an nd 2 Newtownhamilton CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2023 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105119)
Presbyter an 2nd Newtownhamilton CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS 2nd Newtownhamilton Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Castleblayney Street, Newtownhamilton, Newry, BT35 OPD Registered Charity in Northern Ireland INIC105119) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Rev Robert Mcclure Mr William Copeland Mrjames Copeland Mr Geoffrey Glennv PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Secretary Treasurer Rev Robert Mcclure Mrjim Copeland Mrsamuel Donaldson Mrs Betty Maclean INDEPENDENT EXAMINER W.J. Mcclelland & Co. 7-11 Gilford Street, Tandragee. Craigavon, BT61 2DA BANKERS Ulster Bank, 86 Hill Street, Newryp Co. Down, BT34 18T SOLICITORS Nelson Singleton Solicitors (Markethill}, 71 Main Street, Markethill, Co. Armagh, BT60 IPH
Presbyter an 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 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. 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. 2nd Newtownhamilton congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Newry 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, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
Presbyter an 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 ministers 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. 2. Newtownhamilton 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 groce of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ's people of all oges, which,. is increosingly characterised by love for God, and love ond concern for others,. Is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the 8ible,' is relevont to people of this time ond place. The congregotion aims to live out its Mission and Vision as ofGmily of God's people by being.. A Covenont Community.. where our relationships are rooted in the promise5 of God by livingfaithfully toward him and toward one another An Intergenerational Community.. where adults intentionally toke the leod to engoge with, encourage and nurture younger members to moturity in Christ. An Outword looking Community.. where we WL7nt the blessings of God that belong to us in the gospel to become ble55ingsfor others beyond the bound5 of our community. As a congregation of the Presbyterion Church in IrelGnd, we believe that the Bible is the supreme outhority over all we do, Gnd that the Westminster Confe55ion of Faith, olong with the Lorger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understond the Bible teaches on key motters of Christian faith and practice
an ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed 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. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation meets for worship each Sabbath at 12.00 noon and 7.00pm. 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 give thanks for faithful servants and seek to comfort those who had been bereaved. At 31st December 2023 there were 62 communicant members and 63 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 77. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or old age are contacted on a regular basis by the minister or an elder. Mission and outreach The Elders as under shepherds of the Lord, seek to pastor each family in the congregation and minister to their needs. The congregation supported the Poppy Appeal £192.37. Coffee Morning for Cancer Fund for Children £1231.10 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 basi5 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 Ioc311y 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.
an 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 / or 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 The congregation continue to maintain the main meeting house. Manse, removal of old chimneys and replacing same, cleaning of all fascia and window frames, replacing tar and drainage around Manse and new kerbing. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time, expertise, knowledge and services 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 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 a5 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
an 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 i ncidental 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 regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering, Stipend and Church Collections, donating a total of £42930.00 Total income of the congregation during the year was £79506.00 compared to £76718.00 in the previous year. Total expenditure 2023 £75044.00 and 2022 £63913.00 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. As the congregations total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64{31 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 208 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities. 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
an any time its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the asset5 of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregula rities. th Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 9 October 2024 and signed on its behalf by INameJ IName] [Datel oq. 10. i [Datel i)q_io_ z