FINAGHY BAPTIST CHURCH
Trustees, Annual Report
Year Ended 31 December 2022
Name of Charity:
CCNI Number:
Finaghy Baptist Church {FBCI
107403
Address:
l The Hawthorns, Finaghy, Belfast, BTIO ONA
I" January 2022 to 31" December 2022
This report relates to the Financial year:
Purpose:
"FBC acknowledges the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ over His Church and exists to glorify the
triune God by maintaining and promoting His worship both individually and corporately. FBC
members devote themselves to the teaching of Scripture (the Bible), to fellowship, to communion
and to prayer. FBC is also committed to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ among the general
publlc, in accordance with biblical principles and practice, especially in Finaghy, South and West
Belfast and Dunmurry, but also throughout the world. FBC members commit, with the help of God,
to witness to the love of God, to the saving and sustaining power of the Lord Jesus Christ and to
work for the extension of His Kingdom.
The principal charitable object of FBC is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the
teachings of Scripture as reflected in FBC'S Doctrinal Statement. Secondary charitable objects
include, the prevention and relief of poverty, the teaching of children, young persons, and adults to
live lives which are law abidin& moral and godly, the support of mission work at home and abroad
including evangelism and projects aimed at improved living circumstances and the provision of
loving practical care and support to both FBC members and to local communities in which FBC
people live."
Publlc Beneflts:
The advancement of religion.
The prevention or relief of poverty.
The advancement of citizenship or community development.
The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial
hardship or other disadvantage
Activitie5 and Achievements and Impact
Our services continued to be hybrid throughout 2022, the building was open for meetings, but for
those who were more vulnerable or felt unable to attend in person we ensured that online
streaming was available. There was constant review of Risk Assessments to enable us to operate
effectively, but safely.
Communication was a key aspect of keeping everyone in contact and up to date, using email or
post as needed to send updates and prayer informatlon. This enabled everyone to stay connected
in one way or another which wa5 Vital In these difficult times where loneliness and isolation is now
so prevalent.

Many of our activities ran throughout the year giving opportunity to meet for fellowship,
encouragement, prayer and socialisation. There were monthly lunch meetings for our seniors and
various care packages throughout the year, which enabled them to keep in touch, feel loved and
enjoy a sense of belonging.
On Sundays the whole congregation met together. We were able to serve refreshments and spend
time chatting after the service. Our youngsters had their own age-appropriate activities. In the
summer they even had an opportunity to visit a farm and enjoy an outing together as well as the
fun of a Christmas party. Our creche is thriving with a number of new babies being added and the
excitement of more on the way.
Our young people met regularly which gave a safe space for them to be able to enjoy each otherfs
company a5 well as have fun and learn more about Jesus and who he is. They enjoyed a weekend of
glamping up in Limavady as well as a stroll around the Belfast Christmas Market together.
Over the summer, there wa5 also a joint venture between several churches in Finaghy and Scripture
Union, called Cr055roads, which gave children the opportunity to have fun, learn from the Bible and
Spend time together. We were even joined by a team from Spain who helped to run the weekly
activities, bringing a whole cross-cultural element to the week. The week was a busy one and for
health and safety purposes had restriction5 on numbers. It was well attended, and we trust next
year we will be able to run it even better and bigger without so many restrictions.
There are a small number who join with other churches in the locality to pray once a month and to
enjoy breakfast together, this allows us to support and encoura8e one another and show our unity
even as different churches.
We continued to collect food for the South West Belfast Foodbank on a regular basis and engage
with our local community helping wherever possible. We collected and filled shoeboxes for
Samaritan's Purse which go to children around the world.
We financially and prayerfully support a number of our members who Ilve overseas, sharing their
lives and their faith. We seek to encourage them when they are back in Northern Ireland. Our
Global Missions Team also helps to guide us in supporting and caring for them practical￿ and
pastorally. We love to see them engage with FBC and know it benefits us as we learn about their
lives overseas. It has been such a blessing to have a few of those families with us for a while in
2022.
We also walked around the local community singing Carols and distributing some Christmas invites
to our activities and especially to our Carols by Candlelight event, which was well attended by our
congregation and some local families too. It was lovely to be able to chat to people from the local
community to build relationships and celebrate together over refreshments after the service.
This year we also had a voluntary offering for financial support to the crisis Sltuation in Afghanistan
and £4200.13 wa5 raised.
Finances:
The financial position of FBC at the end of the financial year 31 December 2021 wa5,
Overall Income:
£ 138, 735
Overall Expendlture: £ 129, 427
We claimed Gift Aid on any eligible income and in total we received £ 31, 808

Our Annual accounts for 2022 will be examined and reported on by our Independent Examiner,
Gwendolyn Stone.
Charity Trustees:
The FBC Trustees consist of FBC Elders, the FBC Treasurer and the FBC Secretary. The Treasurer and
Secretary are nominated by the Elders and Deacons {FBC Officer Holders) normally from among
their number, or if no one from that number is able to accept either of these responsibilities, the
Elders and Deacons shall nominate for either appointment a person from the church membership
who, in their opinlon meets the qualifications to fulfil such an appointment. In these circumstances
appointment to such a post shall confer the Office of Deacon. Those duly elected as Secretary and
Treasurer may remain in position until their Office as Elder and / or Deacon cease. Office Holders
are usually elected by the members of FBC at the Annual General Meeting.
The Flnaghy Baptlst Church Trustees are:
Gary Ellison
Pastor (acting Chair until June 20221
Sally-ann Hamilton
Secretary
Ashley Eves
Treasurer
Joel Hutchinson
Chair (on Sabbatical until June 2022}
Trustees Statement:
The FBC Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission Northern Ireland Public Benefit guidance
and have carried out the activities of an FBC Trustee with due regard to it.
Governance..
FBC is an independent Baptist church, voluntarily affiliated with the Association of Baptist Churches
in Ireland for support and advice. The church is governed by its Constitution, updated and formally
th
agreed upon at the Annual General Meeting of the church members on 9 June 2019.
Private Benefit:
The only prlvate benefits flowing from our purposes are the provision of stipend for any pastor of
the Church who will also assume the role of Trustee and paid employment for the personnel
required to support the work of the Church. Such stipends and salaries are necessary to enable the
Church to provide the pastoral and administrative support required to fulfil the ststed purpose, and
any incurred expenses are incidental.
Mltigation of Hami:
The following individuals have been appointed from among the members of FBC to advise the
Trustees in key areas:
Hazel Morrow
Safeguardin8 Coordinator
Andrew Robinson
Health & Safety Officer
The Safeguarding Coordinator leads a Safeguarding Team who help to ensure the protection of
children and vulnerable adults in our care. The Safeguarding Team ensure the careful
implementation of our Safeguarding Policy,

The Health and Safety Officer advises the Trustees on the Health and Safety Policy including risk
assessments and fire prevention. FBC offers regular training to help prevent harm or accidents and
to ensure our public benefits can be carried out safely. The church also has a GDPR policy in place.
These appointed members provide updates for each Trustees meeting, including a detailed report
annuallv.
Signed on Behalf of the Trustees:
This annual report has been agreed upon by all FBC Trustees as a true representation of the activities,
achievements and situation of FBC at the end of the financial year 31 December 2022.
Secretary: Sally-ann Hamilton
Treasure
hle
Eves
Date:
Date:
26-q-23