Church of Ireland
A pro4Ynce ol Ihe fvTglcan ConinJiJnio(I
ST MELLAN'S PARISH CHURCH. AGHADERG. LOUGHBftICKIA14D
TRUSfEES' ANNUAL REPORT
The trustees present the Annual Report and Statement of Receipts and Payments and Assets and
Llabllitles for St Mellan's Church. Aghaderg Parish for the year ended 31 De￿rnber 2023.
Objectlves and Actmtles
The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of rell8ion.
The pflndpal function of St Mellan's Chufch. A8haderg Parlsh is to SUPPOrt the advancement of the
Christlan rellg5on by promotin& through the work of St Mellan's Church, Aghaderg Parlsh. the
whole mission of the church• pastoral, evangelisttc, social and ecurnenical. 8elng open to and
engaging with soclety as a whole and offerln8 support for those needin£ help are fundamental tt)
the prartlcal dellvery of the benefits of Chrlstianlty.
A5 a result of activity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian reli8ion, St Mellan's Church.
Aghaderg Parish has custody of property and of records, materials and artefacts of slgnlficance to
the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance of which is undertaken by the select vestry of
St Mellan's Church, Aghaderg Parish.
Achlevements. Perlomiance & Publk Benefft 202312022 in bradtets)
The Parish contlnued to have regular servlces of worship throughout the year 2023. Thls year we
continued to meet every Sunday except for one where the grouped parishes came tO8ether for a
Joint 5ervlce and lunth at Dona8hmore thurch to mark the Coronation of King Charles 111. Services
ceased to èe broadcast on YouTube unless there vlas a specific request or a speclal servlce. There
were 52 {521 main Sunday mming worship servlces in 2023 (2022) wtth an average congregatlon of
311271. The average number of communlcants each month was 25 (22). As well as 8161 other
Occasional Services, there were 0121 Baptisms. O {0) MarriaEes 3 (7) Burials12 parlshloners. I non-
parishioners). On Christmas Day a service was held at Aghader8 Church at 8.30am and the
attendance was 19 (20). For a few months a mid-week Holy Communlon seryice was held. shared
with Scarva and the average attendance was 7 (5).
Pastoral work continued throughout 2023 wSth very Ilttle restrlttions in place due to covid. The
prlorlty of the minlster In charge is the edelerty, slck and bereaved. (Xher v55iting take5 place as
and when time permlts.

Church of Ireland
A provirtcÉt ol thtb ￿￿/￿an Co&imiinion
sr MELLAN'S PARISH CHURCH. AGHADERG, LOUGHBftKllAND
TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT lconthy￿j
Church organisations indude a Ladies Guild group. a Sunday School and a Youth Fellowship. The
Sunday School teachers have been vetted through Acce55 Nl and we have officers in place in line
wlth the Church of Ireland Policy on Safeguardlng Trust. The parlsh-wide 'Steadfast' Youth
Fellowship Is continuing and 8olnB very well, with a re8ular attendance and everyone keen to see It
progress tn the future. In Autumn 2023 a short Blble study Series was introduced and was held at
the rectory. All three parishes were represented at the meetings and it was a good tlme spent wlth
others seeklng to develop further their faith in Jesus. A 4)edal servlce was held In Aghaderg Church
of 'Royal Hymns. to mark the Coronatlon of King Charfes111. with special guests attending.
Repairs and general malntenance were continued on the Church property durtng 2023.
Finandal Revlew 202312022 In brKketsl
The Income Into the Parish's funds from various Sources was £268.700 (£110,594) with outgoings of
£109,1661£186,044) 8ivin8 a surplus of £159.534 Ideficit £75.090).
The bank and cash In hand balance at 31 Oecember 2023 was £183,318 {£25,037). The balance of
Investments held withln the RC8 Investment funds was £37,976 {E36.7231. It Is the trustee's pollcy
to hold sufficient reserves to cover unexpected emergenaes. to build up fvnds to pay for future
malntenance to the Church. Partsh hall and grounds. and to further the objectives and actlvltles of
the Church of Ireland.
Golng Concern
The trustees have revlewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are
adequate lunds in place to ensure that the Parlsh can continue its activities and the financial
statement5 for the year ended 2023 can be signed off as a gopng concern.
Structurè, Governance and Mana8emeTht
Goveffling Document ond Consthtion of the Charlty
Chapter 111 of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial
Organlsations. The select vestry members are the charity trustees.
Pa8e 2

Church of Ireland
A Pr￿fiCe ol Il* An91¢fi￿ Con)niiinr¢>]
ST MELLAN'S PARISH CHURCH. AGHADERG. LOIK¥HBRICKIAND
TRusfEES' ANNUAL REPORT (cthrtlnuedj
Recrultment OndAp￿1ntrnent ofsekrt Vesty (Tnts￿1
All members of the Church of Ireland who are over the age of 18 and are either resident wlthln the
parish or live elsewhere but have been accustomed members of the congregation for at least three
months, may register as members of the general vestry of the par15h, allowing them to attend and
vote at meeting of the general vestry and to stand for electlon to the selert vestry. Meetlngs of the
general vestry are held at least once a year.
The select vestry is selected as part of the general vestry meetln& The select vestry will hold thelr
posltlons for a perlod of one year. Select vestry members may be re-elected annually and there Is
no Ilmlt on the number of terms whkh may be served.
Pay and remuneratl¢)A
The Reverend Rodney Magennls was appointed as Minister In thar8e of the 8rouped parlshes of
Aghader& DonaBhmore and Scarva in July 2023. Reverend Ma8enni5 Wa5 introduced at a Special
servlce in September that year. where he received a stipend, office and locornotory alk>wance.
The trustee Mrs Anne McCullou8h received £1.311 in 2024 for playlng the organ.
Organlsatlonal Structure
The select vestry is responsible for the day to day management of the Parlsh. The select vestry
consists of the member of the cler8y serving in the Parish. the church wardens. the Glebe wardens
and generalty not more than twefve other mernbers of the general vestry as elected.
The select vestry is chaired by the member of the dergy offldatlng at the Parlsh. Select vestry
members are responsFble for makin8 decislons on matters of wieral concern and importance to
the Parish Induding deciding how Parish funds are to be applied.
The selett vestry meets at times fixed by the members or by the Diocesan Synod. Special meeting5
may be convened at any time by the chalrperson or the church wardens.
Compllance wlth Publlc Benefft
The Parish has glven careful consideration to the Charfty Commission for Northern Ireland's
guldance on public benefft to ensure that the activities entered Into durfng the year have helped
achieve the parish's objectlves and activities, as well as providlng publlc beneflt.
Pa8e 3

Church of Ireland
A piovince ol Ihè Atylran Con:n)iifJFon
ST MELLAWS PARISH CHURCH. AGHADERG. LOUGHBRICKLAND
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (¢￿tInued}
Statement of Trusteg Responsibllltles
The trustees are responslble for prepa¢ing the Trustee< Report and the ststement of recelpts and
payments and Statement of assets and liab*rties In accordaTrce with appllcable law and regulatlons.
The law applicable to tharities In Northern ITeland with income of less than £250,000 requires the
trustees to prepare a statement of receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilltles
for each flnanclal year.
The trustees are ￿spOnSIble for keepin8 accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain
the Parish's tran5artions and dlsclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the a55ets and liabilities
of the Parish. They are also responslble for safe8uardin8 the assets of the Parish and hence for
takjng reasonable steps for the prevention and detectlon of fraud and other irregularitles.
Signed on behalf of the trustees
Trustee I
Trustee 2
(ofr
12th Marth 2024
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