Presbyter
an
SECOND CASfLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022
including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Second Castlederg Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
55 Strabane Road,
Castlederg,
Co Tyrone,
BT817HZ
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC105610)
CHARITY TRusfEES
The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report
were:
Rev Clarke Deering (appointed 30/10/2022)
Rev Charles Clement5 (Retired October
2022)
Mr John Allen (retired May 2022)
Mr Mervyn Buchanan
Miss Rosemary Craig BEM
Mr Alex Fletcher
Mr Bert Huey
MrJack Mitchell
Mrs Jean Mcmullan
Mrs Bertha Pollock (Retired May 2022)
Mrs Pearl Quigley
Mr David Thompson
Miss Sandra Thompson
Mrs Daphne Watt
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Minister in charge:
Clerk of Session:
Treasurer:
Rev Clarke Deering
Mr Bert Huey
Miss Doreen Mccain

Presbyter
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SECOND CASTLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Hamill Mcllwaine Chartered Accountants
28-30 Old Mountfield Road
Omagh
BT79 7BJ
BANKERS
Ulster Bank
Strabane Branch
29 Abercorn Square
Strabane
BT82 8AL
SOLICITORS
Babingtons Solicitors
74 Railway Street
Strabane
BT82 8EQ

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SECOND CASfLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBrfERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRUSfEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd)
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 Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Session seeksto watch over and promote 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 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
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 in January, March, May, September and November
and 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 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 two-thirds of those who vote.
Presbytery
Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of
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. Second Castlederg Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Omagh
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 Assernbly, minsters
who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each
congregation.

Presbyter
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SECOND CASTLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYtERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd)
The General Assembly
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.
DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE
Second Castlederg 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 honourGod through faith in His Son and by the
power of His Spirit, and to enable its members to play their part in fulfilling God'5 mission to our
world.
The congregations mission statement is:
Second Castleder
Mission Statement
We are the church at the heart of the town, called by God to have a heart for Him, a heart for
each other and for ourcommunity and our world.
A heartfor God:
In worship. in praying together; in studying and reading His Word in the Bible; in learning together
in Sunday School; in using our time and our gifts to serve Christ and others.
A heartfor each other:
In welcome. in friendship. in our laughing together and our weeping together," a heart for each
other as we encourage one another. bear one anotherfs burdens. pray for one another; forgive
one another and love one another.
A heart for our community:
As in GB we seek, serve and follow Christ together. as in BB we make it our aim to be sure and
steadfast.
In the fellowship and friendship of bowls,"
In the sharing of good news in Holiday Bible Club,.
A heart for our community as we hear Christ's call to love our neighbour as we value ourown life.

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SECOND CAsfLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
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TRUSfEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd)
A heart for God's world:
In PW as women meet to pray, to encourage and support mission at home and overseas; in our
support for Tear Fund, Mission in Cambodia, United Appeal Projects, Operation Christmas Child. in
giving to the Presbyterian Children's Society, World Development, Moderatorfs Special Appeals
and the many personal opportunities to give and to care that Christ shares with us daily.
We are the church at the heart of the town, challenged to keep the Lord at the heart of all we are
and ever hope to be.
AcfiviTIES AND OBJEcfivES
The congregation meets for worship every Sunday at 10.30a.m. with visitors often joining us for
the Service especially at Baptisms and at Harvest. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed
in January, April and September 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 holds a fortnightly Bible study meeting and has a wide range of organisations
i nclud ing
Sunday School
Girls, Brigade
Boys, Brigade
Bowling Club
Presbyterian Women
ACHIEVEMENTSAND PERFORMANCE
Worship and prayer
During 2022, many of the restrictions associated with Covid 19 were gradually relaxed, so that by
the end of the yearjust one area of the church building retained social distancing. The church
choir is once more leading the praise along with our dedicated organist and they have been
involved in preparing special music for Harvest and Christmas. As in 2021, gift bags of Easter eggs
and Easter messages were left in the church pewsfor our Easter All Age Service and Communion.
The Harvest Evening Service was reinstated and as it was our Minister's last Service before retiring
it was well attended and was followed by a Harvest Supper in the church hall. Members of the
congregation led the Christmas Carol Service and the Sunday School led the Natlvlty Service on the
Sunday before Christmas.

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SECOND CAsfLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT {conYd)
The Bible Study Group comprises both members of Second Castlederg and our linked congregation
of Urney with 10-15 people attending our fortnightly meetings for study and prayer. We finished
our series on Life Lessons from the Psalms and we also completed 12 studies in New Testament
Characters. Both questions and Ministerfs comments continue to be emailed to church members
and a paper copy is also made available.
The congregation is now also on Facebook, giving us more opportunities to connect with people
and to advertise special events. Our Sunday morning Prayer Time has also resumed in person and
continues to be well supported as we rememberthose who are ill and bereaved and as we prayfor
our current vacancy and the appointment of a new Minister. Before Sunday School re-opened in
September, Kirk Session distributed flyers to all families with children and this produced a very
positive response with many children starting Sunday School for the first time. With the relaxation
of Covid restrictions and social distancing, numbers attending Sunday Worship are gradually
improving with between 60-100 at Worship each week.
The Sacrament of Baptism welcomes children into our Church family and in 2022 seven children
were baptised. There were six weddings and we also met to give thanks for the lives of nine of our
members who died during the year and two former members re-joined the congregation. At 31
December 2022 there were 304 communicant members and 194 families connected with the
congregation.
Pastoral care
The Ministervisits the sick and housebound on a regular basis and brings Home Communion to
those who are unable to attend Sunday Worship. Members of Kirk Session have Elder's Districts
and visit Church members several times in the year. The monthly Service in one Nursing Horne
was gradually reintroduced during 2022 with the Minister leading the Service without the
previous support of choir members. Pastoral visiting gradually returned to something more
'normal', but hospital visiting was often limited and sometimes only permitted for end of life care.

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SECOND CASfLEDERG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd)
Mission and outreach
At a local level the congregation has a wide-ranging mission and ministry to the Castlederg
community. Mission happens in many ways in our congregation. In ouryouth Organisations we
reach out to young people from the area, sharing the message of the Bible with those who have a
link with their local church and those who have none. Mission is also about serving and many of
our members serve in local groups and committees that benefit the community in practical ways,
such as Derg Valley Care. Contributions to our United Appeal for Mission that supports many
individual ministries and projects at home and overseas raised £7589.70 exceeding our Target of
Honour which in 2022 was £6400. The World Development Appeal for 2022 was entitled
"Rekindling Hope" and had its main focus on Lebanon. Along with its own political, economic and
social difficulties worsened by Covid 19 and the devastating explosion in Beirut Port in 2020,
Lebanon hosts 1.5 million refugees from Syria. Being a refugee not only labels you as 'stateless'
but it also means that you are less likely to access education for your children, health care and
employment. This yearfs project supports a Tear Fund led project that aims to provide schooling,
health care and self-employment in an area in southern Beirut. We will also be supporting a
project in Sudan where as many as one in everythree people have been displaced from their
homes by conflict. Church members raised £1155.50 for the Appeal including Gift Aid. The PW co-
ordinated the Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoebox Appeal and 46 filled boxes were donated by
the congregation and left safely for collection in the church pews. Instead of collecting 20ps and
filling Smartie boxes, the Sunday School had a Sponsored Walk in Gortin Glens Forest Park in
October raising £830 and cheques for £415 each were sent to E ile
Action Nl and LTC
Outreach and Foodbank in Omagh. The annual collection for the Royal British Legion Poppy
Appeal on Remembrance Sunday raised £168.56. The annual collection for the Presbyterian
Children's Society which supports hundreds of children and families with regulargrants and also
provides special emergency support took place in November and raised £588.75. Donations were
also received for a special Afghanistan Appeal via Tear Fund and a total £257.50 was raised. With
the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the huge hurnanitarian crisis that resulted, the Moderator
launched a special appeal which raised £2060. The Holiday Bible Club resumed for three days at
the end of July and focused on part of the story of Peterthe disciple. An average of 30 Primary
School age children attended each evening, taking part enthusiastically in games, songs, memory
verses and craft work. We are deeply indebted to all the leaders for the faith and skills they shared
with the children. Up until his retirement in October, the Minister continued to lead School
Assemblies in the local Primary School for different key stage age groups.
Overseas, the congregation supports the missionary work of Khmer School of Language {KSL)
Mercy Project in Cambodia, through the sale of used clothing and in 2022 this raised £2028. We
are grateful that this project has been so well supported bythe church and local community.
The money raised is used to help purchase approximately 500 school uniforms for severely
disadvantaged village children (this enables them to get an education, a meal per day and greatly
reduces the risk of them being sold into the sextrade in Thailand). Each child also receives a

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SECOND CASTLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conYd)
supply pack (pencils, exercise books, etc., at the start of the school year). Children are not allowed
to go to school if they don't have a uniform. If their parents can't afford a uniform, then the
children can't go to school and parents see them as having no future so are tempted to sell them
to the sex trade. These villages are incredibly poor- most people barely have enough money for
one meal a day and live in extremely basic accommodation. A lot of these children would not get
to school without support from the project.
The KSL team also lead special Christian outreach events in their villages at Easter and Christmas
as well as monthly visits to preach the gospel. In December 2022 the KSL team were able to
distribute some seasonal treats of sweets and cookies on their visits to these village children.
The project also supports 3 students in higher education with fees costing approximately £500 per
Student per year. These students are grateful for the financial 5UPPOrt which enables them to gain
qualifications and enhances their opportunities in the work sector. All the money sent goes direct
to the KSL Mercy Project. lo￿/0 of what we send is used by the project.
Bowlin
Club Re
ort 2022
The Bowling Club normally meets on Wednesday evenings from 8.00pm until 10.00pm from
January to March and from Septemberto December. However, there was a very high incidence of
Covid-19 in the area in the early months of 2022, so the club did not re-open until September
2022. In the period during which play was not possible, from March 2020 until it re-opened in
September 2022, many of the older members had become too infirm to return to the mats and
numbers were low at the beginning. However, membership gradually increased and by the end of
2022 there were 14 members, (11 men and three ladies) seven of whom are members of Second
Castlederg Presbyterian Church and the other seven drawn from the wider community. We were
pleased to see a number of younger members in their 30s joining the club and each member paid
a fee of £20.00. The club made a donation of £100 to Second Castlederg Presbyterian Church.
Several of these younger members played in competitions at other clubs, while the older
members enjoyed the fun and companionship of competing in their home club against their
friends and being able to have some social contact after more than two years of relative isolation.
At the end of October 2022, our club in 2. Castlederg held an internal competition, which was
fiercely fought and greatly enjoyed by all the members. Regardless of age, all the members
enjoyed their cup of tea and biscuits, with the weekly chat and mutual support that is so
important for all and especially for those living alone. We look forward with optimism to 2023.
Presb
erian Women
Our PW encourages women in their Christian life and invites them to know God's presence as they
meet in fellowship and love. The PW group in Second Castlederg Presbyterian Church seeks,
through the Grace of God, to be a blessing in our homes, our church, our community and in the
wider world. Our PW group, to which all ladies from our congregation are invited, usually meets
on the third Monday evening of each month from October to April. Between 12 and 16 attend.

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SECOND CASTLEDERG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd)
Every second year, (not since 2019, due to Covid pandemic) at the AGM, the ladies elect a PW
Committee, consisting of a Leader, Deputy leader, Secretary and Treasurer, plus four other
members. The present Committee was elected in April 2022. In June 2022, the PW Committee
had a meeting to plan the PW programme for the 2022/2023 session. The Committee
subsequently met via zoom on two occasions for further planning, and also kept in touch with
each othervia WhatsApp and email. One member of our Committee does not have this facility.
The Leader continued to communicate with hervia telephone, updating her on Zoom and
WhatsApp discussions and subsequently sharing her views with the other Committee members.
The PW Committee organised a programme of worship, reflective readings, poetry and fun
activities. We followed the PW theme for 2022/2023, "Deeper Togetherf, from the Inspirational
book produced by the PW Panel at Assembly Buildings in Belfast. As Covid restrictions eased we
were gradually able to reintroduce visiting speakers. These included
Flexercise demonstration and talk
Preparing for Easter- reflection and Easter plant pot
Previous mémber of our church family told us about her recently published book
Local E3 school worker
In April 2022 five ladies attended the Annual PW Rally which was held in Irvinestown.
In May 2022 three ladies attended a PW conference at Assembly Buildings in Belfast. The speaker
introduced the theme for the coming year, "Deeper Togetherf .
In October 2022 two ladies attended the PW Link meeting for the Omagh Presbytery.
Many of the ladies who attend our meetings subscribe to "Wider World , the PW magazine which
is published quarterly.
During 2019 the ladies of our group decided to sponsor a child through the"Adopt A Child"
charity. The child we sponsor is from Guatamala. The money we send {£240 peryear Plus £10 for
a Christmas gift) to this organisation, contributes towards the cost of providing nutritional meals,
dental, medical and pastoral care for the child. The ladies write to the child, regularly also sending
Christmas, Birthday and Easter cards to show our encouragement, support and Christian love.
In September and October 2022 the PW ladies, other members of our congregation and
community collected items for our annual shoe box appeal for the charity, Samaritans Purse.
Committee members volunteered to shop for anyone who was unable to so. 46 boxes were filled
and collected. The shoe boxes, containing suitable items for children of varying ages, were
subsequently sent to children in poorer parts of the world, including Ukraine. These boxes
brought joy, hope and Christian love to these children who have so little.
During the year some of the ladies from our PW group knitted some garments for charity.
small baby hats, baby cardigans and blankets for Neonatal Unit, Royal Jubilee
Maternity Hospital, Belfast
baby hats for Labour Ward, Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry
men's wool hats for Seafarers Mission
trauma teddies for a respite facilityfor disabled children

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SECOND CASTLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd)
Our annual Fund Raising event is normally held in March. Unfortunatelythis was not able to
happen in 2022 as we still had Covid circulating and some restrictions still in place. A Fund Raising
Gospel Concert is planned for March 2023. A family gave a donation to PW for providing a funeral
tea and two bequests from deceased members were sources of PW funds.
During the year ladies save money in their Mission boxes which is sent to PW headquarters at
Assembly Buildings, Belfast, for Home Mission, Overseas Mission projects and the support of
Deaconesses.
In 2022 charitable donations totalling £870 were made to the following:
Mission boxes £620
- Adopt A Child £250
s, Bri
ade
The Boys, Brigade is one of the biggest Christian Youth Organisations in the UK & Republic of
Ireland, committed to providing opportunities for boys to meet together and engage in a range of
fun and developmental experiences.
Our company welcomes boys from the local area and a large proportion of these are not members
of our Congregation. The company is divided into three sections: Company Section, for boys aged
11- 18 years, with 19 boys and two officers. Junior Section, for boys aged 8 - 11 years, with 13
boys, two officers, one adult helper and two young helpers from Company Section: Anchor Boys,
for boys aged 4 - 7 years, with 26 boys, one officer and five adult helpers.
Our Boys, Brigade groups normally meet each week from October to the end of March. In 2022,
however, there were no face-to-face meetings in January, due to the coronavirus pandemic, but
leaders still maintained contact with the boys through technology, bearing in mind Child
Protection guidelines. Face-to-face meetings resumed in February.
All boys pay an enrolment fee of £10 at the beginning of each session and then pay a weekly
subscription of £1.00. Other income comes from an Education Authority grant and from donations
made at the annual Enrolment Service and at the Parents, Night. From the income received,
capitation fees have to be paid annually to BB Headquarters and the remainder is spent on
supplies for weekly activities, transport to events and prizes for the end-of-year Parentg Evening.
In 2022, our income came from enrolment fees and weekly subscriptions during October,
November and December, a BB Week for boys in the Company Section, donations at the
Enrolment Service, along with a grant from the Education Authority. Our normal well-attended
Parents, Evening was not held in March, reducing the income of the Company.
Anchor Bo
The Anchor Boy Section of the Boys Brigade meets weekly on a Wednesday evening from 6.30pm
to 7.30pm in our Church Hall. Several meetings were cancelled in the early part of the year due to
high rates of Covid 19 in the area but when we resumed, the boys enjoy a varied programme
throughout the year of Bible stories, games, crafts & cookery. We were pleased to be able to have
our normal Enrolment Service in December this year. We ended the year with an enjoyable party
and we look forward to 2023.
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SECOND CA5fLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
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TRUSfEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd)
Junior Section
In common with the other sections, we had to cancel our meetings in January. When we came
back, we had quizzes, games and crafts in the Church Hall and finished up the season with a party
in March.
The new season started in October 2022. During the meetings, the boys took part in games,
including football, land, sea and air and team games in squads. They also had arts and crafts and
cookery, along with Bible work, including mime, Bible quizzes and word searches. We held a
Hallowe'en party and games night at the end of October. A new venture wa5 when we had a 'pet
night, where the boys told us about their pets and then uploaded photographs of their pets on the
group WhatsApp page. In November, boys from the Junior Section, along with boys from the
Company Section, represented the Company at the Remembrance parade in the town centre. Our
Enrolment Service was held in December and we also held a Christmas Jumper night to raise funds
for the Cancer Fund for Children. We rounded off 2022 with a Christmas party, with Father
Christmas giving each boy a present.
Com
Section
Although there were no meetings in January due to high rates of Covid 19 in the area, face-to-face
meetings returned in February, but with a restricted range of activities. In January and February,
our boys who were preparing for their President's and Queen's badges took part in Skills Building
Training via Zoom.
At the beginning of the new Session in the autumn, Officers attended meetings of BBNI and the
West Ulster Battalion regarding a prospective severing of the link between the BB in Northern
Ireland and that in GB. Normal activities recommenced in October. During their Friday night
meetings, boys took part in Scripture sessions, drill training, gymnastics (box work) football and
team games. Two boys represented the company at the wreath-laying ceremony at the cenotaph
on Remembrance Sunday in November. Also in November, our Officers attended a First Aid course
to update their skills. In December, we held a BB Week to raise funds for section expenses and our
Enrolment Service took place. We ended the year with a Non-uniform and Pizza Night to raise
funds for the Cancer Fund for Children.
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Sunda
School
We encourage in our children an understanding of the importance of attending Church and
Sunday School, putting God first in our lives, and the importance of prayerand praising God.
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SECOND CASTLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd)
Janua
-june 2022
We had twenty-two pupils on our register and four leaders/teachers with two regular helpers and
seven casual helpers.
Lessons include the workbooks "Go Teach," The Lord's Prayer, Easter, forgiveness, and the Ten
Commandments. We are including more crafts into the lessons, and memory verses.
We are continuing to adapt to encourage children to attend Sunday School. We are using less
workbooks and creating more crafts, using more memory verses, and incorporating more
Christian songs and hymns for the children to listen to or sing to. More games and activities are
also included and illustrate or relate to the bible story, creating a more fun environment.
In June we had our Youth and Young People's SeNice where the children took part in readings,
prayers and short speaking parts, the theme was the Queen's Jubilee. We encouraged attendance
by using our Facebook Parent group to encourage attendance, provide dates and times and to
upload words of songs etc. We also presented Sunday School prizes. Younger children received
Christian books and children moving to the senior classe5 [High School] received a Bible, while the
older children received a £10 one4all voucher with book-marks, note-pads and pens with Bible
verses included. We had our barbeque after the service and fund5 collected from the barbeque
were divided between two charities, Smiles and Sightsavers. We also included any 20p smartie
box collections which we were still receiving. A total of £800 was received and divided equally
between Smiles and Sightsavers.
In August we individually hand-delivered invitations to all parents in to encourage and warmly
invite all children back to Sunday School in September. We ensured all parents were also invited
to our Facebook parent group.
t 2022 - Dec 2022
We have twenty-eight pupils on our register and four leaders/teachers with one regular
helper and five casual helpers.
Lessons include the workbooks "Go Teach," The Lord's Prayer, Harvest- sowing the seed, the Ten
Commandments, Christmas. We are including more crafts, games and quizzes into the lessons,
and memoryverses.
We continued with the two classes; however, we change and adapt lessons to encourage
attendance, to suit children and make it more fun. We brought in more activities such as planting
bulbs, displaying our activities on boards in the hall, creating scrap books which the children can
take home in June, with all the activities and memory verses included.
In October we organised a sponsored walk in Gortin Glen Forest Park and the money collected
was divided between the two charities, Outreach Centre and foodbank Omagh and the Epilepsy
Action Nl. We used our Facebook Parent group to encourage sUPPOrt and upload photographs.
The total collected was £810 and £405 was contributed to each charity.
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SECOND CASTLEDERG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd)
The Sunday School children took part in the Harvest service saying a Harvest Poem and singing.
Our minister was also retiring, and the children made Rev Clements an extra special gift, which
had been included in our crafts during Sunday School. It was a tree with each child's fingerprint
illustrating a leaf with their name beside it. We included a memory verse and framed it. We
included it in a lesson about'Giving.'
Children also took part in our Christmas Service, reading a poem and dressing up in nativity
costumes. They sang "Little Donkey,. One child also sang a solo, '0 little town of Bethlehem.,
Teachers also took part. Children were presented with selection boxes after the service. Photos
and videos of the performance were added to the closed Facebook page for all parents to see,
enjoy and support.
We tried to organise a fun night, however this did not work out due to other commitments of
parents and leaders, so as an alternative we held a party at our Sunday school cla55 instead, when
we decorated the hall, put up a Christmas tree and had party food and games and played
Christmas music.
Girls, Brigade 2022
Girls, Brigade is a worldwide, interdenominational, Christian, youth organisation, for girls aged 3
to 18 years. We meet outside school hours and offer our young girls in the community an escape
from the pressures of their everyday world. The company is run by officially trained volunteers.
The Girls, Brigade programme is built on four headings, Spiritual, Physical, Educational and
Service. The leaders present a balanced, age-related weekly programme suitable for the needs
and interests of the girls, based on these four main areas.
January- March: COVID-19 restrictions gradually commenced to ease little by little while at the
same time we exercised extreme care and caution on health and safety. We were allowed to
come together more and mix the groups. We were able to introduce additional activities and
increase variety to the weekly meetings. Meeting times were extended. We held a pizza fun
evening in March. Prizes and gifts were distributed to the girls.
September: We were permitted to recommence by GBNI and our church leadership with many of
the COVID-19 restrictions no longer applicable.
Reopening night took place the first week in September with large numbers of returning members
and new members for registration. Officers attended a GB teach-in scripture webinar. New
leaders attended GB webinars on safeguarding and theory knowledge. A short entertainment
programme of singing, dancing and poetry reciting was performed by the girls for the officers who
had retired during the pandemic.
October: Brigaders took part in the district unihoc competition. The older girls engaged in a
competition organised by GBNI where they designed a postcard on a provided template on the
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SECOND CASfLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd)
theme What home means to you,. They used words, pictures, pens and pencils for their designs.
In no more than 200 words, the girls were required to include why they chose the design and
explanation. There were several of our entrie5 highly commended. The winning designs will be
used by Habitat Ireland to create postcards for promotion and engagement. GBNI has a new
charity partnership with Habitat for Humanity Ireland.
The younger girls participated in the GBNI art competition. They created and designed their own
house or building using an old cereal box. They used paint, glitter and felt to decorate the boxes.
They wrote a short description on a provided template about the building e.g. who lives or works
there, what sort of things happen there, why is this building important.
November: The Company was represented at the Annual Remembrance Service and Parade by
three sub off icers. Three leaders attended a local First Aid course and on successful completion
each one was awarded a First Aid certificate.
December: The Company attended the joint GB and BB Enrolment Church Service. Brigaders and
Seniors had a Christmas shopping trip to Foyleside shopping centre. The off icers and leaders
organised Christmas parties and refreshments for all sections. A welcome visit from Santa with
the presents went down a treat.
Explorers had worship, songs, craft, no-bake cookery, games and stories with lots of visual aids as
in big picture books, puppets and posters. The children's Bible was used with the very young girls
and colour-in-sheets, while the older Explorers followed the Biblical course set by the spiritual
team of GBNI.
Juniors, Seniors and Brigaders had their GBNI scripture teaching and Bible class. These same
sections enjoyed a variety of crafts, cookery, sport and Brigade knowledge in the weekly
programme. Seniors and Brigaders were involved in group challenges, team work and decision
making.
The numbers of girls and leaders attending has been consistent. There has been no decrease in
membership following the pandemic and resuming 'back to normal, activities again in September.
We have girls from our own congregation and also a large number attend from the neighbouring
churches. There are 125 girls and 14 leaders.
2022 Membership
Explorers: 3-7 years 52 girls 5 leaders
Juniors: 8-10 years 25 girls 3 leaders
Seniors: 11-13 years 4 leaders
Brigaders: 14-18 years 23 girls 2 leaders
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SECOND CAsfLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conYd)
Volunteers
None of this outreach, ministry and service to the community would be possible without the large
number of people who volunteer to be involved in the work and witness of Second Castlederg.
The Trustees recognise their commitment, dedication and their willingness to share their time and
abilities. We also record our gratitude to the members of the Church Committee, past and
present, for their faithfulness, hard work and the multitude of ways that they make a difference
through the sharing of theirtime and the living out of their faith.
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 Christian Gospel of the 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 Fa ith 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 sick, 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 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 evaluation 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 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 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 the Charity Commissions public benefit requirement statutory
guidance.
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SECOND CASTLEDERG PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd)
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill
Offering which totsled £63,826 in 2022 {£65,339 in previous year). Total income for 2022 was
£110,501 (£106,807 in previous year).
Total expenditure increased from £90,933 to £102,705 in the year.
RESERVES
The Trustees of Second Castlederg Presbyterian Church have considered the level of unrestrirted reserves
that it is appropriate to hold, taking account of current and ongoing commitments. It is the policy of the
Trustees to hold at least six months, normal expenditure. At the year end, unrestricted reserves were
£63,997, which represents a higher level of reserves. The Trustees, however, consider it prudent to hold
reserves at this level as the funding of its present activities is dependent on the ongoing financial support
of members.
This policy was adopted bythe Trustees attheir meeting on 13 January 2022.
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SECOND CAsfLEDERG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH
IN IRELAND
TRUSfEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd)
5fATEMENT 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 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 responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and
hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other
irregu larities.
Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 04
25 and signed on its behalf by
Daphne Watt
Alex Fletcher
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