an 2nd & 3rd RATHFRILAND CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBER1AN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS 2nd & 3rd RATHFRILAND Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 27 Cross Road Hilltown BT34 5TF Registered Charity in Northern Ireland INIC105069} CHARITY TRLISTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Rev Seamus Burke Mr Ernie Moorhead Mr Kenneth Bready Mr li'an Johnston Mr Ivor Trimble Mr S(unuel MLRoberts Mr Andreiv Bell Mr Dessie Triinble Mr John Henning PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Rei." Seamus Burke Clerk of Session Mr Kenneth Bready Treasurcr Mr John Henning INDEPENDENT EXAMINER (S.M. Vint & Co, 8 Newry Rd. Banbridge BT32 3HN) BANKERS (Ulster Bank. 14 Church Square, Rathfriland. Newry BT34 5PT} SOLICITORS (Gordon Bell & Son, 9-11 Newry St, Rathfriland, Newry BT34 SPY
an 2. & 3. RATHFRILAND CONGREGATION OF THE pRE5BERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) STRUCTURE 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 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 vote5 at meetinES, 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 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. Presbyterv Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsi bility 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. 2nd & 3rd Rathfriland congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Iveagh 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 the congregation.
an 2. & 3rd RATHFRILAND CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) 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. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. 2nd & 3rd Rathfriland congregation of the 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 congregations mission purposes is by the grace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. 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; is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible; is relevant to people of this time and place. 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. 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. As a congregation of the Pre3byterian 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
an 2. & 3 RATHFRILAND CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) AcfiviTIES AND OBJEcfivES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on several occasions during the year and all those who have been baptised and who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The congregation holds regular bible study meetings and has a wide range of organisations including Sunday School Children's Church and Creche Small Groups pw Youth Fellowship Mothers and Toddler5 Bowling Club Seniors Fellowship Meeting ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am and on the first and third Sunday evening at 6.30pm. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to Study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. As well as our regular services during the year we had I going through the Sacrament of Baptism, we conducted 2 marriage service and gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2024 there were 167 communicant members and 329 persons connected with the congregation. The average week attendance at morning worship is 120. 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, elders or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitors. Mission and outreach At a local level the congregation reaches out to the community through the programs listed above as well as supporting various mission organisations such as: PCI Global Missions, Southern Area Hospice, The Gideons as well as others.
an 2nd & 3" RATHFRILAND CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do mi55ion and outreach on a denominational basis beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for mission personnel at home and overseas, assists congregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church planting, provides grant support forthe 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 mission. 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 congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and one of the 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 Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property There was upkeep done to both church buildings.
an 2nd & 3rd RATHFRILAND CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) Organi5ations Sunday School- Each Sunday morning our Sunday School children meet to be taught the Scriptures. Childrens Church & Creche- Childrens Church & Creche gather during the service of worship from 12-12:30pm Small Groups: Four Small Groups of between 4-8 adults meet for fellowship and Bible Study alternate Sunday, Monday evenings at approximately 7pm Parents and Toddlers. Each Tuesday morning at 10:30am our hall is used by "Little Islanders" our mothers and toddlers group. PW: Our ladies gather for fellowship and Bible study on the first Tuesday of the month 8-9:30pm Thursday Morning Fellowship: Each Thursday 10am to 12pm our seniors meet for fellowship and Bible teaching Alive: Our church youth meet twice a month from 6:30-9pm for fellowship and Bible StLJdy. Volunteer5 The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of theirtime by serving on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities.
an 2. & 3, RATHFRILAND CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by making known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The direct benefits which flow from the purposes of the ChLJrch include the gaining of an understanding in Christian beliefs as set out in the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards Ithe Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms} leading to spiritual and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn. this framework leads to practical expressions of Christian beliefs and standards in the local community such as thiough 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 presbyteries 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 noticeboards, printed material, pre55 advertisement, websites, and social media or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular 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 flowing from 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, thi5 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 a nd 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 enga8ement with and support for both Christian and other secular organisations, charities and individual members ofthe public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement Statutory guidance.
an 2" & 3° RATHFRILAND CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icmvd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main Source of income is members. contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 154 contributors during the year1147 in previous year, 20231 donating a total of £71,9201£72,683 in previous year, 2023) Total Income of the congregation during the year was £128,488 compared to £133,119 in the previou5 year. Total expenditure decreased from £116,337 in 2023 to £110,056 in 2024. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBIUTIES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation in accordance with appllcable law and generally accepted accounting practice. As the congregations total income does not exceed £250,(X)O, the Trustees have elected under Section 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northem Ireland) 208 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting record5 that are sufficient to show and explain the congregation's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time it5 financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detettion of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meetin8 on and signed on its behalf by Rev Sea 13th us urke y 2025 Mr Kenneth Bready 13th May 2025