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| CHARITY TRUSTEES | The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were 

) INDEPENDENT EXAMINER | McFarland Arnold & & Co 

: | | | 

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## GORTIN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. 

## REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS 

Gortin Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in lreland 

73 Main Street 

Gortin 

Co. Tyrone 

BT79 8NH 

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105629) 

|Rev Jonathan Boyd (resigned 4 November 2025) Rev Gunther Andrich (appointed 4 November 2025) | Adrian Thomas Adams Thomas Adams Adams 

Adrian Thomas Adams Thomas Adams Adams Malcolm McKeown 

## PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS 

Convenor in charge of Vacancy Rev Gunther Andrich Clerk of Session Adrian Thomas Adams Treasurer Adrian Thomas Adams 

McFarland Arnold & & Co 8 Main Street 

Newtownstewart Co Tyrone BT78 4AA 

BANKERS SOLICITORS Ulster Bank McConnell & Fyffe 14 High Street The Old Rectory Omagh 21 Church Street BT78 1BJ Omagh BT78 1DG 

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| 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. Gortin | 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, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation. | 


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## GORTIN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND 

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d) 

## 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 ofthe 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 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 twice yearly. 

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## GORTIN CONGREGATION OF THE 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 ministers 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. | Gortin 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. | The congregation’s mission statement is as follows:| We, the congregation of the Gortin Presbyterian Church which is part of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, seek to worship God in a manner that reflects scripture, is passionate about people and centred in Christ. | God has revealed Himself to us as our loving Heavenly Father. He has sent his Son to be our Saviour and He has granted us His Holy Spirit to make us more like Jesus individually and corporately, and to lead us in His mission to the world. We seek to live out our faith through commitment: 

- e To God in worship 

- e To the Bible in obedient discipleship e To sharing the good news ofJesus in faithful evangelism e To the world in compassionate mission 

- e Toone another in caring fellowship 

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## GORTIN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND 

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d) 

## ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES 

The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is normally observed on 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 normally holds: 

- Sunday School — fortnightly during school terms 

- - Annual Holiday Bible Club —June each year - Presbyterian Women (PW) — Ladies from the congregation meet up for joint PW with Newtownstewart congregation. 

## ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE 

## Worship and prayer 

The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 12 noon. 

Two infants were presented for baptism during the year. 

As well as our regular services we sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. 

At 31 December 2025 there were 60 communicant members and 39 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 25. 

## Pastoral care 

Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited by the Convenor and by the elders. 

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| The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal and any other : special appeals. 

## GORTIN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) 

## Mission and outreach 

During 2025, members of the Congregation donated items for the Belfast City Mission Christmas Family Appeal and contributed to the Earl Haig appeal. 

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. 

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| The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our convenor and one of the | elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. 

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| Volunteers | The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving | on committee, maintenance of the church grounds /premises and assist with running of the Sunday School. | 

## GORTIN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d) 

During 2025 the congregational donations included the following: 

- e United Appeal £1688.33 

- e World Development Appeal £105 

- e Earl Haig £55 

## Presbytery 

| 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 2025. 

## Property 

Minor repairs completed during 2025. 

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## GORTIN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d) 

## 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. 

| 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). 

| 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 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 indirect 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 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. 

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GORTIN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d) 

## FINANCIAL REVIEW 

The congregation’s main source of income is members’ contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 46 contributors during the year [50 in previous year, 2024] donating a total of £15,339 (£15,901 in previous year, 2024) 

Total Income of the congregation during the year was £25,172 compared to £25,461 in the previous year. Total expenditure during the year was £12,072, compared to £12,453 in 2024. 

## STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annua! report and the financial statements of the congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice. 

| 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 payments account and a 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 Ao-Aygal 202.6. and signed on its behalf by 


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