Presbyter an FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEWTOWNARDS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland NIC105087
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEWTOWNARDS, CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEESANNUAL REPORT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present thcir Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31, December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REf4ERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS First Newtownai'ds Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Registered Charity in Northern Ireland - NIC105087 CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were Trustees at the date of this ieport were: Rev. Craig Lynn Mr. Russell Annour Mr. James Bole Mr. David Cargo Mi.. Steplieii Clai'ke Ii.. Paiil Ci'aig Mi.. Williani Davidson Mr. Cliai'les Gr<ih<ini Mr. Thoni¢iS I l<iyleii Mi.. D<lVi(l Logcin Mi,, William Mereditli Mi's. Hilai'y Pattoii Mi's. Aiidi'ey Reid Mi.. lan Ritchie Mi.. Michlc el .1 wLcdie Mi.. Wilfred Weatliei'up Di.. Rayniond Whitet'ord PIIINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev Craig Lynn Mr, David Cargo Mr, Russell Arniour INDf,PFI NDENT EXAMINER Mr. S. N. S. Mccurdy, 27 Orange Lane, Magheralin. Co. Armagh, BT67 ORG BANKERS Ulster Bank, 22 Frances Street, Newtownards, B T23 7DP SOLICITORS Riissell Solicitors Newtownards. I l Lower Mary Street, BT23 4JJ STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Session Page 2
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEWTOWNARDS, CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Charity Trustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Under the congrcgation's governing document, The Code, the book of the constitution and govei'nment of th¢ Presbyterian Church in Ireland. the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and piomote 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 incliiding administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of thc 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 mernbers are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk Session are held on about 6 or 7 times a year. 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 sclcction ofthose 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 Ircland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends generally the spiritiial and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbytei'ian Church in Ireland. First Presbyterian Church, Newtownards congregation of the Pi'csbyterian Church has been assigned io the Ards Presbytery of the Presbytei'iaii Chui'ch in Ii'eland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active miiiistei's of congi'egations assigned to it by the General Assembly, ministers who have i'etired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation. 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 b¢fore it. The General Assembly is nom)ally constituted during the first week in June for worship and to condiict its business. At the end of business it is dissolved. The mcmbcrship of the General Assembly consists mainly of the active ministers of each congi'egation, retired ministers and a reprcsentative eldei appointed by thc Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCIUPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. Page 3
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEWTOWNARDS, CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELANDTRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT First Presbyterian Chui'ch, Newtownards congregation of the Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Rcformed Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in thc 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 statement is: First Presbyterian Church exists to ivorship and glorify God and to be used by CJod to introduce people to Jesus Christ and the joy to be found in knowing Him as Saviour and walking daily with Him. 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 Ckn'ist. 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 commiinity. As a congregation of the Presbyterian Chiirch in Ireland, we believe that the Bible is the siipreme authority over all we do, and that the Westminster confession of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we undei'stand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice. ACTIVITllI S AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The sacrament of the Lord's Slipper is observed on 4 occasions during the year. The congi'egation ha8 a nuinber of bible study groups that meet regularly throughout the year. The Saci'amcnt of Baptism is administered throughout the year and Services of Thanksgiving (i.e. Funeral Services) are held as requested. The congregation has the following organisations: Biblc Class Boys, Bi'igade Girls, Bi'igade Jiinior CE Presbyterian Women Sunday School (known as Lighthouse) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer Page 4
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEWTOWNARDS, CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The congregation meets for worship each Sunday at 11:30am ( I I :00am in July and August). At 31 st December 2023 there were 186 communicant members and 200 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 150 and evening worship 40. 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 ministcr. elders or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitors. Mission and outreach At a local level the congregation supports one of our members, who is working in the mission field in Cambodia through the organisation Care for Cambodia. Part of this project involves the support of a number of schools in Cambodia. The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Chiirch 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 coiild 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 congregations in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. We also supported the work of a debt manager within the link for Christians Against Poverty. The congregation also contributes to the denomination's annual World Development Appeal and other special appeals. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytei'y by our minister and a representative elder. 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 Ircland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property The congregation has the main Church along with Minor and Guild Hall complexes. In addition the congregation has a manse at Tullynagardy, Newtownards. Organisations Page 5
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEWTOWNARDS, CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT We have many organisations who meet weekly and cater for all ages within the congregation. 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 BEIYEFIT 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 Chi'istian 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 liii'n, this framework leads to practical expressions of Christian beliefs and staiidards 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 theii. members, oi. 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 throiigh 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 fi'om membei's, their families, and members of the public. The piirpose does not lead to ham]. 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 piirpose are members, their families, other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect contact with, the community in which pastoi'al services al'e provided and other commiinities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and worldwide which bencfit fi'om our engagement with and siipport for both Christian and other secular organisations, charities and individual membcrs of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to thc Charity Commissions Public benefit requircment statutory guidance. FINANCIAL REVIEW Page 6
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEWTOWNARDS, CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The congi"egation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 161 contributors during the year compared to 156 in 2022, donating a total of £79,500 compared to £85,727 in 2022. Total Income of the congregation during the year was £148,552 compared to £568,154 in the previous year. Total Expenditure was £151,217 compared to £517,027 the previous year. This is due to the sale and purchase of a manse in 2022. STATFMENT 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. As the congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a Receipts and Payment Account and a Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Tnistees 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. Page 7
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEWTOWNARDS, CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 0111012024 and signed on its behalf by: . Signed Name Paul Craig Russell Annour (Trustee) (Trustee) Page 8