an KNAPPAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charlty In Northern Ireland (NIC105070)
an KNAPPAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Knappagh congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 11 Cavanbellaghy Road, Killylea, Armagh BT60 4NZ Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC1050701 CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were William Anderson George Diffin Allen Foster Bryan Foster Michael Foster David Millar John Rollston Ivan Thompson PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Ivan Thompson John Rollston David Millar INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mrs K Shillington 14 Ballymacully Road, Killylea, Armagh BT60 4NS BANKERS Danske Bank 78 Scotch Street, Armagh BT617DJ SOLICITORS Maurice R.J. Kempton 23 College Street, Armagh BT619BT
an KNAPPAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'dl 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-off icio 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 votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the mlnisters in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetlngs 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. 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. Knappagh congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Armagh 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 bv the Kirk Session of the congregation.
an KNAPPAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) The General Assembly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, representing In one body the whole Church and actin8 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 reli8ion. Knappagh 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 devotedfollower5 of Jesus Christ. Our vision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ's people of oll uges, which.. is increasingly characterised by lovefor God, ond love and concern for other5,. is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the 8ible,' is relevant to people of this time and place. The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision os 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 odults 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 blessingsfor others beyond the bounds of our community. As a congregotion of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible is the supreme authority over oll we do, and that the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechism5 set out what we understond the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian fc7ith (7nd practice
an KNAPPAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES 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 meetin8s and has a wide range of organi5ations including Sunday School Gateway Connect pw Bowling Club Craft & Craic Mums & Tots ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 12.00pm. 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 conducted marriage services and gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2023 there were 125 communicant members and 75 families connected with the congregations. The average week attendance at morning worship is 70 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 Ioc31 level the congregation reaches out through an annual holiday bible club & family fun day and church services are open to all the community.
an KNAPPAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PREsBERIAN 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 mission 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 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 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. Presbyterv 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. Organisations Gateway & Connect met monthly with approximately 40 attending aged from 6- 16. PW meets monthly and depending on the topic, numbers can range from 15- 40, women of various age groups. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with or8anisations and other church activities.
an KNAPPAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) 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 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 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 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 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, press advertisement, websites, and social rnedia 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, Missionarie5, 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 member5 of the pu blic. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
an KNAPPAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's ma5n source of income is members, contributions throu8h the Weekly Freewlll Offering. There were 86 contributors during the year 86 in previous year, donatlng a total of £70,474 (£76,355 in previous year, 2023) Total Income of the congregation durlng the year was £95,152, compared to £106,238 in the previous year. Total expendlture Increased from £93,654 to £128,707 STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responslble for preparin8 the annual report and the financial 5tatement5 of the con8re8atlon Sn accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accountlng practlce. As the congre8atlons total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustee5 have elected under Section 6413) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2018 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and Ilabllities. The Trustees are responslble for keeplng adequate accountin8 records that are sufficient to show and explain the con8re8ation'stransactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time Its financial positlon. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence for takin8 reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meetin8 on 2nd March 2024 and signed on its behalf by fvan Thompson John Rollston 2 March 2024 2Trd March 2024