KILLYLEAGH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Known as, Killyleagh Presbyterian Church Annual Report and Financial Ststements of the Trustees of Killyleagh Presbyterian Church for the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charity In h1orthem Ireland {NIC108062)
KILLYLEAGH PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT TheTrustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023, induding a Statement of A55ets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS Registered Name: Killyleagh Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, with church buildings in Catherlne Street and Plantatlon Street, Killyleagh, Downpatrick, Co. Down. Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NICC 108062) CHARITY TRusfEES (lark Sesslon Membersl The Charity Trustees who seprfed during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were:_ Rev Jonathan Boyd Mr Ronnie Beggs Mrs Trudy Cole Mrs Lyn Dunlop Mr Graham Furey Mr Joe Garrett Mrs All Gilmore Mr Chris Hagan Mrjim Lindsay Mr James Mcllveen Mr Robert Mcmurray Mr Hamrny Marshall Mrs Helga Nixon Mrjim Scott CHURCH PROPERTY TRUSTEES The Down Presbytery Education Board (until 6 Deomber 2023) The Presbyterian Church in Ireland Holding Trustee Company (after 6 December 2023) PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Mlnlster and Chair of Trustees Rev. Jonathan Boyd Clerk of Session Committee Secretary Treasurer Mr. Graham Furey Mrs. Tnjdy Cole Mr. James Mcljveen INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mr. Jason Gibson ACA, Bachelors Close, Portadown, Co. Armagh, BT63 5FL BANKERS Ulster Bank Lfimited, 218 Market Street. Downpatrick. Co Down, BT30 6BU. SOLICITORS Murlands, 15 English Street, Downpatrick, Co. Down. BT30 6AP.
STrUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Session The charity trustees of the Congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Following the guldance of the Code which sets out the constitution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spirltual interest of the congregation and of persons not connetted with any congregation who are within its bounds. It ensures pastoral Ca 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-offiao members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the congregation. All members are entitled to propose. speak and exercise equ31 vote5 at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister in active duty in the congregation. has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meeting5 of the Kirk Session are norrnally held on the second Tuesday of January, March, May and November each year, and at other times as required. To be chosen for the office of the eldership In the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant at its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the congregation and or by the rk Session. Member5 are eletted if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote, and approved by the existing Kirk Session. Pre$bytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of govemance. the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibllity of a Presbytery. A Presbytery generally 5uperlntends the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Killyleagh Presbyterian Church congregation has been assigned to the Down Presbytery of the Presbyterian r.hiirrh in Irpland. Thg mfimbership of the fircJbytory consists niaiiily of the active ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation. The General Assembty The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, representing in one body the whole Church and arting a5 Its supreme legislative, administrative and judicial authority, in dealing with all matters bTought before it. The General A55embJy 15 normally constituted during the first week in June for worship and to conduct its business and atthe end of busines5 It is di5501ved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the attive ministers of each congregation. retired ministers and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRiwlloN AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. Killyleagh Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland which is Refomied Church within the wider body of Christ. The Presbyterian Church is grounded in God's Word the Scriptures. It exists to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable its membersto playtheir part In fulfilling God's mission to the world. The congregation's rni5sion purpose is: In the power of the Holy Spirit we go into the world to fulfil our calling as the people of God and the body of Christ and, by the grace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Our Vislon Is.. By the grace of God, to be an indusive, welcoming community of Chrisvs people of all ages, which is: increasingly characterised by love for God, and love and concem for others; committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible,. and relevant to people of this time and place. The congregatlon aims to Ilve out its Mlssion arml Vision as a family of God's people by beIn. A Covenant Community: where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward Him and toward one another An Intergenerational Community: where adults intentionally take the 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 15 the supreme authority over 311 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 Christian faith and practio. ACTlVtllES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed on several occasion5 duringthe year and all those who have been baptised and who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ a admitted to the Lor(fs Supper. The congregation holds Tegular midweek meetlngs for study and prayer and has a range of organisations including:_ Sunday School Bible Class Youth Fellowship Good News Club Girls, Brigade Presbyterian Women {PW) Killyleagh Tots- previously Little Hans. prior to Sept.'22 Making Mondays Matter Crafty Ladie5 Community Lunch ACHIEVEMENfs AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normalty meets for worship each Sunday morning at 11.00 am. Sunday evening Servi$, when announced. are at 7.00pm there are no evening serViS during the months of July and August. A Reading Plan is prepared and issued monthly by the Minister to give members a way to worship at home. The regular mi&week Bible Study provides further opportunity for member5 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 acknowledged Gods gift of new life through administering the Sacrament of Baptism twice {twice in 20221. we conducted no marriage services (once in 2022) and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2023 there were 140 communicant members (175 communicant members in 2022) and 247 families connected with the Congregation (220 families in 2022). The average weekly attendance at moming worship was 85 (average attendance in 2022 was 90). Services continue to altemate monthly between the two Church buildlngs. at Plantation Street and Catherine Street.
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. elders or by one of the congregation's pastoral visltors. Mission and outreach The Gospel is proclaimed each Sunday at our services. Occasionally services are arranged that are specifically evangelistic in nature, particularly at significant points In the year such as Easter, Harvest. and Christmas. During the week the are times when the community is welcomed into the church buildings through various organisations which provide opportunities to Show the love of God to people by serving them, make connettions with the community. and verbally share the good news of the Gospel. During the midweekthere is prayer for mission and outreach. Occasional events have been held for children and families such as familyfun days* picnic lunch, youth fellowship and both quiz and board game evenings. The Craft Group and Community Lunch donate any monetsry gifts to various mission agencies. The congregation 5UPPOrts the United Appeal for Mission which is a ntral fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to support the wlder misslon of the denomination and to do mls5ion and outreach on a denominatlonal basis beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for mission personnel at home and overseas and assists congregations with the deployment of locally based staff. In addition, it enables church plantin& provides grant support for the upkeep of church premlses and assists with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's training college for ministry students. It also financially supports smaller congregations In the areas of worship. discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. The congregation also contributes to the denomination's annual World Development Appeal and any other speaal appeals. Guest speakers are occasionally invited to address the congregation in order to highlight and encourage members to support area5 of need locally, nationally and internationally. The Presbyterian Women'5 group within the congregation strongly support mission work at home and abroad. Individual members are rising to the challenge of supporting those in need withln the wider community by contributing to the Fountain Food Bank based in the neighbouring Presbyterian congregatlon of Downpatrick. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minlster and one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wlder structures of the church. General Assembly In June, the minister and a nominated elder attend the annual meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in the Church House, Assembly Buildlng5, Belfast. Property There were no major renovations or repairs to the Church properties during 2023- with onlv essentlal tepairs were carrled out. ORGANISATIONS PW meets once a month. usually on a Thursday, excludingthe summer months With an average attendance of 12 ladies125 during 2022). Glrlg Brlgade meets weekly from September to March on Monday evening5, With different age groups meeting at different times. The average attendance was 35 girls.130 durlng 2022
Sunday School with small numbers initially met once a month but wlth increased numbers now meets twi a month, during the morning service, for Bible teaching and arts and crafts. It 15 aimed at children at Primary School and YOUrr- with 15 children enrolled during 2023.110 durlng 20221. Bible Class was restarted in 2023. meeting before church on the same Sundays a5 Sunday School, with Bible teaching for young people in P6 and older. Youth Fellowship met once a rnonth except during the summer, doing Bible study and games with young people from P6 upwards, with 3 couple of young er children attending as their parents we both present as leaders. Excluding the younger thildren there were seven children in attendance at various points with a typical attendance of 5. Kilfyleagh Tots- previously Little Hands prior to September 2022- 15 3 parent and toddler group that the church hosts on Monday mornings, with approximately 19 households in regular attendance during 2023.120 during 2022) Making Mondays Matter meets on Monday mornings opening with refreshments. This is followed by the screening of talks and sermons from a variety of speakers after which the topics aired are open for discu55ion followed by prayer. Typical attendan is around 10-12 people110-12 during 2022) with a meeting lasting for about an hour and a half. Crafty Ladles meets on a Wednesday morning for craft artivities with 10 ladies in attendan, {10 during 2022). Craft items and monetary donations are made to charitable causes. hd The Communlty Lunch provides lunch on the 2 and 4 Tuesday of each month and is open to anyone within the community. It provides an opportunlty to share a meal, to make new friends and for company. Attendance in 2023 varied from 18-26 people.16-20 during 2022) Good News Club started in September, meeting two Wednesday evenings a month except durfng the summer, for Bible based activities, crafts and games. It Is aimed at children aged 2-12. There were 11 chlldren in attendance at different points, with a typi1 attendance of 7. Volunteers 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 benefrt requirernent by providing benefit to its members and the general public by making known the Christian 605pel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The dirett 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 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 cornmunity such as through the care of those in need includingthe sick, disabled and bereaved. Generally, the above beneffts are delivered locally by congregations and thelr member5. a facilitated through Presbyteries, or are org3nised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources in almost all cases. Public acoss is made known through the use of notice boards. 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 feedbackfrom members, their families, and members of the public.
The purpose does not lead to harm. The only prlvate benefrt flowing from our purpose is felated to Ministers, Misslonaries, Deaconesses, Irish Mission Workers and Lay Agents who receive benefrts 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 prlvate benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are member5, their families, other indlviduals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect contact with, the communty in which pastoral services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and worldwide which benefit frorn our engagement with and support for both Christlan and other secular organisations, charities and individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Cornmis5ion's Public benefrt requirement statutory guidance. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of incorne is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. For 2023 there were 146 contributing families* during the year lin 2022 there were 163) donating a total of £73,971, including any loose collection. (in 2022 this figure was £71,557). ('Note- previously it Wa5 the numberof contributots that was reported= 211 Aor2022). Total Income of the congregation during the year was £177,470 {In 2022 thls figure was £172.544). During 2023 total expenditure increased significantly to £299,250 (in 2022 this figure was £164,215}. This wa5 primarily due to the purchase of the premises used bythe Killyleagh Community Shop along with the Flat above - costing £ 107,337," although having a full-time minlster for the whole year also contrlbuted to this higher level of expend5ture for 2023 - together wlth an increase in Charltable Donations. The Killyleagh Community Shop Llmited {NICC 10262) is now under the control of Killyleagh Presbyterian Church wlth the Directors appointed bythe Kirk Session. The Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Community Shop are audited and filed separately with NICC and Companrf Register. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBIUTIES The Trustee5 are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial Statements of the congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally acpted accounting practice. As the congregation's total income does not exed £250,000, the Trustees have elerted under Section 64(3) of the Charities Art (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilitie5. 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 355ets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detettion of fraud and other irregularities. The 2023 Annual Report was approved by the Kirk Session members of Killyleagh Presbyterian Church on 14 May 2024 and signed on their behalf by:" Signed . Afri& Mr. James Mcllveen- Church Treasurer Dated: 14-05-24 Mr. Graham Furey- Clerk of Session Dated: 144)5-24