Portaferry Presbyterian, a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland
Trustees’ Annual Report for the Year Ended 2023
Charity no. 105123
Date registered 09/08/2016
- Registered as a component element of a designated religious charity
Contact Address: Mr James McDowell, 42 Cloughey Road, Portaferry, Newtownards, County Down, BT22 1NQ Tel: 02842728333
The Trustees – Rev Dr Ian Dennis None on record
Mr William David McMullan None on record
Mr Ian McDonnell BEM None on record
Mr James McDowell None on record
Principal Office- bearers
Clergy: Rev Dr S. Ian Dennis Clerk of Session: Mr James McDowell Church Treasurer: Mr Ian McDonnell BEM
Independent Examiners:
Stanley Woods & Co Registered Auditors & Accountants Alexander House 49/51 Church Street Newtownards BT20 4AN
Portaferry Presbyterian Church
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023
Objectives and Activities
To Make known the Christian Gospel. Portaferry is one of the first Presbyterian congregations in Ireland. It was found ed in 1642 and moved to the present site around 1662. Portaferry Presbyterian Church is used for regular Sunday worship and other religious activities.
What your organisation does
In September 2017 Rev Dr Ian Dennis was appointed as minister. Services of worship are held each Sunday at 10.30 am and are open to anyone without regard to whether or not they are members of our congregation.
Through prayer we support our members, our own church, other Christian Churches in the area, the community and leaders in society and government.
There is provision for crèche and Sunday School for all young people of the appropriate age. Leaders are required to pass an Access NI check.
Child Protection
Our aim is to create and promote a safe environment for children, young people and leaders. We believe that next to proclaiming God’s Word and the love of Jesus, nothing could be more important than keeping our children and young people safe. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has a child protection programme called ‘Taking Care’, which advises and resources local congregations to provide a safe environment for children, young people and leaders.
Our designated person and child protection coordinator is Shirley Pyper.
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is provided by Minister and elders of the congregation. We are pleased to have WhatsApp group which everyone can join. This is also a source of pastoral care as Prayer requests can be made by members. During 2023 we welcomed three new families into the congregation, there were 2 baptisms, one wedding and regretfully there were 6 deaths including our minister emeritus Rev David Neville Gray BA.BD.
Hospital visitation of the sick is conducted by the minister as well as home visits to the house bound and elderly.
Property Trustees
New property trustees have been appointed in Nov 23
Events
We organise meetings and events that support our charitable purpose. Church on Easter Sunday. Popular services include the Tenebrae service held each Good Friday. There is also a service of Carols and Lessons held the weekend prior to Christmas as well as a Christmas morning service and the annual harvest safely gathered in thanksgiving service in October. These regularly attract congregations of 150 - 200 people and are part of our annual outreach to the community.
During 2023 We continue to seek to reach out to those lightly attached to the church as well as our regular church members. We had a successful and well attended get together for church lunch at the Narrows and very enjoyable boat trip on Strangford Lough in August.
We are fortunate to have our main organist Professor Neil McClure ably supported by Mrs Winnifred Irvine and others on a rota basis.
Mrs Tracy McDowell was appointed FWO secretary. We would like to thank Mrs Anne Anderson for her loyal support of our congregation and committee for a long number of years and we wish her well on her move to a new home in Bangor.
Cooperation
We participate in occasional services organised by Peninsular Clergy Group which is a cross-denominational Body. A member serves on the board of Portaferry integrated primary school.
We continue to cultivate good relations with the other congregations within the town and participate in the life of the local community through working with Friends of Portaferry Church (now Portico). We are involved in nursing home services organised by a member of the Methodist church. We also join with other denominations for cross community carol services each year.
Support of others
We support other secular and Christian organisations, including Newquay Singers, through volunteering, financial gifts and prayer. Our members have supported a number of causes, Air Ambulance, Motor Neurone Disease Association, This year our congregation raised funds for Royal British Legion, Christian Aid, Turkey and Syria Appeal, and Mercy Ships. We also supported the Christmas toy appeal organised by the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul. The gifts were greatly appreciated by all recipients.
Thanks
The trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time and effort to support the running of our church in Portaferry.
Public benefits
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. 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).
Public access is made known through the use of printed material, press advertisement, websites, and social media or in other ways.
The beneficiaries of this purpose are members, their families, other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect contact with and the community in which pastoral services are provided
The charity’s classifications
The advancement of religion
Who the charity helps
General public
How the charity works
Religious activities
Charitable purposes
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
Governing document
Constitution
Other name
HMRC NUMBER XN 45538
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 2023 Signed on Behalf of the Trustees
Minister
Clerk of Session
Date