thc first 5und3y of each month. a15D OL 7pm. On thc second Sund3y Df each month a special'AII Togetherf 5ervir.p is held where the whole congregation worship together with the children and the service contains music and a talk which 15 appropriate for all age 8roups. On the other Sundays of the month the children and young peoplp go out to Sunday School and Blble Class h3wa¥throuh the service. Morning Ser5 a livestreamed for the benefit of those unable to attend. During the week the Bible Study provide5 an opportunity for members to meet for fellow5hipi to study the Bible and for a time of prayer. As well a5 our regular services during the year we acknowledged God's gtft of new life at service5 for Sacraments of Baptism. Marri38e and Funeral services are conducted whenever appropriate and necessary. On 31 December 2023 there werc 213 communicant members and 228 families wnnected wlth the congregation. The average weekly attendance ot morning worship Is 100, plus online attendance. Pastoral care Members of the congiegatlon who are unable to attp_nd churth due to sickness or age are vtsited by the minister, elders or by the Pastoral Asslstant. Mlsslon and outreach The congregation Supports the United Appeal for Misslon which 15 a central fund of the Presbyterian Churd) in Ireland. This ftknd enables congregations to support the wider rnission of the denomination and to do misslon and outreach on 3 denomlnatlonal basis beyond what the con8regation could do on its own. Ihe Unlred Appeal Fund provides financial support for m155ion personnel at home and overseas. a55ists congregatlons with
the deployment of locally based staff, enable5 church plantin& provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises. assist with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's training college for ministry students, and financially supports congregation In the areas of worship, discipleship, global misslon. outreach. leadership and pastoral care. The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal, Sunday School project and any other special appeals. Presbytery The congre8ation was represented at the regular Tneeting5 Of Presbytery by our minister 3nd/or one ofthe elders. This provides an Important link between the congregation5 and thè wider 5tructure5 of the church. fjeneral A55emblv The ministerand one of our elders were nomlnated to attend the meeting ofthe Genetal Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property During the year minor repairs Continued to be carried out within the church sanctuary and church halls. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Irelartd meets the public benefit requirement by providlng beneflt to its members and the general public by making known the Christian Gospel ol the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of rellgion. The direct benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining of an understanding in Christian beliefs as set out in the Blble aiid In the Church's subordinate standi]rd5 Ithe Westmlnster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms) leadinR to spiritual and mor31 development and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In tum. this framework leads to prattical expre55isJns of Chrlstian belief5 and 5tand3rd5 in the local community such 35 throueh the care of those in need (including the sick. disabled and bereaved). 6enerally the above benefits are delivered locally by congregations and thelr members or are facilitated through presbyteries or are organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources in 3lrnost all cases. Publlc access is made known throuBh the use of notlcebuards, printed material. press advertisement, websites, and Social medla or in Other ways. The beneftt5 are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the servlces and informal 3nd ad- hocfeedback from members. theirfamilies, and members ofthe public.
The purpose doe5 not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose Is related to Ministers. Missionaries, Deaconesses. Irish Mission workers znd Lay Agents who recetve benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. However, this 15 incidental and necessary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are members, their familie5, Other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirert contact with, the community in which pastoral services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and worldwide which benefit frnm our engagement with and support for both C_hristian and other secular organisations, tharlties and individual members of the public The Kirk Session ha5 had reBard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance. FINANCIAL REVIEW Total income received in the year was £ 155.37112022 £ 177.5351 The main source of donations is contributions through freewill offerings with Just over 85% 12022 86Y. l of this from donation5 and legacie5. Fund expenses has increased in the year from £ 157,809 in 2022 to £ 158.266 in 2023 due to an increase In geneiiil assembly assessments and tongregational running expenses. RESERVE POUCY: Unrestricted funds: Sdeally the Elders, Meeting would wish ro have irb hand an amount equal to six months regular expenditure as free reserves to meet shortfalls in income or unexpected expenses. The balance of unrestricted funds at 31$1 December 2023 wa5 £50,094. Thi5 represents the mount available for regular expenditure. This report was approved by the Elders, Meeting on and is signed on It5 behalf by Rev Colin McDowell (Minister) on 28th May 2024. Rev Colin Kerr Mc Dowell