KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105198)
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Kilmore Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
6 Drumaghlis Road
Crossgar Downpatrick Co Down BT30 9JR
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC 105198)
CHARITY TRUSTEES
The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were
Miss Margaret Pentland Mr James Brownlee Mr Martin Scott Mr Dai Kennedy Mr John B Kirk Mr David Rea Mr lan Spratt
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Minister
Clerk of Session Treasurer
Reverend Mark Spratt Mr Martin Scott Mr Dermot Kelly
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
James Savage & Co
88 Listooder Road Saintfield BT24 7JX
BANKERS
Danske Bank
Donegall Square West Belfast BT1 6JS
SOLICITORS
Murlands 15 English Street Downpatrick BT30 6AP
KILMORE 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 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 congregations. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings. 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 eight times per 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. Kilmore 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, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
KILMORE 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.
Kilmore 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 congregation’s 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 God’s help and guidance, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ’s people of all ages, which:
e 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.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)
ACTIVITIES 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 during the year and all those who have been baptised and who have madea 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 including
- e Sunday School (JAM) & Youth Bible Class (CY) e 2 Youth Clubs (JAM Plus & CY Plus) ° Presbyterian Women ° Bowling Club ° CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) Senior Members Lunch e Church Choir and Praise Band e Midweek Fellowship for Prayer and Bible Study ° Annual Bible Club for children and young people
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Worship and prayer
The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am and evening service as announced. The Midweek Fellowship (on Wednesday evenings) 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 sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year through funeral services.
At 31 December 2025 there were 125 communicant members and 94 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship was 84 and 112 for special evening worship. We continue to offer on-line and CD recordings of the services.
Pastoral care
Members of the congregation who were unable to attend church due to sickness or age were visited on a regular basis by the minister or elders.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)
Mission and outreach
At a local level, the congregation supported Christian Aid, World Development Appeal, RBL Poppy Appeal, PCI United Appeal, Presbyterian Children’s Society and NI Air Ambulance. We supported local charities (Kilmore Parish Food Bank and Kids4School). We also are part of the Kilmore Community and share in the Annual Christmas Carol service.
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, 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.
Funds were also raised for a Mission Team which went to Tanzania for two weeks in 2025.
The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal at Christmas and any other special appeals.
Presbytery
The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and one ofthe 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.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)
Organisations
e Sunday School & Youth Bible Class
Each Sunday our Sunday School called JAM meet during the worship service. There was an average attendance of 8 children between the ages of 5 and 11. Itis staffed by volunteer helpers on a rota basis. CY — Church Youth (Bible Class) had average attendance of 4 and again is staffed by volunteer helpers.
- ° 2 Youth Clubs
These groups meet monthly from September to April. Younger group is for School Years 1-6; the older group Years 7-12. A time for fun, games, food, craft and bible lesson. It is open to all young folk in the community. Average attendance is 5 for the younger group and 10 for the older group. It is organised by a group of volunteers from the church.
° Presbyterian Women
This is for women of all ages in the congregation. The organisation aims to provide an opportunity for women to have fellowship with one another and to seek to win women for Jesus Christ. It also aims to encourage Christian discipleship and to foster support for local and global mission. The group usually meets monthly from September to April and has an average attendance of 20. There is an annual meeting of all PW groups held in Assembly Buildings in Belfast. The ladies attended an event organised by the Presbytery (‘PW LINK and committee’) held in Trinity Presbyterian Church, Boardmills.
e Bowling Club
The Bowling Club meets weekly from September to April. Its membership is made up of Church members and others in the community. Its aim is to provide recreational sport and has inter club matches with other local church groups. The average attendance is 18.
° CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) Senior Members Lunch. This 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 neighbourhood. Average attendance is 23.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)
° Church Choir and Praise Band. The Church choir membership of 18 normally leads worship once a month and provides special music for the main Christian Festivals e.g. Harvest, Christmas, Easter. The Praise Band lead our Services regularly when we use more contemporary praise. Made up of all age groups with membership of 10.
° Midweek Fellowship for Prayer and Bible Study — This group meets from September to Easter. Up to 28 people met for in-depth Bible Study and a time of prayer. Praying for world issues, community and Church family concerns.
° Annual Bible Club for children and young people was organised in June when young people from the congregation and the community attended.
° A Family Film night was held in January
Volunteers
The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who gave freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities.
KILMORE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN 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 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, 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.
KILMORE 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 94 contributors during the year [90 in year 2024] donating a total of £52,089 (£49,676 in year 2024)
Total Income of the congregation during the year was £119,521, compared to £127,646 in the year 2024.
Total expenditure for 2025 was £114,396 and £114,344 for 2024.
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 the Kirk Session at a meeting on on
----- Start of picture text -----
Approved by the the Kirk Session at a meeting on on ‘and signed on its behalf by
Name {> oS, Name a |
Date 23/4] 26 Date 25/ a) Lé-
----- End of picture text -----