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2023-12-31-annual-report

TRINITY BOARDMILLS 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 (NIC105216)

TRINITY BOARDMILLS 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 2022 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

TRINITY, BOARDMILLS congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 35 CHURCH ROAD, BOARDMILLS LISBURN, Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105216)

CHARITY TRUSTEES

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

Richard Patton George Hanna Adrian Patterson Mark Conroy Trevor Scott Robert Kirk Mervyn McKeown Simon Irvine Lindsay Hanna Francis Fox JP Alastair Martin Iain Watters Jonathan Scott Jackie Kirkpatrick

PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS

Minister Rev. Richard Patton Session Clerk. Adrian Patterson Treasurer. Mark McKimm

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Winston Smyth of Smyth & Company,60 Main Street, Saintfield, Co Down. BT24 7AB

BANKERS: Danske Bank, Main Street, Saintfield, Co Down

SOLICITORS: Murlands 15 English Street, Downpatrick BT30 6AP

TRINITY BOARDMILLS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUIAL 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 congregations. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the ministers 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 or as appropriate].

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. Trinity Presbyterian Church 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.

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. Trinity Boardmills 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 purposes is:

TO KNOW GOD, FOLLOW JESUS AND LIVE IN THE SPIRIT

We are a community of people of all ages and backgrounds who gather to worship Jesus Christ. We believe that He rescues people from sin and invites them to know Him, love Him and follow Him by the power of His Spirit.

Aware of our imperfections and the many struggles we face, we place our whole trust in Jesus Christ who has rescued us through His death and resurrection and empowered us by His Spirit to live for Him.

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.

ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES

The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on several 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 (this would include Midweek and Ladies bible study times and a Sunday morning Seminar) and has a wide range of organisations including:

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Worship and prayer

The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am and 7:30. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. The evening service was reconfigured to a discussion on the Apostle’s Creed, ten commandments and the Lord’s Prayer throughout the year.

As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledged God’s gift of new life at Sacraments of Baptism and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2023 there were 174 communicant members within the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship was 90 and 35 at evening worship.

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 church members.

Mission and outreach

At a local level the congregation seeks to impact and support the community through use of its resources to run a summer sports week for example and permitting a junior football team to train using our facilities. Our Mum’s & Tots ministry is appreciated by many across our community. The Light Party in October attracts many from the local community to come and enjoy the fireworks and hear about Jesus.

Each summer a good number of young people especially go to help in other planned events, outreaches and camps both at home and abroad. The congregation takes an active interest in supporting these folk and the endeavours in which they are involved both prayerfully and financially. In addition we have a number of people connected to our congregation who are engaged in full-time Christian Service. We have an Outreach fund which enables us to support these individuals and families financially each month.

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.

The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal, PCI Sunday School project and any other special appeals.

Presbytery

The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and / or 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 were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June.

Organisations

We have an active ‘Presbyterian Women’ meeting each month with up to 30 in attendance. Girls’ Brigade and Boys’ Brigade enjoy a varied programme of exercise, sport, skills development, craft and bible study, showcased at their annual Parents’ Evenings. Girls’ Brigade have 30 members, Boys’ Brigade up to 30. Mum’s & tots attract approx 25 mums and their children each week. Bowling Club has a membership of approx 30 persons. Our ‘Pulse’ youth club attracts up to 20 children of Primary School on a monthly basis. Sunday CE and our Youth Fellowship between them attract up to 25 young people. Our Midweek and Fellowship Groups attract up to 35 usually meeting for study, fellowship and prayer and our weekly ladies Fellowship group and has an average attendance of 10-12 women.

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, 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.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The congregation’s main source of income is members’ contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 151 contributing families during the year (144 in previous year, 2022) donating a total of £77577 (£73209 in previous year, 2022)

Total Income of the congregation during the year was £151709 compared to £155893 in previous year 2022 when we received a legacy. ( Value of shares in General Investment Fund increased by £1276 in 2023)

Total expenditure decreased from £154721 in 2022 to £151979 in 2023 . (Church windows were replaced)

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 at a meeting on 14/5/2024 and signed on its behalf by:

John Torrens Adrian Patterson