STRABANE CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charity in Northem Ireland (NIC105667)
STRABANE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The TNstees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assels and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Strabane congregation of the Presbyterian Church in keland Deny Road, Slrabane. Co. Tyrone. BT82 8DY Registered CharFiy in Northem treland (NIC105667) CHARFfY TRUSTEES The Charity TNstees vtho seNed during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Cordner Stuart John Sayers Gail Sproule Robin Sproule Norman Darragh Valerie Lindsay Charles Maybin Ross Millar William Watson PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Cjerk of Session William Watson Treasurer Norman Daffagh Congregational Secretary Robin Sproule
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Rodney Scott 154 Strabane Road Castledery. Co. Tyrone. BT817JD BANKERS DanskeBank 27 Glenshane Road Londonderry BT47 2LN SOLICITORS Babingtons Solicitors 74 Rallway Stree( Strabane BT82 SEQ
STRABANE CONGRE GATION C 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 Ihe congregation's goveming document, The Code, the book of the conslitLrtion and govemment of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and prornote the spiritual interest of the congregation and of persons not Connect Vth any congregation who are within its bounds. tt ensures pastoral care is in place in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Christian wtness and seNice in the local community. The Kirk Sessions has delegated lo 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 membef5 of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the wling elders of the congregations. All Moderator, the minister in active dLrty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held five times each year or as appropriate. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person musl be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be &ther by the congregation or by the Kirk Session. Membws are elected if they obtain two4hirds of those vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland fomi of govemance the corporate oversighl 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 Assemb ly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Strabane cong regation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to Ihe 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 vtho have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the KI Session of the congregation. STRABANE CONGRE GATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (confd) The General Assembly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, representing in one body the vthole Church and acting as its supreme legislative, administration and judicial authority, in dealing with all
matters brought before it. The General Assembly is normaly constituted during the Ihi rd week in June for worship and lo conduct its business. At the end of business. it is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainty of the active ministers of each congregation, tired minsters and a representative elder appointed by the KI Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. Strabane congregation of the Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Chtjrch in Ireland. The PresbyteT5an Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church within the wder body of Christ is grounded in Ihe Scriptures, and exists to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable her tnetnbers 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 ages become fully devoted follo¥Ve of Jesus Christ. Our vision is, by the gGe of God. to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ's people of all ages, which." is increasingty 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 congr8gation aims lo 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 Communty.. 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 authorty 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 teaGhes on key matters of Christian faith and practice] STRABANE CONGREGATION (% THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvd) ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are VlcOMe to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on several occasions during the year and all those vtho have been baptised and who have rnade a profession of failh in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The congregation holds regular bible study meetings and has a range of organisations including Sunday School Youth Club pw Bowling Club
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship arKI prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11:30am. During the week the Bible Study provide5 an opportunity for members to meet together with Sion Mills Presbyterian Church members for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. As well as our regular services durFng the year we conducted services to give thanks for faithful service and seek to comfort those btho had been bereaved during the year. At 11 December 2023 there were 3111 communicant members and 13R of families connected with the congregalion. The average week attendance at moming WDrship is 42 Pastoral care Members of the congregation are unable to attend church due to sickness orage are visited on a regular basis by the minister, elders or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitors. Mission and oulreach At a local level the congregation's local mission and outreach include a special evening harvest. With all proceeds going to various charities including -Atr knlwlance" and donations to extemal missions and agencies. Also the church premises are made available to local charities and agencies 0 s work reach&s out into all sections of the community. STRABANE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 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 f und enables congregations to support the ryder mission of the denomination and to do mission and outreach on a denominational basis beyond what the congregation could do on its ovm. 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 wilh the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's training college for ministry students. and financially sUPPOrts congregation in the areas of V*Drship, 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. Presbylery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by one of the elders. This provides an important link belween the congregations and the wider 5tTuclurès of the church. General Assembly One of our elders nominated to attend the Mling of the General Assembly of the PresbYtlan Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June.
Property During the year general maintenance was carried out to Church property including the complelion of the refUiShMent of the manse Organi5atlons Bowling Club Meet every Monday night providing an opportunity for membeT5 and their friends to have fun and fellowship together average attendance 12 Pre Covid the PW meet monthly September to April giving ihe ladies of our congregation an opportunity to meet and hear of the mission yrk of our church at home and over sea's. Average attendance 7 this is sornething we are to get started again soon. Sunday school meets Sept to June during the moming service. This is an opportunity forour young people to leam about the Love of God. Volunteers The Trustees lsh to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those give freely of their time by seNing on committees and helping vthh organisations and other church activities. STRABANE CC*4GREGATION 1% THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) PUBLIC BENEFtT STATEMENT The Presbytenan Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by making knomn the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The direct benefits lch flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining of an understanding in Christian beliefs as set out iii 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 tum. this framewod< leads to practical expressions of Christian beliefs and standards in the IoGal community SLIGh as through the care of those in need (including the sick. disabled and bereaved). Generally, the above benefits are delive locally by congregations and their members. or are facilitated through presbyteries or are organised and delivered centralty. 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 benef its are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the services and informal and ad-hoc feedback f rom members. their families, and members of the public. The pUoSe does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our PUTpose is related to Ministers, Missionaries. Deaconesses, Irish Mission )rkerS and Lay Agents vkno 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 benef iciaries 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 Northem Ireland, the Republic of Iland, and w0rfdde which benefit from our engagement W7th and support for both Christian and other secular organisations, chanties and individual members of the public.
The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
STRABANE CONGREGATION OF THE pREsBERlAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convdl FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 105 contributing families during the year 116 in previous year, 2022 donating a total of £37,842, £39,720 in previous year, 2022. Total Income of the congregation during the year was £72,573, compared to £74,088 in the previous year. IThe main reason for the decrease was that our members are decreasing due to the average age of our congregation ie 116 families in 2022 only 105 families in 2023.1 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 congregations total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 6413) of the Charities Att (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 forthe prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on I" July 2024 and signed on its behalf by tji) Name William Watson (Clerk) Name Robin Sproule Congregational Secretary Clerk of Session Date I" July 2024 Date I'july 2024