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FIRST COOKSTOWN CONGREGATION OF THE
PRESBYfERIANCHURCH IN IRELAND
Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC105651)

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FIRST COOKSTOWN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIANCHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statement5 for the year ended 31
December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
First Cookstown congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, 71 James Street,
Cookstown. BT80 8AE
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC105651)
CHARITY TRUSTEES
The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this
report were
Mr Bob Agnew
Mr George Black
Dr Alistair Brown
Mr Stanley Faulkner
Mr Robert Hamilton
Mr Robert Leonard
Mr Robert Park
Rev Michael Currie
Mr Nomian Bell
Mr Gordon Black
Mr Kenneth Brown
Mr Paul Ferguson
Mr Harold Leonard
Mr Ronnie Nicholl
Mr Colin Rea
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Minister
Clerk of Session
Treasurer
Rev Michael Currie
Mr Gordon Black
Mr Brian Donaghy
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Randal McKinney FCA cfA. 84 Fairhill Road, Cookstown, BT80 8DE
BANKERS
Ulster Bank Ltd, William Street, Cookstown
SOLICITORS
Millar Shearer & Black. Molesworth Street. Cook5town

Presbyter
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FIRST COOKSTOWN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd)
STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMEKr
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 anv
congregation who are within its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place in the
congregation and seeks to fvrther the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and
service in the local community. The Kirk Sessions has delegated to its Congregational
Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and
property belonging to the congregation. Member5 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 at least four times in each year.
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
congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which supertntends generally the spiritual
and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in Ireland. First Cookstown congregation of the Presbyterian Church
has been assigned to the Tyrone 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 the congregation.

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FIRST COOKSTOWN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIANCHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd)
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 minsters 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.
First Cookstown 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 congregations mission purpose is to be involved in reaching out to those who are
not followers of Jesus. It is our responsibility to show the love of Jesus has for each of
us to our families, friends and those we come into contact with each day.

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FIRST COOKSTOWN CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYTERIANCHURCH IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd)
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 Fellowship
Crèche
Bowing Club
Youth Organisations
pw
Choir
Elevenses
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Worship and prayer
The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am and 7.00pm. 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.
At 31 December 2023 there were 323 communicant members and 301 of families
connected with the congregations. The average week attendance at morning worship is
155.
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, elders or by one of the congregation's pastoral
visitors.

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FIRST COOKSTOWN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIANCHURCH IN IRELAND
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
mission of the denominatiorb 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. a55iSts congregations with
the deployment of locally based staff, enables church plantin& 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
During 2023. with the exception of general property repairs & upkeep. there was no other
expenditure, on property, during the year
Organisations
The church organisations listed above continue to meet regularly throughout the year
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 activities.

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FIRST COOKSTOWN CONGREGATION OFTHE 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 direct benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining of an
understanding in Christian beliets 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, 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 beneficiarie5 of thi5 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 8uidance.

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FIRST COOKSTOWN 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 190 contributors during the year [no in previous year, 191]
donating a total of £102,959 (£96,835, 2022)
Total Income of the congregation during the year was £204,335 compared to £165,799 in
the previous year.
Total expenditure increased from £156,337 to £189.667.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBIUTIES
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 congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected
under Sertion 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 208 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 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.
th
Approved by the Church committee at a meeting on 20 February 2024 and signed on its
behalf by
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