Presbyter
an
CHURCH IN IRELANO
FIRST DROMARA 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 NIC 105676

The Trustees, Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 Dccemb¢r
2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.
REFERENCE AI¥D ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
CHARITY NAME
First Dromara Congregation of th¢ Pr¢sbyterian Church in Ireland
ADDRESS
4 Church Road, Dromari DROMORF,, Co Down, FIT25 2NS
CHARrrY NUMBER
Registered Charity in Northcrn Ircland NIC 105676
CHARITY TRUSTEES
Rev. Scott W Moore
William CIinghan
David A Copes
Robert Hawthorne
Paul Reain
Norn]an Biggerstaff
Brian Copes
Ronnie Crawford
Ian David Mccullagh
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Minister
Rev Scott W Moorc
Clerk of Kirk Session
Ian D Mccullagh
Congregational Secretary Mrs Angela Cobb
Treasurer
Nornian Biggerstaff
INDEPEI¥DENT EXAMINER
Mrs A￿¢S Michelle Hartc c￿ I Woodvalc, DromarL DROMORE, Co Down, BT25 2JA
BANKERS
Danske Bank, 35-39 Bridge StreeL BANBRIDGE, Co Down, BT32 3JL
SOLICITORS
W G Maginess & Son Ltd., 68 Bow StreeL LISBURN, Co Antrim, BT28 IAL

First Dromara Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Trustees, Annual Report 2023
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
Prcsbyterian Chuwh in Ir¢land, th¢ Kirk Scssion S￿kS to watch ovcr and promotc 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 withess and service in the local community. The Kirk Session has
delegated to its Congregational Committee the tempornl 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
cmbcrs arc cntitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at mectings, except that the
Moderator, the minister 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 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 propos¢d to b¢ called to the office
can be either by the congregation or by the Kirk SessioJL M¢mb¢rs are elected if they obtsin two-
thirds of those who vote.
Presbytery
Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland forni of governance the corwrate oversight of a
cOn￿gatiOn is the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends generally the spiritual and
temporal affairs of the congregations assI￿ed to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in Ireland. First Dmmara congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the
Dromore 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 ap￿inted by the Kirk Session of the
Coll￿gation.
The General Assembty
Th¢ G¢n¢ral Assembly is the supr¢mc court of th¢ ChurclL r¢pr¢scnting in one body the whole
Church and acting as its supreme legislative, admirristrative and judicial authority, in d¢aling with
all matters brought before it. The General Assembly is norn]ally 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.

First Dromara Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Trustees, Annual Report 2023
DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE
The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. First Dromara
congregation of the Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Refornied 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 the spread of the Gospel. the good news of Jesus ChrisL
locally. nationally and internationally and to encourage our members of all ages to a greater
Christian experience an(L with God's help. to be engaged in all aspects of this outreach work.
Our vision is, by the grac¢ of Go(L to be an inclusive. welcoming community of Christ's people of
all ages, which:
is increasingly chardcterised by love for G￿ and love and concern for others"
is committed to the historic Christian gospel &8 revealed in the Bible.
is relevant to people of this time and place.
In all of this we, at First Drom￿ seek to honour the LoTd. We believe the Lord Jesus ChTiSt to be
the sole King and Head of the Church. We believe the Word of God as set forth in the Scriptures of
the Old and New Testaments to be the only infallible rule of faith and practise and the supreme
standard of the church. We uphold and teach thc doctrines of grace set forth in subordinate
standards. that is the Westminster Confession of FaidL Larger and Shorter catechisms.
We seek through word and actions to honour God in all we do, to encourage the saints and to reach
the lost. We earnestly seek to integrate all age groups into our church family and encourage all age
groups to be involved in sharing th¢ gospel message and to become blessings for others beyond the
bounds of our COn￿egatiOn.
ACTIVITIES AND OWECTtVES
The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament
of the Lord's Supper is observed on several occasions during the year and all those who have been
baptised and who have mad¢ 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
Bible Class
Youth Fellowship
Mothers and Toddlers
Inspire Ladies Grnup
Ladies Bible Study and Prayer Group
Congregational Bible Study and Prayer Meeting
Boys, Brigade (in conjunction with other local churches)
Girls, Brigade
Youth Club
Feast
Annual Holiday Bible Club
Ambassadors Football Camp

First Dromara Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Trust¢es' Annual Report 2023
ACHtEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Worship and prayer
The congregation nornially meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am (I I.00am during July and
August) and 6.45pm.(except during July and August). During the week the Bible Studyl Prayer
Meeting providcs an opportuuity for mcmbcrs to mcet together for fcllowship. to study thc Scripturcs
and for a time of prayer.
We gave thanks for faithful service of the deceased and sought to comfort those who had been
bereaved.
At 31 December 2023 therc weT¢ 127 communicant members and 182 fatnilies conncctcd with the
congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning WOTship is 135.
During the year the attendance at most activities h&s slowly returned to near the pre-pandemic level.
We recognise that some have not returned to the services of worship either by choice of because of
failing health so we continued to live-stream services.
We are pleased to have attracted some new members during the year, many of whom have taken a
full part in our various organisations and activities.
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 or elders in an effort to support them both practically and spiritually.
The freezer ministy continued through the year.
Mission and outreach
We have an active Mission Committee which seeks to maintain contact with and support for
workers at home and overse&s. Financial support is given to rnission workers in various countries.
Many in our congregation have a genuine concern for the spread of the Gospel. During 2023 four
members of the congregation travelled overseas on mission teams or mission conferences. Locally,
some members have been involved in our Pr¢sbyt¢ry Outr¢ach at thc Balmoral Show. Our young
people are also heavily involved in mission work. During 2023 fourteen of our teenagers have been
involved as leaders in PCI, CSSM, CEF, Scripture unlo￿ New Horizon and Ambassadors Football
teams. Twelve of our young people attended various camps during the summer. Eighteen members
hosted an Ambassadors Football Camp and around forty members organised our Holiday Bible
Club. In 2023 a team travelled to Dundalk Presbyterian Church in the Irish Republic to conduce a
Holiday Bibl¢ Club in in that church. It was well received in the local congregation and about 40
children attended.
The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fimd of the
Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fimd enables congregations to support the wider mission of the
d¢nomination and to do mission and outreach on a denominational basis beyond what the
ongregation could do on its own. Th¢ United Appeal Fund provides fllwicial 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 ministy students, and
financially supports congregations in the areas of worship, discipleship, global Missio￿ outreac
leadership and pastoral care.The congregation also contributes to the denominations Sunday School
project. to the Samaritan's Purse Shoebox Appeal and other special appeals.

First Dromara Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
TnLStees' Annual Report 2023
Presbytery
The congregation w&s represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our rninister and 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
The property owncd by the congregation includes a Meeting House and suite of Church Halls with
car parking areas and Graveyart a Church Manse and a fornier caretakerfs residence.
Organisations
Sunday School
The Sunday School meets at l 0.30am on Sunday mornings from September to Jurje with an average
attendanc¢ of 20-22 childrcn from 5 to l l years. Through tcachiDg the Bible, the Catechism and
various activities. children learn what it means to b¢ a Christian. The Sunday School children lead
a Nativity Service in December and a Sunday School Service in June.
Bible Class
The Bible Class is for young people from 12 to 18 years. It meets at l 0.30am on Sunday mornings
from September to May and had an average attendance of14-16 young people. Here, the young
people are taught from God's WoriL the Bible" mor¢ about how to become a Christian. and thosc
who have already taken that step are encouraged in their Christian life.
Youth Fellowship
Youth Fellowship meets weekly on most Sunday evenings from September to May with monthly
social meetings on Saturdays. For young people from 12 to 18 years and with 25 members and an
average attendance of16-18. With a Mixtu￿ of our own leaders and external speakers, the young
people are encouraged to follow God's teaching from the Biblc. A residential w¢¢k¢nd away was
arranged in S¢pt¢mb¢r to encourage all members for the new season.
Mothers and Toddlers
This group meets on Monday mornings during school temi time. Average attendance is around 20-
25 children and 15-20 Mothers or Guardians. There is a structured programme of play activities,
crafts, refreshments. singing and a short Bible story. The group seeks to encourage babies and
small children to interact with each other and also encourages the moth¢rs and guardians to share
with each other. It was not possible for the Mothers and Toddlers group to meet during the year.

First Dromard Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Tn]stees' Annual Report 2023
Inspire Ladies Group
The Inspire Ladies Group meets on the third Monday of each month from September to May and
has a membership of 24 and an average attendance of 20 ladies. There is varied programme of
activities and speakers on relevant issues in a spiritual context.
Ladies Bible Study and Prayer Group
This group of about l O members meet for a time of Bible Study and Prayer on Tuesday mornings
during school tern] time. Studies are led by various members of the ￿0Up on a rota basis.
Congregational Bible Study / Prayer Meeting
This group has an average attendance of 14 people of all ages. Time is taken to study a short
passage from God's Word, the Bible, and members take part in a time of corporate prayer. Meetings
continued throughout the year with breaks for public holidays.
Boys, Brigade
The Boys, Brigade is under the oversight of the four Dromara Churches namely First Dromara
Presbyterian, Sccond Dron]arn Prcsbyteria￿ Dromara RefOrnI￿ Presbyterian and St. John's Church
of Ireland. The youngest section - the Anchor Boys, with an average attendance 36 boys, and the
oldest section- the Company sectio￿ with an average attendance of 24 boys, meet in First
Dromara Church Halls on W¢dn¢sday ￿¢ningS from September to June. Th¢ progressiv¢
programme of activities seeks to encourage the physical, mental and spiritual growth and
development of boys from 5 to 18 years ￿ they seek to fulfill their object "To advance Christ's
Kingdom among boys... . The Company Section encourages participation in the Duke of
Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Girls, Brigadc
The Girls, Brigade had an averdge attendance of 85 girls on Thursday evenings from September to
April. A varied programme of activities relevant to the various age groups is offered each week as
they seek to infiuence, for good, each area of the girls, lives. The object of Girls, Brigade is that
Girls might "SeeL Serve and Follow Cbrist"
Feast
This group> principally for those in their 20s and 30s, usually meets monthly throughout the year for
social events and for Bible Study. Meetings are held either in the Church premises, leaders, homes
or other outside venues.
Youth Club
The Youth Club is organised in two sections. The Junior Club for 8 to I l years had 35 rncmbcrs
with an avcragc attcndancc of around 20-22 children. The Scllior Club for 12 to 18 years had a
membership of 40 young people with an average attendance of around 25. Leaders arrange various
games and activities each Friday evening from September to April and there is tuck shop and
epilogue each evening. Occ&sional outings are arranged.
Ambassadors Football Camp
This has taken placc in recent years over a week in July. About 60 young people participated led by
about 18 leaders. Fithess and football skills are developed and there is a gospel message each
evening.

First Dromara Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Trustccs, Annual Report 2023
Annual Holiday Bible Club
A Bible Club was organised for children and young people from nursery school age up to those in
their 20s. Some met in the evenings and other groups met dwing the day, during a week in July.
The programme included sport and recreatio￿ involvement in music and visual arts. and a Bible
lesson. Some groups were taken to outside activity centres. Approximately 120 children and young
people from our congregation and district attended.
VoluDteers
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. Special thanks
must be expressed to those who gave up their time and talents to broadcast services and produce
recordings during the year, which has become an irnportant part of our outreach.
PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENr
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its
m¢mb¢rs and the general public by making known the Cbristian Gospel of thc 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 sicL 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 c&ses. Public access is made known through the use of
noticeboards) printed material, press advertisement, websites, and social rnedi￿ or in other ways.
The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the services and infonnal and ad-hoc
feedback from members, their families, and members of the public.
The purpose does not lead to harni. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to
Ministers, Global Mission Workers, Deaconesses, Irish Mission Workers and Lay Agents who
receiv¢ bcncfits as a result of their holding officc or cmployment. However, this is incid¢ntal and
necessary in ordcr to fLrther 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 dir¢ct and indirect contact witty the community in wl]icb p&storal scrviccs
are provided, and other conllnunities thmugbout Northem IrelanQ 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 Cl)arity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory
guidance.

First Dromara Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Tn]stees' Annual Report 2023
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill
Offering. There were 136 contributors during the year donating a total of £72,425 (£70,275 in the
previous year, 2022).
Total Income of thc congregation during the year was £228,389 compar¢d to £143,056 in the
previous year. This incre&se was partly due to increased giving by members but also as a result of a
bequest from a fornier member.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the am]ual 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) 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 position. They are also res￿)nsIble for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and
hence for taking reasonable st¢ps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 9 December 2024 and signed on its behalf by
Rev. Michael Davidson
(Interim Moderator)
Ian D Mccullagh
Date
Date