FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
Scottish Charity Number SC(K)3545
REPORT & ACCOUNTS
For year ended 31 December 2024

**Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** 

## **CONTENTS** 

|FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT...............................................|page 4 - 11|
|---|---|
|AUDITORS' REPORT....................................................................|12 - 15|
|STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES....................................|16|
|BALANCE SHEET..........................................................................|17|
|CASH FLOW STATEMENT...........................................................|18|
|NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS........................................................|19 - 33|



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## **FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT** 

## **Convener: Rev K D Macleod** 

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE presents its report together with the financial statements of the Church for the year ended 31 December 2024. 

## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** 

The Church’s purpose is that of the worldwide Christian church: to seek the advancement of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ in the salvation of sinners through the gospel. 

In the context of its status as a registered charity the Church has identified several charitable purposes which flow from the above overriding purpose, and which find expression in the activities which the Church carries out. Although several charitable purposes are identified, all are subordinate to the primary purpose of the advancement of religion. Activities are carried out in pursuance of the other charitable purposes to the extent that these ultimately support the advancement of religion – usually by means of helping to overcome barriers to the work of the gospel. The Church’s charitable purposes and the main related activities are as follows. 

## **Advancement of religion** 

The activities which aim most directly at the fulfilment of this purpose involve supporting the Church’s congregations, and mission work. Congregations in the UK are supported via administration of funds for payment of ministers’ stipends, acquisition and maintenance of properties, and provision for other financial needs that might arise. 

Congregations outside the UK arrange their ministers’ stipends and most of their property costs locally, but the Church centrally gives assistance (via grants and loans) when necessary. The Church also organises, and supports the cost of, travel between the UK and overseas, which facilitates Church government as well as maintaining and strengthening fellowship and mutual support between congregations. 

A college system is maintained for training of ministers. This involves appointment and payment of tutors, and payment of grants to divinity students. An extensive library is also maintained, and a theological conference is held each year. 

The Church publishes Christian books and sells these, together with a wide range of other Christian literature, through the Free Presbyterian Bookroom. The aim of these activities is to expand the dissemination of sound literature. Two monthly magazines are also produced and sold, this activity sharing the objective of seeking to disseminate sound Christian reading material. Neither the Bookroom nor the other literature-related activities are operated as a means of raising funds: the financial objective is to break even over the longer term and the Church is willing to commit charitable expenditure to the Bookroom (in particular) in the shorter term in view of the benefit of sound Christian literature for the advancement of religion. 

Overseas mission work is supported, mainly in Zimbabwe, which involves seeking to bring the gospel to areas where it is not known or established, as well as other activities described below. 

## **Advancement of education** 

The mission work which the Church supports in Zimbabwe includes a secondary school and several primary schools. As well as providing a good standard of education, these schools aim to bring children to the preaching of the gospel. A core part of the work at the schools is to teach the Christian religion and maintain a Christian ethos. 

In 2024 a pilot scheme was launched to support families seeking to educate their children outside the state education system. The scheme offers percentage grants to families to offset the cost of educational materials, tuition and associated costs, and fees for independent schools run with a Christian ethos. The pilot scheme is restricted to Scotland, where the costs can be met from the R W Forsyth Fund. 

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## **Advancement of health** 

A hospital in Zimbabwe is supported as part of the Church’s mission work in that country. The hospital is a focal point for large numbers of people, and thus a means of bringing the gospel to them – as well as its more direct impact in providing much needed health services to an area where these are not so readily available. 

The work of the hospital extends to operating several rural health centres. These help to ease pressure on the hospital, as well as reaching more people overall, and at earlier stages of illnesses. 

## **Prevention or relief of poverty** 

Many of the areas reached by the overseas mission work suffer from a high rate of poverty, which represents an additional motive for provision of healthcare and education, as well as requiring more direct relief of hardship. In recent years – including 2024 – the Church’s work in Zimbabwe has included a food aid program and vocational training schemes for people in rural areas. 

## **The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage** 

The Church operates two residential care homes for the elderly in the UK. These seek to maintain a Christian environment for the residents, including regular worship and opportunities for Christian friendship and fellowship with other residents and visitors. The care homes strive to provide a high standard of service, one measure of which is their Care Inspectorate ratings. The financial objective of the care homes is the same as that of the Bookroom – to break even over the longer term. Due to the ongoing need for capital and maintenance expenditure to maintain and improve care standards, the care homes will ideally produce surpluses in some years. 

An orphanage is supported by the Church in Zimbabwe, which seeks to provide an upbringing in a Christian atmosphere for the resident children. 

## **Measurement** 

The Church’s activities aim at outcomes of a spiritual nature. Identification and measurement of their achievement is not within the competency of charity trustees. In practical terms, for most of the Church’s activities the usual measure of success is maintenance of the relevant funds and continuation of the gospel work. Some activities will have more specific shorter-term outcomes in some years. 

## **Social investments and grant making** 

The Church advances grants and interest-free concessionary loans as a means of assisting congregations with the cost of acquiring, improving and maintaining their church and manse properties. These interest-free loans are classed as ‘programme related investments’ – a type of ‘social investment’ – in terms of the accounting standards for charities. Grants and loans are offered in response to applications from congregations for financial assistance. The Committee has developed a detailed policy for assessing applications and calculating amounts of grant and loan funding to be offered to congregations. 

Grants are offered to congregations on a basis which takes account of the size of the congregation’s available resources relative to the cost of the planned project. The policy provides for grants of up to 75% of the cost of a project. 

Concessionary loans are offered where the congregation’s available resources would otherwise be reduced (as a result of a project) below the level of one year’s revenue expenditure. The loans policy thus helps to maintain a stable level of reserves within congregations, supporting the gospel work of congregations. Repayment terms for loans are calculated on the basis of the congregation’s capacity for annual repayments, which is assessed by reference to recent years’ accounts. The loans policy thus helps to prevent loan repayments becoming an excessive burden on congregations. 

For projects involving property purchase by a congregation the Church would generally seek to take an equity interest in the property rather than give a grant to the congregation. 

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## **Volunteers** 

The Church’s work in general is supported by voluntary effort, which the Committee acknowledges with thankfulness. Examples range from those who support the annual theological and youth conferences by delivering papers, to membership of Synod committees. 

## **REVIEW OF THE YEAR** 

The trustees have always recognised the restricted scope of their role: the Church being essentially a spiritual entity, the most important aspects of its activities and health are outside the remit of trustees. This report therefore focuses, as in previous years, on the financial aspects of the Church’s work during the past year: maintenance of financial support for the Church’s activities being a key success criterion for the charity trustees. 

Against the background of continuing cost-of-living pressures the level of contributions to the Church’s funds was encouraging. Stock market performance was strong, which has a significant influence on the financial results although it is less relevant to the Church’s day-to-day activities in the short term. 

Congregational contributions to the **Sustentation Fund** decreased by £4,373 to £359,269 in 2024, following a similarly-sized increase the previous year. This Fund is of key importance to the Church’s work, being used for payment of ministers’ stipends. Maintenance of the general level of congregational contributions is therefore encouraging, although it has to be measured in the context of recent high inflation. The Fund returned a surplus of £84,939 in 2024 (surplus of £9,355 in 2023), largely due to a legacy of £56,197 (no legacies were received by the Fund in 2023). Stipend outgoings were lower than in previous years due to the deaths of two ministers in pastoral charges during 2023. The Fund’s credit balance at the end of the year was £140,742 (£55,803 in 2023). 

The **Home Mission Fund** had a surplus of £7,448 in 2024, following deficit of £17,870 in 2023. The main reason for the improvement was a legacy of £21,250 received in 2024 (nil in 2023). Congregational contributions decreased, from £23,578 in 2023 to £18,861 in 2024, and salaries paid also decreased substantially due to the death of one missionary in 2024. The Fund’s debit balance decreased from £113,083 at the end of 2023 to £105,635 at the end of 2024. 

The **College and Library Fund** had a reduced deficit of £7,960 in 2024 (deficit of £13,599 in 2023) with the main reason for the improvement being a legacy of £21,250 in 2024 (nil in 2023). Congregational contributions remained stable at approximately £28,000 but the cost of student grants increased to £42,061, from £32,988 in 2023, reflecting the increased number of students studying in the UK. The Fund’s debit balance increased from £5,077 at the end of 2023 to £13,037 at the end of 2024. 

The **Bookroom** had a welcome 17% increase in sales, from £35,055 in 2023 to £41,076 in 2024. The increase was supported by new publications and reprints by the Church’s publications arm, Free Presbyterian Publications. In the difficult operating environment the underlying result would have been a deficit similar to the previous year, but a legacy of £21,250 allowed the Fund to return a modest surplus in 2024. The Fund had a closing debit balance of £157,137 in 2024, compared with a debit balance of £162,824 at the end of 2023. 

Operating conditions in the care sector nationally continued to be difficult in 2024, and this contributed to both **Ballifeary Care Home** and **Leverburgh Care Home** returning deficits in 2024, as they have done in several recent years. Deficits were, however, materially lower than in 2023, with Leverburgh Care Home achieving a result very close to break-even with the help of some nonrecurring items. Although (as noted above) the Church does not operate the Homes in order to generate a surplus over the long term, the recent trend of substantial deficits is the subject of continuing management attention. 

The **Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund** had a deficit of £25,696 in 2024, following a surplus of £88,739 in 2023, which was an exceptional year. The deficit was within the normal range of volatility of the Fund, and not a significant concern in light of the size of the foreign mission operations. It 

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reflected a number of unbudgeted expenditure requirements including provision of food aid to Zimbabwe to alleviate the effects of drought. 

**Grants** made to congregations to assist with property-related costs increased to £34,219 in 2024 (from £2,909 in 2023) with the Aberdeen congregation being the main grant recipient, to support the cost of window replacement at the church building. A large **concessionary loan** advance was made to the congregation at Santa Fe, Texas, USA, to assist with the cost of purchase and development of a property to be the congregation’s new place of worship. Loan repayments were broadly according to the expected schedule in 2024, the schedule taking account of congregations’ financial circumstances. 

During 2024 the Committee also carried out its regular annual review of existing loans, which involved examination of congregations’ recent financial statements to check that the repayments expected from congregations remained affordable. There are a number of congregations from which no repayments are currently required due to their financial circumstances. This is in line with the Church’s objectives in offering loans – to allow congregations to access financial assistance that would be out of their reach using commercial lenders, where that is necessary to promote the work of the gospel in the relevant locality. 

The Church’s investment portfolios gave a total return after charges of 7.7% in 2024 (13.3% in 2023). The return was 2.5% lower than that on market indices most relevant to the Church’s portfolios (following a 4% over-performance in 2023). The lower return in 2024 reflects the Church’s reluctance to depart from its long-term strategy based on investment fundamentals, in an environment where certain large technology stocks pushed market indices to very high levels. Taking account of the Church’s investment strategy and the restrictions (described in the ‘Investment policy’ section below) that have been specified by the trustees, the investment performance was judged to be satisfactory. 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 

The Church’s funds increased by £522,154 during the year (2023: increase of £800,298). As usual, the movement in the market value of the investments was the most significant factor affecting the relative financial performances in the two years.  The market value of investments increased by £642,102 in 2024, compared with an increase of £1,132,779 in 2023. 

The underlying financial performance (excluding the change in market value of investments) was a net decrease in funds of £119,948 in 2024, compared with a net decrease of £252,481 in 2023. Although the financial results represent the combination of many factors, it is notable that the losses at the two residential care homes accounted for most of the decrease in the Church’s funds in both years. 

Comparing 2024 with 2023, the most significant factors contributing to the improved financial result were: 

- The combined deficits of the Church’s two residential care homes were £192,598 lower in 2024 than in 2023. 

- Pension costs were £112,000 lower in 2024 due to an actuarial valuation of the final salary pension scheme showing a surplus on a solvency basis, allowing cessation of contributions by the Church. 

- On the other hand, the balance between the costs of the Zimbabwe mission and the income received from Mbuma Zending was approximately £145,000 less advantageous in 2024. 

Congregational contributions to the Church’s central funds decreased from £506,778 in 2023 to £491,904 in 2024. This decrease is slightly against the recent trend of modest increases, and may reflect reducing sizes of congregations. The difficult national economic situation in recent years might also be a factor, and the trustees will continue to monitor trends. Congregational contributions, to the Sustentation Fund in particular, are an important reflection of the level of ongoing support for the Church’s core activities. 

The factor most likely to affect the Church’s financial performance in the next few years is expected to be the levels of gains or losses on the investments. 

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Due to its size the Zimbabwe mission will continue to be a significant component of the Church’s financial position. While expenditure on the mission is subject to continuing inflationary pressures due to the difficult financial and economic situation in Zimbabwe, the ongoing support from donors in the Netherlands is encouraging. Careful management continues to be required to ensure that expenditure is within the range that can be supported by in The Netherlands, the mission’s main long-term supporter. 

The financial aspect of the residential care homes is sufficiently large to have potentially material impacts on the Church’s future financial position. The large deficits in the homes in recent years have removed the reserves that had been built up in years of more benign operating conditions. The Church is able to provide working capital to the homes, to allow operational improvements to be made with a view to improving future financial results. Strategic management continues to be undertaken to protect the overall financial position of the Church. 

The Bookroom Fund, the Home Mission Fund, the College and Library Fund and the Magazines Fund continued to be in deficit at the end of 2024. The Finance Committee monitors the performance of the Funds regularly and is able to intervene with support from the (unrestricted) General Fund if these funds’ own income cannot be increased sufficiently. The deficit position of the Bookroom Fund has persisted for several years and is the subject of continuing strategic review. It is hoped that the annual deficits in the other funds can be reversed over the coming years from their normal sources of income. 

## **Investment policy** 

The Church has a policy of keeping sufficient liquid funds in short-term deposits which can be accessed readily, and monitors its bank deposits regularly to ensure that returns are maximised. The Trustees have delegated day-to-day management of the Church’s share portfolios to its stockbrokers. Restrictions, however, prevent investment in brewers, distillers, tobacco and the leisure sector, as well as high street retailers that trade on the Sabbath. In addition to these stated restrictions, the trustees monitor the investment holdings regularly to identify any which might be associated with particularly flagrant opposition to the Church’s moral and ethical standards. Otherwise, the policy is to have a spread of investments to give a balanced income and capital growth with a target minimum yield, for the R W Forsyth Bequest Fund portfolio, currently of £150,000 per annum. 

## **Risk management** 

The Finance Committee reviews the risks which the Church faces on a regular basis, directly and through its Risk Management Sub-Committee. The Committee identifies the principal risks as being in the area of long-term decline in the income from any of the Church’s major sources. The main sources of income are donations from the Mbuma Zending organisation in the Netherlands for the African mission work, resident and local council fees for care home occupancy, contributions from congregations, and investment income. 

To mitigate these risks the Committee monitors investment performance regularly, ensures that adequate budget planning is in place relative to the Church’s foreign missions, and maintains an adequate level of reserves. 

Appropriate insurance cover and operational controls are also maintained to mitigate the impact of other risks. 

The Church sponsors a defined benefit pension scheme. The assets of the R W Forsyth Fund are sufficient to cover any deficit that would be likely to emerge in the scheme, even in considerably more adverse financial conditions. The Fund’s restrictions are such as allow it to be used to fund the pension scheme. 

## **Reserves** 

The Church’s policy is to hold reserves sufficient to give reasonable confidence that the work of the Church will not be curtailed by lack of funding in the short to medium term. The reserves are identified as those unrestricted funds not held in fixed assets, stock-in-trade or congregational loans, and which are not designated for specific purposes or otherwise committed. The level of reserves 

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takes account of the financial position of each of the restricted funds, the nature and funding arrangements of the Church’s activities, the long-term commitment of the Church to its core activities, and the form in which the reserves are held. 

In the Church’s current circumstances, the trustees would expect to hold reserves equivalent to between three months’ and nine months’ total expenditure. 

As well as monitoring the overall level of reserves the trustees consider the balances in each of the restricted funds relative to planned expenditure in these funds and take action when necessary to ensure stability of the Church’s overall financial position. 

According to the above definition the reserves at 31 December 2024 amounted to £2,726,985. This represents between six months’ and seven months’ expenditure: a similar level to that in the previous year and comfortably within the acceptable range. The trustees note that a significant portion of these reserves are currently held as investments, which have more volatile market value than cash holdings. 

The Church’s total funds at the end of 2024 were £15,122,226 of which £10,770,978 were restricted funds. Included in the unrestricted funds is the Congregational Development Fund of £1,615,741 which is designated for support of congregations in specified circumstances: £986,983 is designated for establishment of new congregations and support of recently formed congregations; and £628,758 is designated for support of the Church’s activities in North America. It is unlikely that any substantial portion of these designated amounts will be spent within the next few years. 

## **PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS** 

The trustees’ main objectives and expectations for the next few years are broadly the same as those described earlier in this report. The nature of the Church’s activities is not predominantly projectfocused but tends to require maintenance of funding and support for ongoing activities, rather than material changes from year to year. The significant financial changes of recent years, in particular the deficits incurred at the residential care homes, is the subject of increased strategic management activity. 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

## **Constitution and governing documents** 

The constitution of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland is defined in its Deed of Separation dated 14 August 1893. The Deed of Separation identifies the several (publicly available) historical documents which are considered constitutional. 

Administration of the Church’s temporal affairs is governed by the Scheme of Financial Administration dated 27 December 1960. This Scheme includes the constitution of the Finance Committee (whose members are the charity trustees) and details the powers and duties of the General Trustees. 

The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland is an unincorporated association. 

## **Appointment of trustees** 

The Scheme of Financial Administration contains provisions for appointment of members of the Finance Committee (who are the charity trustees). The Committee is appointed annually by the Synod of the Church. Persons appointed to the Finance Committee must be members of Synod (either in the current year or a previous year) and there must be at least four members, including at least one from each Presbytery of the Church (in the UK). The Synod directly appoints the Convener of the Finance Committee (who is the chairman of the charity trustees). The Clerk of the Finance Committee is the General Treasurer, who is also appointed directly by the Synod. The General Treasurer is not necessarily a member of the Finance Committee (and the convention for some years has been that the General Treasurer is not a member of the Committee, and therefore not a charity trustee). 

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## **Qualifications and training of trustees** 

The prerequisite that charity trustees be members of the Church’s Synod ensures that they have a broad-based understanding and experience of the Church’s principles, organisation and activities, and that they have personally declared their adherence to the Church’s constitution. 

The Church ensures that all trustees have access to copies of its governing documents and the legislation and guidance relevant to charity trustees in Scotland. Trustees are expected to become familiar with these resources. Ongoing training and development includes sessions at Finance Committee meetings, from time to time, when aspects of the duties of trustees and the legislation and guidance are reviewed and discussed. 

## **Organisation** 

The Church is organised according to the Presbyterian system, with the Synod as its supreme court. It is the Church as a central body, and the assets owned centrally and managed by the Finance Committee, that are within the scope of the charity registration to which this report relates. (Congregations of the Church manage their own financial affairs, and their assets and transactions are not under the control of the Finance Committee and not included in the attached accounts. Some congregations are registered as charities in their own right.) 

The Synod appoints committees to oversee various areas of the Church’s work. Each committee reports annually to the Synod. The Finance Committee has overall responsibility for the Church’s financial and central administrative affairs. The Committee decides on matters of policy, including investment policy, and makes decisions on applications from congregations for grants and loans. 

## **Remuneration** 

The Finance Committee is responsible for setting the stipend levels for ministers and home missionaries and the salaries and other conditions for staff employed centrally, including the General Treasurer. The Committee reviews the stipends and salaries in March each year and its general policy is to seek to adjust remuneration levels in line with changes in national average earnings, subject to availability of funds. Because some members of the Committee are ministers who receive stipends, the decision on the level of stipends is taken by those members of the Committee who are not ministers. 

Taking account of earnings inflation and the Church’s financial position up to the end of 2024, the Committee decided to increase the stipend for ministers by 5.9% to £29,659 with effect from 1 April 2025. 

## **Finance Committee’s responsibilities in relation to the financial statements** 

The Finance Committee is responsible for preparing the Committee’s Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)). 

The law applicable to charities in Scotland requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; 

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Church will continue in operational existence. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the provisions of the Church’s governing 

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documents. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** 

The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has its administrative offices at 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LE. The Church is registered as a charity in Scotland, with charity number SC003545. The Church’s website is www.fpchurch.org.uk. 

## **Charity Trustees** 

The members of the Finance Committee are recognised as the Charity Trustees in terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. The members of the Finance Committee serving during the year and since the year end were as follows: 


## **General Trustees** 

Title to the Church’s assets is held by the General Trustees, for the purposes of the Church. The General Trustees hold office ex officio on the basis of certain other appointments within the Church, as identified below. 

The General Trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows: 

Moderator of Synod (retired 21 May 2024) Moderator of Synod (appointed 21 May 2024) Clerk of Synod Convener of the Finance Committee General Treasurer 

The position of Moderator of Synod is normally held for one year. The other appointments, in virtue of which a person acts as a General Trustee, are normally held for several years at a time. 

Day to day management of the Church’s financial and administrative affairs is delegated to the General Treasurer. 

The principal professional services and advisers engaged by the trustees are listed below. 

Auditors Stewart Gilmour & Co., 3rd Floor, St George’s Buildings, 5 St Vincent Place, Glasgow G1 2DH Bankers Bank of Scotland, 54-62 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3AH Solicitors Brodies LLP, 58 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8BP Principal Investment Managers Rathbones, 8 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7AZ Actuary Broadstone Corporate Benefits Limited, 221 West George Street, Glasgow G2 2ND 

Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf. 


Convener 26 March 2025 

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## **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND** 

## **Opinion** 

We have audited the financial statements of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (the 'Church') for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes. The relevant financial framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

In our opinion the financial statements: 

- give a true and fair view of the state of the Church’s affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its results, for the year then ended; and 

- have been properly prepared in accordance with relevant reporting framework and, in particular the requirements of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. 

## **Basis for opinion** 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Church in accordance with ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

## **Conclusion relating to going concern** 

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Church’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 

## **Other information** 

The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information in the Finance Committee Report, but does not include the financial statements or our Report of the Auditors thereon. 

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. 

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## **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND** 

## **Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Statement of Recommended Practice** 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 

- the information given in the Finance Committee Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and 

- the Finance Committee Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. 

## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** 

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Church and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Finance Committee Report. 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) requires us to report to you if, in our opinion; 

- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

- certain disclosures of Trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or 

- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

## **Responsibilities of Trustees** 

As explained more fully in the Statement of Finance Committee Responsibilities set out on page nine, the Finance Committee, as Trustees, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal controls as the Trustees determine necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error and otherwise comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. 

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the Church’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters relating to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the Church’s assets or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

## **Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** 

We have been appointed as auditor under Section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder. 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: 

We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures in response to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

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## **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND** 

In identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance we considered the following: 

- The nature of the Church, the environment in which it operates and the control procedures implemented by management and the Trustees; and 

- Our enquiries of management and Trustees about their identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities. 

Based on our understanding of the Church and the sector we identified that the principal risks of noncompliance with laws and regulations related to, but were not limited to: 

- Regulations and legislation pertinent to the Church’s operations including the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006, data protection, employment and health & safety; and 

- UK tax legislation. 

We considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material impact on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations which have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements, such as the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. We evaluated management and Trustees' incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of management override of controls), and determined that the principal risks of the Church were related to: 

- Posting inappropriate journal entries; and 

- Management bias in accounting estimates. 

Our procedures to respond to the risks identified included the following: 

- Gaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the Church and the sector in which it operates; 

- Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements; 

- Enquiring of management, Trustees and legal advisors concerning actual and potential litigation and claims; 

- Reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance and reviewing correspondence with HMRC; 

- Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected movements; 

- Assessing the judgements and key sources of estimation in the financial statements which could indicate management bias; 

- In addressing the risk of fraud as a result of management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; evaluating rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business. 

We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members, and remained alert to any indicators of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit. 

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulations. This risk increases the more the compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the 

14 



## **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND** 

events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omissions or misrepresentation. 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our report of the Auditors. 

## **Use of our report** 

This report is made solely to the Church’s members, as a body, in accordance with Section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Church’s members those matters we are required to state to them in a Report of the Auditors and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Church and the Church’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 


Stewart Gilmour & Co. Chartered Accountants 3[rd] Floor St George’s Buildings 5 St Vincent Place Glasgow G1 2DH 

8 April 2025 

15 



## **Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** 

## **Year ended 31 December 2024** 

|2024<br>Unrestricted<br>Restricted<br>**Total**<br>funds<br>funds<br>**funds**<br>**Income from:**<br>Note<br>£<br>£<br>**£**<br>Donations:<br>- Congregational<br>contributions<br>-<br>491,904<br>**491,904**<br>- Other donations<br>5,350<br>1,508,546<br>**1,513,896**<br>- Legacies<br>-<br>147,197<br>**147,197**<br>Total donations<br>5,350<br>2,147,647<br>**2,152,997**<br>Charitable activities:<br>- UK ministry and mission<br>-<br>132,315<br>**132,315**<br>- Residential care homes<br>-<br>2,134,093<br>**2,134,093**<br>- Publication and distribution<br>-<br>82,929<br>**82,929**<br>Total charitable activities<br>-<br>2,349,337<br>**2,349,337**<br>Investments<br>(2)<br>67,223<br>170,722<br>**237,945**<br>Total income<br>72,573<br>4,667,706<br>**4,740,279**<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Raising funds:<br>- Investment management<br>12,727<br>51,316<br>**64,043**<br>Charitable activities<br>- UK ministry and mission<br>11,156<br>918,340<br>**929,496**<br>- Overseas ministry and<br>mission<br>8,391<br>1,483,511<br>**1,491,902**<br>- Residential care homes<br>-<br>2,255,042<br>**2,255,042**<br>- Publication and distribution<br>-<br>119,744<br>**119,744**<br>Total charitable activities<br>19,547<br>4,776,637<br>**4,796,184**<br>Total expenditure<br>(3)<br>32,274<br>4,827,953<br>**4,860,227**<br>**Net income / (expenditure)**<br>40,299<br>(160,247)<br>**(119,948)**<br>**before gains / (losses)**<br>Net gains on investments<br>151,383<br>490,719<br>**642,102**<br>**Net income**<br>191,682<br>330,472<br>**522,154**<br>**Transfers between funds**<br>(15)<br>(60,415)<br>60,415<br>**-**<br>**Other recognised losses:**<br>Actuarial losses on defined<br>benefit pension scheme<br>(16)<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>(14)<br>131,267<br>390,887<br>**522,154**<br>**Reconciliation of funds:**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>4,219,981 10,380,091**14,600,072**<br>Total funds carried forward<br>4,351,248 10,770,978**15,122,226**|2024|2023|
|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted<br>Restricted<br>Total<br>funds<br>funds<br>funds<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>-<br>506,778<br>506,778<br>5,911<br>1,672,940<br>1,678,851<br>96,716<br>15,770<br>112,486|
||5,350<br>2,147,647<br>**2,152,997**|102,627<br>2,195,488<br>2,298,115|
||-<br>132,315<br>**132,315**<br>-<br>2,134,093<br>**2,134,093**<br>-<br>82,929<br>**82,929**|-<br>139,823<br>139,823<br>-<br>1,663,210<br>1,663,210<br>-<br>68,836<br>68,836|
||-<br>2,349,337<br>**2,349,337**|-<br>1,871,869<br>1,871,869|
||<br>67,223<br>170,722<br>**237,945**|66,959<br>164,899<br>231,858|
||72,573<br>4,667,706<br>**4,740,279**|169,586<br>4,232,256<br>4,401,842|
||12,727<br>51,316<br>**64,043**|12,604<br>54,440<br>67,044|
||11,156<br>918,340<br>**929,496**<br>8,391<br>1,483,511<br>**1,491,902**<br>-<br>2,255,042<br>**2,255,042**<br>-<br>119,744<br>**119,744**|8,156<br>915,790<br>923,946<br>9,168<br>1,554,968<br>1,564,136<br>-<br>1,979,044<br>1,979,044<br>-<br>120,153<br>120,153<br>17,324<br>4,569,955<br>4,587,279<br>29,928<br>4,624,395<br>4,654,323<br>139,658<br>(392,139)<br>(252,481)<br>262,681<br>870,098<br>1,132,779<br>402,339<br>477,959<br>880,298<br>(52,304)<br>52,304<br>-<br>-<br>(80,000)<br>(80,000)<br>350,035<br>450,263<br>800,298<br>3,869,946<br>9,929,828 13,799,774<br>4,219,981 10,380,091 14,600,072|
||19,547<br>4,776,637<br>**4,796,184**||
||<br>32,274<br>4,827,953<br>**4,860,227**||
||40,299<br>(160,247)<br>**(119,948)**<br>151,383<br>490,719<br>**642,102**||
||4,351,248 10,770,978**15,122,226**||



16 



## **Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland** 

## **BALANCE SHEET** 

## **as at 31 December 2024** 

|Note<br>**Fixed assets:**<br>Tangible assets<br>(6)<br>Investments:<br>Programme related investments - concessionary loans<br>(8)<br>Other investments<br>Total investments<br>(7)<br>**Total fixed assets**<br>**Current assets:**<br>Stocks<br>(9)<br>Debtors<br>(10)<br>Current asset investments - concessionary loans<br>(8)<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>Total current assets<br>**Liabilities**<br>Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year<br>(11)<br>Net current assets<br>Net assets excluding pension scheme liability<br>Defined benefit pension scheme (liability)<br>(16)<br>**Total net assets**<br>**The funds of the Church:**<br>Restricted income funds<br>(13)<br>Unrestricted funds<br>(13)<br>**Total Church funds**|**2024**<br>**Total funds**<br>**£**<br>**2,224,384**<br>**1,215,455**<br>**10,956,121**<br>**12,171,576**<br>**14,395,960**<br>**64,897**<br>**309,441**<br>**48,762**<br>**546,235**<br>**969,335**<br>**(243,069)**<br>**726,266**<br>**15,122,226**<br>**-**<br>**15,122,226**<br>**10,770,978**<br>**4,351,248**<br>**15,122,226**|2023<br>Total funds<br>£<br>2,294,154|
|---|---|---|
|||619,631<br>10,711,230|
|||11,330,861|
|||13,625,015|
|||61,451<br>228,409<br>49,865<br>879,389|
|||1,219,114<br>(244,057)|
|||975,057|
|||14,600,072<br>-|
|||14,600,072|
|||10,380,091<br>4,219,981|
|||14,600,072|



The notes on pages 19 to 33 form part of these financial statements 

## **Approved by the Finance Committee on 26 March 2025** 

, Convener of the Finance Committee 

, General Treasurer 

17 



## **Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland** 

## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS** 

## **Year ended 31 December 2024** 

|Note<br>**Cash flows from operating activities:**<br>Net cash used in operating activities<br>**Cash flows from investing activities:**<br>Dividends, interest and rents from investments<br>(2)<br>Purchase of property, plant and equipment<br>(6)<br>Proceeds from sale of investments<br>(7)<br>Net cash provided by investing activities<br>**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period**<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period<br>**RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM**<br>**OPERATING ACTIVITIES**<br>Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the Statement<br>of Financial Activities)<br>Adjustments for:<br>Depreciation charges<br>(6)<br>(Gains) on investments<br>(7)<br>Dividends, interest and rents from investments<br>(2)<br>Investment management charges deducted at source<br>(7)<br>Repayments of concessionary loans<br>(8)<br>Advances of concessionary loans<br>(8)<br>Contributions less expense on defined benefit pension scheme<br>(16)<br>(Increase) in stocks<br>(9)<br>(Increase) / decrease in debtors<br>(10)<br>(Decrease) in creditors<br>(11)<br>Net cash used in operating activities<br>**ANALYSIS OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS**<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**Total cash and cash equivalents**|**2024**<br>**Total funds**<br>**£**<br>**(904,896)**<br>**237,945**<br>**(10,941)**<br>**344,738**<br>**571,742**<br>**(333,154)**<br>**879,389**<br>**546,235**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**522,154**<br>**80,711**<br>**(642,102)**<br>**(237,945)**<br>**52,473**<br>**18,583**<br>**(613,304)**<br>**-**<br>**(3,446)**<br>**(81,032)**<br>**(988)**<br>**(904,896)**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**546,235**<br>**546,235**|2023<br>Total funds<br>£<br>(265,412)|
|---|---|---|
|||231,858<br>(160,260)<br>238,000|
|||309,598|
|||44,186<br>835,203|
|||879,389|
|||2023<br>£<br>880,298<br>81,416<br>(1,132,779)<br>(231,858)<br>52,065<br>205,256<br>(44,764)<br>(80,000)<br>(1,221)<br>28,941<br>(22,766)|
|||(265,412)|
|||2023<br>£<br>879,389|
|||879,389|



18 



## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **(1) PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **(a) Basis of preparation** 

The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investments, and on an accruals basis. 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with: 

- The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102); 

- The Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102; 

- The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005; and 

- The Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). 

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Church’s ability to continue as a going concern. 

The Church is a public benefit entity as defined in FRS 102. 

Calculation of the surplus or deficit on the defined benefit pension scheme sponsored by the Church involves making assumptions regarding future experience. These are set out in Note (16). There are no other areas where judgements have been made which could significantly affect the amounts recognised in the accounts. 

These accounts do not consolidate the results and assets and liabilities of individual congregations and they present information about the Church as an individual undertaking. 

## **(b) Recognition of income** 

Income is recognised when the Church has satisfactory evidence of entitlement and likelihood of receipt, and when the amount can be reliably measured. 

Congregational contributions are recognised on the basis of receipt or notification by the congregation of intended donation. The same criteria are used for other donations, although it is very rarely that these are notified prior to receipt. Legacies are recognised on the basis of written information from the executors which sufficiently confirms the Church’s entitlement, sufficiency of funds within the estate, and the likely amount receivable by the Church. 

All other types of income are recognised when receivable. 

## **(c) Expenditure** 

Centrally incurred support costs are allocated across the funds by reference to time spent by central administrative staff. Most funds support a single activity but where more than one activity is supported by a particular fund, the costs are further allocated between activities in proportion to the levels of direct expenditure (including grant making) on each activity. 

Contributions to defined contribution pension schemes, and life insurance costs, are allocated to activities on the same basis as the other employment costs of the staff involved. 

## **(d) Depreciation** 

The cost or valuation of tangible fixed assets, less any residual value, is depreciated over the estimated useful economic lifetimes of the assets as follows: 

- Heritable property - at 2% per year on a straight line basis 

- Fixtures and equipment - at 10% per year on a straight line basis 

- Computer equipment - at 33.33% per year on a straight line basis 

- Motor vehicles - at 25% per year on a reducing balance basis 

## **(e) Investments** 

Fixed asset investments held within the Church’s investment portfolios are listed investments. These are stated initially at cost and subsequently at fair value (closing quoted market price). 

The trustees have opted to measure the (interest free) concessionary loans at the amount receivable. 

19 



## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **(f) Current assets and liabilities** 

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. 

Debtors are measured at their recoverable amounts. 

Current asset investments represent the portion of concessionary loan repayments which is expected to be received within less than one year. These are measured as the amount receivable. 

Cash at bank and in hand includes the value of bank accounts with notice periods of less than three months. 

Creditors are measured as the amounts payable. 

## **(g) Foreign currency transactions** 

Transactions entered into in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the spot rate at the date of the transaction. Monetary balances denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the spot rate at each balance sheet date. Profits and losses on exchange rate movements are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities. 

20 



## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

|**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024**|||
|---|---|---|
|**(2) INVESTMENT INCOME**<br>Dividends and other income on listed investments<br>Interest on cash deposits|**2024**<br>£<br>232,841<br>5,104<br>237,945|**2023**<br>£<br>227,802<br>4,055|
|||231,857|



|**(3) EXPENDITURE**<br>**Activity or programme**<br>Raising funds<br>Charitable activities:<br>- UK ministry and mission<br>- Overseas ministry and mission<br>- Residential care homes<br>- Publication and distribution<br>Total charitable activities<br>Total|Activities<br>Grant<br>undertaken<br>directly<br>£<br>funding of<br>activities<br>£<br>52,473<br>-|Support costs<br>Other<br>Governance<br>costs<br>£<br>support<br>costs<br>£<br>2024 Total<br>£<br>4,816<br>6,754<br>64,043<br>28,645<br>37,117<br>929,496<br>18,635<br>20,186<br>1,491,902<br>10,814<br>14,024<br>2,255,042<br>7,221<br>9,575<br>119,744<br>65,315<br>80,902<br>4,796,184<br>**70,131**<br>**87,656**<br>**4,860,227**|2023 Total<br>£<br>67,044|
|---|---|---|---|
||602,990<br>260,744<br>233,606<br>1,219,475<br>2,230,204<br>-<br>102,948<br>-||923,946<br>1,564,136<br>1,979,044<br>120,153|
||3,169,748<br>1,480,219||4,587,279|
||**3,222,221**<br>**1,480,219**||**4,654,323**|



Support costs are allocated as described in Note 1(c). 

The items included in support costs are as follows: 

|Governance costs:<br>- Staff costs<br>- Legal and professional<br>- Audit<br>- Committee and Synod expenses<br>- Trustee insurance<br>Other support costs:<br>- Staff costs<br>- Miscellaneous office costs<br>Total support costs||**2024**<br>£<br>28,965<br>2,826<br>8,290<br>19,504<br>10,546<br>70,131<br>73,452<br>14,204<br>87,656<br>**157,787**|**2023**<br>£<br>27,498<br>3,994<br>8,054<br>25,618<br>10,274|
|---|---|---|---|
||||75,438|
||||69,605<br>16,393|
||||85,998|
||||**161,436**|



21 



**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **(4) GRANTS** 

|**Grants to congregations**<br>Pulpit supply costs:<br>Sustentation Fund<br>Property related costs:<br>R W Forsyth Fund:<br>Aberdeen<br>Creich<br>Dundee, Perth and Stirling<br>Specified donations:<br>Donations under gift aid scheme<br>Miscellaneous<br>**Total grants to congregations**<br>**Other grants**<br>Zimbabwe mission<br>Israel mission<br>Eastern Europe mission<br>Asia Pacific Presbytery<br>Divinity student maintenance grants<br>Education<br>Trinitarian Bible Society<br>The Christian Institute<br>**Total other grants**<br>**Total grants**|**Overseas**<br>**UK ministry**<br>**ministry**<br>**and mission and mission**<br>**2024 Total**<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>18,354<br>-<br>18,354<br>18,354<br>-<br>18,354<br>33,290<br>-<br>33,290<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>929<br>-<br>929<br>34,219<br>-<br>34,219<br>132,884<br>-<br>132,884<br>15,518<br>-<br>15,518<br>148,402<br>-<br>148,402<br>200,975<br>-<br>200,975<br>-<br>1,189,469<br>1,189,469<br>-<br>(4,684)<br>(4,684)<br>-<br>26,939<br>26,939<br>-<br>7,751<br>7,751<br>42,061<br>-<br>42,061<br>6,708<br>-<br>6,708<br>10,000<br>-<br>10,000<br>1,000<br>-<br>1,000<br>59,769<br>1,219,475<br>1,279,244<br>260,744<br>1,219,475<br>1,480,219|2023 Total<br>£<br>16,869|
|---|---|---|
|||16,869|
|||-<br>2,000<br>909|
|||2,909|
|||135,074<br>8,399|
|||143,473|
||||
|||163,251|
|||1,156,894<br>15,000<br>28,678<br>3,251<br>32,988<br>-<br>8,000<br>-|
|||1,244,811|
||||
|||1,408,062|



The grant of £26,939 to the Eastern Europe mission comprised £19,424 to individuals and £7,515 to the mission entity. Divinity student maintenance grants of £42,061 were to individuals. Education grants of £6,708 were to families in respect of their children. No other grants were made to individuals. 

Support costs are allocated between the Church's charitable activities as shown in Note (3), and are not further analysed between grant making and other components of each charitable activity. The proportionate share of support costs that might be attributed to grant making activities is £12,860 for UK ministry and mission, and £31,810 for Overseas ministry and mission. 

Some donations are specified as for the benefit of particular congregations of the Church. The value of such donations (together with tax reclaimed, where appropriate) is paid as grants to the relevant congregations, and the total amount is shown in the above analysis. The amounts paid to individual congregations are not sufficiently material to merit separate analysis. 

22 



**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **(5) BENEFITS AND RELATED PARTIES** 

## **Trustees' remuneration** 

The charity trustees do not receive remuneration for services as trustees. 

Two (2023: two) of the charity trustees who served during the year ( ) are ministers of the Church, in pastoral charges. As such they receive stipends on the same basis as other ministers. Payment of ministerial stipends is provided for in the Church's governing documents. The total trustees' remuneration payments were £51,161 (2023: £49,058) and total pension scheme and life insurance contributions made on behalf of trustees were £5,317 (2023: £5,368). 

The amount of stipend varies depending on the minister's eligibility for pension benefits from the Church's defined benefits scheme, and on subsidiary appointments held within the Church. The amounts paid to were £20,274 and £30,887 respectively (2023: £19,125 and £29,933 respectively). Pension contributions and life insurance costs paid in the year on behalf of these two charity trustees were £1,582 and £3,735 respectively (2023: £2,099 and £3,269 respectively). 

## **Trustees' expenses** 

Charity trustees are reimbursed for travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses incurred in carrying out their duties as trustees, and in connection with their other responsibilities within the Church. 

During the year, two (2023: two) of the charity trustees were reimbursed for expenses or had expenses paid by the Church. The total amount of such payments was £6,202 (2023: £2,934). 

## **Other related party transactions** 

As members of the Church, the trustees and other related parties may make regular donations to their local congregations. Congregations make contributions to the Funds of the Church, as disclosed in the Statement of Financial Activities. Trustees or other related parties may occasionally make direct donations to the Funds of the Church. The total amount of such donations (including gift aid where applicable) in the year was £14,750 (2023: £13,500). These donations were not subject to conditions that require disclosure. 

Apart from the transactions detailed above there were no related party transactions that require disclosure. 

|**Payments to the auditor**<br>Statutory audit<br>Audit of defined benefit pension scheme<br>**Staff costs**<br>Wages and salaries<br>Social security costs<br>Defined contribution pension contributions and life insurance costs||**2024**<br>£<br>8,290<br>1,176<br>9,466<br>**2024**<br>£<br>2,284,612<br>158,819<br>53,689<br>2,497,121|**2023**<br>£<br>8,054<br>1,146|
|---|---|---|---|
||||9,200|
||||**2023**<br>£<br>2,058,744<br>148,979<br>56,793|
||||2,264,516|



The average number of paid staff in the year was 96 (2023: 98). 

No employees/officeholders received employee benefits of more than £60,000 in the year (2023: none). 

## **Key management personnel** 

The charity trustees together with the General Treasurer are recognised as the key management personnel. The total remuneration and other benefits paid to key management personnel was £115,729 (2023: £110,742). 

23 



**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **(6) TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** 

|**(6) TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**||
|---|---|
|**Cost:**<br>At beginning of year<br>Additions<br>**At end of year**<br>**Cumulative depreciation and**<br>**impairments:**<br>At beginning of year<br>Depreciation charge for year<br>**At end of year**<br>**Net book value at end of year**<br>Net book value at beginning of year|**Heritable**<br>**Fixtures &**<br>**Computer**<br>**Motor**<br>**Property**<br>£<br>**Equipment**<br>£<br>**Equipment**<br>£<br>**Vehicles**<br>£<br>**Total**<br>£<br>3,089,734<br>537,224<br>17,124<br>33,481<br>3,677,563<br>-<br>10,941<br>-<br>-<br>10,941|
||3,089,734<br>548,165<br>17,124<br>33,481<br>3,688,504|
||915,209<br>427,457<br>16,575<br>24,168<br>1,383,409<br>61,794<br>16,040<br>549<br>2,328<br>80,711|
||977,003<br>443,497<br>17,124<br>26,496<br>1,464,120|
|||
||**2,112,731**<br>**104,668**<br>**-**<br>**6,985**<br>**2,224,384**|
||2,174,525<br>109,767<br>549<br>9,313<br>2,294,154|



Tangible fixed assets are held at deemed cost. 

24 



## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **(7) INVESTMENTS** 

|**(7) INVESTMENTS**||
|---|---|
|Value at beginning of year<br>Change in market value<br>Management fees<br>Additions / loan advances<br>Disposals / loan repayments<br>Transfers<br>**Value at end of year**|**Cash and**<br>**cash**<br>**equivalents**<br>**Listed**<br>**investments**<br>**Programme**<br>**related**<br>**investments**<br>**Total**<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>285,207<br>10,426,023<br>619,631<br>11,330,861<br>-<br>642,102<br>-<br>642,102<br>-<br>(52,473)<br>-<br>(52,473)<br>-<br>-<br>613,304<br>613,304<br>(344,738)<br>-<br>(608)<br>(345,346)<br>396,393<br>(396,393)<br>(16,872)<br>(16,872)|
||**336,862**<br>**10,619,259**<br>**1,215,455**<br>**12,171,576**|



The amounts shown as "cash and cash equivalents" and "listed investments" are held within the Church's investment portfolios. 

The programme related investments are concessionary interest free loans (see Note (8)). The amounts stated above for concessionary loans represent the portion of the loan repayments expected after more than one year. Transfers out of this category of investment represent the repayments that have moved into current assets during the year. 

The Church's investment policy is to seek to maintain the value in real terms of the investments while generating income to support ongoing activities. Investment income represents a relatively small proportion of the Church's total income, although certain activities rely heavily on the investment income. Accordingly, the main risks arising from the investments are a sharp reduction in the level of income, and a failure over the longer term to maintain the value of the investments, and hence of the level of future income. Adverse events of these types could result from investment market conditions or underperformance of the investment managers. 

The trustees manage these risks by maintaining well diversified portfolios, comprising mainly listed equities but with some exposure to bonds and other classes of investment; by monitoring investment manager performance quarterly; and by maintaining other resources at a level that allows continuity of activities in the event of short term fluctuations in investment income (taking account of the extent to which some activities could be curtailed in the short term in such a scenario). 

The trustees do not anticipate a requirement to realise the investments in the short term. Shorter term volatility in the market value of the investments is not, therefore, a significant risk to the Church. Although liquidity is not a primary consideration, the investments held are quoted and readily tradeable. 

25 



**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **(8) CONCESSIONARY LOANS RECEIVABLE** 

|**(8) CONCESSIONARY LOANS RECEIVABLE**|||
|---|---|---|
|Congregational loans from General<br>Building Fund:<br>Barnoldswick<br>Carterton<br>Gisborne<br>Sydney<br>Congregational loans from R W<br>Forsyth Bequest Fund:<br>Aberdeen<br>Gairloch<br>Laide<br>North Harris<br>Raasay<br>Shieldaig<br>South Harris<br>Uig<br>Congregational loans from<br>Congregational Development Fund:<br>Santa Fe, Texas<br>Singapore<br>Manse furnishing loans from<br>General Fund<br>Vehicle loans from Jewish and<br>Foreign Missions Fund<br>Total concessionary loans receivable<br>Receivable within one year<br>Receivable after more than one year|**At beginning Advanced in**<br>**Repaid in**<br>**At**<br>**of year**<br>**year**<br>**year**<br>**end of year**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>45,066<br>-<br>(4,507)<br>40,559<br>75,600<br>-<br>(3,150)<br>72,450<br>172,781<br>-<br>-<br>172,781<br>32,569<br>-<br>-<br>32,569||
||326,016<br>-<br>(7,657)<br>318,359||
||-<br>15,304<br>-<br>15,304<br>30,704<br>-<br>(2,000)<br>28,704<br>2,000<br>-<br>(1,000)<br>1,000<br>45,654<br>-<br>-<br>45,654<br>7,623<br>-<br>-<br>7,623<br>2,427<br>-<br>-<br>2,427<br>13,335<br>-<br>-<br>13,335<br>-<br>10,000<br>-<br>10,000||
||101,743<br>25,304<br>(3,000)<br>124,047||
||-<br>588,000<br>-<br>588,000<br>223,245<br>-<br>(2,118)<br>221,127||
||223,245<br>588,000<br>(2,118)<br>809,127||
||1,050<br>-<br>(504)<br>546||
||17,442<br>-<br>(5,304)<br>12,138||
||669,496<br>613,304<br>(18,583)|1,264,217|
||49,865<br>619,631<br>669,496|48,762<br>1,215,455|
|||1,264,217|



The concessionary loans are programme related investments. Loans are issued to congregations of the Church mainly to assist with costs of acquisition and maintenance of ecclesiastical properties owned and used by the congregations; to ministers of the Church to assist with manse furnishing costs; and to certain foreign mission employees to assist with vehicle acquisition. 

The portion of the repayments which are expected within less than one year are included within current asset investments, and the portion expected after more than one year within fixed asset investments. 

The loans are interest free and are unsecured (although the repayment arrangements, detailed below, would enable the trustees to recover the outstanding repayments in the event of sale of the congregational properties which had benefited from the loans). 

Loan repayment terms are agreed at outset based on the congregation's capacity for annual repayment costs, which is measured by reference to the congregation's recent history of revenue surpluses or deficits. Repayment terms at outset are normally at least 10 years. Loans are reviewable by the trustees, and the level of required annual repayments may be increased or decreased on the basis of the congregation's financial position at the time of the review. 

26 



## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

|**(9) STOCKS**<br>Ballifeary Care Home Fund<br>Bookroom Fund<br>Publications Fund<br>Welfare of Youth Fund<br>Organisation Fund<br>**(10)DEBTORS: AMOUNTS DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**<br>Trade debtors<br>Prepayments and accrued income<br>**(11)CREDITORS: AMOUNTS DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**<br>Accruals for grants payable<br>Trade creditors<br>Accruals and deferred income||**2024**<br>**£**<br>386<br>46,381<br>17,984<br>51<br>95<br>64,897<br>**£**<br>60,527<br>248,914<br>309,441<br>**£**<br>-<br>85,153<br>157,916<br>243,069||**2023**<br>**£**<br>391<br>43,494<br>17,355<br>75<br>136<br>61,451<br>**£**<br>103,886<br>124,523<br>228,409<br>**£**<br>3,251<br>62,725<br>178,081<br>244,057|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||



27 



**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **(12) FUND PURPOSES AND RESTRICTIONS** 

The Church has established a number of funds to support its activities. Most of the funds have been in operation for many years, and together the funds reflect the nature of the Church’s activities and financial management. 

Unless otherwise stated in the list below, donations can be received into any of the funds. Those marked with * are the funds to which donations are currently invited. Although other funds can receive donations, they generally rely on alternative sources of income, or existing assets, to support their activities. In particular, a number of the funds are supported by transfers from other funds, as described in Note (15). 

In general, the restrictions applying to each fund reflect the stated purpose of that fund, of which donors are aware (in most cases donors will specify the fund to which they wish their donation to be added). Where a fund’s restriction arises differently, this is indicated in the list below. 

None of the restricted funds are endowment funds. Taking account of the long term nature of the Church’s activities and commitments, the trustees consider it prudent to manage the R W Forsyth Bequest Fund by seeking to maintain the real value of the capital in order to protect the annual income on which certain of the Church’s activities depend. This method of managing the fund does not, however, imply a restriction on realisation of the capital of the fund. 

The Church’s funds are as follows: 

## **Restricted income funds** : 

**Sustentation Fund *** - Payment of UK ministers' salaries, and pulpit supply expenses of congregations which do not have a minister. 

**Home Mission Fund *** – Payment of UK missionaries' salaries, and pulpit supply expenses of congregations which are regularly supplied by a home missionary. 

**Aged and Infirm Ministers, Widows and Orphans Fund** – Provision of pensions and related benefits. 

**College and Library Fund *** - Supports all aspects of the work of training ministers and maintaining the Church’s library, including grants for students, salaries for tutors, and the theological conference. 

**Bookroom Fund *** – Sale of Christian literature. 

## **Publications Fund** – Publication of Christian literature. 

**Magazines Fund** – Production and distribution of the Church's two monthly magazines, the quarterly Gaelic supplement and the annual Synod reports. 

**Welfare of Youth Fund** – Activities and resources for young people, including the annual youth conference, and prizes and awards for the Scripture and Catechism exercises. 

**Organisation Fund** – Supports central administration expenses, which are then recouped via transfers received from other funds. 

**General Building Fund *** – Used to give grants and loans to congregations for assistance with their property costs. With the R W Forsyth Fund largely fulfilling this role for congregations in Scotland, the General Building Fund is normally used for congregations outside Scotland. 

**Outreach Fund *** – Used to support efforts to reach people outside the Church. It is mainly used in the UK due to the existence of other funds specifically for overseas mission work. 

**Ballifeary Care Home Fund** – Operation of the Church's residential care home for the elderly at Inverness. 

**Leverburgh Care Home Fund** – Operation of the Church's residential care home for the elderly at Leverburgh, Isle of Harris. 

**R W Forsyth Bequest Fund** – Restricted by the terms of the Will to use within Scotland, to help the elderly, the young, and for property costs (with other relatively insignificant restrictions). The fund incurs direct expenditure in the form of grants to congregations (within Scotland) for help with property costs, and also makes transfers to other funds to cover the cost of pension and related benefits and youth activities. This fund was established to receive a specific legacy and no further donations will be added to it. 

28 



**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

**Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund *** – Supports the Church's overseas missionary work. Currently, this work is mainly in Zimbabwe, with some expenditure in Israel and Kenya. 

**Mbuma Zending Fund** – Receives donations from the Mbuma Zending mission organisation in the Netherlands, for the purpose of supporting the Church’s African missions. Expenditure is in the form of transfers to the Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund. This fund was established to receive donations from a specific donor, and donations from other sources cannot be received into it. (Any other donations for the purpose of supporting the Church’s overseas missions are received into the Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund.) 

**Ebenezer Zending Fund** – Supports a specific aspect of the Church's Zimbabwe mission work (the Thembiso Children’s Home). The fund's assets arose from a restricted donation for this purpose many years ago. Expenditure is in the form of transfers to the Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund, usually of amounts equal to the interest earned on the fund. This fund was established to receive a specific donation and no further donations will be added to it. 

**Overseas Fund *** – Supports the Church's overseas congregations, mainly through funding travel expenses. 

**Eastern Europe Fund *** – Supports the Church's work in Eastern Europe, including the congregation in the Ukraine and general missionary work in Eastern European countries. 

**China Mission Fund** – This fund is for missionary work in China. 

**Miscellaneous Restricted Fund** - This fund receives miscellaneous restricted income where the restrictions do not come within the scope of those governing any of the other restricted funds. The main component of income is donations for specified congregations of the Church, which are applied by making grants to these congregations. 

**Pension Reserve** - Represents the surplus or deficit on the Church's final salary pension scheme (which is now closed to accrual of benefits), calculated in accordance with the relevant accounting standards. Because it has been, and will continue to be, financed from restricted funds, the Pension Reserve is included within restricted funds. This fund does not receive donations. 

## **Unrestricted funds** : 

**Congregational Development Fund** – The trustees have designated this fund for support of congregations in specified circumstances. The part of the fund arising from sale of properties at Kames and Dumbarton is designated for the establishment of new congregations and support of relatively new congregations. The remainder of the fund arose from sale of properties at Vancouver, and is designated for support of the Church’s activities in North America. 

**General Fund** – This fund receives the Church’s unrestricted income and is used to support any aspect of the Church's work which is not sufficiently supported by available restricted funds. Although no part of this fund has been formally designated for a specific purpose, its main priority would be to support the purposes of the Sustentation Fund, if necessary. 

29 



NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024
113) SUMMARY OF ASSETS BY FUND
11 I
Restricted income funds..
Sustentatic
Home Missi¢)n
Aged & Infi
College &
Bookroom
Publications
Magazines
Welfare of Y¢xrth
Organisation
General Building
Outreach
Ballrfeary Care H(￿
Levert)urgh Care HO￿
R W Forsyth Bequest
Jewsh & Foreign Missh)r
Mbuma Zending
Ebenezer Zending
140,742
{105.635)
140,742
{105,6351
1.777
{14.814)
{157.137)
73,106
(11.095)
113,0371
{157,1371
73,106
(11,0951
96,072
6,285
713.392
229.739
1.036.971
310.702
{262.158)
31,433
(26.877)
(150.374)
14.412)
{11M.222)
280,795
144,616
37,718
746,515
79,365
9,118,968
250,011
280,795
64.CQO
30,572
69,996
21,478
113.142 7,973.267
7,442
346,791
30.572
(9.996)
21,478
Eastem Europe
China Missic
MI￿lIaneouS Restricted
Pension Reserve
Total restricted funds
79.992
2.224228
431,286 8J20,058
(204.5941
10,770.978
Unrestricted funds:
Congregational Development
General
Total unrestricted funds
784.127
770.549
42 1,865,514
T84,1￿ 2.636,063
61.065
869,795
930.860
1.615.741
2,735,507
4,351,248
156
156
Total funds
2.224.384 1215.455 10.956,121
726,266
15,122,226
30

**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **(14) SUMMARY OF FUND MOVEMENTS** 

|**Total restricted funds**<br>**Unrestricted funds:**<br>Congregational<br>Development<br>General<br>**Total unrestricted funds**<br>**Total funds**<br>**Restricted income**<br>**funds:**<br>Sustentation<br>Home Mission<br>Aged & Infirm<br>College & Library<br>Bookroom<br>Publications<br>Magazines<br>Welfare of Youth<br>Organisation<br>General Building<br>Outreach<br>Ballifeary Care Home<br>Leverburgh Care Home<br>R W Forsyth Bequest<br>Jewish & Foreign Missions<br>Mbuma Zending<br>Ebenezer Zending<br>Overseas<br>Eastern Europe<br>China Mission<br>Miscellaneous Restricted<br>Pension Reserve||£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>55,803<br>472,121<br>(380,011)<br>(7,171)<br>-<br>84,939<br>140,742<br>(113,083)<br>40,121<br>(30,687)<br>(1,986)<br>-<br>7,448<br>(105,635)<br>-<br>76,080<br>(133,694)<br>57,614<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(5,077)<br>50,224<br>(56,088)<br>(2,096)<br>-<br>(7,960)<br>(13,037)<br>(162,824)<br>70,939<br>(62,604)<br>(2,648)<br>-<br>5,687<br>(157,137)<br>73,797<br>4,307<br>(3,343)<br>(1,655)<br>-<br>(691)<br>73,106<br>(8,774)<br>37,745<br>(37,207)<br>(2,859)<br>-<br>(2,321)<br>(11,095)<br>-<br>1,821<br>(24,069)<br>22,248<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>10,468<br>(160,571)<br>150,103<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>141,336<br>7,267<br>(2,001)<br>(1,986)<br>-<br>3,280<br>144,616<br>40,622<br>11,158<br>(12,407)<br>(1,655)<br>-<br>(2,904)<br>37,718<br>845,365<br>1,370,360<br>(1,458,729)<br>(10,481)<br>-<br>(98,850)<br>746,515<br>81,833<br>776,992<br>(772,289)<br>(7,171)<br>-<br>(2,468)<br>79,365<br>8,693,513<br>156,054<br>(107,497)<br>(99,541)<br>476,439<br>425,455<br>9,118,968<br>275,707<br>107,182<br>(1,391,187)<br>1,244,029<br>14,280<br>(25,696)<br>250,011<br>241,126<br>1,303,566<br>-<br>(1,263,897)<br>-<br>39,669<br>280,795<br>64,000<br>1,425<br>-<br>(1,425)<br>-<br>-<br>64,000<br>46,618<br>9,007<br>(16,928)<br>(8,125)<br>-<br>(16,046)<br>30,572<br>88,651<br>12,467<br>(30,239)<br>(883)<br>-<br>(18,655)<br>69,996<br>21,478<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>21,478<br>-<br>148,402<br>(148,402)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|
|---|---|---|
|||**10,380,091**<br>**4,667,706**<br>**(4,827,953)**<br>**60,415**<br>**490,719**<br>**390,887**<br>**10,770,978**|
|||1,565,001<br>27,448<br>(12,125)<br>(1,324)<br>36,741<br>50,740<br>1,615,741<br>2,654,980<br>45,125<br>(20,149)<br>(59,091)<br>114,642<br>80,527<br>2,735,507|
|||**4,219,981**<br>**72,573**<br>**(32,274)**<br>**(60,415)**<br>**151,383**<br>**131,267**<br>**4,351,248**|
||||
|||**14,600,072 4,740,279(4,860,227)**<br>**-**<br>**642,102**<br>**522,154**<br>**15,122,226**|



31 



**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **(15) TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS** 

As described in Note (12) some of the funds hold specific past donations, or receive donations from specific donors, while other funds receive regular income and incur regular expenditure. This fund structure has historically met the needs of the Church's donors and beneficiaries in terms of presentation of information. Transfers are then made from funds in the first category to funds in the second category, to support the expenditure. The largest transfer between funds is from the Mbuma Zending Fund to the Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund, and it illustrates the above process. All the relevant expenditure (associated with the Zimbabwe mission in particular) is allocated to the Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund, in the interests of clarity and completeness of presentation. A transfer is then made from the Mbuma Zending Fund to cover the portion of that expenditure which is consistent with the restrictions of the Mbuma Zending Fund. 

The Aged and Infirm Minsters, Widows and Orphans Fund incurs expenditure on pensions and related benefits. Most of this expenditure is supported by a transfer from the R W Forsyth Fund. Since the R W Forsyth Fund is restricted to use in Scotland, there are also smaller transfers from other funds to support that part of pension costs which relates to activities outside Scotland. 

Central administrative costs are incurred in the Organisation Fund. This Fund receives a transfer from the General Fund to offset a portion of these costs, and the remainder is recovered via receipt of transfers from the other funds (see Note (3) for further information on the allocation of these support costs). 

## **(16) DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION SCHEME** 

The Church sponsors a UK-based defined benefit pension scheme, providing benefits at retirement and on death. The scheme has been closed to accrual of benefits since 31 October 2010. The most recent full funding assessment was as at 31 March 2023 and this showed the scheme to have a surplus on a solvency basis. No contributions are required from the Church. 

The defined benefit obligation at 31 December 2024 was calculated by adjusting the results of the funding assessment as at 31 March 2023, to take account of the financial and mortality assumptions set out below, and of experience and settlements between these two dates. The calculations at both dates were carried out by independent actuaries. 

Following the English High Court ruling on 26 October 2018 in the case of Lloyds Banking Group Pension Trustees Ltd v Lloyds Bank plc, and the further relevant ruling on 20 November 2020, the Church has decided to make an allowance for the cost of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions (GMPs) equalisation. The Church and the trustees of the scheme have not yet decided on the method of GMP equalisation, and an approximate allowance of 2% of the defined benefit obligations has therefore been made for the purpose of these accounts. The independent actuary has been instructed to use that allowance in his calculations. 

|**Principal assumptions:**|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|
|Inflation (CPI)|3.2%|3.0%|
|Discount rate|5.3%|4.8%|
|Salary increases|0.0%|0.0%|
|Life expectancies (years):|||
|male aged 65 now|19.9|19.9|
|at 65 for male aged 45 now|21.3|21.2|
|female aged 65 now|22.2|22.2|
|at 65 for female aged 45 now|23.8|23.7|



32 



**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **(16) DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION SCHEME (continued)** 

|**Analysis of change in defined benefit obligation:**<br>Opening defined benefit obligation<br>Interest cost<br>Actuarial (gains)<br>Benefits (paid)<br>Closing defined benefit obligation<br>**Analysis of change in fair value of plan assets:**<br>Opening fair value of plan assets<br>Interest income<br>Return on plan assets (excluding income)<br>Contributions<br>Benefits (paid)<br>Closing fair value of plan assets<br>**Net (surplus):**<br>Unrecognised surplus at start of reporting period<br>(Decrease) in unrecognised surplus<br>**Net (surplus) recognised in financial statements:**||£<br>2,053,000<br>95,000<br>(139,000)<br>(132,000)|
|---|---|---|
|||1,877,000|
|||£<br>2,894,000<br>136,000<br>(259,000)<br>-<br>(132,000)|
|||2,639,000|
|||(762,000)<br>841,000<br>(79,000)|
|||-|



The SORP allows recognition of the plan surplus to the extent that the Church is able to recover the surplus either through reduced contributions in the future or through refunds from the plan. 

The Church has decided not to recognise any surplus in these financial statements. 

The amount recognised as an expense in respect of the defined benefit plan was nil (2023 nil). The amount recognised as a gain was nil (2023: loss of £80,000). The total cost was thus nil (2023: cost of £80,000). The cost in 2023 reflects the deficit reduction contribution paid into the scheme in that year. 

Included in the defined benefit obligation is £37,000 (2023: £40,000) in respect of GMP equalisation. 

|**Assets of the plan (at fair value):**<br>Equities<br>Bonds<br>Property<br>Insured Pensions<br>Cash|**2024**<br>£<br>-<br>2,416,000<br>-<br>183,000<br>40,000<br>2,639,000|**2023**<br>£<br>1,653,000<br>614,000<br>98,000<br>234,000<br>295,000|
|---|---|---|
|||2,894,000|



The return on plan assets was -£123,000 (2023: £221,000). 

33