an FIRST LIMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBrfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered a)arlty In Northern Ireland INIC1055551
an FIRS[ UMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PREs8YfERIAN CHURCH IN IREiAND TftuEEs ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Staternents forthe year ended 31 Decernber 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilitles as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAIiS First Limavady Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Church Stree¢ Limavadv Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC105555) cHARy TrUStEES The CharityTrustees who served during the year or who We trustees atthe date of thÉs report were L Cubitt W Deehan WGUY K Keys N Keys O Martin O Martin A Mcconnell M Mccully N Murphy O Murphy J Pearson S Pearson D Shie15
an PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister A Mcconnell Clerk of Session M Mccullv Treasurer L Young
Presbyter an FIFL5T UMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSfEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) INDEpENDEP EXAMINER Mark Donagtrry.. Lima*ad¥. W4KEFL5 Ulster Bank. Catherine Street Limavao Danske Bank. Catherine StJeet. Limavady soucrroR5 R G Connell & Son, Main Street. iimav
an FIRsf UMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PRE5BYtERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT I¢(t'd) srRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk Sesslon The charity trustees of the congregation are the member5 of its Kirk Session. Under the congregation's governing dcurnent. The Code, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. the Kirk Session seeks to Ivatch over and promote the spiritual interest of the congwation and of persons not connected with arry COnggation who are within tts bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the Chufch to Christian witness and service in the local community. The Kirk Session5 has delegated to its Congregational Comrnittee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Member5 of the Kirk Session are ex-officio rnembers of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the ruling elder5 of the congregations. All members are entitled to prowse, Speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderdtor, the minister5 in active duty in the congreption. has no deliberative but only a casting vote. ststed meetings of the Kirk session were held 10 time5 in 2023. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person must be a voting rnember 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 rf they obtain twtrthirds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of govemance the corFM)rate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Psbvtery which superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. First Lirnavady congreKation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Colernine and Lirnavady Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Iland. The membership of the Presbytery consists rnainly of the active ministers of congregations assigned to it by the Generdl Assembly, minsters who hove retr.red frorn active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
Presbyter an FIRsf UMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUStEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) The General Assembly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the thurch, 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 v*ek in June for worship and to conduct its business. At the end of business it is dissolved. The MberShIp of the Genernl Assembly consists mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired minsters and a PresentatiVe elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advantement of religion. First Limavady 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 horUr God through fatth 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 ourworld. The congregations mission purposes is- by the grace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. to teach. to witness: to reflect Christ in our church and in the community- passion for Christ al compassion for people. The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision us ofomily of GS people by being.. A Covenant Family.. where our faith is moted in Christ and the promises of God and in sharing our faith with one another A Worshipping Family: where young and old engage together learning from each other what it is to live in God's kingdom with humility and love. A Missionary Family: where we join in prayer and witness for the blessings of God to fall upon others in the church and into the 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 Confe55ion of Faith, alon8 Wlth the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key marters of Christian faith and practice.
Presbyter an FIRS[ UMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYtERIAN CHURCH IN IREiAND TRU5fEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) AcllviTIES AND OBJEcfivES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are vlcOme to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Svpper is observed on several occasions during the year and all those who have been bapti5ed and who have made a profession of fatth in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The congregation holds weekly bible study and prayer Meetings and has a wide rdnge of organisations including Sunday School Youth Fellowship Girls and Boys Brigade Bowling aub Junior Christian endeavour Ladies Bible studies Presbyterian Women Elderly FrierM4ship Hour A(IIIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Wor51Mp and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 12 N¢)on and 7.00pm. During the week every Thursday evening there is an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study scriptures and for a time of prayer. As well as our regular services during the year acknowledged God's gift of new life we had no Sacrdment of Baptism. we conducted I marriage services and we regularly prdv for those who have been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2023 there Yre 250 communicant members and 191 families connected with the conggations. The average week attendance at morning vmrship is {85] Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are vistted on a regular basis by the minister, elders or by one of the congrerdtion's pastoral visttor5.
Presbyter an FIRST LIMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEE5 ANNUAL REPOFif (cont'd) Mlssion and outreath At a local level the congregation are involved in various missionary activities. We have been partnering for the last 13 years with a Presbyterian Church in Malawi. We also hold evangelistic missions in May and are currently meeting to organise a mission in August as well. We are also associated with CEF Europe; Samaritans Purse Northern Ireland. Leprosy Mission and Christian Aid.
an FIR LIMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBrfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'dl The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a centfal fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enabSes congregations to support the wider rnission of the denornination and to do mission and outreach on a denorninational basis 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 planting, provides grant supwrt for the upkeep of church premises, assist with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's trdining college for ministry 5tudent% and financially supports congregation in the areas of worship, discipleship. global rni55ion, outreach, leadership and pastordl care. The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Developn*nt Appeal, Sunday School project and any other special appeals. Presbytery The congregation vrds represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and l or one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. General Assernbly The minister and one of our elders were nominated to attend the meeting of the Generdl Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembfy Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property During 2023 small repair5 and maintenance were carried out to our propertie5. Organisations On every other Sunday rrnIng Junior Christian endeavour meet with 14 primary school children and 3 leaders. On Wednesday evening Girls Brigade meet with approximately 60 girls and on Friday evening Boys Brigade meet with approximately 50 boys. Sunday School meet every Sunday rnoming at 10.45 am with approx 35 children and 8 teacher5. The Bowling Club meet on Tuesdays.
an FIRsf LIMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRuEE5 ANNUAL REPORT Icont'dl Volunteers The Trustee5 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 benefft requirement by providing benefft to its members and the general public by rnaking 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 a5 set out in the Bible and in the Church's subordinate stsndards (the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorterand Larger Catechisms) leading to spiritual and moral developrnent and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework leads to practical expressions of Christian beliefs and standards in the local comrnunity 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 mernbers, or are facilitated through presbyterie5 or are organised and delrvered centrally. LcKal delivery is facilitated by central resources in almost all (ases. Public access is mède known through the use of noticeboard5, printed material, press advertisement, websites, and social media or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrnted through regular evaluation of the serdices and informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their families, and members of the public. The purpose does not lead to harrn. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is lated to Ministers, Missionaries, Deaconesses. Irish Mission workers and Lay 4gent5 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 pastordl services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland. and worldwide which benefit from our engagement with io
an FIR LIMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHUR(11 IN IRELAND TRUSTEE5 ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) 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. li
an FIRSF UMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYtERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRU5fEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'dl FINANCIAL REVIEW 2023 marked a retum to net surplus on the generdl unrestricted fund as incomes rose from all SoUeS in the vlake of COVID 19 restrictions. Despite rising costs the generdl fund returned a surplus of £ll.Sll (deficit £358 - 20221. In particular donation5 increased by 12.2% to £74656 from £66542 in 2022, and closing bank balances were £40.772. The stronger perfomiance of the congregational restricted funds was the main factor in the restricted funds Surplus of £19.1781£9,$65 in 2022 excluding transfers to investments). Trnding income was rnuch stronger than 2022. and other income SOUTce5 We also ahead of the prioryear. De5PTte donations to organizations growing year on year, restrirted funds of organizations continue to decline. although in 2023 the deficit was reduced to £963 compared to £2.409 in 2022. Some OT¥anizations fared better than other5 in a climate of rising costs. and it VRS pleasing to see the Church's children's organizations of GB. BB and Sunday School collective return to a better financial perforrnance than 2022. The Church's irNestrnents continue to 5trenthen and increased value I2. during 2023. 12
Presbyter an FIRST LIMAVADY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYtERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) srATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILMES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation in a¢¢Ordan with applicable law and generally accepted accounting prdctice. As the congrerdtions totol income does not exceed £250,000. the Trustees have elected under Section 64{31 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 208 to prepa a receipts and payment account and a ststement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees are resw>nsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are Sufficient to show and explain the congregation's transartions and disclose with reasonable accuréry at any time its financial p)sition. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence fortaking reasonable steps forthe prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on and signed on its behalf by [Name] IDate] /k) AI6L Ig/7/2 12