CARROWDORE & BALLYFRENIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
Trustees Annual Report For the year ended 31 December 2022
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105219)
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CARROWDORE & BALLYFRENIS 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
Carrowdore & Ballyfrenis congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Church Road, Carrowdore, Newtownards, BT 22 2HA Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105219)
CHARITY TRUSTEES
The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were:-
Herbert Robinson James Brown John McClean Mark Lemon Samuel Wilson Alan Finlay Rev Andras Gilicze
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Minister Rev Andras Gilicze Clerk of Session Herbert Robinson Treasurer Mark Lemon
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Phil Causby
83 Stump Road, Ballywalter, Newtownards, Co Down, BT22 2NT
BANKERS
Ulster Bank
22 Frances Street, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 7DP
SOLICITORS
Russell & Co
11 Lower Mary St, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 4JJ
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CARROWDORE & BALLYFRENIS 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 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 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. Carrowdore and Ballyfrenis congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Ards 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 the congregation.
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CARROWDORE & BALLYFRENIS 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 ministers 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.
Carrowdore and Ballyfrenis 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 purpose is to help 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:
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is increasingly characterised by love for God, and love and concern for others;
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is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible;
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is relevant to people of this time and place;
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The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as a family of God’s people by being:
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A Covenant Community: where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward one another
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An Intergenerational Community: where adults intentionally take the lead to engage with, encourage and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ.
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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.
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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.
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CARROWDORE & BALLYFRENIS 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 Lord’s 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 and has a wide range of organisations including:
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Sunday School (Cool Church Kids)
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Boy’s Brigade
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Girl’s Brigade
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Mothers and Toddlers (Twinkle Tots)
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Presbyterian Women
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Indoor Bowling Club (lapsed during Covid)
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Worship and prayer
The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday morning at 11.30am. A time of midweek Bible study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of praise and prayer.
We had no Baptisms and 2 Marriages during 2022.
We gave thanks to God for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year.
At 31 December 2022 there were 92 communicant members and 148 families connected with the congregation. Following Covid and the easing of restrictions Church services resumed and attendance is steadily increasing with average attendance of 70 at in person services with others joining on the streamed service via YouTube.
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. Since Covid house visits have commenced as restrictions eased.
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CARROWDORE & BALLYFRENIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)
Mission and Outreach
At a local level the congregation is normally busy across any given week with various organizations meeting, staffed by volunteers from age 18 to those in more senior years.
We were also involved with the nearby Church of Ireland in a ‘Messy Church’ initiative which takes place in the local Community centre on the second Friday in the month, from October to June. Messy Church was cancelled during Covid however plans are underway for it to resume.
Donations to others in 2022 were made to:
| | Dementia NI | £2,351 |
|---|---|---|
| | Presbyterian Children’s Society | £130 |
| | Leprosy Mission | £160 |
| | Belfast City Mission | £332 |
| | Royal British Legion | £228 |
| | Sunday School Projects | £36 |
| | Seamens Christian Friends Society | £50 |
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 congregations in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care.
The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal and Moderators Appeal.
Presbytery
The congregation was represented at meetings of Presbytery by our minister and representative elder. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church.
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CARROWDORE & BALLYFRENIS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)
General Assembly
The minister and one of our elders normally attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June.
Property
Regular maintenance continued in 2022 but no major structural work. Plans are underway to develop an enhance the audio visual facilities within the Church and Halls complex and to continue to record Sunday services for the Church’s YouTube channel.
Organisations (and attendances)
Boys Brigade
Average attendance - 40 boys following BB program/s
Girls Brigade
Average attendance - 55 girls following GB program/s
Badminton Club
(lapsed since Covid in 2020)
Indoor Bowling Club
(lapsed since Covid in 2020)
Sunday School (Cool Church Kids)
P1 – P7 Average attendance – 10
Mothers and Toddlers (Twinkle Tots)
Average attendance - 30 Tots with parents/guardians. Varied indoor/outdoor activities.
Presbyterian Women
Average attendance - 15
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.
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CARROWDORE & BALLYFRENIS 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 notice boards, printed material, press advertisements, 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.
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CARROWDORE & BALLYFRENIS 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 109 contributing families in 2022 donating a total of £51,607, compared to 104 families and £51,379 in the previous year.
Total income of the congregation (including all organisations) in 2022 was £91,021 compared to £79,823 in the previous year.
Total expenditure of the congregation (including all organisations) in 2022 was £74,076 compared to £69,912 in the previous year.
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 congregations 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:
Herbert Robinson September 2023
Rev Andras Gilicze
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