an COAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELANDTRUSTEES 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 Coagh congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1 Welbourne Place Coagh Cookstown Co Tyrone BT80 OEZ Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC105685) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Rev. Stewart Glendinning Mrs Amy Allingham PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minisier Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev. Stewart Glendinning Mrs Amy Allingham Mr Richard Mccrea INDEPENDENT EXAMINER David Lyttle + Co Ltd 15 Meeting Street Msgherafelt Co Londonderry BT45 6BN BANKERS Danske Bank Donegall Square West Belfast BT16JS
an COAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk 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, Ihe Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the congregation and of persons nol 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 Moderatof, the ministers in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk Session are held as required throughout the 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 0-third$ of those who vote. Pre8bytery 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. Coagh congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Tyrone Presbytery of the Presbylerian 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 Ihe Kirk Session of the congregation. The General A88embly 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.
an COAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. Coagh 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, by the grace of God, to help people of all ages 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 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 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 Intergeneralional Community.. where adults intentionally take Ihe 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 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 authority 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 teaches on key matters of Chrislian faith and practice 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 has several organisations including Sunday School Women's Association United Midweek Fellowship FUEL Bowling Club Mums & Tots Time & Talent Group
an COAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd> ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10'.45am. As well as our regular services during the year the Church offers Sacraments of Baptism and marriage services. As a congregation we gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2023 there were 30 communicant members and 65 families connected with the congregation. The average week attendance at morning worship is 30. Pastoral caro 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. Ml88lon and outreach At a local level the congregation regularly supports appeals made by Church House. During the year the congregation supported numerous charitable organisations through special collections and from Church fund. The Time and Talent group was set up lo promote fellowship and friendship through various craft activities. The group meets normally lce a month and has average attendance of 55 people at each session. The group also organises a number of outings for members throughout the year. Fund raising is also carried out to support various organisations. 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 congregalions 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 congregations in the areas of worship, discip5eship, 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.
an COAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and l or one of the elders. This provides an important link beeen 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. Proparty The Church Committee continue to provide oversight and maintenance of our suite of buildings to ensure they remain fit for purpose. During the year a new sound system was installed, and general maintenance carried out. Organl8atlon8 The Sunday School meets every Sunday at 9.45am where the children learn about God through various activities. Volunteer8 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. 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 Chrislian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The direct benefits which flow frorn 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 C8techismsl 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 8re organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facililated 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 evalu8tion 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 8s a resull 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 Ihe Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
an COAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's m8in source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. The results for the year are set out on page 9, which the Trustees consider to be satisfactory. The reserves of the Congregation are held for the advancement of its charitable purpose, other than restricted reserves which are held for a designated purpose. 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 congregation's lotal 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 congregalion's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any lime 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 3rd May 2024 and signed on its behalf by Rev Stewart Glendinning Mrs Amy Allingham Trustee Trustae Date