# **ESKYLANE 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 NIC105310** 1 ## **ESKYLANE 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 2023 including a Balance Sheet as at that date.** ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** **Eskylane congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland: Steeple Road, Antrim, Co. Antrim, BT41 2LW.** **Registered Charity in Northern Ireland: NIC105310** ## **CHARITY TRUSTEES** **Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were:** **William Brian Boyd Francis Coulter Samuel McKee John Todd** ## **PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS** **Minister Rev William Brian Boyd Clerk of Session Mr John Todd Treasurer Mr Francis Coulter** **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mr Alexander Chestnutt 2 Braeside Gardens Antrim, BT41 1HB** **BANKERS Danske Bank Limited 42 High Street Antrim BT41 4AP** 2 ## **ESKYLANE 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 also 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 three times per year in January, May and September with meetings at other times as required. 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. ## **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. Eskylane Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Ballymena 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 each 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 ministers and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. 3 ## **ESKYLANE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT** (cont’d) ## **DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE** Eskylane 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. 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. The congregation's mission purpose is: to _bring the people of our district together so that they may worship God, make a commitment to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and share in fellowship, and to equip and mobilise them for effective Christian witness in the local community and beyond._ ## **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 three occasions during the year (January, May and September) 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 prayer and Bible study meetings and has a range of organisations including: - Sunday School - Christian Endeavour - Presbyterian Women ("PW") ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Worship and prayer** The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10:30am. On Wednesday evening the Bible Study and Prayer Meeting provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship with Kells Congregation, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. The meeting is hed in Eskylane the first Wednesday of the month andthe rest of the month in Kells. At 31 December 2023 there were 36 communicant members and 41 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship was 34. ## **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 and/or elders. ## **Mission and outreach** At a local level the congregation is involved in mission activities throughout the year. ## **Organisations** **Sunday School** did not meet during 2023. **Christian Endeavour** was held on Thursday evenings and was combined with Kells CE. There were 34 on the register with 6 leaders. The children ranged in ages from 4 years to 9 years in the Junior group. The Senior group consisted of 10 year olds and upwards. The Junior Group worked from Go Teach Book. The Seniors used CEF resources. We all met together for Opening Prayers in the Hall. Then we divided into our own groups. The Juniors started off with:- Noah’s Ark,accompaned by follow up sheets, Power Point was used, Art and craft linked in for a Wall Display, They learned Memory verses, Recapped by means of assorted quizzes, They all took part with the Prayer Bear for our 4 ## **ESKYLANE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT** (cont’d) Chain Prayer, Rainbow Promise to Noah, Pumpkim Patch and activities……end of October, God’s wonderful world, Mr Duddy giving a talk at Creavery School, Night Sky information,Recap on story of Creation,Christmas story and follow up activities, Tower of Babel plus implications….what to learn from the story, The Lost Sheep, Going over the Ten Commandments, CE Promise. Preparations for the Joint Sunday Service at Eskylane was made. This Service was well supported as the numbers attending showed. The Seniors introduced and organised the Service. Both Groups carried out the singing. Invidual Seniors did Prayers and the Bible Readings. The Juniors read out their Chain Prayers and Memory Verses. Two Senior girls performed Violin Duets. Follow up work and activities - Come Learn Book 1. Assorted quizzes, Art and craft associated with the stories, Memory verses, Singing choruses and Chain prayers We sent money to help : - The Leprosy Mission, MAF, Dublin Family Outreach, Bethel Community Outreach for Yvonne Malaika, Contribution for the Christmas party in Ksijjagirwa, Uganda, and Crosshill View Ministries. ## **Presbyterian Women** PW started 2023 with a coffee morning.The Speaker was Liam Logan from “ Joy Foundation”, who do a great work suppling food and clothing and also proclaiming God’s word. February’s coffee morning was taken by Wesley Kerr from “Life Line Ministries” He was just back from spending 3 months in Kenya ,where much work is being done helping street children. The PW service in March was taken by Ester Parker, PW Pesident. After the summer break PW came back in September to a new theme “Being Transformed”. Beth Montgomery from “Asia Link”told us about the ongoing work in Mongolia. It was good to have a Harvest Supper in October after a break of 3 years owing to covid. John Porter,Rev. Boyd And Hamme Family provided an excellent programme. An offering was taken up for missionary work. November coffee morning was taken by Dr. Brian Smith from “Fields of Life”. All meetings have been very well attended. 24 shoe boxes were delivered to the collection point and money raised. Local Missions are being supported. ## **Other Outreach** We have a close association with Majed and Anna Tinawi who work in Poland and with Jonathan Reid who works locally. We also support financially and prayerfully a number of missionary societies who work both in Ireland and abroad. 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 carry out 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. ## **Presbytery** The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and one of the elders (Mr Samuel McKee). This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. 5 ## **ESKYLANE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT** (cont’d) ## **General Assembly** The minister attended the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. **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 notice boards, 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 only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to Ministers, Missionaries, and Employees 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. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The congregation's main source of income is members' contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 33 contributors during the year compared to 31 in 2022 donating a total of £24,719 (£25,208 in 2022), excluding Gift Aid. Total income of the congregation during the year was £43,796, compared to £43,217 in the previous year. Total expenditure increased to £50,917 in 2023 from £37,581 in 2022. ## **RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom 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) 2008 to prepare a receipt and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities. 6 ## **ESKYLANE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT** (cont’d) 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 and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session on 20[th] February 2023 and signed on behalf by: John Todd Clerk of Session Francis Coulter Treasurer 7