an CASTLEDAWSON CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105668)
an CASTLEDAWSON 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 2020 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS CASTLEDAWSON congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Main Street, Castledawson, Co Londonderry. BT45 8AA Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105668) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who serrfed during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were John Mullan Norman Mcmullan Evans Fulton Keith Gilmour Kenneth Taylor Samuel McFadden Grainger Stewart James Ewart Neil Savage Matthew Davidson Peter Lennox Menryn Fulton PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Teaching Elder Clerk of Session Treasurer John Mullan Grainger Stewart Norman Mcmullan INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Aaron SeNice. 138 Lisnahunshin Road, Cullybackeyi Co Antrim, BT42 IET BANKERS Danske Bank. 14 Broad Street, Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, BT45 6EA SOLICITORS John J. McNallyi 2 Moneymore Road, Magherafelt, Co Londonderry• BT45 6AD
an CASTLEDAWSON 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 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 15 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 Sessions has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all fund5 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 teaching elder 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 teaching elders 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 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 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. Ca5tledawson 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 teaching elders of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, rninsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
an CASTLEDAWSON CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd) 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 teaching elders 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. Castledawson 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 acknowledging our sins to be faithful to God's word as salt and light in our community, praying that God would move and save people in our town and district. ACTIVITIES AND OWECTIVES 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 prayer meetings and has a wide range of organisations including: Sunday School and Bible Class Focus Boys Brigade Girls Brigade Presbyterian Women Friendship Group Good News Club
an CASTLEDAWSON CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conVd} ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 12 noon and 6pm. 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 celebrate the Lord's Supper together, welcomed a new member of our covenant community through baptism, conducted a marriage service and gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. 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 teaching elder or by ruling elders. Mlsslon and outreach At a local level the congregation while following the pandemic restrictions we continued to use online means to outreach and engage with children, teenagers, and our community at large. 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.
an CASTLEDAWSON 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 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. The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal, Sunday School project and any other special appeals. Presbytery The congregation wa5 represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our teaching elder and / or one of the ruling elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The teaching elder and one of our ruling elders were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assernbly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Organisatlons Every Sunday morning our Sunday School meets before the church service. The children and young people meet together before splitting into smaller classes to study God's word and at the end of the summer term led the congregation in worship on Children's Day. After our evening service the Focus group meets for young people secondary school age and over. About 40 young people attended regularly to worship God and grow together in faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Over the autumn half term break they go away together for a residential weekend. On Monday nights over 60 boys regularly attend our Boys Brigade. They meet in three sections Anchors. Juniors and Company from pl until 18 years old. The boys are study the bible and do a wide variety of other activities including competitions with other Boys Brigade Companies.
an CASTLEDAWSON CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) On Tuesday nights over 100 girls regularly attend our Girls Brigade. They meet in four sections Explorers, Juniors, Seniors and Brigaders from age 3-18. The girls study the bible and do a wide variety of other activities including competitions with other Boys Brigade Companies. Our Presbyterian Women group meets monthly on a Thursday evening. Each month about 40 ladies meet to worship, listen to a Christian speaker and a time of fellowship together. Our Friendship Group meets on a Wednesday afternoon around 50 retired and semi-retired people in the local community meet for tea, friendship and a Christian speaker. At Christmas we have a special Christmas dinner finished the year with a summer luncheon. Volunteer5 The Trustee5 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. 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 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 frorn our purpose is related to Teaching Elders, Missionaries, Deaconesses, Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents
an CASTLEDAWSON CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) 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 ben8fi¢.iaiies of this purpose are men*)eis, theirfjamilies otheriK Yi rii.
an CASTLEDAWSON CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN 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 123 contributors during the year [130 in previous year, 2022] donating a total of £116.253 {£102,675 in previous year, 2022). Total Income of the congregation during the year was £209.669, compared to £185,723 in the previous year. Total expenditu was £163.343 compared to £178,810 in 2022. 5TATEMENf OF TRusfEE 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 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. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 30-10-24 and signed on its behalf by [Name] /4/1 [Datel [Name] [Date] 30- 10-1*