st Clarkesbridge & l Newtownhamilton Presbyterian Church a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022 Reglstered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC104941
Presbyter TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022, REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Clarkesbridge & l Newtownhamilton congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Cortamlet Road, Newtownhamilton, BT35 OEE Registered Charity in Northern Ireland INIC1049411 CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served duringthe year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Rev. Richard Ker Graham Mr. Alan Srnyth Mr. David Smyth Mr. Mervyn McBride PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Rev. Richard Ker Graham Clerk of Session Mr. Alan Smyth Church Secretary Mr. William Hughes Treasurer Mrs. Fiona Smyth
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'dl STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT 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 Sessions has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and property belon8in8 to the con8regation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congre8ational 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 ministers in active duty in the congregation. has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held at least twice in each year or as appropriate. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant of 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. 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 Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Clarkesbridge & 1st Newtownhamilton Presbyterian Church ha5 been assigned to the Newry 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, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.
Presbyter TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvd) 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 15 normally constituted during the flrst week in June for worship and to conduct it5 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 ministers and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE Clarkesbridge & 1st Newtownhamilton preSberian 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 rnembers to play their part in fulfilling God's mission to our world. The congregations, mission purpose is by the grace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Ch rist. Our vision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ's people of all ages, which- is increasingly characterised by love for God, and love and concern for others- 15 committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible,. is relevant to people of this time and place. The congreg3tion 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. An Outward lookin8 Community: where we want the blessings of God that belongto us in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our communitv. As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible 15 the supreme authority over all we do, and that the Westminster Confession of Faith. alon8 with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teache5 on key matters of Christian faith and practice.
Presbyter TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd AcnviTIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and wsitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed on Several occasions during the year and all those who have been bapti5ed and who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord'5 Supper. The congregation holds regular Bible study meetings and has a wide range of organisations including Sunday School Presbyterian Women Good News Club Holiday Bible Club Bible Study Cla55 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregatlon normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.00am and 8.00pm on the fourth Sunday of e3ch month. Duringthe week the'Bible Study/Prayer meeting provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship. to Study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. At 31 December 2022 there were 44 communicant member5 and 52 families connected with the congregations. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited on a regular basis by the minister and elders.
Presbyter TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'dl Mission and outreach At a local level the congregation held several special midweek meetings during the year where missionary speakers were invited to come and speak to those present concernlng their work. These meetings were supported by other local fellowships from the district outside of our denomination. The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congre8ations to support the wlder mission of the denomination and to do mission and outreach on denominational basis beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financlal support for mission personnel at home and oversea5, assists congregations Wlth the deployment of locally based staff. enables church planting, 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 congregations in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission. outreach, leadership and pastoral care. During 2022 the congregation also contributed to the work of: Tear Fund, Belfast City Mission, Earl Haig Fund. Cowan Family (Kenyal. Presbyterv The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and / or one ofthe elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The minister and one of our elders were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildin85, Belfast, in the month of June 2022. Property 2022 saw our general project of maintenance and repair on the Meeting House, Manse and surrounding grounds continued.
Presbyter TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) Organlsations Sunday School met each Sunday morning durin8 the months of Februaryto June110:15am until 11.'OOam} and September to December110.'OOam until 11:OOaml during 2022. It was normally attended by 8 children from the age of 4 to 12 year5 and taught by 2 Sunday School teachers. The children would sing as well as learn catechism, and were taught Bible lessons by their teachers. All teachers had the appropriate child protertion training. Bible Study class for teenagers met each Sunday morning during the months of February to June110.-15am until Il'.00am) and September to December {IO'.00am until 11:OOaml during 2022. It was normally attended by 2 young people from the age of 14 to 17 years and taught by I teacher. The young people were taught catechism, and the Bible was read and discussed together to see what lessons could be learned. The teacher had the appropriate child protection training. Good News Club met fortnightly for 6 sessions from to September to December 2022 in Clarkesbridge Church Hall. This was the first time Club had met from the Corona virus Pandemic. During each session up to 23 children, aged 4 to 11 years old, met to pray, sing. memorise Bible verses, learn about missionaries, hear Bible stories and to play games or do crafts. Throughout the sessions the children received consistent 8ible teaching. 4 leaders led the club each time they met and all had the appropriate child protettion trainin8. Due to the Corona Virus Pandemic the Presbyterian Women did not meet until September 2022. From September meetings were held two nights each month for fellowship, discussion and support of various missionary organisations. During the month of December the Presbyterian Woman organised a Congregational dinner, with the combined support off our sister con8regations in County Monaghan. It was attended by 60 individuals of all ages. Due to a local outbreak of the Corona Virus Pandemic our annual week of Holiday Bible Club for boys and girls of primary school age, did not take place during 2022. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreclation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities.
Presbyter TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterlan Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by makin8 known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The direct benefrts which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining of an understanding in Christian beliefs as set out in the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards (the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Lar8er Catechisms) leading to spiritual and moral development and opportunltles for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework lead5 to practical expressions of Christian beliefs and standards in the local community such as through the care of those in need (including the sick, disabled and bereaved). Generally the above benefits are delivered locally by congregations and their members, or are facilitated through presberies or are organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources in almost all cases. Public access is made known through the use of notice boards, printed material, press advertisement, websites, and social media or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through re8ular evaluation of the services and informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their families. and members of the public. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowingfrom our purpose is related to Ministers, Missionaries, Deaconesses, Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents who receive benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. However, this is incidental and necessary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are members, their families, other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect contact with, the community in which pastoral services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland. and worldwide which benefit from our engagement with and support for both Christian and other secular organisations, charities and individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
Presbyter TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'dl FINANCIAL REVIEW The congre83tion's main source of income Is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 69 regular contributors during the year 2022. The Con8regations total income forthe year 2022 was £52,421 and the total expenditure was £44.374. RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPEcf OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The Trustees are responslble for keeping adequ3te accountin8 records that are sufficient to show and explain the funds transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financi31 position of the congregatioTr. They are also responsible for safeguarding the a55ets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. As the congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under section 64131 of the Charities Art (Northern Ireland) 2015 to prepare a receipt5 and payments account. This Financial Account, for the year 2022, has been adopted by the congregation, approved by the Church Committee and audited by Mr. Colin Whiteside, Newry. A copy of this Financial Account will be submitted to the Charity Commission (Northern Ireland) with the Trustee5 Report Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 22, October 2022 and signed on its behalf by Rev. Richard Ker Graham Minister Mr. Alan Smyth Clerk of Session