an GLASTRY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Reglstered Charlty In Northern Ireland (NIC105227)
an GLASTRY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS 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 durlng the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were: Mr. James Warnock Mr. James Woods Mr, Colln Nixon Mr. William Mcclements Mr. William Taylor Mr. James Mcclements Snr Mr. David McKee Mr. Paul Warnock Mr. James Mcclements PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minlster Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev. Andras Gilicze Mr. James Mcclements Mr. David McKee INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mr. Bryan Friar GMCG Chartered Accountants Alfred House 19 Alfred Street Belfast BT2 8EQ 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 STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Session The charlty 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 Christlan witness and service in the local communlty. 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-officlo 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 meetlngs, 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 a year. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the con8re8ation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances, The selection of those proposed to be called to the offlce 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 ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, ministers who have retired from actbve 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) STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT {cont'd)' The General Assembly (convd) 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 mlnisters of each congre8ation, 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 Hls 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 misslon purposes are to "Serve God with Gladness" is increasingly chorocterised 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 and place. The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as afamily of God's people by being.. A Covenant Community.. where our relatlonships are rooted in the promises of God by Ilving faithfully toward him and toword one another, An Intergenerotional Community.. where adults intentionally take the lead to engage with, encourage and nurture younger members to moturity 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 communlty. As a congregotion of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible is the supreme authority over oll we do, and that the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Lorger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice] 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.
an GLASTRY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES (convd) The congregation holds regular bible study meetings and has a wide range of organisations including: Sunday School Bible Class Youth Fellowship Youth Club Boys Brlgade Presbyterian Women ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp 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 a 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 durin8 the year. At 31 December 2023 there were 89 communicant members and 119 families connected wlth 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 con8re8atlon's pastoral visltors. Misslon 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, assists 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 PRESBYTERIAN 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 con8re8ations and the wider structures of the church. General Assemblv 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 Buildin8s, Belfast, in June. Property There was major expenditure during 2023. The kitchen in the Church Hall was refurbished and new equipment Installed. Dlsability accessible tollet facillties were 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 denomination. Bible Class meets 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 Seaders. 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 teachln8 from the bible, the boys play games and attend competitions at a regional level and have outings throughout the year. Around 20 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 serving on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities.
an GLASTRY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meet5 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 beneflts which flow from the purposes of the Church Include the galning of an understanding in Christian beliefs as set out in the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards Ithe Westmlnster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms) leading to spiritual and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teachin8. 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 congregatlons 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 evaluatlon 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, Oeaconesses, 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 seniices 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 Sesslon has had regard to the Charity Commission's Publlc 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, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering and interest received from the Glastry Presbyterian Church Trust Fund. There were 150 contributors during the year {145 in prevlous year, 20221 donating a total of £33,3241£31,523 in previous year, 20221. Total Income of the congre8ation during the year was £133,854, compared to £191,315 in the previous year. Total expenditure decreased from £208,594 to £161,388. This was because less building refurbishment was carried out. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responslble 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 64131 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 accountin8 records that are sufficient to show and explain the con8re8ation's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any tlme its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the con8regation 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 // 12 419 and signed on its behalf by: f)a Iri'JQ David McKee Trustee James Mcclements Trustee Date: Oate.. i loty