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2025-12-31-annual-report

Faughanvale Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland NIC 105631

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

Reference and Administrative Details

Faughanvale Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Killylane Road

Eglinton

Londonderry

BT47 3DW

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105631)

Charity Trustees

The Charity Trustees who served during the year and were:

Samuel James Cochrane Norman Alexander Donnell Thomas Craig Trevor Thomas Evans Anne Louise Hamilton Graham Lamrock Grace Montgomery John Donald Montgomery Stephen James Montgomery Ivan Morrison Alison Simpson Gordon Smith

Principal Office Bearers

Minister Vacancy Convenor (to November) – Rev. Paul Linkins (from December – Rev Seth Wright) Clerk of Session Donald Montgomery Treasurer Samuel Cochrane (to July) Gordon Smith (from July)

Independent Examiner

Stewart B Ramsey 14 Broomhill Court

Londonderry BT47 6WP

Bankers

Danske Bank, Donegall Square West, Belfast, BT1 6JS

Structure and Management

The Kirk Session

The charity trustees of the congregation are members of the 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 the 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 congregation. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote.

Two stated meetings of the Kirk Session were held, during the year and, in addition, there were two special meetings and a joint meeting with the Kirk Session of Gortnessey.

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 the votes of those who vote.

During the year, the Kirk Sessions of Faughanvale and the smaller congregation of Gortnessey agreed to a linkage (meaning that, while the two congregations will continue as before to act as independent congregations, they will jointly seek to call a new minister). This linkage was approved by the Church’s Linkage Commission and came into effect in November.

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 congregation assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Faughanvale congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has been assigned to the Presbytery of Derry and Donegal 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 each congregation.

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, administrative, 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.

The Faughanvale 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 purpose is to:

Present the gospel of Christ in a relevant way to all

Improve attendance at ordinary church services by employing elements of family services

Increase contact with those unable to attend church

Improve pastoral care of the sick and elderly.

Increase outreach to young people, both within the congregation and in the wider community

Encourage church membership among non-churchgoers in the Eglinton area.

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 three times 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 bible study and discussion meetings and has a wide range of organizations including:

Sunday School Youth Fellowship

Woman’s Group (Presbyterian Women)

Sunshine Club

Bowling Club Boys Brigade Men’s Group

Achievements and Performance

Worship and Prayer

The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday morning at 11.30 am (earlier as announced during July and August) and a number of Bible study and discussion groups are held on Sunday evenings. Services were also made available to worshippers through live streaming of services each Sunday morning.

In 2025, four new members were admitted to communicant membership. When the

circumstances arose, we gave thanks for faithful service and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year.

At 31 December 2025, there were 237 communicant members, and 240 families connected to the congregation. The average attendance at weekly morning service during the year was around 75, still well down on pre-Covid levels. However, the live streaming of services enabled up to a further 80 to 90 people to see and hear services.

Pastoral Care

Over 40 members of the congregation who are unable to attend church regularly due to sickness or age or have other special needs are visited on a regular basis by the minister, elders or by members of the congregation’s pastoral care team.

Mission and Outreach

In 2025, the Rev Linkins, Elders, Pastoral Care Team and leaders of organizations continued to minister to the needs of all members of the congregation, with emphasis was given to the needs of children and youth people, the elderly and vulnerable and those sick either in hospital or at home.

In 2025, the congregation continued its financial support to the missionary work in Kenya carried out by Stephen Cowan with donations of £2,616 and donated over £8,500 to other charities including Christian Aid, the Poppy Appeal, the Children’s Society, and the World Development Fund. The congregation donated £8,000 to support 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 that which 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, assists with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church’s training college for ministry students, and financially supports congregations 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 vacancy convenor and one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structure of the church.

Property

The congregation’s buildings (the Meeting House, Church Halls and Manse) were maintained in very good condition with routine maintenance and required repairs carried out.

Organizations

The following congregational organizations were active during the year:

Sunday School

Faughanvale Junior Sunday School is for Primary school age children. The children leave the church after the children address and go to the church hall. The children are split into two groups, one for P1-P4 and the second for P5-P7. The class is taught by a volunteer from the church, on a monthly rota of teachers. The programme followed is based on "Go Teach".

The Junior Sunday School has a Nativity service at Christmas and a Children's Day service in June. Both are hugely enjoyable were the congregation and the children come together to express their love and faith in God.

One of the highlights of the year is our annual Sunday School excursion to Portrush which we hold in June. This precedes our Children's Day Service and it is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to have a lovely day out and a wonderful service in the church.

Older children are divided into 2 groups.

Years 6-8 have a small group of children who are taught a Bible Story, take part in a game or worksheet.

Post primary children leave during church to Bible class as a preparatory step towards Communion participation. We have a small number of young people who attend each Sunday. The format is a relaxed and fun way to learn about being a Christian. We look at a number of relevant issues and follow a serious of lesson provided by One Way.

Youth Fellowship

SPARK” continued to meet for young people in Year 8 and above, offering a varied programme of games, activities, and Bible-based teaching. This year, the Exodus team led sessions exploring how Jesus is revealed throughout Scripture. While attendance has been low, with an average of around three young people, the group has remained a positive and supportive space for those who attend. Due to the small numbers, some meetings were unfortunately unable to go ahead.

“SENIOR FUEL” met periodically, providing opportunities for sport, games, and building friendships in a relaxed setting, with football in the hall proving especially popular. “JUNIOR FUEL” also met with children from Primary 5–7, offering a welcoming environment with crafts, games, and sports.

Overall, despite the challenge of smaller numbers, the youth ministry has continued to provide a safe and welcoming environment where young people can explore their faith, build relationships, and feel part of the church community.

Looking ahead, we pray for God’s guidance as we consider how best to develop the work and engage more young people.

Woman’s Group (formerly Presbyterian Women - PW)

Women of all ages are encouraged to attend Faughanvale Woman’s Group and grow as disciples of Christ. The Group’s motto is “Living for Jesus” and its aims highlight the need for: Love and Unity; Obedience to God, Christian Living and Spiritual Maturity; Service using Gifts, Time and Money; Local and Global Mission. The Group continued to meet on a monthly basis, with an average attendance of around twenty. The year got off to a bad start with the first two meetings having to be cancelled because of storms, but the first meeting was a joint meeting

with Ballykelly PW at which Judith McComb, the visually impaired Para-Olympian spoke. Other speakers during the year included Amanda Hanna from Ballykener farm shop, talking about her faith and work-life balance and Laura from the Hope and Light charity which helps young women in Asia escape from poverty and exploitation .

Boy’s Brigade

The congregation has a very active and well-supported Boys Brigade company. The Boys' Brigade is a Christian Youth organisation for boys aged 4 to 18 years which has the aim of: "The advancement of Christ's kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness”. The company is made up of three sections and meet on Thursday nights. Members come from both the congregation and the wider community. We commenced our 2025/26 session on Thursday on 15 September 2024 with all sections meeting weekly in separate halls. Anchor Boys met from 6.30pm to 7.45pm. The Junior Section met from 6.30pm to 8.00 pm and the Company section from 7.30pm to 9pm. Anchor Boys caters for boys of Primary School Years 1 to 4. There are 23 boys and the boys engage in a range of activities including games, crafts and bible stories. Junior Section is for boys in Years 5 to 7. It has 12 boys enrolled who engaged in bible knowledge, cooking, crafts, games, marching, quizzes, sports and swimming. Company Section caters for boys in Years 8 to13. It has 16 boys who take part in bible knowledge, box work, cooking, marching, quizzes and sports. Boys in all sections can gain badges and recognition for their participation in the activities in their own company as well as taking part in competitions within the local Battalion and NI District. The BB is supported by seven fully trained officers and 2 volunteers.

Sunshine Club

The Sunshine Club continued to provide fellowship for senior citizens from both within the congregation and the wider community. It had around 16 members in 2025 and met once every month from September to May. As usual, there the group enjoyed hearing a variety of speakers and a programme of activities for members included demonstrations and the practice of arts and crafts. There was also music singing and quizzes, outings for meals and, most important of all, members enjoyed good company and fellowship over a cup of tea. Once again, two lunch outings were arranged during the year.

Bowling Club

The Bowling Club had 24 members in 2025, and once again, the majority of members came from the wider, local community, outside the congregation. The Club, as usual, participated in the Limavady and District Indoor Bowling league but, having been promoted to Section A at the end of the 2024/25 season, struggled for results in the much more competitive higher section.

Men’s Group

The Men’s Group, set up to promote fellowship, both within the congregation and in the wider community, continued to meet every other month in 2025. Although numbers attending remained low, the fellowship and the events organised were much appreciated. The group visited the NIE generating station at Maydown, Foyle Search and Rescue, did a walking tour of the city walls of Londonderry, assisted at the Bike Show staged by the church and had an escorted visit to the Siege Museum.

The congregation also continued to host an active Guides group (an external organisation, not within the jurisdiction of the Kirk Session), including Guides, Brownies, and Rainbows, which provided a wide range of activities in the Church Halls for members, many of whom come from the wider community, outside the membership of the congregation. The church also provided facilities for meetings of Eglinton Woman’s Institute, a Ladies Badminton Club and a ladies Bowling Club. We were also delighted to be able to facility regular Sunday meetings of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God.

Volunteers

The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who gave freely of their time during the year by serving on committees and helping with organizations and their activities.

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 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 the 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 organized and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated through central resources in almost all cases. Public access is made 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 organizations, charities and individual members of the public.

The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commission’s Public Benefit requirement statutory guidance.

Financial Review

The congregation’s main source of income is members’ contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering, including giving to the Maintenance Fund and the Youth Work Fund. There were 157 family or individual contributors during 2025 donating a total of £108,000. The total income of the congregation during the year (excluding church organisations) was £155,000. Total expenditure was £126,000. The main items of expenditure were the convenor salary and expenses, contributions to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, insurance, utility bills and maintenance and repairs.

Statement of Trustee Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation in accordance with the 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 (NI) 2008, to prepare 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 held on 24 February 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

Donald Montgomery Gordon Smith Donald Montgomery Gordon Smith Date: 24 February 2026 Date: 24 February 2026

FAUGHANVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY (Receipts and Payments Account)

For the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Note Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Receipts
Regular Direct Giving 2 85,925 22,579 108,504 142,163
Donations and Legacies 3 901 10,500 11,401 14,076
Charitable Activities 4 0 2,782 2,782 2,735
Activities that generate Income 5 0 23,008 23,008 29,036
Investment Income 6 982 0 982 359
Other 7 8,485 0 8,485 802
96,293 58,869 155,162 189,171
Sale of Investments
Sale of Fixed Assets
Loans Received
Total Receipts 96,293 58,869 155,162 189,171
Payments
Raising Funds 8 0 16,536 16,536 17,602
Charitable Activities 9 67,007 34,551 101,558 108,598
Church Organisations 10 7,682 7,682 7,706
67,007 58,769 125,776 133,906
Purchase of Investments
Purchase of Fixed Assets
Loan Repayments
Total Payments 67,007 58,769 125,776 133,906
Net Receipts / (Payments) 29,286 100 29,386 55,265
Transfer Between Accounts -766 766 0
Net Movement in Funds 28,520 866 29,386 55,265
Funds Brought Forward 31,389 67,778 99,167 43,902
Funds Carried Forward 13 59,909 68,644 128,553 99,167

FAUGHANVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

For the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Funds Reconciliation
Bank and Cash at Start of Year
Net Movement in Funds
Bank and Cash at End of Year
Bank and Cash Balances
Current Accounts
Deposit Accounts
Cash in Hand
Other Assets
Fixed Assets
Church Premises
11
Land
12
Bond
12
Liabilities
Loans
Net Worth
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total
2025
Total
2024
£
£
£
31,389
67,778
28,520
866
£
£
99,167
43,902
29,386
55,265
59,909
68,644
128,553
99,167
56,863
73,806
71,290
25,361
400
128,553
99,167
6,565,000
4,886,465
60,000
60,000
38,722
12,994
6,663,722
4,959,459
0
0
6,792,275
5,058,626

Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on (enter date) and signed on its behalf by D Montgomery G Smith

FAUGHANVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

31 December 2025

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As the total income of the congregation is less that £250,000 the congregation have elected in accordance with the provisions in The Charities (Accounts and Reports Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 to prepare its accounts on a receipts and payment basis.

FUND ACCOUNTING

Endowment funds are funds, the capital of which must be retained either permanently or at the congregation's discretion: the income derived from the endowment is to be used either as restricted or unrestricted income funds depending upon the purpose for which the endowment was established in the first place.

Restricted funds comprise (a) income from endowments which is to be expended only on the restricted purposes intended by the doner and (b) revenue donations or grants for a specific congregational activity intended by the doner. Where these funds have unspent balances, interest on their pooled investment is apportioned to the individual funds on an average balance basis.

Unrestricted funds are income funds which are to be spent on the congregation's general purposes. Designated funds are general funds set aside by the congregation for use in the future.

2 REGULAR DIRECT GIVING

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Recorded Giving Recorded Giving 60326 60326
15809
15809 76135 76135
79951
Loose Collections Loose Collections 1188 1188
0
0 1188 1188
0
Other Income Sources Other Income Sources 0 0
6770
6770 6770 6770
16079
Gift Aid Gift Aid 21668 21668
0
0 21668 21668
43780
Miscellaneous Income Miscellaneous Income 2743 0 2743 2353
85925 85925
22579
22579
0 108504
0 108504 0 108504
142163
3 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES 3 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
Donations and Gifts Donations and Gifts 601 601
10500
10500 11101 11101
13776

3 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Donations from Church Organisations

300 0 300 300
901 10500 0 11401 14076

4 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Income from Charitable Activities Fundraising Events Grants

5 ACTIVITIES WHICH GENERATE INCOME

Income for Agencies Church Organisations Grave Lettings

6 INVESTMENT INCOME

Deposit Interest Other Investment Income

7 OTHER INCOME

Periodicals & Calendars Rental Income Share of Manse Expenses Insurance Compensation

8 RAISING FUNDS

United Appeal

Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Endowment
Funds
£
Total
2025
£
Total
2024
£
2782
0
2782
2735
0
0
2782
2782
2735
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Endowment
Funds
£
Total
2025
£
Total
2024
£
0
15970
7038
15970
17602
7038
9584
0
1850
23008 23008
29036
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Endowment
Funds
£
Total
2025
£
Total
2024
£
982
0
0
982
359
0
0
982
0
982
359
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Endowment
Funds
£
Total
2025
£
Total
2024
£
0
8485
0
0
0
52
8485
750
0
0
8485 8485
802
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Endowment
Funds
£
Total
2025
£
Total
2024
£
8000 8000
8000

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment

Children's Society 759 759 900
Earl Haig Fund 316 316 200
World Development Appeal 1852 1852 2250
Harvest Appeal 2616 2616 2250
Roe Valley Food Bank 625 625 0
Christian Aid Appeal 1618 1618 1802
Faughanvale Day Centre 0 0 1000
Kids 4 School 750 750 900
CEF 0 0 150
Scripture Union 0 0 150
0 16536 0 16536 17602

9 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

9 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
9 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £
General Assembly Assessments 6873 6873 6873 6873
13282
Minister 0 0 0 0
40471
Ministry and Support Staff Costs 13090 13090 13090 13090
4757
Worship and Fellowship 3181 3181
0
0 3181 3181
3971
Discipleship 0 0
0
0 0 0
500
Mission and Outreach 1620 1620
3000
3000 4620 4620
1550
Governance 943 943 943 943
1099
Utilities 8328 8328 8328 8328
8599
Repairs and Maintenance 30492 30492 30492 30492
20631
Insurance 4221 4221 4221 4221
5895
Misc Expenditure 28751 1
1059
29810 7843
67007 7
34551
1
1
101558 108598

10 OTHER EXPENDITURE

Church Organisations

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Funds
£
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Funds
£
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Funds
£
Total
2025
£
Total
2024
£

11 FIXED ASSETS

The congregation owns the church premises situated at Killylane Road, Eglinton Co. Londonderry and a manse at 2A Glenrandal, Eglinton, Co Londonderry for the minister and the associated fixtures, fittings and equipment. These have an insurance value of

£6,565,000

12 INVESTMENTS
Total
Total
2025
2024
£
£
The congregation has the following investments. Amounts are shown at market valuation.
General Investment Fund
0
0
Property
60000
60000
Other Investments
38722
12994
98722
72994
Total
2025
£
Total
2024
£
98722
72994
13 FUND BALANCES
Unrestricted Fund
Restricted Funds
Maintenance Fund
Youth Worker Fund
Catering Account
Church Organisations
Agency Fund
TOTAL
Balance at
start
Receipts
Payment
Surplus
/ Deficit
Transfer Balance
at end
31389
96293
67007
29286
-766
59909
31389
96293
67007
29286
-766
59909
10239
28509
30492
-1983
20000
28256
22951
580
3000
-2420
20531
27424
6772
1059
5713
-20000
13137
7164
7038
7682
-644
200
6720
15970
16536
-566
566
0
67778
58869
58769
100
766
68644
99167
155162
125776
29386
0 128553