an HARRYVILLE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charlty In Northern Ireland (NIC105397)
an HARRYVILLE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements ft>r the year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Harryville congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 26 Casement Street Ballymena BT42 4BY Re8iStered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105397} CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Trevor Agnew Eddie Chestnutt Eddie Crawford Martin Cubitt Jimmy Elder Alistair Fulton Maurice Fulton Lindsay Gamble Godfrey Gaston David Lorimer Cecil Mcclelland David Mccullough Trevor Mcllhagga Robert Mclntosh Danny Murray David Pattison Alex Penney Bryan Suitters John Suitters
an HARRYVILLE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Secretary Treasurer Rev Eddie Chestnutt Maurice Fulton Martin Cubitt Cecil Mcclelland INDEPENDENT EXAMINER MJM McLoughlin LLP Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors 54 Lisburn Road Belfast BT9 6AF BANKERS Ulster Bank Limited Wellington Street Ballymena Co. Antrim BT43 6AD SOLICITORS Samuel Cumming & Son 39 Linenhall Street Ballymena Co. Antrim BT43 5AJ
an HARRYVILLE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk 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. 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. Harryville congregation of the 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 bythe General Assembly, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
an HARRYVILLE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN 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, however in 2023 it commenced on 21st June. 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. Harryville 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 For God's glory equipping Christians to worship God and reach Harryville and the world for Christ. The congregation aims to live out its mission purpose 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 looklng Community: where we want the bles5ing5 of God that belong to us in the gospel to become blessings for 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, 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.
an HARRYVILLE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvd) ACTIVITIES AND OWECTIVES 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 and prayer meetings and has a wide range of organisations and other events including: Sunday School (SMJ) Youth Fellowship Boys, Brigade Parents and Toddlers First Tuesday (Presbyterian Women) Wednesday Afternoon Fellowship Coffee Morning Drop-ln Youth Club Holiday Bible Club Serve Harryville (summer activity for teenagers) Fit for Life After School Club- Harryville Primary School ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11:30 am and 6:30 pm. 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. As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledge God's gift of new life through the sacrament of baptism. Marriage services are conducted as arranged. Families are comforted at time of bereavement and funeral services are conducted. At 31st December 2023 there were 156 communicant members and 252 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 125. Pastoral care Members of the congregation are visited regularly by the elders. Any who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited by the minister. elders or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitors. In addition, where there is special need the minister will visit. Contact with members is also encouraged by telephone and other means.
an HARRYVILLE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconyd) Mission and Outreach The congregation is attively involved in the local area. Many of those who attend organisations associated with the congregation live in the surrounding area. The congregation has a special fund called 'Heart for Harryville,. All contributions to this fund go to give practical assistance to those who are in financial need and who live in the Ballymena South area of the town. Each summer 'Serve Harryville, takes place. This is an outreach led by young people. A number of practical projects are completed in the area of our town around our buildings. These projects include activities such as weed-clearin& litter picking and grass-cutting. The congregation takes an interest in a wide range of Christian missions and organisations. Speakers are invited to come to the church to raise awareness about their organisations. They are prayed for and financial donations are given. The congregation takes a special interest in 10 such organisations giving each a gift of £1,200 in 2023. They are: United For Mission {UFM) Mission Aviation Fellowship Overseas Mi55ionary Fellowship Tear Fund Florence Project Dublin Christian Mission Donabate Presbyterian Church Scripture Union Northern Ireland Christians Against Poverty Presbyterian Children's Society
an HARRYVILLE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) 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 plantin& 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 denomination's 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 one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregation and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The minister and one of our elder5 were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property The congregation owns a meeting house and church halls located on either side of Casement Street. The Church halls are in good order, but, following a Structural survey of our buildings, it was found that the main meeting house has developed substantial defects and requires major work to be carried out. As to the best way forward, this is currently being reviewed by the Kirk Session and congregational committee. The exterior of the main church building was in need of painting and repair, and it was palnted during 2023. There was further expenditure on our church halls, and the total spend on both properties amounted to a repairs and maintenance payment of £21,258. The congregation also owns a manse located at l Grange Road, Ballymena, County Antrim, BT42 2DS.
an HARRYVILLE 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. There were 186 contributors during the year 2023, compared to 186 contributors in the year 2022. Donations for the year 2023 amounted to a total of £171,721 compared to £195,322 in the prevlous year 2022. However, there were a number of legacies and gifts included in the 2022 figure. Total Income of the congregation (includingorganisations) duringthe year 2023 was £228,499 compared to £246,438 in the previous year 2022. During 2023 there was one legacy amount received for £1,000 and this was allocated to our General Fund as it was not restricted for any particular use. Total expenditure decreased from £204,162 (2022) to £196,946 (2023). Increased costs to energy providers for oil and electric light and heating in our church buildings still continue to remain at a high level as these costs have risen significantly due to the cost of living crisis. 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) 2008 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 forthe prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 26th March 2024 and signed on its behalf by: th 26 March 2024 March 2024 11