FIRST DROMORE CONGREGATION OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statempnts
for the year ended 31 December 2022
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC105072)

FIRST DROMORE 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 2022 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
First Dromore congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
3 Dlamond Rd
Dromore
BT25 1PQ
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC105072)
CHARITY TRUSTEES
The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date ofthi5
report were:
Rev Jonathan McKane
(Chairperson)
Dr Harold Samuel Gamble
Mr. Samuel Alan Poots
Miss Margaret Black McGrehan
Mr Trevor Poots
Mr. William John Wilkinson
Mr. David Leslie Cassells
Mr. Samuel Rowland
Patterson MSC
Mr. Jim Cochrane
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Minister
Clerk of Session
Treasurer
Congregational Secretary
Rev Jonathan McKane
Mr. William John Wilkinson
Mr. Samuel Alan Poots
Mrs Jane McBratney

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Ivan Shannon & Co Accountants
39 Church Street
Ballynahinch
Co Down
BT24 8AF
BANKERS
Ulster Bank Ltd
18 Bow Street
Lisburn
Co Antrim
BT28 IBN
SOLICITORS
John Elliott Solicitors
40 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BA

FIRST DROMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd)
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 Session 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 congregation.
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 once a month and at other such times for other
purposes as deemed appropriate by the code.
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 off ice can be either by the congre8ation 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. First Dromore congregation of the Presbyterian Church has
been assigned to the Dromore 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 each congregatton.

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.
First Dromore Church 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 congregation's 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 and have a passion
for reaching and building up the next Eeneration.
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 Presbyterian 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 prartice,
AcfiviTIES AND OBJECTIVES

The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The
Sacrament of the Lords Supper is obsepled 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/prayer
meetings and has a wide range of organisations including
Sunday School & Bible Class
Girls Brigade
POPS (Parents of Pre School)
Badminton Club
Boys Brigade
Friendship Group
Young Adults- Lighthouse Group
Presbyterian Women
Men's Discipleship Group
Bowls and Table tennis
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Worship and prayer
The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am and 6.00pm. We
celebrated communion on 6 occasions. We were also glad to be able to renew fellowship
with our Methodist friends on Good Friday for a special communion service.
Evening services have taken various formats and have sought to include participation from
members of the congregation.
A midweek meeting on 2nd and 4th Wednesday provides an opportunity for members to
meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. This year we
have studies a variety of topics including "Quiet Times" the Christian and culture as well as
how we express our faith.
As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledged God's gift of new life
through the Sacraments of Baptism. There were 4 Infant baptisms and 2 Baptisms on
profession of faith in 2022. We conducted I marriage service and conducted 8 funeral
thanksgiving services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year.
At 31 December 2022 there were 159 communicant members and 187 families connected
with the congregation. In normal circumstances the average weekly attendance at morning
worship is 180.
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 and other volunteers. Recordings of our
morning services were produced weekly and made available on a Phoneline and YouTube to
those who are no longer able to get out to worship due to infirmity or on request.
The Social Engagement Team prepared baby gifts for families who had babies in 2022 and
these were delivered by the minister.
At Easter those aged 70 received a greeting card from the congregation.
A Coffee Morning with an attendance of approximately 30 people is held on 1st and 3rd
Thursdays providing a warm space for food. friendship, and fellowship.
In the Autumn a "Connect" meal was held to help establish and build connections with
some of the new families and individuals who had come to the congregation in recent years.
At Christmas 2022 a Christmas pack wa5 made available to all families associated with the
congregation and delivered by their district elder.
Mission and outreach
Prayer letters and other information from a range of relevant mission organisation and
individua15 are distributed throughout the congregation via a weekly email.
From time to time visiting speakers attend worship and they speak about their areas of
mission in 2022 we heard about the work of Dromore Youth for Christ {who we financially
support monthly) International Justice Mission, Open Doors Scripture Union and European
Mission fellowship. This year the congregation also formed a church partnership facilitated
by EMF with Pastor Mihai Chisari and Imagio Dei Baptist Church.
Several members of the congregation serve on the Board of Governors of Dromore Central
Primary, Dromore High School and the Board of Youth for Christ and the Board of
Ballynahinch Counselling Services. The minister also produced video assemblies for use in
the local primary school.
During the summer the congregation organised a Holiday Bible Club (attended by approx.
70. This event had a range of activities including singing, games. memory verses, crafts, and
stories from the Bible.
In the Spring a series of 4 exploring church membership classes were held to help introduce
interested individuals to the basics of the Christian faith, the distinctive of Presbyterianism
and the responsibilities and privileges of church membership.
In the Autumn the congregation hosted a joint evangelism training event with Banbridge
Road Presbyterian Church to equip and inspire church members to share their faith.

In September representatives of session attended an evangelism conference in Hamilton
Road Presbyterian Church.
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 it5 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 congregations in the area5 of worship, discipleship, global mission,
outreach, leadership, and pastoral care. Our contribution to thi5 fund in 2022 was £9264.
The congregation supported the work of the Presbytery Stand at the Balmoral show
financially and prayerfully. Members of the congregation also served on the stand during
the show.
On the first Sunday in September the Congregation held a "Back to School with God" Service
with input from local principals, school staff and pupils. The purpose of this service was to
encourage and inspire those in our local educational community.
The congregation also contributed to the denomination's annual World Development
Appeal to the sum of £400 other special appeals are prayerfully and financially supported, of
special note this year was an appeal to Support the church in Moldova in their outreach to
Ukrainian refugees following the conflict in central and eastern Europe.
Presbytery
The congregation was represented at meetings of Dromore Presbytery by our minister and
one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider
structures of the church. Minutes of the meetings are duly circulated to session members.
General Assembly
The Minister and one of the elders was nominated to attend the meeting of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast. This year
th
the Generally Assembly took place from the 22. to 25 June.
Property
The Congregational Committee continue to provide oversight and maintenance of our suite
of buildings, manse, and graveyard. During 2022 a'new heating system was installed in the

manse. A fire alarm system was installed in the main Church Building which is monitored
centrally for both Church and Halls.
Organisations
Men's Discipleship
A group of 12-15 men met once a month to discuss a book relating to how real~life issues
interact and impact faith. These evenings provided the opportunity for good
intergenerational discussion and fellowship.
Foundations
This was a quarterly course that sought to introduce and refresh participants on core
practices of the Christmas faith using mixture of upfront teaching, interviews, and
workshops.
Presbyterian Women
A new committee was elected in the autumn and 3 events were held including an
introductory get to know you games night, a mission focus evening with restoratives from
Leprosy Mission and a Christmas hand lettering workshop. These events were attended by
approx 40 ladies and provided great opportunities for intergenerational fellowship and
friendship.
pops
On a Wednesday morning approximately 20 Adults and 25 babies and pre-school children
gather in our main hall for friendship and play. The children are provided with a healthy
snack and parents offered tea and scones. There is also some singing and rhyme time. These
mornings have proven to be an invaluable source of support to new and experienced mums
and carers especially post pandemic.
Young Adults- Llghthouse Group
The Lighthouse Group meet monthly for bible study and prayer.
Girls Brigade
Girls Brigade meet on a Tuesday night with 59 girls registered.

Social Bowls
Social bowls are played in the church hall on the second and fourth Tuesday morning in the
month from September to March. Approximately 16 male and female meet on a regular
basis.
Sunday school
Activities included songs, Bible stories, learning memory verses, games and quizzes for
primary age children. Secondary school children had classes with their teachers. In June we
had a party including games and a bouncy castle. On Children's Day, the children took part
in the church service and received gifts. In September we resumed classes for primary age
children and had a bowling night for the secondary age group.
Friendshlp Group
As we were unable to meet in person due to the age profile of our members, we visited and
distributed over 30 Easter eggs in April, held a Jubilee party in June and maintained
telephone contact until we recommenced our in person monthly programme in October.
Boys, Brlgade
The Boys Brigade meet on a Thursday night with 126 boys registered with a varied range of
activities organised throughout the year these include:
Scripture/memory verses
Baking /Camping /Crafts
Singing/Music (drums)
Football/Basketball/Gaga 8all/Stool Ball/Volleyball/Board Games
Horsebox/Mat work
Christmas Party/Mini Golf/Paintballing
Circuit Training
Art
During the year the boys entered several competitions
Volunteers

The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their
time by serving on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities.
PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing
benefit to its members and the 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 bereavedl.
Generally, the above benefit5 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 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, 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 feEard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement
statutory guidance.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The congregation's main source of income is member5, contributions through the Weekly
Freewill Offering. There were 164 contributors during the year [146 in the previous year,
20211 donating a total of £121,715 (£111,891 in the previous year, 2020). The number of

contributors increased in 2022. There was also an increased number opting for bank
standing order facility. Investment income increased by £3634 compared with 2021 due to
longer term investment maturing during the year.
The total Income of the congregation during the year was £291,478 compared to £143,974
in the previous year. The main reason for the change was a bequest received in the year for
£121,998. Grant funding from Education Authority Youth Service was also made available to
support the youth organisations.
Total expenditure (including organisations) increased from £ £157,784 to £180,029 due to
significant increase in running Costs in particular heating and lighting. Property expenditure
remained high due to the installation of a monitored Fire alarm system in the main church.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of
the congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accounting
practice.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to
show and explain the congregation's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at
any time its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the
congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of
fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 16 May 2023 and signed on its behalf by
Name Mr William John Wilkin50n
Name Mr Alan Poots
Date 16 May 2023
Date 16 May 2023