LECKPATRICK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105539) LECKPATRICK 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 2024 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as atthat date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS Leckpatrick congregation of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland 40 Berryhill Road, Artigarvan, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, BT82 OHN Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105539) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served durlng the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Rev. R N Orr Mr D.J. Patterson Mrs Clyde Mrs G Heywood Mr P Fulton Mrs L Buchanan PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Mrs E.W. Patterson Mr G King MrsA Miller Mrj Boyd Mrs Pjones Mrs E Keys Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev. R N Orr Mrs Clyde Mrs Clyde INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mrs Ashlene Henderson, 11 Millhaven, Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone BT82 9FG BANKERS Ulster Ban1(, 29 Abercorn Square, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, BT82 8AL SOLICITORS Babington, 74 Railway Street, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, BT82 8EQ LECKPATRICK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Ifirk Session The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Underthe 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 connetted with any congregation who are wlthln Its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place in the congregation and seeks to furtherthe contribution of the Church to Christian witness and service in the local community. The Kirk Session5 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 Comrnittee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minlster and the rullng elders of the congregations. All members are entltled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister in act5ve duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a castin8 Vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held at least 4 times in each year or as appropriate. To be chosen for the office of the elder5hip in the congregatlon 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 generallythe spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Leckpatrick congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Derry and Donegal 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. LECKPATRICK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conYd) The General Assembly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, representing in one bodythe whole Church and acting as its supreme legislative, admlnistration and judicial authority, in dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly is normally constituted In the month of June for worship and to conduct its busines5. It is constituted on a Wednesday, and then closed on the Saturday afternoon. At the end of business, it is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the actlve ministers of each congregation, retlred minsters and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTIQN AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. Leckpatrick congregation of the Presbyterian Ch urch is a congregation of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church In Ireland, a5 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 to exist to see Jesus, name glorified in all we do. We want to tell others about God's transforming gift of salvation through our preaching and in the demonstration of the loving welcome that Jesus had towards others. We are committed to encouraging everyone to grow deeper In their faith and to demonstrate that in their homes, In their places of work and throughout the commur]Ity. The congregation Gim5 to live out its Mission and Vision t7s afamily of God's people by being." A Covenant Community." where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by livingfaithfully toward him und toward one another An Intergenerational Community.. where adults intentionally tuke the lead to engage with, encourage and nurture younger members to maturity 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 community. As a congregution of the Presbyterian Church in IrelL7nd, we believe that the Bible is the supreme authority over all we do. and that the Westminster Confession of Faith, olong LECKPATRICK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) with the L(7rger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christianfaith 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 normally on two or three 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 meetin85, a weekly prayer meeting and has a wide range of organisations including Sunday School Mums and Tots P.W. (Presbyterian Women) Tuesday Club Bowling Club Girls Brigade Boys Brigade ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am (10.30am duringjuly and August). We now have a combined Service with our linked congregation of Donagheady overthe summer months, altematlng July and August. Duringthe week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to studythe 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 Sacraments of Baptism, we gave thank5 for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2024 there were 254 communicant members and 164 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship was 111, the same as in 2023. Pastoral care Member5 of the congregation who are unable to attend church dueto sickness or age are visited on a regular basis by the minister, elders or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitors. LECKPATRICK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) Mission and outreach At a local level the congregation works locally through the organisations of the church in outreach to the community. Many of those attending the organisations come from outside our church fellowship with Mums and Tots continuing to reach out to the wider community, to those of faith and no faith. It has been a safe place for Parents to come and Share their experiences and we have worked alongside the local Nursery school to try and support its intake. The Tuesday Club's programme of guest speakers on topics relevant to the health and welfare of the members has been open to the wider comrnunity to provide support and advice for those in later Ilfe. The organisations have also supported many charities overseas wlth some of our members going to Romania with the Smiles Foundation on a Mission Trip or by sponsoring children through Compassion UK. The congregatlon 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 denomlnational basls beyond what the congregation could do on Its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for rnission personnel at home and overseas, assists congregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church plantlngl provides grant support for the upl