Presbyter
an
UPPER CUMBER CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN
IRELAND
Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2023

an
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC105636)
UPPER CUMBER 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 Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Upper Cumber Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
15-17 Cregg Road
Claudy
BT47 4HX
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105636)
CHARITY TRUSTEES
The Charity Trustees who sep4ed during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were
Mr Alan Lindsay
Mr Kenneth Haslett
Mr Arthur James McFarland
Mrs Olive Witherow
Mrs Jennifer Campbell
Mr Robert George Wilson
Mr John Andrew Clarke McFarland
Mrjohn Haslett
Mr Wesley Haslett
Mrs Arlene Moore
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Minister
Clerk of Session
Treasurer
Vacant
Mr John McFarland
Mr Arthur McFarland
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Mr Alistair Sterritt, 46 Edenreagh Road, Eglinton, BT47 3NQ
BANKERS
Danske Bank, PO Box 183, Donegal Square West, Belfast, BTI 6JS
SOLICITORS
RG Connell & Sons
13 Main St, Limavady, County Londonderry, BT49 OEP

Presbyter
an
UPPER CUMBER CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd)
5TRucfuRE 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 that the
Moderator, the minister5 in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote.
Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held at least twice in each year or as appropriate.
To be chosen for the off ice 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. Upper
Cumber congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Derry and 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, ministers who have retired
from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.

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UPPER CUMBER 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.
Upper Cumber 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 purposes is by the grace of God, to help people of all age5 become fully
devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Our vision is. by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming
community of Christ's people of all ages, which."
is increasingly characterised by lovefor 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 ploce.
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 blessingsfor others beyond the bounds of our community.
As o congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible is the supreme
authority over all we do, Gnd 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.

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UPPER CUMBER 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 Lords Supper is observed on several 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 holds regular bible study meetings and has a wide range of organisations including
Sunday School
Youth Club
Youth Fellowship
Junior Bible Club
Bowling Club
Book Club
Presbyterian Women
Men's Fellowship
Walking Group
Rainbows/Brownies/Guides
Pampered & Prepared Ladies Meetings
Saturday Morning Bible Study Group
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Worship and prayer
The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.40am. During the week the Bible Study
provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a
time of prayer.
As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledged God's gift of new life at 3 Sacraments
of Baptism and gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved
during the year. There were no marriage services during the year.
At 31 December 2022 there were 220 communicant members and IOOfamilies connected with the
congregation. The average week attendance at morning worship is 55.
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 and elders.

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UPPER CUMBER CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
Mission and outreach
At a local level the congregation reaches out to the local community through its organisations which are
open to all. We support local and international mission organisations, holding regular fundraisers for
cha rity.
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd)
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 mi55ion 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.
The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal, Sunday
School project and any other special appeals.
Presbytery
The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and / or one of
the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the
church.
General Assembly
The minister 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.
Property
No major repairs or refurbishments took place
Organisations
Youth Club meets every Saturday night for a range of activities and also go on regular trips. Approx 30
children attend Youth Fellowship meets monthly on Sunday nights having regular discussions, movies
nights etc. Approx 25 young people attend. Junior Bible Club meets monthly on Friday evenings. We
have crafts, games, stories for primary school age children. Bowling Club meets every Tuesday night. It
competes in the local churches league. There are approx 20 members. Book Club meets approx every six
weeks. Having read a chosen novel, it is then discussed. There are around 10 members meeting in
various homes.

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UPPER CUMBER CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd)
Presbyterian Women meets monthly and has various speakers and fellowship times. There are around
15 ladies of all ages involved. Men's Fellowship meets on an ad-hoc basis for movie nights, karting and
clay pigeon shooting. Most events are aimed at encouraging men from the community to come along.
There are usually around 30 men who attend.
Walking Group meets weekly. Members and friends choose a local walk/forest and enjoy a stroll and a
cup of tea afterwards. There are usually about 15 people involved.
Organisations
Rainbows and Brownies meet weekly in the church buildings. Pampered & Prepared is a ladies outreach
that meets each week in May or June. It is open to the whole community. There are a range of activities
including craft, beauty therapy, health, cooking and walking. A local speaker addresses the ladies before
they have supper. Around 70 ladies attend.
Saturday Morning Bible Study Group meets monthly. Ladies come for breakfast and discuss a short
Bible Study together.
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.
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 opportunitie5 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 notice boards, 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.

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UPPER CUMBER CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd)
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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UPPER CUMBER CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd)
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill
Offering. There were 88 contributors during the year 2023 donating a total of £38,985.
Total Income of the congregation during the year was £113,385 which included a bequest of £40,000.
Total expenditure was£36,548.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the
congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice.
As the congregations total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section
6413} of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a receipts and payment 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
POSltion. 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 12 March 2024 and signed on its behalf by
Olive Witherow
John McFarland
Trustee
Clerk of Session