RATHFRILAND BAPTIST TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report of the charlty for the year ended 30 September 2023. PURPOSE The principal purpose of Rathfriland Baptist Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to Biblical principles. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMAN The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on provision of public benefit and are confident that the Church fully satisfied this requirement throughout 2023 through its activities. Sunday seNices and the mid-week Bible Study are ¥ia the Churches U Tube Channel. These services are freely available on an ongoing basis on this Channel. Sep4ices are also uploaded onto SermonAudio website where they may be also freely accessed on an on80in8 basis. Drive-in Gospel services were again conducted in the carpark of Rathfriland Fanners Coop, kindly granted, as a gospel outreach on Sunday aftemoon from June to the middle ofseptember. Youth fellowship {CASTI meetin85 are held on alternate Sunday evenings. after the evening service, during October to April. CAST also organised a number of social events throughout the year. Our Ladies Fellowship meeting also continued on the l Monday of each month durin8 the period September to May. In addition to the usual monthly activities during 2023. a soccer dub w35 held over the course of 4 evenings in early June as a special outreach, with over 120 b)ys and girls attendin8. A holiday bible club was also held in late July with over 170 children attending. A number of Missionary Societies and Christian organisations attended the Fellowship to provide members the opportunity to receive infomiation on their work. Wisitstion of the sick. consolation and support of members suffering bereavement continued in 2023 as the Pastor and the Assistant Pastor. together with others from within the Fellowship. sought to provide comfort and support for those affected. In March 2022 worked commenced on our new church complex. with the old buildin& which the congregation had grown out of, being demolished. The Elders and Committee of 2 and 3rd Rathfriland Presbyterian congregations kindly granted the use of the 2 Church building where services were held from March 2022 until completion of the new Church and Hall in September 2023. The first service was held in the new building on the 30 Au8USt of 2023. with Sunday services commencing mid September and the official opening following in October 2023. The Trustees wish to record thevre thanks to Walter Graham for his efforts and faithfulness in undertaklng the construction of the new church compleL IIPage
RATHFRILAND BAPTIST REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEtAILS OF THE CHARITY, trs TRUSfEES AND ADVISORS Charity name: Rathfriland Baptist Church Address". Loughbrickland Road, Rathfriland. BT34 SPL Email: ian rathfrilandba tist.com Website.. www.rathfrilandba tist.com
RATHFRILAND BAPTIST TRusfEES The Charity Tru5tee5 are the members of the Church Over*ht Committee vthith consists of Pastor. Elders and Deacon5. All male members of the Church a eligible to Stand for electw)n a5 a deacon unless di5quafified by Statute from holdin8 office as a trustee. Elections to the Offio of Deacon are conducted at the Annual Members Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Church Meetin8 is open to all church members. The Church's Constitution requires a two thirds majority of those voting for the appointment of Pastors or Elders. Elders are elected for life unless they choose to retire or leave the Fellowship. Pastors Serve for the period of their pastorate. INDUCTION AND TRAINING OFTRUSTEES Following appointment each newly appointed Trustee receNes an Induction Pack containing copies of Charity Commission for Northern Ireland publications: Running Your Charity. Trustees are also encouraged to acce55 further information available on the Charity Commission for Northern tland website. The Trustees in office at 30July 2024 and the date of signing this report were: I Wilson G Anderson J Henry R Stewart Pastor Church Seuetsry G Mccrum J Boyd l Mcconnell E McAuley K McKinstry L McKinstry M Scott Churth TreaSur PAYMENTS TO TRUSTEES No Trustee received payment for undertaking trustee duties. Payments to the Pastor relate to expenses incurred in the perforniance of the duties of pastor. Where Trustees purchase Items on behalf of the Charity these costs may be reimbursed.
RATHFRILAND BAPTisr ADVISORS Bankers: Danske BanL StreeL Portsdowry BT62 ILB. Accountants: WHR Accountants Ltd. 56 Upper En81ish St, Armagh, BT617LG. Insurance Adviser: Kingdom BanL Media House. Padge Rd. Beeston, HG9 Solicitors: Bell Gordon & Son, 9 Newry St. Rathfriland. BT34 SPY sTrucruRE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Rathfriland Baptist Church is a registered charity- The charity is registered in Northern Ireland with the Charity Commission in Northern Ireland with the charity number 107417. It has been registered as a charity since June 8", 2020.
RATHFRILAND BAPTIST TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT convd MANAGEMENT The Trustees continued to meet regularly to discuss the work of the church. and to make decision5 concerning the regular activities within the church. and also Outreach activities. Matters are reported to Church Members via the Annual Church Members Meeting when the Report and Atcount5 are also presented. Matters requiring approval of a Churth Members Meetin& other than appointment of Elders or Pastors. are decided by majority vote. In event of a tie the Chairman of the Church Members Meeting has a casting vote. Approval at a Church Members Meeting is required for significant projects, such a5 a building programme. prior to commencing any major new undertaking. Volunteers continue to play key roles in various Departments of the Church. It is not Possible to quantify this support a5 much is done behind the scenes. Hower. Rathfriland Baptlst Church could not function as it does Without their faithfvl support. RISK MANAGEMENT The Trustees have conducted an assessment of the risks to which the charity is exposed and have reviewed systems and procedures to mitigate such risks. Risk assessment covering fire, health & safety and the protection of children. young people and vulnerable adults is an on80ing process and is reviewed annually or before any new major undertakin8. age
RATHFRILAND BAPTIST TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT conyd FINANCIAL REVIEW The church is funded by voluntary gifts and donations and use is made of the Gift Aid Scheme. The church does not seek fund5 from other sources. Income for the year amounted to £292,027. An amount of £47,419. recognised as income related to Gift Aid Rebates and was included as cash in bank but not received at September 2023. Expenditure amounted to £1.135,463 of which £1,061.905 related to expenditure on the new church building programme. This resulted in a cash deficit £387,555. Loan facilitates were agreed with Danske bank to ensure adequate funds were available to pay for and complete capital works relatin8 to the new church and hall complex. The Church uses Restricted and Unrestricted Fund5 in its accounting policie5. Restricted Funds are used for money donated to the Church for specific purposes e.8. Building Fund. Unrestricted Funds from 8eneral offerings are used for all other purposes. Any shortfalls in the Restricted Funds are made up by transfers from the Unresirirted Fund. RESERVE5 POUCY A policy on reserves has been reviewed and agreed by the Trustees. The income of the church 15 stable, and sufficient to both meet nonnal expenses and pay off the cost of planned capital works. In the event of an unexpected financial need the Trustees are confident that members would respond accordingly. The Trustees are satisfied that a figure equating to approximately three months, expenditure is an appropriate level of reserve balances at the present time. Cash balance at year end exceeded the level of Reserrfes required. SIGNED ON BEH F TRUSTEES BY: l Mcconnell Church Treasurer Date: 15 August 2024 R Stewart Church Secretary Date: IS August 2024 61 Page