TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2023
The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for Christ Church Parish, Trillick for the year ended 31[st] December 2023.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The principle function of Christ Church Parish, Trillick is to support the advancement of the Christian religion by promoting, through the work of the Church, the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. Being open to and engaging with society as a whole and offering support for those needing help are fundamental to the practical delivery of the benefits of Christianity.
As a result of activity in the pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religion, Christ Church Parish, Trillick has custody of property and of records, materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and maintenance of which is undertaken by the Select Vestry of Christ Church Parish, Trillick.
ACHIEVEMENTS, PERFORMANCE & PUBLIC BENEFIT
The Parish of Christ Church, Trillick meet each Sunday morning for a weekly service of worship where faith is promoted and encouraged. This service is open to all across our community and beyond. A Sunday School takes place during the morning worship service. There are a number of organisations that provide recreational activities, promote social concern, foster good relations, address the need for social contact, give members a sense of belonging and mutual support, strengthen family life and also gently encourage those involved to consider the relevance and positive aspects of the Christian faith.
Our Girls’ Brigade Company meet weekly and provide an opportunity for girls to socialize, learn new skills, earn badges, be involved in wider community life and more. The girls organised a Curry Night for our combined parish group which involved them cooking, serving, cleaning up and entertaining those who attended on the night; alongside the running of a district service and taking part in the annual enrolment service.
Our parish works in partnership with a neighbouring parish in regards to the provision of children’s and youth work. Our Boys’ Club provides an opportunity for boys to meet to enjoy fun and games, crafts and educational trips, most with a faith element and they learn a new skill each week from the leaders within the club but also from outside groups such as Lifeboat Rescue and others. During the Summer we were pleased to be able to run a Holiday Club for primary school children in the community and beyond which proved to be a successful and enjoyable endeavour.
A Youth Group meet alternate weeks again to socialize, learn together, enjoy a faith element to the programme and regularly join with other youth groups from other neighbouring parishes.
The Senior Citizen’s Group meets weekly providing a time and space for those of the older generation to meet up for social, recreational and educational activities. In the rural context this can be a lifeline for many who perhaps don’t see friends much through the week. This group welcomes members from across the social and religious divide.
The Messy Kids event is organised to coincide with seasonal celebrations, such as Christmas, Easter, and Harvest. This event caters for primary school children and their families offering a programme of seasonal arts and crafts and a chance for parents to meet up.
The Mother’s Union meets monthly and provides an opportunity to socialize, hear guest speakers giving presentations on topical and current issues, trips away and hospitality.
We ran two five week Guitar for Beginners Courses during the year which was open to all across the community and many took up the chance to learn this new skill.
Throughout the year we also were able to celebrate those high points of the year; these included Easter, Pentecost, Harvest, Remembrance, Advent and Christmas. Alongside these community and seasonal celebrations, we also held baptisms, weddings, and funerals.
Our Midweek Fellowship Group meets weekly to discuss and learn about contemporary issues of faith and consider how that faith can be practically lived out. We have a weekly prayer meeting that meets to pray for the needs of our parish, community, nation and the world.
We hosted the Annual Faith Mission Rally in Trillick which has been going for many years now. We also continue to support and take part in Operation Christmas Child with the Shoe Box Appeal.
The parish offered pastoral care to those from within our congregation and if the need arose, from outside too. The pastoral care included home visits, hospital visits, residential and nursing home visits; and the needs ranged from bereavement, illness, isolation, organising baptisms, and issues of mental health.
Christ Church Parish, Trillick is a community of people of faith who support and encourage one another; with particular pastoral care and support for those in hospital, housebound or bereaved, being provided by the rector.
The church is open on request to those who come, sometimes from the other side of the world to trace their family heritage and avail of the archives we keep.
The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parish’s objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Christ Church Parish, Trillick continues to be in a healthy financial state with income reflecting the generous financial support of the parishioners who enable the life and ministry to continue. The principle source of income continues to be from donations and plate collections. Christ Church Parish, Trillick aims to retain sufficient reserves to meet its expected future expenditure requirement as well as potential future capital projects.
GOING CONCERN
The trustees have reviewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the Parish can continue its activities and the financial statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023 can be signed off as a going concern.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
GOVERNING DOCUMENT AND CONSTITUTION OF THE CHARITY
Chapter III of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parishes and Parochial Organisations. The Select Vestry members are the Charity Trustees.
RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF SELECT VESTRY (TRUSTEES)
All members of the Church of Ireland who are over the age of 18 and are either resident within the parish or live elsewhere but have been accustomed members of the congregation for at least three months, may register as members of the general vestry of the parish, allowing them to vote at meetings of the general vestry and to stand for election to the select vestry. Meetings of the General Vestry are held once a year. The Select Vestry is elected as part of this General Vestry meeting. The Select Vestry will hold their positions for a period of one year. Select Vestry members may be re-elected annually and there is no limit on the number of terms which may be served.
PAY AND REMUNERATION
The incumbent receives a stipend from RCB in accordance with figures approved by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland along with office and locomotory allowances.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Select Vestry is responsible for the day-to-day management of the parish. The Select Vestry consists of the Rector, church wardens, glebe wardens, and up to twelve other members of the General Vestry elected at the General Vestry.
The Select Vestry is chaired by the Rector or other member of the clergy officiating in the parish. Select Vestry members are responsible for making decisions on matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding how parish funds are to be applied. The Select Vestry meets at times fixed by the Rector, or during the vacancy by the Rural Dean. Special meetings may be convened at any time by the Rector or the church wardens. In 2023 the Select Vestry met four times during the year and the average attendance was over 80%.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the Statement of Receipts and Payments and Statement of Assets and Liabilities in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with income of less than £250,000 requires the trustees to prepare a statement of receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year.
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Parish’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy and at any time the financial position of the parish’s assets and liabilities. They are also responsible for the safeguarding the assets of the Parish and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.