As part of our ongoing efforts to keep worshippers and those who contribute financially informed of what is happening here at St Eugene’s, I am happy this weekend to present for your information the income and expenditure account for the year ending 31st December 2009. I hope that you will find the accounts to be self-explanatory and the update informative.

Our main source of income is derived from the collection taken up every Sunday at the Offertory, which amounted to £220,558 in 2009. Other significant sources of income came from Gift Aid and shrine candles, which together last year was £59,160.

It is interesting to note that without income from shrine candles, bank interest and donations we would not have been able to meet our day-to-day running costs. It took on average £5,100 a week to meet day-to-day running costs (total expenditure less major maintenance of Parochial House and special collections and donations for external purposes) and the average weekly income amounted to £4,800 (offertory collections, gift aid, wedding booking fees and rent from Gate Lodge).

Bank interest received in 2009, from a bank deposit account and 2008 Parishioners Savings Scheme, totalled £41,297. Turmoil and uncertainty in the financial sector led to the demise of the Parishioners Savings Scheme with a result £40,000 per year is permanently lost.

Running costs have been monitored and managed (ie electricity and oil) to keep any increase to a minimum while hopefully avoiding too much impact on the people who use the Cathedral.

The Parish Hall, as you are aware, has been closed for over two years. In the meantime insurance premiums have been paid but there has been no other expenditure. A decision on its long-term future has yet to be made.

The building and repair work to the Parochial House mentioned in last year’s update will begin on Monday. The works will be undertaken over the coming six months and will be completed at the end of the year. The works will involve the general repair and refurbishment of the outside of the building including significant works to the existing chimneys, roof repairs, replacement of rainwater goods and specialist repairs to the external stonework all facades. The work will involve extensive scaffolding around the building as well as some restrictions on access to and from the Parochial House. These will be managed as best we can but we ask for your co-operation and patience on all these matters in the months ahead. The projected cost of this work is £448,000 excluding VAT. The house, which is a listed building, was built in 1876 and this is the first major work done to the exterior since then. We have secured a grant from the Historic Building Unit of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency for £188,375.

To meet the financial challenges and to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the Cathedral and Parochial House I have decided to begin a second collection on Sunday, 6th June. I also intend to begin a draw hopefully in September with the draw taking place prior to Christmas.

I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the many people who contribute regularly and without whose help it would not be possible to provide our present level of service. I also take this opportunity to thank the many people who give generously of their time and talents. The church cleaners, readers, Eucharistic Ministers, collectors, counters, flower arrangers, sacristans, fundraising committee, choir members are among the many. Without their help the parish would be much poorer in many ways.

As well as contributions to the Cathedral, people are generous to the many other good causes and external collections. On their behalf I thank those who have contributed.