an IRVINESTOWN 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 DEfAILS Irvinestown congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 27 Mill Street, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh BT94 IGR Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC1055371 CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who senied during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Rev Gunther Andrich Mr Frank McKee Mr Kenneth Hunter Mrjohn Kerr Mr Robert Pearson Mr Thomas Laird (Deceased 21st No¢ 2023) Mrjohn Dickey Mr Harold McKee Mr Laurence Smith Mrs Linda Wray PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev. Gunther Andrich Mr Kenneth Hunter Mr Laurence Smith INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Hamill Mcllwaine 28-30 Old Mounffield Road Omagh BT79 7BJ BANKERS Ulster Bank 16 Darling Street, Enniskillen BT74 7ER Co Fermanagh
an IRVINESTOWN CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conVd} 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 pSace in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and service in the local community. The Kirk Sessions 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 casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held at least twice in each year or as appropriate. 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 Ft by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Irvinestown congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Omagh 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, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
an IRVINESTOWN CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYTERIAN 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. 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. Irvinestown 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. Situated in the town of Irvinestown, the Presbyterian Church is well placed to play a vital role in that communty. Irvinestown Presbyterian Church has stood on its present site since 1848 and was completely rebuilt in 2009 increasing its capacity to 160-200 from a maximum of 80 in the old building. The adjoining Church Hall and toilets were refurbished in 2014. All of the cost of the new build and refurbishment work has been paid and the Church is debt free. The Congregation consists of 95 families from Irvinestown, Kesh and Ballinamallard villages and the surrounding countryside. Organisations connetted to the Church are Girls Brigade, Presbyterian Women, Youth Group, Bible Study Group and the Friday Lunch Club (open to and enjoyed by all denominations). Mission Statement We are here to worship and serve God through our devotion to Church service, our prayers and in study of the Bible. In serving God it is our objective to bring the message of Christ to as many people as Possible, and be a source of caring for others. The Charitable purpose of the Congregation is the advancement of the word of God.
an IRVINESTOWN CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd) To fulfil our mission Irvinestown Congregation seeks to; Bring people to saving faith in Jesus Christ and to prepare and motivate them for active membership in His Church. Teach, enable and empower people to grow in Christ-like character and Christian living. Send people out to live their everyday lives both at home and overseas as fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. AcfiviTIES AND OBJEcfivES Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship every Sunday at 11.00am. Wisitors are always welcome at any of our services. The sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on four occasions during the year and regular prayer study meetings are also held. As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledged God's gift of new life at Sacraments of Baptism, marriage services and gave thanks for faithful seniices and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend Sunday Worship due to sickness or age are visited on a regular basis by the elders. Mission and outreach These are maintained by the various Organisation's run bythe congregation e.g. Girls Brigade, Bible Study, Presbyterian Women and also the Friday Lunch Club which is cross community and run by volunteer members of congregation. The lunches are held during term time and the meals are cooked by the local School Meals Staff. The cost of the meals only covers the expense of preparing them and they are well supported.
Presbyter an IRVINESTOWN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) 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, 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 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, although this year the General Assembly did not meet in public due to Covid-19. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with Organisation's and other church activities.
an IRVINESTOWN CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd) PUBUC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefrt 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 noticeboards, printed material, press advertisement, websites, and social media or in other ways. The benefrts 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 benefrt 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 contatt 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 Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
an IRVINESTOWN CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. Total donations from the congregation during the year for Freewill offering amounted to £35,627 {2022: £35,256}. Total Income of the congregation during the year was £63,541 (2022: £63,111}, which was an increase compared to the prior year. Total expenditure decreased in the year. The total expenditure was £58,093 (2022: £69,369). STATEME 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 6413} of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland} 2018 to prepare a receipts and payment account and 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 for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 20 April 2024 and signed on its behalf by Rev Gunther Andrich Kenneth Hunter