KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charlty In Northern Ireland (NIC105198) KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Flnancial Statements forthe year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Kllmore Congregatlon of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland 6 Drumaghlis Road Crossgar Downpatrlck Co Down BT30 9JR Reglstered Charity In Northern Ireland {NIC 1051981 CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served durlng the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Miss Margaret Pentland Mr Martin Scott Mrjohn B Klrk Mr lan Spratt Mr James Brownlee Mr Dai Kennedy Mr David Rea
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Reverend Mark Spratt Mr lan Spratt. Mr Dermot Kelly INDEPENDENT EXAMINER James Savage & Co 88 Listooder Road Saintfield BT24 7JX BANKERS Danske Bank Donegall Square West Belfast BTI 6JS SOLICITORS Murlands 15 Engllsh Street Downpatrick BT30 6AP
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Se55ion The charity trustees of the congregatlon are the members of its Kirk Session. Under the congregation's governing document, The Code, the book of the constltution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual Interest of the congregatlon and of persons not connected with any congregation who are wlthln Its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place In the con8regation and seeks to further the contrlbutlon of the Church to Christian witness and servlce in the local community. The Kirk Sesslon has delegated to its Congregational Commlttee the temporal affalrs of the congregation including admlnlsterlng all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Klrk Session are ex-officio members of the Congregatlonal Committee. The Kirk Sesslon consists of the ordained mlnlster and the rullng elders of the congregations. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exerclse equal votes at meetlngs. The Moderator, the minister in active duty In the con8regatlon, has no dellberatlve but only casting vote. Stated meetlngs of the Klrk sesslon are held eight times per year. To be chosen for the offlce of the eldership in the congregatlon 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 elther by the congregatlon or by the Kirk Sesslon. Members are elected if they obtaln two-thlrds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation 15 the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends generally the splrltual and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Kilmore Congregatlon 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, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Sesslon of the congregation.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) The General Assemblv 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 conslsts mainly of the active minlsters of each congregation, retlred minsters and a representatlve elder appointed by the Kirk Sesslon of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregatlonls the advancement of religlon. Kilmore Congregatlon of the Presbyterian Church Is a congregatlon of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church wlthln the wider body of Chrlst is grounded In the Scrlptures, and exists to love and honour God through faith In HIS Son and by the power of Hls Spirlt, and to enable her members to play their part In fulfilling God's mlsslon to our world. The congregation's mlssion purp05e51s by the grL7ce of God, to help people of all ages become fully devotedfollowers of Jesus Christ. Our vlslon is, by God's help and guidance, to be an incluslve, welcoming community of Christ's people of all L7ges, whlch.. Is increasingly churacterlsed by lovefor God, and love and concern for others,. Is commltted to the historlc Christian gospel as revealed In the Bible,. Is relevant to people of this time and place. The congregatlon alms to Ilve out Its Mission and Vlslon as aft7mlly of God's people by belng.. A Covenunt Communlty.. where our relationships are rooted in the promlses of God by livingfaithfully toward him and toward one another An Intergenerational Community.. where adults intentionally take the lead to engage with, encourage Gnd nurture younger member5 to mL7turity in Christ. An Outward looking Community.. where we want the blessings of God that belong to us in the gospel to become blessingsfor 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 Chrlstian faith and prL7Ctice.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) AcfiviTIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed four times durin8 the year and all those who have been baptised and who have made a profession of falth in the Lord Jesus Chrlst are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The congregatlon holds regular bible study meetings and has wide range of organisatlons including Sunday School (JAM) & Youth Bible Class ICY) 2 Youth Clubs (JAM Plus & CY Plus) Presbyterian Women Bowling Club CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) Senior Members Lunch Church Choir and Praise Band Midweek Fellowship for Prayer and Bible Study Annual Bible Club for children and young people ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and prayer The congregation normally meets for worshlp each Sunday at 11.30am and has a monthly evening servlce at 7pm from September through to May. The Mldweek Fellowshlp (on Wednesday evenings) provldes an opportunlty for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the 5cripture5 and for a time of prayer. As well as our regular services durlng the year we sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year through funeral services. At 31 December 2023 there were 136 communicant members and 101 famllles connected with the congregatlon. The average weekly attendance at morning worshlp was 80 and 47 for evenin8 worshlp. We contlnue to offer on-llne and CD recordings of the servlces. Pastoral care Members of the congregatlon who were unable to attend church due to sickne55 or age were visited on a regular basis by the mlnlster or elders.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) Mlssion and outreach At a local level, the congregation Supported Christian Ald, Moderator's Appeal, RBL Poppy Appeal, Samaritan's Purse Shoebox Appeal, PCI United Appeal and Presbyterian Children'5 Soclety. We also are part of the Kilmore Community and share in the Annual Christmas Carol service. The congregation supports the United Appeal for Misslon which is a central fund of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregatlons to support the wider mission of the denomlnation and to do mission and outreach on a denomlnatlonal basls beyond what the congregatlon could do on its own. The Unlted Appeal Fund provldes financial support for m1551on personnel at home and overseas, asslsts congregatlon5 With the deployment of locally based staff, enables church planting, provides grant SUPPOrt for the upkeep of church premises, asslst with the running costs of Unlon Theologlcal College, the Church's tralnlng college for mlnlstry students, and flnanclally supports congregation In the areas of worship, discipleshlp, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. The congregatlon also contrlbutes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal at Chrlstmas and any other speclal appeals. Presbytery The congregatlon was represented at the regular meetlngs of Presbytery by our minister and one of the elders. This provide5 an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The minister and one of our elders were nomlnated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) Organisations All organlsatlons resumed after covid. Sunday School & Youth Bible Class Each Sunday our Sunday School called JAM meet durlng the worship service. There was an average attendance of 6-8 children between the ages of 5 and 11. It is staffed by volunteer helpers on a rota basis. CY- Church Youth {Bible Class) had average attendance of 6 and again is staffed by volunteer helpers. 2 Youth Clubs These groups meet monthly from September to Aprll. Youn8er groupls for School Years 1-6; the older group Years 7-12. A tlme forfun, games, food, craft and bible lesson. It15 open to all youngfolk In the community. Average attendance 15 8 forthe younger group and 9 forthe older group. Itls organised by a group of volunteers from the church. Presbyterlan Women This Is for women of all ages in the congregation. The organlsatlon alms to provlde an opportunlty for women to have fellowship with one another and to seek to wln women for Jesus Christ. It also alms to encourage Chrlstian discipleship and to foster support for local and global mission. The group usually meets monthly from Septemberto April and has an average attendance of 15. There15 an annual meeting of all PW groups held In Assembly Buildings In Belfast. The ladies attended an event or8ani5ed by the Presbytery ('PW LINK and committee,) held in the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahlnch. An outing wa5 arranged for 'The Ark, Chrlstmas Fayre in St Anne's Cathedral Belfast. Bowllng Club The Bowling Club meets weekly from Septemberto Aprll. Its membershlp Is made up of Church members and others In the communlty, Its alm Is to provlde recreational 5POrt and has Inter club matches with other local church groups. The average attendance Is 18, CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) Senior Members Lunch. Thi5 group meets September to April on the first Wednesday of each month for a Three course lunch of Soup, Dessert and Tea/Coffee, It is an opportunity for older members and their friends to meet for food, conversation and a short epilogue. It is supported by our own congregation and others from the nelghbourhood. Average attendance 15 16.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) Church Choir and Pralse Band. The Church choir membership of 15 normally leads worship once a month and provide5 special muslc for the main Christlan Festivals e.g. Harvest, Chrlstmas, Easter. The Praise Band lead our Services regularly when we use more contemporary praise. Made up of all age groups with membershlp of 7. Midweek Fellowship for Prayer and Bible Study-This group meets from September to Easter. An average of 20 people met for in-depth Blble Study and a time prayer. Praylng for world issues, community and Church family concern5. Annual Bible Club for children and young people was organised in June when young people from the congregation and the community attended. Soclal Commlttee organlsed an outlng to Castlewellan Forest Park for the young people of the congregatlon, A Family Film night was held in January, Volunteers The Trustee5 wlsh to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who gave freely of thelr time by serving on committee5 and helping with organlsations and other church actlvities.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) 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 galnlng of an understanding in Chrlstian beliefs as set out In the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards (the Westmlnster Confesslon of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms) leadingto splrltual and moral development and opportunltles for response to Blble teaching. In turn, thls framework leads to practlcal expressions of ChrSstlan belief5 and standards In the local community such as through the care of those In need (Includingthe sick, disabled and bereaved). Generally the above benefits are delivered locally by congregations and thelr members, or are facilltated through presbyteries or are organlsed and dellvered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources In almost all cases. Public access Is made known through the use of notlceboardsi printed materlal, press advertlsement, websites, and soclal media or In other ways. The beneflts are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the servlces 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 Mlni5ters, Mlsslonaries, Deaconesses, Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents who receive benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. However, thls is incidental and necessary In order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneflciarles of thls purpose are members, thelr famllies, other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Is In dlrect and indirect contact with, the community in whlch pastoral 5ervice5 are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and worldwide which beneflt from our engagement with and sUPPOrt for both Christlan and other Secular organisations, charities and Indlvidual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requlrement statutory guidance.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's maln source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 96 contributors during the year [103 in year 2022] donating a total of £49,565 {£47,957 In year 20221 Total Income of the congregatlon during the year was £113,424, compared to £104,242 in the year 2022. Total expendlture for 2023 was £122,839 and £108,556 for 2022, STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responsible for preparlng the annual report and the flnancial statements of the congregatlon 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 Sectlon 64{3) of the Charlties Act (Northern Ireland) 208 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and Ilabllltles. The Trustees are responslble for keeplng adequate accounting record5 that are sufficient to show and explaln the congregation's transactions and dlsclose with reasonable accuracy at any time Its financlal position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregatlon and hence for taklng reasonable steps for the prevention and detectlon of fraud and other irregularltles. Approved by the Kirk Sesslon at a meetlng on 14 and slgned on Its behalf by Name Date Date zs 4. Lit