# **MAGHERAHAMLET CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** **Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022** **Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105195)** 1 The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statement for the year ended 31 December 2022 including a statement of Assets and Liabilities at that date. ## **Reference and Administrative Details** Magherahamlet Presbyterian Church congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, 84 Magherahamlet Road, Ballynahinch, County Down, BT24 8JZ. Registered Charity in Northern Ireland NIC105195. ## **Charity Trustees** The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Mr David Whan Mr David Barr Mr Leslie Broome Mrs Margaret Broome Dr Robert Whan ## **Principal Office Bearers** Minister Vacant Clerk of Session Mr David Whan Treasurer Mrs Margaret Broome Congregational Secretary Mr David Barr ## **Independent Examiner** Stephen McKee Heanen, Stanfield & McKee, 30 Bachelor’s Walk, Lisburn, BT28 1XN ## **Bankers** Ulster Bank (NI), 1A Main Street, Ballynahinch, BT24 8AP ## **Solicitors** Murlands (Ballynahinch), 2 Dromore Street, Ballynahinch, BT24 8AG 2 ## **MAGHERAHAMLET PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND: TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **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-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 are held at least twice in each 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 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. Magherahamlet congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Down 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 each 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 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. 3 ## **MAGHERAHAMLET PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND: TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE** The charitable purpose of the Congregation is the advancement of religion. Magherahamlet 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 purpose is ‘To Know Christ and Make Him Known’ such that, by the grace of God people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. 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. - 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 join. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is observed on three occasions during the year 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. The congregation holds regular Bible study meetings and has a wide range of organisations and activities including - Sunday School - Youth Fellowship (G-Team) - Crèche - Bowling Club - Girls’ Brigade - Women’s Fellowship (Presbyterian Women) - ‘Food Angels’ Pastoral Care - Men’s Bible Study - Women’s Bible Study - Youth Week 4 ## **MAGHERAHAMLET PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND: TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** In 2022 all activities returned to normal, with just a few restrictions still in place. All organisations, including the Bowling Club, met and adapted to ensure that all regulations were adhered to. The ‘Food Angels’ continued and extended their work. Communion was held in January, May and November using individual pre-packaged wine and wafers. ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Worship and prayer** The congregation meet each Sunday morning at 11.30am. The service is recorded in our sister church on Zoom at 10am, to ensure that those who still do not feel comfortable in a crowd were not being disadvantaged. All health and safety precautions continue to be taken in line with both Government and Presbyterian Church in Ireland recommendations, but by the end of the year most restrictions were lifted but with the option of hand sanitizing, mask wearing and social distancing still available if required. ## **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, elders or by one of the congregation’s pastoral visitors, when this is not possible, phone calls are made. Hospital visits continued as permitted. ## **Mission and outreach** The congregation is situated in the midst of a rural farming community. The farming undertaken is mainly comprised of sheep, dairy and beef. Others living in the community are employed in local firms and businesses, many still maintaining farms handed down though the family. Many of those attending in the congregation travel from outside the immediate area to attend worship and the congregational organisations. The church seeks to encourage worship and outreach in the community and encourage devotion to following Christ though involving the community in its organisations and services. 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 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 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. 5 ## **MAGHERAHAMLET PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND: TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** The congregation also contributes to the denomination’s annual World Development Appeal, and other special appeals. These have included – Christian Aid; Presbyterian Children’s Society; Poppy Appeal; Local Food Bank, Moderator’s Appeal and congregational members going on a mission. ## **Presbytery** The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our Convenor and / or the representative elder. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. During 2022 Presbytery returned to their normal meeting schedule. ## **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. In 2022 the Assembly was held from 22[nd] June to 25[th] June, the representative elder was unable to attend. As part of its responsibility the Congregational Committee maintains the church graveyard, church grounds and Congregational property on behalf of the congregation. Its aim is ensure adequate facilities for the outreach and mission of the congregation and to endeavour to meet all relevant legal requirements. ## **Organisations** **Sunday School** meets on Sunday mornings at 10:45am before the Church service. It offers age-appropriate worship and Scripture teaching to children aged 4 – 16 years. In addition to the weekly programme, the Sunday School organised a Children’s Day Service on Sunday 29 May, followed by refreshments in the Church Hall. A Family Fun Day, consisting of sports day-style games, a bouncy castle and inflatable slide and a barbeque took place on Saturday 11 June and a Christmas Party was held on Saturday 17 December. **G-Team** is the congregation’s ministry for young people aged 10 – 16 and meets twice monthly on a Sunday morning to encourage fellowship among the youth of the church and to support them pastorally. The members are also encouraged to take an active role in the All-Age Services at the end of each month, including reading Bible passages and playing musical instruments. **Girls’ Brigade** - Girls’ Brigade Northern Ireland has as its Vision ‘to be recognised as a dynamic, relevant, Christcentred organisation effectively reaching out to all girls to value, nurture and equip them for life’. Its stated aim is to help girls to become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and through self-control, reverence and a sense of responsibility, to find true enrichment of life. As such it helps to further the Vision and aim of the congregation. In line with recommendations from Girl’s Brigade HQ meetings continued throughout 2022 with all the safety recommendations being adhered to. 6 ## **MAGHERAHAMLET PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND: TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **Wonder Women** (Presbyterian Women) Wonder Women are a Christian Group, affiliated to Presbyterian Women, whose aim is to bring together women of all ages from the community for fellowship and fun. They organise events throughout the year, usually around five or six, designed to suit all tastes. These events are open to all women regardless of age, culture or creed and are well advertised within the community. In March they took part in the World Day of Prayer held in Magherahamlet Parish Church and in April they welcomed Heather McCracken, hospital chaplain, as the speaker for their special service. In May there was a talk and cookery demonstration on healthy eating from a local chef and in June they held their annual Family Walk and Picnic in Castlewellan Forest Park. In September there was a Craft night, making Harvest wreaths and in October the Visitor’s night speaker was Brian Gault telling of his experiences as a survivor of Thalidomide. In November two ladies who had assisted Ukrainian refugees, one in Ukraine and one in Romania told of their experiences and in December they held their Annual Christmas Dinner. ## **Bowling Club** The Bowling Club meets weekly in the congregation from September through till May each year. It has a strong community focus and welcomes all from the local community. In addition to the regular weekly meetings social events are organised through the club assisting in the raising of funds and support for charity. The Bowling Club recommenced in October. ## **Bible Study** The twice monthly Midweek Bible & Prayer Group, alternating between Spa and Magherahamlet, looking at the previous Sunday’s sermons and then using My Heart, Christ’s Home by Robert Boyd Munger. Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday morning, in the months between September and June, a group of women meet for mutual discipleship and encouragement. The aim has been to encourage one another in seeking to apply God's will and ways into every area of busy and often stressful lives, reaching for the goal of becoming more like Christ in all relationships. They continued studying ‘Better than Eden’ by Nancy Guthrie, and then moved on to study the book of Ruth, using Ruth, Poverty and Plenty by Tim Chester. ## **Midweek Prayer Meeting.** A Prayer meeting is held in Spa Presbyterian church for both congregations on a Wednesday morning on a weekly basis during term time. Held in person or on Zoom. ## **Food Angels** This is an informal ministry which operates as part of our pastoral care programme. Meals are provided at times of stress, for example at times of ill-health, recovery or bereavement, as well as on happier, but no less demanding, times such as the birth of a child. This service continued throughout 2022. ## **Holiday/Youth Bible Week** During the first week of August a Holiday Bible Club for P1-P6 boys and girls and a Youth Bible Week for those aged P7-Year 14 was jointly organised with members from Spa Presbyterian Church and held in the Arnold Hall, Spa. Several of the older teens from both congregations look a leading role in delivering the Holiday Bible Club. 7 ## **MAGHERAHAMLET PRESBYTERIAN 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 noticeboards, printed material, press advertisement, 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 Commission’s Public benefit requirement statutory guidance. 8 Presbyter an MAGHERAHAMLEf PRESBYfERIAN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND: TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (convd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main Sour￿ of income is rneMber￿ contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 136 contributors during the year [140 in previous year, 2021] donating a total of £25,2301£25,902 in previous year. 2021) Totsl Income of the congregation during the year was £62.795 compared to £62.279 in the previous year. Total expenditure redU￿d from £60,606 in 2021 to £47,133. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILMES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial Statements of the congregation in accordance with applicable law arKI generally accepted accounting practice. As the congregations total income does not exceed £250.CMX), the Trustees have elected under Section 64{3) of the Charities Act INorthem Ireland) 2008 to prepare a receipts and Pa￿nent account and a statement of assets and liabilitie5. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to skK)w 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 hen￿ for tsking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on the 3 April 2023 and signed on its behalf by •a Mr David Whan Dr Robert Whan Date: 28 May 2023 Date: 28 May 2023