WATERSIDE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH 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 Balance Sheet as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Waterside congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Clooney Terrace, Londonderry BT47 6AR Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105611} CHARifi TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were. Mr John Allen Mr James Mccarter Mr Don Mcclay Mr William Mcllwaine Mr David Walker Mr Mitchell Caldwell Dr Colin Hamilton Mr Morris Mccarter Mrs Hilary Mcclintock PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Convenor Clerk of Session Rev. Richard R Tregaskis, B.Sc., B.D. Mr William A Mcllwaine, BA., DASE Treasurer Mrs Hilary Mcclintock, B.Sc
WATERSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (CONT'D) INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Moore (NII LLP 21/23 Clarendon Street Londonderry BT48 7EP BANKERS Dan5ke Bank 27 Glenshane Road Londonderry BT47 2LN Progressive Building Society 3 Millennium Forum Newmarket Street Londonderry BT47 6EB SOLICITORS Mccay Legal l Limavady Road Londonderry BT47 6JU
WATERSIDE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (convd) STRucfuRE 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 place in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and service in the local community. The Kirk session 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 the Moderator and the ministers in active duty in the congregation who have no deliberative but only a casting vote. During the past year the Kirk Session has met on seven occasions under the Convenorship of Rev Richard Tregaskis. 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 it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Waterside Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Derry & 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 each congregation.
WATERSIDE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (convd) The General Assembly The General Assembly isthe 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 Waterside 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 2nd 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 purposes is bythe grace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Our vision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Chrisvs people of all ages, which; Is increasingly characterised by love for God, and love and concern for others; is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible; is relevant to people of this time and place. The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as a family of God's people by being.. A Covenant Community". where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward one another; An Intergenerational Community: where adults intentionally take 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 blessings for others beyond the bounds of our 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 Confession of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key Matters of Christian faith and practice.
WATERSIDE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was observed in May and October 2023 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 held midweek Bible study meetings and has a wide range of Drganisations including,. Sunday School Presbyterian Women Midweek Bible Studv Choir Bowling and Recreation Club Boys, Brigade Walking Group Thursday Club ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer Worship each Sunday allows face to face fellowship and the coming together to worship God. At 31 December 2023 there were 133 communicant members and 149 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship was 69. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited on a regular basis by the minister, eSders or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitors. Some of these members receive CD'S of our morning seniices.
WATERSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT {conVd). Mission and outreach The number of Ukrainian families continues to grow. The church and individuals within the congregation continue to offer support in a variety of ways including providing accommodation, furniture, heating oil, clothing and arranging schools for their children. By the end of the year the Ukrainian congregation consists of 12 families comprising 29 adults and 16 children and young people. The Ukrainians attend morning worship each week and have fully integrated into the life of the church. The children are attending Sunday School and the boys have joined the Boys Brigade. 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 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. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our Convenors and one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The Convenor 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 2023.
WATERSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (convd) Organisations The Sunday School meets each week during the morning service with a dual language approach to facilitate our mixed nationalities. We have a team of Ukrainian ladies and teenagers who volunteer on a rota basis to assist with the language issues. The PW group meets on the first Monday of each month from Septemberto April with a range of guest speakers. Their theme for the year was Be transformed. There was an average attendance each month of twenty two. The Midweek Bible Study met each Wednesday and benefited from an in depth study of various book of the bible as well as praying for the ongoing work of the church at home and abroad. Bowling and Recreational Club did not meet during 2023. th The Boys, Brigade (6 Londonderry Company) consists of three sections- anchor boys,juniors and company section. They meet in Lisneal College - anchor boys and juniors on a Tuesday evening and the company section on a Friday evening from September to April. By means of a variety of activities theyseek to promote their motto of "Advancing Christ's Kingdom among Boys" The Waterside Walking Group enjoyed several walks and visits during the year to Culmore, Greencastle, Colman's Garden Centre, Templepatrick, Carrickfergus Castle, St Columbs Cathedral and the city historic walls. During the year the Youth Committee organised a number of events including a Beetle drive, a church excursion to Castlerock, outing to a garden centre in Ballyclare and a puppet show in the church. The Thursday Club commenced on 7th September 2023 to offer a range of activities including indoor bowls, table tennis, pool, quizzes, table top games and craft activities. This has proven to be an effective way of reaching out to our own church members and beyond. Volunteers The Trustees 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 activitie5.
WATERSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT (convd) PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by making known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The dirert 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, web51tes, and social media or in other ways. The benefits 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 benefit 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 indirett contact 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 othersecular organisations, charities and individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
WATERSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBITERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weeklv Freewill Offering. There were 121 contributors during the year {132 during the previous year, 20221 donating a total of £62,734 (£61,019 in previous year, 2022). Total Income for the year was £112,580 compared to £103.044 in the previous year. This included insurance monies in relation to heating repairs of £7,980. Total expenditure increased from £77,523 to £99,647. This increase was mainly due to additional repair works required in the Church. GOING CONCERN The activities of the congregation are dependent on ongoing contributions from its members. The Trustees are of the opinion that the congregation has sufficient resources at the date of approval of these financial statements to meet commitments which will arise in the year from the date of signing this report and subject to the continuing support from members to fund on an ongoing basis the congregation's current activities and other financial commitments. RESERVES POLICY The Trustees have considered the level of unrestricted reserves that it is appropriate to hold taking account of current and ongoing commitments. It is the policy of the Trustees to hold at least three month's normal expenditure. At the year end. unrestricted reserves were £420,355 which represents a higher level of reserves. The Trustees, however, consider it prudent to hold reserves at this level as the funding of its present activities is dependent of the ongoing financial support of members. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practi. As the Congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64{3} of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities.
WATERSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT (convd) For the year ended 31 December 2023 The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the funds transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the congregations and enable them to ensure that the financial statement5 comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities (l January 20151" 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. th Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 11 March 2024 and signed on its behalf by Rev. Richard Tregaskis (Convenor) William A. Mcllwaine (Clerk of Session) 10