HIGH STREEf PRE5B￿ERIAN 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 h3￿wa¥throu￿h the service. Morning Ser￿￿5 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