Presbyter an FIRST AHOGHIiL CONGREGATION OF THE PRES8YfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNiIAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements hr the year ended 31 December 2023. REFERENCE AND ADMINisfRATIVE DAlL$ Flr5t Ahoghill congregatlon of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland 274 Galgorm Road. Aho8hill Ballymena BT42 IJU RÈ8lStered Charity in Northern Ireland INIC105602) CHARITY TRUSTEES The CharityTrustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of thls report were: Thomas Bo Roy Boyd james Crabbe john Crawford Jame5 Erwln Brian Gilmer Trevor Gllmer Wllllam Graham Davld Ha es Wllllam Hill Desmond Kernohan Joseph KÈrnohan Robert Logan Robert Mccord Wllliarn McDonald James McDowell Steven McDowell Gavin McFarland John McKa Desmond Mcmlllen Joseph Mcmullan Gaireth Mllls Rev Mark Neill Davld Shaw Leslle Shaw lan Small James Small Samuel Small James Turtle Ro Wilson PRINCIPAL OFFICE 3EARERS Mlnlster Clerk of Sesslon Treasurer Rev. Mark Nellly Mr Robert Mccord Mr Garreth Mllls INDEPENDENTEXAMINER John Flnnegan Potter FinnÈgan Limited Unit 25 The Courtyard 8uslness Park 190 Galgorm Road Ballymena BT42 IHL BANKERS Dan5ke Bank 1.2 Broadway B311ymena BT43 7A4 SOLICITORS Sara Edge Solicitor5 Ballymoney Road Ballymena BT43 58Y
an FIRST AHOGHILL CONGREGAnON OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {ConVd) STRucnJRE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk Sesslon The charitytrustees of the eonEregatlon are the members of its Kirk Sesslon. Underthe congregation's governing dotum@nt, The Code. the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. the Kirksession seeks to watth over and promote the splrltual Interest of the congregatlon and of persons not connected wlth any congregatlon who are withln 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 communty. The Klrk Se55ions ha5 delegated to its Con8re8atlonal Committee the temporal affairs of the congregatlon Includlng admlnlsterlng all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Klrk Sesslon are ex-officio mèmbÈrs of thÈ Congregational Committee. The Kirk Sesslon consist5 of the ordained mlnlster and the rullng elders of the congTegatioF). All members a entitled to propose, sp@ak, and Èxercisè equal votes at meetings. except that the Moderator. the mlnisters In actlve dLÈty In the congrÈ8ation, has no deliberative but only a casting voté. ststed meetlngs of the Klrk sesslon ère held ot least 4 tlmes per year. To be chosen for the office of the eldershlp in the eon8re8ation a person must be a votlng member and a regular attendant on Its ordlnances. The selectlon of those proposed to be called to the offlce can be elther by the con8re8ation or by the Kirk session. Members are elected If they obtaln two-thirds of those who vote. Presbytary Under the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation Is the responslblllty of a Presbytery whlch 5uperlntends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregatlons asslgned to It by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Flr5t Ahoghlll PTesbytertan Church has been assi8ned to the Ballymena Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland. The membershlp of the Presbytery consists mainly of the actlve ministers of ¢on8regations assigned to it by the General Assembly, mlnlsters who have retired from a¢tNe duty and an elder appolnted by the Klrk Sesslon of each coniregatlon. The General Assemblv The Gèneral Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, representlng In one body the whole Church and actlng as Its supreme le8islative. administration and judicial authority. In deallngwlth all matters brought before it. The General Assembly 15 normally constituted durin8 a week in June for worship and to condutt 5ts bu51ne55. At the end of business, it is dissolved. The membershlp of the General Assembly cons] malnSy of the artfve mlnisters of each congregatSon, retlfed mlnsters and representatlve elder appolnted by the Kirk Sesslon of each congregatlon. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE Fir5tAhoghill Presbyterian Church is a con8re8ation of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland. The Pre5bytErian church in Ireland. as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Chrlst isgrounded in the Scrlptures and exlsts to love and honour God through falth In H15 Son and by the power of HIS Splrlt, and to enable her members to play their part in fulfllling God's mlsslon to our world. Flrst Ahoghlll Congregatlon's earnest dere Is to reach out In love to the village and communlty- to challenge those who do not yet know the true meaning of-john 3: 16. "For God $0 loved the world thot he gove his only begotten Son thot whosoever believes in him Should not perlsh but have everlosting life." A5 a congregation of the Presbyterian Church Tn Ireland. we believe that the Blble is thÈ suprerne authority over all we do. and that the Westminster Confession of Faith. along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teache5 on key matters Df Christian faith and prattl.
an FIRST AHOGHILL CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvdl ACTIVITIES AND OBJECYIVES The con8re8ation meets for worship every ndaY and visitors are welcorne to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper Is observed on four occaslon5 during the year and all those who have been baptlsed and who have made a professlon of falth in the Lord Jesus Chrlst are admltted to the Lord's Supper. The congregatlon holds regular bible study meetlngs. prayer tlmes and has a wide range of org3nlsatlons. Sunday School Senlor Blble Class, Connett Midweek Meetlng for Blble Study and Prayer Small Groups Boys, Bri8ade Girls, Brigade Mothers and Toddlers After khool Club Presbyterian Women Men's Fellowship Bowllng Club Olive Branch for senlor cltlzens Flrst for Care Ladles Bible Study Members of the local communlty are encoura8ed to get Involved and are made most VkOMe. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and prayer The con8re8ation meets for worshlp each Sunday moming at 11:30am and 6.ISpm every thlrd Sunday evenlng and vlsltors are made welcome to the servlces. On Sunday evenlngs we share worshlp wlth our slster congregatlons In Trlnlty and Brooksidè. Durin8 the weel a rnld-vek Blble Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowshlp, study of the scrlptufes and for a tlme of corporate prayer. Prayer cells also meet at tlmes each week. A5 well as our In person and on-llne servlces durlng the year we acknowledged God'$ gift of new lrfe wlth 6 Sacraments of Baptism, and we conducted I marriage service. There were li funeral services and we sought to comfort those who had been bereaved. At 31 December 2023 there were 294 communlcant rnernbers and 368 famllles connerted wlth the congregation. The avera8e weekly attendance at morning worship was 330. Pa5torJl care Members of the congregation who were unable to attend church due to sickness or age were vlsited or contacted on a regular bas15 by the mlnlster, dlstrlct elder. pastoral vlsltor or by one of the congregatbn's care team. Some also recelved DVDS of the servlces. M1551on and outreath First Ahoghill has a Missionary and Outreach monthly envelope and the offering5 are administered by a cornmittee who support various missionaries and those who have gone out from our con8reEation. They support twenty home and overseas mlsslons and mlsslonarles. These Include London Clty. Belfast Clty and Irish Missions. Bible Society. Release International. Asia Link. Wycliffe, Hamsayeh. Majed Tinawli and Scriptyre Unlon. Our PW supports the Home and Overseas mlssion and the or8anlzations fisted earlier are also all encouraged to support a mission or missionary each year.
an FIRST AHOGHILI CONGREGAnoN OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNiIAL REPORT {Contrd) The congregation also 5UPPOrts. by a monthly envelope. the United Appeal whlch is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Thi5 fund enable5 congregations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do mlsslon and outreach on a denominational basi5 beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provldes flnanclal support for mission personnol at homÈ and oversèas. assists tongreEations with the deployment of locally based staff, Ènables church plantln& provides grant support for the upkeep of church premlses. asslst wlth the running costs of Union Theological College. the Church's training college for ministry students, and financially 5UPPOrt5 con8re8ations in the area5 of worship• d15cipleship. global mlssion. outreach. leadership* and pastoral care. Presbytery The congregation wa5 represented at meetlngs of Presbytery by OUT mlnlster andlor representative elder. Thls provlde5 an Important link between the congregatlons and the wlder structures of the church. General Assemblv The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held ln Assembly 8uildings, Belfast. Property There wa5 no major expendlture from the property fund. Or8anlsatlon5 Sunday School Sunday school and Bible class met eath Sunday at 10:15am. There are 89 young people on the roll and there are 14 teachers and helpers. Year 10 and above now attend our new Connert 8roups. The teachers follow an agreed programme and the chlldren learn catechlsm and memory verses. There was no outing organlzed but there was a Hollday Blble Club. Youth Our full-tlme youth coordlnator worked wlth all our youth organlzatlon5• young pèople, and youth wlthln the local communlty. Connect meet on Friday and Sunday evènings at 8pm. Frlday nlghts have 70-1(M) young people on the roll with 8-12 leaders, Sunday nights has an attendance of 20-25 with 6 leaders. An aftei-school club ran each Tuesday durin8 school term with 15120 children on the roll. Presbyterlan Women PW rneet5 on the second Monday of the month. The 80 ladies who attend have a missionary focus and they support the Home and Overseas Mlsslon. Bovs Brl8ade SO boys meet each Frlday evenln8 5eptember- March. Anchor Boy5 and Jun•tir Section meet 6:45- 8.15. The normal 88 activities of scripture, badBe work and games are provided and supervised by 11 officers and helpers. Glrl's 8rl8ade 74 girls meet ea¢h Thursday evenlng September- March. Llttle Stsrs, Explorers and juniors meet 6:15- 7.30. Scrlpture, crafts. 83mes etc. are led by 19 offlcers and helper Bowllng Fellowshlp The Bowling Club, although not an organization underthe control of Klrk Sesslon uses our main hall and facllltles. 25 members Participate in the artivitie5 and compete in the churches league and cup matches.
an FIRST AHOGHILL CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvd) Olive Branth The Olive Branch meet once every month and provides afternoon teas and fellowship for our senlor citizens. approx. 45 pÈople attend with 10 involved in the preparation. F3rst for Care 12 people provlde sypport to berea¥ed. sick and the elderly wÈth visitstlon and meals. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciatlon of those who give freely of thelr tlme by seNin& on commlttees and helplng wlth organizatlons and other church activitres. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the publlc beneflt requirement by provldlng benefit to its member5 and the general public by making known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Je5U5 Chrlst through the advancement of rellgion, The dlrect benefits whith flow from the purposes of the Church include the galnlng of an understanding in Chrlstlan bellefs a5 set out In the Bible and In the Church's subordlnate standards {the Westmlnster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms) leadlng to spiritual and moral development and opportunltles for response to Bible teachlng. In turn. thls framewoik leads to practlcal expressions ot Chrlstlan bellefs and standards In the local communlty such as through the care of those In need Ilncluding the slck. dlsabled, and bereaved). Generally, the above beneflts are delivered l(K¥lly by congregatlons and thelr members or are facllitated through p$bYterIeS or are or8anised and dellvered centrally. Local delfvery Is facllltated by central resources In almost all cases. Publlc access Is made known through the use of notlceboards. prlnted material. pre55 advertlsement, websites, and soclal medla or In other way5. The beneflts are demonstrated throu8h re8ular evaluatlon of the seNKes and informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their famllles, and members of the publbc. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only prlvate benefit flowin8 from our purpose Is related to Ministers, Mlssionarles, Deaconesses, Irlsh Mlsslon workers and Lay Agents who ceIve bertetits as a SuIt of thelr holdlng offlce or employment. However, thls Is Incidental and necessary In order to further our charltable purpose. There are no other prlvate benefits. The beneficlarles of this purpose are members, their familie5. Other Indlvlduals that the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland Is In direct and Indlrect contatt with. the cornmunlty In whlch pastoral 5ervlces are provlded and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland. and worldwlde which benefit from our engagement with and support ft)r both Chr15tlan and other secular organlsations. charitles, and Indfvidual membèrs of the public. The Klrk Se551on has had regard to the Charlty Commlsslons publlc benefit requlrement statutory guidance. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's maln source of income Is members, contrlbutions through the Weekly Freewlll Offerlng. There were 298 contrlbutors during the year1309 In previous year. 20221 donatlng a totsl of £139.542 IE124,152 In prevlovs year, 20221. Total Income of the congregatlon during the year was £328.106 compared to E291.342 In the previous year. Total expenditure increased from £255.685 to £265,718.
Presbyter an Im FIRST AHOGHILL CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IP4 IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT [ConVd) RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT OF THE HNANCIAL STATEMENTS The Trustees are responsible for preparlng the Annual RÈport and the financi31 statements in accordance with appllcable13w and United Klngdom GeneralEy Attèpted Accounting Practlce. The Trustee5 are requlred to prepare financlal statements for each financial year which grve a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the congregations and the financial actfvltles forthat year. In pparIng the financial ststements the Trustees are required to: select sultable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. make judgements and estimates that ale reasonable and prudent. prepare thÈ financial statements on the golng concern basis unless it Is inapproprlate to presume that the Funds wlll ontSnue In operatlon. The Trustees are responslble for keeping adequate accountlng records that are sufflclent to show and explain the funds transactlons and dlsclose with reastsnable accuracy at any time the financial posttion of the con8re8ations and enable them to ensure that the financial statements compty wlth the Statement of Recommended Practice"Accountin8 and Reportln8 tjy charttles11 January 20151" They are also responslble for safeguardlng the assets of the COnggatIon and hence for takln8 reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other Irregularltles. Approved by the Klrk Sesslon at a meetin8 on 22 April 2024 and slgned on Its behalf by Rev Mark Nelllv Robert Mccord Tiustee Tiustee