Scottish charity number: SC004487 Congregation number: 010102
St Stephen’s Comely Bank Church of Scotland, Edinburgh
Annual Report and Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2025
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St Stephen’s Comely Bank Church of Scotland, Edinburgh Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 - 3 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 4 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 5 |
| Statement of Balances | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 - 10 |
St Stephen’s Comely Bank Church of Scotland, Edinburgh
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025
The Trustees present the annual report and accounts for St Stephen’s Comely Bank Church of Scotland, Edinburgh (SSCB) for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Reference and administrative information Charity name: St Stephen’s Comely Bank Church of Scotland, Edinburgh Charity registration number: SC004487 Congregation number: 010102 Contact address: Church Office 10 Comely Bank Road Edinburgh EH4 1DW Website: www.comelybankchurch.com Bankers: Bank of Scotland, 43 Comely Bank, Edinburgh, EH4 1AF
Constitution and governance
SSCB is a Church of Scotland congregation established under the unitary form of constitution.
The Elders serving on the Kirk Session are the trustees of the charity and have been chosen from those members of the church who are considered to have the appropriate gifts and skills. The minister, who is a member of the Kirk Session, is elected by the congregation and inducted by Presbytery. The Kirk Session is responsible for the recruitment, appointment, induction and training of new trustees, when required.
The Kirk Session met eleven times during the year, with meetings considering both the practical and spiritual matters of the church. Routine business is dealt with by circulation of papers.
The Trustees who served during the year were as follows:
Rev George Vidits Minister and Moderator Rev Daniel Carmichael Interim Moderator (1 January 2025 - 29 March 2025) Alison Franks Session Clerk/Finance Convenor John Baggaley Veronique Chittleburgh Douglas Reid (appointed 10 August 2025) Jacqueline Young
Day to day oversight for financial matters is delegated to the Session Clerk and Sarah Robertson, a member of the congregation who carries out the bookkeeping. The Minister and Session Clerk hold title to both the church and the manse on behalf of the members.
Objectives and activities
SSCB is an evangelical congregation of the Church of Scotland, with one objective: to make God’s ways known to all. This is done through our worship together each Sunday; meetings for prayer, encouragement and teaching; offering homegroups for small group ministry and discipleship; ministry to the older members of our community through our lunch club; youth ministry in our local schools and community; the provision of meeting space for Guides, Scouts and other community groups; and special events.
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St Stephen’s Comely Bank Church of Scotland, Edinburgh
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025
Achievements and performance
Thanks be to God that we experienced His faithfulness in the year gone.
We are thankful for many things this year:
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We are filled with gratitude that the Lord healed and restored our minister, George, after major heart surgery. He and Emma shared with the congregation that they were grateful for the many prayers and for the many people surrounding them with their loving care.
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We are thankful to the Lord for His goodness to us as a church family. For the faithful ministry of Martin Pearce as our locum during George’s absence, then as our Families Pastor later in the year; for Douglas Reid who joined our ministry team in the second half of the year; for our staff team - Kenny, Pamela and Moira - and for the many volunteers who minister to our church family and community.
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We are thankful for our ministry and outreach in all its guises – to children and families through our new monthly Family Services, our weekly Babies and Toddlers Group and our monthly Comely Play events which have been so successful this year. For schools ministry at both Broughton High School and Flora Stevenson Primary School, for Rock Solid and for Inspire; and this year especially, for the level of access we are gratefully offered by the schools who value our input. For Lunch Club for our older community which continues to be a blessing to all who attend. For our homegroups which continue to be a place for discipleship and care for one another. For those who serve on a Sunday morning – both upfront and behind the scenes – able to serve using their gifts and talents be it in praying or cooking or making music or technology. For the administration that goes on unseen by most of us – managing the hall users, maintaining the buildings and garden and keeping the monthly rotas and the finances up to date.
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We are blessed with so many gifted people who love the Lord and delight in serving Him - their service is such a great encouragement to us all.
We are thankful too that our relationships with our Parish Grouping family continue to strengthen and grow. The next 12 months will be focussed on pushing forward with a framework for us to effectively work together to minister to our combined parishes.
By God's grace and the generous legacies of John Ballantine and Cathy Powell, we were able to repair and revarnish the floors of our halls and began the renewal of our Audio-Visual systems in the church.
We finished the year with 115 members (2024: 111 members). 3 new members were welcomed to the family by transference of certificate and a further 4 were welcomed by giving their profession of faith in church. We had one baptism – baby Kimberly – and George carried out 3 funerals. We have around 20 children and young people who are part of our Inspire, Sunday Club and creche communities.
None of what we do at Church would be possible without the commitment of our faithful community of members who volunteer in so many ways to serve. Our sincere thanks to you all.
Financial review
Principal sources of funding
The Church is primarily funded by church members through their offerings and the Gift Aid thereon. It should however be noted that we have an emerging trend of a decreasing number of high value givers as those members either move on elsewhere or reduce their giving due to changes in circumstances.
The Accounts for the year are set out on pages 5 to 10. They have been restated this year back to the simpler Receipts and Payments Basis of accounting which is available to all charities with annual income of under £250k. This means that our figures for 2024 have also been restated on the same basis to provide comparability.
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St Stephen’s Comely Bank Church of Scotland, Edinburgh
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025
Financial review (continued)
Results for the year (continued)
The Accounts for the year are set out on pages 5 to 10. The Receipts and Payments Account on page 5 shows a deficit of £34,330 (2024: surplus of £126,039), comprising a deficit on unrestricted funds after transfers of £34,724 (2024: surplus of £134,007) and a surplus on restricted funds after transfers of £394 (2024: deficit of £7,968).
Reserves
It is the policy of the church to maintain unrestricted funds of approximately three months of unrestricted expenditure. This allows sufficient funds to enable the ongoing work of the Church to be maintained. Per the Unrestricted funds note 6, the general fund at 31 December 2025 amounted to £41,378 (2024: £16,675) which meets this level. Restricted funds amounted to £19,789 (2024: £19,395).
Signed on behalf of the Trustees on 12 March 2026.
Alison Franks
Alison Franks Session Clerk
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St Stephen’s Comely Bank Church of Scotland, Edinburgh
Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025
I report on the accounts of the church for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on pages 5 to 10.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The Charity’s Trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s statement
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent Examiner’s statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations (as amended), and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations (as amended)
have not been met, or
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Helen White
Helen White CA
Director
Cornerstone Accounting Ltd 11 Erngath Road Chartered Accountants Bo’ness EH51 9DP
Date: 31 March 2026
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St Stephen's Comely Bank Church
Receipts and Payments Account
For the year ended 31 December 2025
| Notes Receipts Offerings and donations Gift aid recovered Grants 2 Legacies Youthwork activity income Hall letting income Key deposits Deposit interest Total receipts Payments Giving to Grow contribution Presbytery dues Staff salaries Minister's expenses General ministry expenses Ministry group expenses Other mission costs Church repairs and maintenance AV and website costs Manse repairs and maintenance Manse council tax Other building costs Church utility and water costs Insurance Church office and IT costs Catering, hygiene and cleaning costs Charitable donations 3 Independent examination Bank charges Card machine costs Other expenses Total payments Surplus/(deficit) for the year before transfers Transfers Surplus/(deficit) for the year after transfers Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted fund £ 64,072 14,616 278 5,000 - 16,443 40 784 101,233 62,886 1,323 8,325 640 1,946 - 78 6,091 11,912 1,025 4,032 - 8,797 7,537 1,653 1,327 8,000 180 15 9 - 125,776 (24,543) (10,181) (34,724) 151,942 117,218 |
Restricted funds £ 33,833 5,947 3,350 - 490 - - - 43,620 - - 40,643 - - 5,153 739 6,857 - - - - - - - - - - - 15 - 53,407 (9,787) 10,181 394 19,395 19,789 |
2025 Total £ 97,905 20,563 3,628 5,000 490 16,443 40 784 144,853 62,886 1,323 48,968 640 1,946 5,153 817 12,948 11,912 1,025 4,032 - 8,797 7,537 1,653 1,327 8,000 180 15 24 - 179,183 (34,330) - (34,330) 171,337 137,007 |
Unrestricted fund £ 67,525 13,523 - 135,267 151 20,344 - - 236,810 60,735 1,102 7,818 1,306 518 - - 2,836 - 864 3,738 270 9,723 6,888 4,656 895 - 144 - 98 256 101,847 134,963 (956) 134,007 17,935 151,942 |
Restricted funds £ 32,881 6,668 1,500 - 170 - - - 41,219 - - 36,624 - - 5,992 - 4,834 - 2,376 - - - - 301 - - - - 16 - 50,143 (8,924) 956 (7,968) 27,363 19,395 Restated |
2024 Total £ 100,406 20,191 1,500 135,267 321 20,344 - - 278,029 60,735 1,102 44,442 1,306 518 5,992 - 7,670 - 3,240 3,738 270 9,723 6,888 4,957 895 - 144 - 114 256 151,990 126,039 - 126,039 45,298 171,337 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
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St Stephen's Comely Bank Church
Statement of Balances
As at 31 December 2025
| Opening Deficit Closing balance for year balance £ £ £ Bank and cash 171,337 (34,330) 137,007 Total assets 171,337 (34,330) 137,007 Represented by: Unrestricted fund 6 117,218 Restricted funds 7 19,789 137,007 Statement of assets Church No value provided Manse (at cost) 520,000 Gift aid due 4,669 Listed Places of Worship grant 3,280 Overpayment of Giving to Grow 533 Other debtors 154 Merchiston Funds due - 528,636 Statement of liabilities Church utility costs 1,500 Bills due - Key deposits 340 Minister's travel costs 320 Pensions due 222 Independent examination fee 180 2,562 2025 |
Opening Surplus Closing balance for year balance £ £ £ 45,298 126,039 171,337 45,298 126,039 171,337 151,942 19,395 171,337 No value provided 520,000 5,286 - - 749 1,850 527,885 1,734 1,774 300 240 172 144 4,364 2024 |
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The financial statements on pages 5 to 10 were approved by the Trustees on 12 March 2026 and signed on their behalf by the undernoted:
Alison Franks
Alison Franks Session Clerk
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St Stephen's Comely Bank Church
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2025
1. Accounting policies
Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the Regulations anent Congregational Finance approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2007.
Basis of financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis. All voluntary income, income from tax recoveries on Gift Aid and bank interest is accounted for when received. Expenditure is recognised when paid.
Receipts and payments account
For the purpose of the receipts and payments account as shown on page 5, funds are defined as follows:
Unrestricted funds comprise grants and other income received for the objects of the church without further specified purpose and are available as general funds.
Restricted funds comprise income which has been received for the objects of the church and specified for a restricted purpose within these objects by the donor.
2. Grant income
During the year, we received the following grants:
| North Merchiston Mission fund Edinburgh Presbytery mission grant Families Outreach fund Church of Scotland grant for summer intern Youthwork fund Church of Scotland mission grant General fund Listed Places of Worship Scheme - VAT recovery fund |
2025 £ 1,850 1,000 500 278 3,628 |
2024 £ - 500 1,000 - 1,500 |
|---|---|---|
We extend our sincere thanks to all those who have granted us funding for our outreach.
3. Charitable donations
The Trustees have agreed that all income received as legacies will be tithed with 10% of these receipts being ringfenced to donate to charity. This year, the following donations were made:
| Crossreach International Justice Mission Scripture Union Hungary Scripture Union Scotland |
2025 £ 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 8,000 |
|---|---|
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St Stephen's Comely Bank Church
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2025
4. Transactions with Trustees and related parties
During the year, one Trustee (the Minister) received reimbursement of travel expenses totalling £720 (2024: £1,546) and benefitted from the payment of Council Tax on the manse of £4,031 (2024: £3,738). No other Trustees received remuneration or expenses, other than the direct reimbursement of items purchased on behalf of the church (2024: nil).
All Church of Scotland congregations contribute to the National Stipend Fund which bears the costs of ministers' stipends and employer's contributions for national insurance, pensions and housing and loan funds. Ministers' stipends are paid in accordance with the national stipend scale which is related to years of service. For the year under review, the minimum stipend was £32,433 and the maximum stipend (in the fifth and subsequent years) was £39,856.
There were no transactions with related parties in the year.
Total donations received from Trustees in the year amounted to £30,811 (2024: £25,740).
5. Volunteer time
The Church relies heavily on the contribution of significant volunteer time for the delivery of its programme of activities. This has not been quantified for the purposes of these accounts.
6. Unrestricted funds
| Balance at 01.01.25 £ General fund 16,675 Designated legacy fund 121,740 Designated tithe fund 13,527 Total unrestricted funds 151,942 |
Receipts £ 100,733 - 500 101,233 |
Payments £ (105,849) (11,912) (8,015) (125,776) |
Transfers £ 29,819 (40,000) - (10,181) |
Balance at 31.12.25 £ 41,378 69,828 6,012 117,218 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Explanation of funds
The General Fund represents all income and expenditure relating to the primary focus activities of the charity, other than those for which funding is restricted.
The Designated legacy fund represents a ring-fenced legacy received in the year to be used at the Kirk Session's discretion.
The Designated tithe fund represents 10% of the value of a legacy received in the year which the Kirk Session use to contribute to charitable causes.
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St Stephen's Comely Bank Church
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2025
7. Restricted funds
| Balance at 01.01.25 £ Youthwork fund - Families Outreach fund 8,752 Lunch Club fund 812 Baby and toddler fund 261 Eco fund 1,561 Fabric fund 8,009 AV replacement fund - Church lunch fund - Hungary youth mission trip - North Merchiston mission fund - Total restricted funds 19,395 |
Receipts £ 22,007 3,500 2,037 1,343 - - 12,500 383 - 1,850 43,620 |
Payments £ (33,813) (9,643) (1,563) (409) - (4,572) (2,285) (458) (579) (85) (53,407) |
Transfers £ 11,806 - (700) (1,000) - - - 75 - - 10,181 |
Balance at 31.12.25 £ - 2,609 586 195 1,561 3,437 10,215 - (579) 1,765 19,789 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Explanation of funds
The Youthwork fund represents donations received to fund youth work in the church, including the salary of the Youth Worker.
The Families Outreach fund holds grants and donations received to fund a Families Outreach worker.
The Lunch club fund represents donations received and payments made for the provision of the monthly lunch club. The transfer out in the year was a donation made from the Club to the Church.
The Baby and Toddler fund represents the income and expenses managed by our Baby and Toddler group. The transfer out in the year was a donation made from the Group to the Church.
The Eco fund represents donations received and payments made by the church Eco group.
The Fabric fund holds grants and donations received in relation to the upkeep of the church building.
The AV replacement fund represents a donation received this year specifically for the replacement of our audio visual equipment in the Sanctuary.
The Church lunch fund represents funds donated and costs incurred in providing our monthly church family lunch.
The Hungary youth mission fund represents funds raised and spent on our youth group mission trip to Budapest in July 2026.
The North Merchiston mission fund represents funds received this year from Presbytery to be used to promote the church's activities in the area and in mission work.
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St Stephen's Comely Bank Church
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2025
8. Restatement of comparatives
The accounts have been restated this year from the Accruals method back to the Receipts and Payments basis . This has resulted in the following adjustments to the comparatives this year:
2023 brought forward reserves
| 2023 reserves, as previously stated Deduct: Fixed assets - church manse Income due but not received Add: Bills due but not paid 2023 reserves, restated 2024 surplus 2024 surplus, as previously stated Deduct: Income due but not received Bills from 2022 paid Add: Bills due but not paid Income due from 2022 received 2024 surplus, restated Restated 2024 reserves carried forward |
849,534 (800,000) (5,180) 944 45,298 125,796 (7,885) (944) 3,892 5,180 126,039 171,337 |
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