an GLASTRY 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 (NIC105227)
an GLASTRY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustee5 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 DEfAILS Glastry Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 40 Manse Road Kircubbin BT22 IDR Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105227) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were: Mr. James Warnock Mr. James Woods Mr. Colin Nixon Mr. William Mcclements Mr. Samuel Warnock Mr. James Mcclements Snr Mr. David McKee Mr. Paul Warnock Mr. James Mcclements Mr. William Taylor PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev. Andras Gilicze Mr. James Mcclements Mr. David McKee INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jackson Andrews Andras House 60 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7ET BANKERS Ulster Bank 22 Frances Street Newtownards BT23 7DP
an GLASTRY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) SOLICITORS Russell & Co 11 Lower Mary Street Newtownards BT23 4JJ STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Sesslon 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 *rvice 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, except that the Moderator, the ministers in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a castin8 vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held at least 12 times a year. To be chosen for the office of the elder5hip in the congre8ation 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. Glastry 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 minister5 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.
an GLASTRY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT (conyd)" The General Assembly {cont'd) 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. Glastry 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 purpose5 are to "Serve God with Gladness" is increasingly characterised by lovefor 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 ond ploce. The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as afamily 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 odults intentionally take the lead to engage with, encourage ond nurtu 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 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, ond that the Westminster Confession of Foith, olong with the Larger and Shorter Cotechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice] ACTIVITIES AND OBJEcfivES 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.
an GLASTRY CONGREGATION OF THE PRES8YfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES (convd) The congregation holds regular bible study meetin8s and has a wide range of organisations including: Sunday School Bible Class Youth Fellowship Youth Club Boys Brigade Friendship Club Presbyterian Women ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for time of prayer. As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledged God's gift of new life at the Sacraments of Baptism, we conducted marriage services and gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2022 there were 89 communicant members and 119 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 90. 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. Mlssion and outreach At a local level the congregation reaches out through Boy's Brigade and Youth Club and making the premises available for community groups. It also participates in inter-denominational services during the year. 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, a55iSts 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.
an GLASTRY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (cont'd) The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal, 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. Property There was major expenditure during 2022. The kitchen in the Church Hall was refurbished and new equipment installed. The pathways in the graveyard were replaced and disability accessible toilet facilities installed in the Church. Organlsatlons Sunday School meets during the church service. There are 35 members on the roll. As well as teaching based on the Bible they attend major events organised by the denominations. Bible Class meet5 during the church service with 10 members on the roll. Youth Fellowship meets once a month with membership broadly overlapping with Bible Class, The members attend special events in the area and enjoy social outings with the leaders. The Boys Brigade, (Anchor Boys, Junior Section and Company Section) meet separately on Monday and Wednesday nights with a total of around 60 boys attending. As well as teaching from the bible, the boys play games and attend competitions at a regional level and have outings throughout the year. Friendship Club meets every other Tuesday for lunch and fellowship. About 14 come to each meeting. Each year there are two outings organised. Around 18 attend Presbyterian Women who meet monthly. The programme includes Bible Study, craft evenings and talks from visiting speakers. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by seNing on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities.
an GLASTRY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) PUBUC 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 beliets 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 Commission's Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
an GLASTRY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contribution5 through the Weekly Freewill Offering and interest received from the Glastry Presbyterian Church Trust Fund. There were 145 contributors during the year (150 in previous year, 20211 donating a total of £31,523 (£32,659 in previous year, 20211. Total Income of the congregation during the year was £191,315, compared to £124,903 in the previous year. Total expenditure increased from £IIJO,018 to £208,594. This was because of refurbishment work carried out on the property. 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(31 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 disc105e 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 J - '2Jand signed on its behalf by: David McKee Trustee James Mcclements Trustee J4Lfv& Date: lo