2023-12-31-annual-report - Mountnorris Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

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MOUNTNORRIS 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 (NIC105147)

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Mountnorris Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 43 Main Street Mountnorris ARMAGH BT60 2TS

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105147)

CHARITY TRUSTEES

The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were

Rev Nigel Reid Samuel Walker John Kernaghan Henry Simms

Robert Henry Frances Walker Sharon Porter Paul Toombs

PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS

Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer

Rev Nigel J E Reid BD Dip Min Samuel Walker Mrs Sharon Porter MBE

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

W J McClelland & Co. 7a, Gilford St Tandragee, Co Armagh BT62 2DA

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

BANKERS

Danske Bank, 58 Hill Street, Newry, Co Down BT34 1BD

SOLICITORS

Nelson Singleton 71 Main Street, Markethill, Co. Armagh BT60 1PH

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT

The Kirk Session

Members of the Kirk Session are the charity trustees of the congregation. 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 minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote.

Stated meetings of the Kirk Session were held on ten occasions during the year, of which six were joint meetings with Tullyallen Kirk Session.

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. Mountnorris Congregation 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, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

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.

Mountnorris congregation 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 purpose is to build up the Church family and to equip it to reach out to the local community with the Good News of the Gospel.

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.
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.

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

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 practice.

ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES

The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to attend. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was observed on Good Friday, and the first Sunday in May and November. The Congregation holds regular bible study meetings and has a wide range of organisations including Sunday School, Boys’ Brigade, Youth Fellowship, Mother & Toddlers Group (TM Tots), Presbyterian Women, Ladies Bible Study Fellowship, Men’s Bible Study Fellowship, Men’s Choir, Bowling Club, and Badminton Club.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Worship and prayer

The congregation met for worship each Sunday at 12.30pm and on the second and fourth Sunday each month for a United Service at 7.00pm with Tullyallen Congregation. The Midweek Meeting which was held jointly with Tullyallen Congregation on a weekly basis from January to May and from September to December inclusive provided an opportunity for members to meet for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of corporate prayer.

During the year we acknowledged God’s gift of new life at two Sacraments of Baptism. We also gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year.

At 31 December 2023 there were 172 communicant members and 121 families connected with the congregation. The average attendance at morning worship was 110.

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 and elders. Worship Services are live streamed and recorded on CD. Copies of CD are available on request.

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

Mission and outreach

The congregation, in conjunction with Tullyallen Congregation sought to reach out to the local community through a range of activities and special events including the following:-

Coronation BBQ & Social in Mountnorris Church Hall on 6th May to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles lll.
Ladies Walk & Talk was held at Gosford Forest Park on Tuesday evenings in June. Ladies enjoyed fellowship and a walk in beautiful surroundings followed by a healthy supper and an epilogue.
Our annual Holiday Bible Club for children of primary school age was held in Tullyallen Church Hall from 3[rd] – 7th July. The theme was “Amazing Treasures”. An average of 60 children came along each evening. Activities included Bible stories, memory verses, singing, crafts and outdoor games. The week concluded with a BBQ which was a great opportunity for families from the congregations and the community to socialise and enjoy good food.
Our annual United Remembrance Day Service was held in Tullyallen Church on Sunday 12[th] November. Uniformed youth organisations and the Royal British Legion attended the Service. The offering which amounted to £1,100.20 was donated to the Royal British Legion Earl Haig Fund.
Our United Carol Service was held in Tullyallen on Sunday 10[th] December. Special music and praise was provided by the Church Choir and pupils of Mountnorris Primary School. The offering which amounted to £1,950 was donated to a local charity “B Positive” that supports children who are suffering from cancer.
Our united Christmas morning Service was held in Mountnorris Church. The offering which amounted to £2,116.10 was donated to Southern Area Hospice in Newry which provides invaluable care and support to cancer patients and their families.
The Congregation supported the work and witness of Christ the Saviour Presbyterian Church in Krakow, Poland through the European Christian Mission Ireland by prayer and a financial contribution of £1,000 and £1589.20 to a local charity Noeleen’s Helping Hands for its outreach work in Romania.

The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission, which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and in 2023 achieved 107.9% of its target which amounted to £6,629.25. 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 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

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

church premises, assists 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. The congregation also contributed to the denomination’s Children’s Society (£898.75) and the Moderator’s Turkey Syria Appeal (£800).

Presbytery

The congregation was represented at meetings of Presbytery by our minister and 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 attended the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland which was held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast in June.

Property

During the year the Church building, Church Hall and Session House were maintained in good order.

Organisations

Average attendance

Sunday School

45

10.00 am in Church Hall.

Sunday School seeks to teach our children the divine truth found in the Bible which is God’s inspired Word.

"We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done….Then they would

put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands" (Psalm 78:4). Through Sunday School, we want to enable our children to learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, to lead them to put their trust in Him as Saviour and Lord and to teach them how to be His faithful disciples.

The organisations listed below are shared with Tullyallen Congregation and are managed jointly by Mountnorris & Tullyallen Kirk Sessions. The organisations draw membership from both congregations and the wider community.

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

		Average attendance
-	TM Tots	25
	TM Tots,Parent & Toddlers group meets on Tuesday from 10am -12 noon in
	Mountnorris Church Hall. TM Tots seeks to support and encourage parents
	with young children in a safe and friendly Christian environment.
-	The Boys’ Brigade (BB)
	Anchor BoysThursday 6.30 pm -7.30 pm. Age 4-7	36
	Junior SectionTuesday 6.45 pm - 8.00 pm. Age 8-10	32
	*Company Section*Tuesday 8.15 pm -10.00 pm. Age 11-18	34
	All sections meet in Mountnorris Church Hall
	Our BB Company seeks to deliver the object of The Boys’ Brigade
	which is the advancement of Christ’s kingdom among boys and the
	promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self respect
	and all that tends towards true Christian manliness. It caters for boys
	aged 4 years to 18 years and provides a varied programme of
	activities including Bible teaching, football, volleyball, and outdoor pursuits.
-	Youth Fellowship	15
	Fortnightly on Sunday 7.00 pm-8.15 pm in Tullyallen Church Hall.
	The Youth Fellowship is attended by teenagers from Mountnorris
	& Tullyallen congregations and the wider community. It provides
	an informal context for fellowship and learning. It seeks to
	encourage young people to become faithful disciples of
	Jesus Christ and to build their lives on Biblical principles.
	There are opportunities throughout the year to engage with
	similar groups from other congregations within Newry Presbytery.
-	Presbyterian Women (PW)	25
	First Thursday each month 8.00 pm
	in Tullyallen/Mountnorris Church Hall.
	Presbyterian Women encourages women to become disciples
	of Christ and seeks to highlight the need for love and unity,
	obedience to God, Christian living and spiritual maturity,
	service using gifts, time and money, and local and
	global mission.
-	Ladies Bible Study Fellowship	20
	Third Wednesday each month 8.00 pm in Tullyallen Church Hall
	The Ladies Fellowship provided an opportunity for ladies to
	have fellowship and study the Bible together in
	an informal setting. The theme for 2023 was “Loving God and others”

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

		Average attendance
-	Men’s Bible Study Fellowship	15
	First Thursday each month 8.00 pm in Tullyallen Church Hall
	The Men’s Fellowship provided an opportunity for men to
	have fellowship, to study the Bible and pray together in
	an informal setting.
-	Men’s Choir	15
	Monday 8.00 pm in Tullyallen Church Hall
	The Choir met for practice on Monday evenings commencing
	with a scripture reading and prayer. Membership is drawn
	from Mountnorris & Tullyallen congregations and other
	churches in the area.

Bowling Club 20 Wednesday 8.00 pm in Mountnorris Church Hall The club provides an opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy the game of bowls at recreational level and competitively. An annual Fun Tournament is organised to attract and encourage new members. Normally the Club participates in a local league which involves hosting visiting clubs and travelling to other locations to compete. Membership is drawn from Mountnorris & Tullyallen congregations and the local community.

- Badminton Club 20 Friday 7.30 pm in Tullyallen Church Hall.

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

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 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 as 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 is facilitated by central resources in almost all cases. Public access is made known through the use of notice boards, 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 regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Congregation’s main source of income is members’ contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 102 contributors during the year [104 in previous year, 2022] donating a total of £69,624.50 (£64,204.00 in previous year, 2022)

Total income of the congregation during the year was £130,836.76 compared to £133,964.34 in the previous year. Total expenditure increased slightly from £112,828.67 in 2022 to £117,414.88 in 2023.

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 congregation’s total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64(3) 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 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 on 18[th] September 2024 and signed on its behalf by

Rev Nigel Reid 18[th] September 2024

Samuel Walker 18[th] September 2024

MOUNTNORRIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND

Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of 31[st] December 2023

Fixed Assets

The Congregation owns the Church Building and Session House situated at 43 Main Street, Mountnorris, ARMAGH BT60 2TS and Church Hall situated at 54 Main Street, Mountnorris, ARMAGH BT60 2TS and the associated fixtures and fittings. These have a combined insurance value of £1,908,567.

Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment	2023 2022
Funds	Funds	Funds
Bank & Deposit Balances
Bank & deposit balances brought forward 43,923.74	15,509.15		59,432.89 38,677.22
Excess of Receipts over Payments for the year (961.67)	14,383.55		13,421.88 20,755.67
Transfers between funds 200.00	(200.00)
Bank & deposit balances carried forward 43,162.07	29,692.70		72,854.77 59,432.89

Approved by the Kirk Session on 18[th] September 2024 and signed on its behalf by

Rev Nigel Reid

18[th] September 2024

Samuel Walker 18[th] September 2024