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2025-12-31-accounts

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland

Scottish Charity No. SC 004591

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland

Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland

Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025

Page
Church Information 2
Report of the Trustees 3 - 5
Report of the Independent Examiner 6
Receipts and Payments Account 7
Statement of Balances 8
Notes to the Financial Statements 9 - 10

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland

Church Information

Trustees

A list of active trustees during 2025 is provided in the Trustees’ Report on Page 3 to 5.

Address

Ferry Brae North Kessock Inverness IV1 3YH

www .knockbainfreechurch.org

Bankers

Royal Bank of Scotland Falcon Square Inverness IV2 3PP

Solicitors

Wright Johnston and Mackenzie The Green House Beechwood Park North Inverness IV2 3BL

Independent Examiner

Murdo Morrison Braikley Tulloch Ave Dingwall IV15 9TU

2

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland

Report of the Trustees

The Trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the church for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Status of Charity and Governing Document

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland is established by Constitution. It is a registered Scottish Charity (No. SC 004591).

Aims and Affiliation

The Free Church of Scotland currently has around 100 congregations in Scotland, as well as one in London and three in North America, and sister Churches founded by mission work in India, Peru and South Africa. The Church also has a full-time degree awarding college in the heart of Edinburgh for the training of Ministers and other Christian workers.

Dating from 1843 but with its roots in the Reformation, it owes its distinctive title to its historical struggle to remain ‘free’ from state interference in its internal affairs. It has close and active relations with many other Reformed churches of Jesus Christ throughout the world and stands firmly in the tradition which accepts the Bible in its entirety as the Word of God. One of the emphases of our worship is the preaching of the gospel - the good news of a free and sovereign salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland is a congregation of the national Free Church of Scotland (Scottish Charity No. SC 012925) working towards the common aims set out above. The congregation is within the Presbytery of Inverness, Lochaber and Ross and is authorised by the Church to have a Minister paid from the central funds of the Church.

The Church building and the Minister’s manse are the property of the congregation and are held in trust by locally elected congregational Trustees under the Church’s Model Trust Deed.

Trustees and Office Bearers

The congregation is governed and administered by elected office bearers (all volunteers) and its Minister. The Kirk Session, being the Minister and elected Elders, has responsibility for spiritual oversight, while the Property and Finance Committee, composed of Kirk Session members plus nominated committee members, oversees financial and property matters. Under Charity Law, the Property and Finance Committee is deemed to be the trustees of the congregation as those with responsibility for day to day management and control. This is distinct from the role of congregational Trustees who are responsible only for holding property in trust. At the end of 2025, elections and inductions were held for additional elders and for new deacons. It was decided there would be a transitional period from December 2025 to early 2026 where the Property and Finance Committee will continue until the reconstitution of the Deacons’ Court at the AGM in 2026. At that point, under Charity Law, the Deacons’ Court will then be deemed to be the trustees of the congregation as those with responsibility for day to day management and control.

The members of the Property & Finance Committee who served since the AGM and will remain in place until the 2026 AGM were as follows:-

Property & Finance Committee

Elders D Macrae, A MacLennan, I Gray, J Macdonald (assessor) and Rev N Maclean (assessor) Members Rev D Mackeddie, R Geddes, J Ross, W Ross, A Somerville, M Somerville, Minister Rev Murdo Campbell

Deacons’ Court (*ordained to office in December 2025, to be reconstituted in 2026)

Elders D Macrae, A Maclennan, I Gray, (I Renwick, J Ross, J Simms.) * Members (S Macdonald, P Sinclair, A Somerville, E Taylor.) * Minister Rev Murdo Campbell

3

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland

Report of the Trustees (continued)

Congregational Trustees

For holding Property - Mr D Macrae, Rev D Mackeddie, Mr R Geddes, Mr J Ross

Appointment of Charity Trustees

The Kirk Session exercises its discretion in determining the most appropriate method of electing new Trustees (Elders and Deacons) and the congregation elect property and finance committee trustees. Any election process must involve the communicant membership of the congregation. The fixed term for committee Trusteeship is one year with reelection possible at the Annual General Meeting. Prior to their appointment, new Trustees would have served the Church for some time in various roles and would be familiar with the Church’s values, its aims and objectives as well as its day-to-day operations. As part of their induction programme, new Trustees are required to understand their statutory responsibilities as well as the responsibilities of their office within the congregation as elder or deacon or members of the property and finance committee. At the end of 2025, the Kirk Session resolved to elect new Trustees (Elders and Deacons). The election process involved the communicant membership of the congregation. There is no fixed term for Trusteeship as elders and deacons. The Deacons’ Court will be reconstituted in 2026 following a transition from the existing trustees on the Property and Finance Committee.

Activities and Achievements

During the year, the congregation met regularly for public worship and carried out various activities in pursuit of the above stated aims.

The congregation continued its commitment to support the national Free Church of Scotland both spiritually and financially.

Significant highlights, events and developments of note in the year include the following: -

In relation to property.

In relation to congregational activities :

4

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland

Report of the Trustees (In relation to congregational funding)

Reserves

Reserves. Despite the financial challenges in 2025 the church has maintained a healthy balance in its reserves with the overall amount falling from £114,564 to £97,906.

The Unrestricted Fund , sometimes referred to as the ‘General’ Fund had a balance of £72,071 (£91,808) while the ‘Designated’ Funds (which are also Unrestricted) amounted to £1,674 (£9,953).

Restricted Funds . There are two Funds in this category. The Fabric Fund had £8,921 (£3,179) and the Local Purposes Account had a balance of £15,240 (£9,623) on 31 December 2025.

Funds, included in the above figures, held for the congregation by the Free Church in Edinburgh amounted to £71,867.

The Trustees are satisfied with the level of reserves retained by the charity.

On behalf of the Trustees

Rev Murdo Campbell Minister and Trustee 30 March 2026

5

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland

Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees of Knockbain Free Church of Scotland

I report on the accounts of the church for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on pages 7 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 trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the 2006 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. 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:-

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1)(a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations

  4. have not been met, or

  5. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Mr Murdo Morrison Independent Examiner

30[th] May 2026

6

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland

Receipts and Payments Accounts

For the year ended 31 December 2025

Notes
Receipts
Gift Aid giving
Gift Aid-Tax Recovered
ChurchDoorcollections
Other donations(not Gift Aided)
Bankinterestandotherinterest
Magazines
Other donations
Legacy
Total Receipts
Payments
Payments forCharitableactivities
RemittancestoCentral funds
Pulpit Supply and Communion Expenses
Minister's expenses
Church & Manse Insurance
Heat &Light
Local Purposes
Telephone
Repairs & Renewals
CouncilTax/Water & Sewage
PresbyteryExpenses
Donations
Sundry Expenses
Magazines
Total Payments
Net receipts/ (payments)
Interfundtransfers
Surplus/(deficit) foryear
Totalfundsbrought forward
Totalfunds carried forward
Represented by:
GeneralFund
Proceedsofsale of former Church
Designated Funds(pernote 4)
Totalunrestricted funds
RestrictedFunds(per note5)





UnrestrictedFunds
Restricted
General
Fund
Designated
Funds
Funds
Total
2025
Total
2024
£
£
£
£
£
31,326
21,427
52,752
34,664
11,847
2,824
14,671
11,845
12,126
-
12,126
11,542
5,866
13,38019,246
8,746
2,506
21
-
2,526
3,332
304
-
304
224
-
2,541
2,541
2,735
-
1,000
1,000
1,000
63,974
21
41,171
105,166
74,088
53,032
53,032
41,150
2,343
2,343
5,567
8,324
8,324
4,183
-
2,751
2,751
3,713
13,196
-
13,196
9,456
-
200
1,140
1,340
3,687
2,166
2,166 1,678
432
8,098
21,988
30,519
10,497
3,039
3,039
2,246
868
868
1,949
-
2,418
2,418
2,650
-
1,515
1,515
1,171
313
-
313
**1,061 **
83,713
8,298
29,812
121,824
89,007


(19,739)
(8,278)
11,360
(16,658)
(14,919)
-
-
-
-
-
(19,739) (8,278)
11,360
(16,658)
(14,919)
91,810
9,952
12,802
114,564
129,483
72,071
1,675
24,161
97,906
114,564
204
204
14,873
71,867
71,867
76,935
1,675
1,675
9,953
72,071
1,675
73,745
101,761
24,161
24,161
12,803
72,071
1,675
24,161
97,906
114,564

7

Knockbain Free Church of Scotland

Statement of Balances

As at 31st December 2025

Bank&Cash in hand
Opening balances

Transferred from Central Office account

Surplus/(Deficit) for the year excluding interest on funds held at CentralOffices

Closing balances
Funds held at the Central Offices (Proceeds of sale of former Church)
Opening balance
Transferred to Knockbain Main account

Interest on funds

Closing balance
Total of monetary assets held
Reserves
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Restricted funds
Statement of Assets held for Charitable purposes, at cost
Church and Manse
Fixtures and Fittings		 2025
£
37,628
7,529
(19,117)
76,935
(7,529)
2,461		 £
26,040

71,867		 2024
£
46,461
9,392
(18,225)
37,628
83,022
(9,392)
3,305
76,935
97,906
72,071
1,674
24,161		 114,564
91,808
9,953
12,803
97,906
1,861,000
52,441
1,913,441		 114,564
1,861,000
52,441
1,913,441

Approved by the Trustees on 29[th] May 2026 and signed on their behalf by the undemoted:

Rev Murdo Campbell Trustee

8

The notes form part of these financial statements.

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ending 31st December 2025

1. Accounting Policies

Accounting Convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

Basis of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis.

Fixed Assets

A statement of the fixed assets held for the purposes of the charity, namely the church and manse and fixtures and fittings, is shown in the statement of balances. These assets are shown at the original cost price. No depreciation has been applied as depreciation is a non-cash item and therefore should not be included in the receipts and payments account.

Receipts and Payments Account

For the purpose of the receipts and payments account, as shown on page 6, 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.

Designated funds represent unrestricted funds which have been earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.

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.

9

Notes to the Receipts and Payments Accounts

For the year ended 31 December 2025

No remuneration was paid to any trustee during the year.

3 Trustee expenses

There were no payments to Trustees.

4
Unrestricted funds
General Fund
Proceeds of sale of former Church
Designated funds:
Fabric
Benevolent
Missions
Total unrestricted funds		 Balance at
Incoming
Resources
Balance at
01.01.25
resources
expended
Transfers
31.12.25
£
£
£
£
14,873
61,513
(83,713)
7,529
204
76,935
2,461
0
(7,529)
71,867
91,808
63,974
(83,713)
-
72,071
8,098
(8,098)
-
-
1,844
20
(200)
1,664
10
10
101,761
63,994
(92,011)
-
73,745

Explanation of funds

The General Fund encompasses all income and expenditure relating to the primary focus activities of the charity, other than those for which funding is restricted.

The Designated Funds represents money set aside by the Deacons' Court from general income for the specific purposes noted above less the related expenditure paid from those funds

5
Restricted funds
Fabric
Local Purposes
Total restricted funds		 Balance at
Incoming
Resources
Balance at
01.01.25
resources
expended
Transfers
31.12.25
£
£
£
£
3,179
18,308
(12,566)
8,921
9,624
22,863
(17,246)
-
15,240
12,803
41,171
(29,812)
-
24,161

Explanation of funds

Restricted Funds - represents gifts received specifically for these funds less the related expenditure paid from these funds.

6 Transfers between funds

There were no transfers between funds.

10