2025-12-31-accounts

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh

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Trustees' Annual Report

Year ended 31 December 2025

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Congregation No: 10007

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Charity No: SC008756

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh Trustees’ Report

Year ended 31 December 2025

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 13 to 15 and comply with the General Assembly Regulations for Congregational Finance, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102)

Objectives and Activities

Membership

The annual statistical return as at 31 December 2025 to The Presbytery of Edinburgh & West Lothian shows a fall in the Communion Roll — from 529 to 524. During 2025 we welcomed 15 new members, compared to 14 the year before. Sadly 18 members died durmg the year and 2 members left us as a consequence of moving to another part ofthe country or for other reasons. .

A census was regularly carried out during the year to measure actual Sunday morning attendance. The average attendance was 135, marginally and positively higher than the past two years. As remarked in each annual report, Blackhall St Columba’s remains one of the best attended congregations across the Presbytery. Members continue to have the option ofwatching the Service being live streamed or catch up via You Tube at some later time. Our Christmas Eve Services were again very well attended especially the Christingle.

We are not alone in having an ageing congregation and our dual focus remains looking after our existing membership while working at attracting young people into the fold, the latter is very much the challenge of all churches.

Kirk Session

During 2025, George Davidson, Barbara Duguid, Fiona Marchbanks, Deborah Pearce and Muriel Stenhouse were inducted as members of the Kirk Session. Eric Turnbull was granted a three year sabbatical.

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BlackhallTrustees’ StReport Columba's (continued) Church of Scotland Edinburgh Year ended 31 December 2025

Kirk Session (continued)

The smooth and efficient ranning of Church life and the many activities carried on for members and the Parish community depends on the leadership of the Working Team Leaders and Conveners, who all continue to do good work with great dedication. It is not possible to record thanks to all these colleagues without missing some out. However, as Session Clerk I am particularly grateful of the support from my two lieutenants, Frank Morrice and Jim Logan, who readily stand in forme when I am unavailable.I - must also acknowledge the support and assistance from Sheila Mackintosh (Roll Keeper), Jacquie Lowe ( Safeguarding Officer), and James Burr (Communion Convener). Lindsay Duguid, an Elder but not a member of Kirk Session has been great support on health and safety matters along with property project work.

The Congregation’s finances are covered elsewhere in this pack of reports. However grateful thanks must be extended to Adrian Johnston, Congregational Treasurer, and the Finance Team for their diligent stewardship of our finances.

During the year we were immensely grateful to receive the following legacies from the Estates of former members:-

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||||| |---|---|---|---| |Angus Troup|£|2,500| |May Burns|£|839| |James &|Jessie|Shaw|£12,000|

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Presbytery Plan

As reported last year the proposed Union with Drylaw did not materialise. During the year we maintained regular contact with the Presbytery Deployment of Resources Committee regarding how this Congregation could assist and participate in the Plan.

Achievements and Performance

e A successful Burns Supper was again held in January.

e We continued Soup ‘n’ Chat with a lunch being offered to the community every second Friday— on the Fridays that our CAMEO club does not meet.

e The weekly Peace Service continued and was well supported by both members and the local community. e We continued to live stream the Sunday morning Services. © In May the annual Service of Remembrance was held for the Monte Cassino Society. e We again supported the Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal and were pleased to send 127 boxes from the Congregation. e We again supported the collection of children’s gifts for the families of prisoners at HMP Saughton. e Throughout the year mission work continued in terms of Services at local care homes and work with schools. e Wecontinued to support Ferryhill Primary School.

e Late in the year we set up ‘Just One Thing’ with the Congregation invited to bring along one grocery item each week with all items going to Ferryhill Primary School.

e A number of Saturday musical evenings and Film Nights were held in the Sanctuary throughout the year. e In December we again held a Nativity Trail called "Mary’s Journey". This was a real team effort with circa 60 members involved in all aspects.

e During the year, from Retiring Offerings, we supported the following charities.

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Scottish Bible Society and Fresh Start

The WATCH Committee continued the proud record of supporting deserving causes out with our own walls by during the second half of the year raising £14,300 from various activities for Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity.

We continue to publish and distribute two fine magazines, namely Kirk News and Blackhall Bulletin which allow us to reach out and communicate across the Parish and to our members. Judith Mair and Barbara Wilson, respective Editors, both do an excellent job in producing these publications.

Finally, on behalf of the Kirk Session, I should like to thank Fergus, our Minister, for his ministry and leadership over the past year.

We will continue to deliver the Good News across the parish and beyond.

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 December 2025

North Merchiston Fund

The Presbytery of Edinburgh & West Lothian redesignated the North Merchiston Fund to provide funding on an equal basis to each congregation. It was requirement that the funds should be used for mission purposes i.e. to develop work in the parishes and/or to highlight the work of the church in the local communities. Blackhall St Columba’s received a grant of £1,850. The congregation has applied this to help meet the costs of two mission projects without specifically apportioning amounts between them. The first project is the Nativity Trail that took place in our church and halls in December 2025. Sessions were held for the Primary 7 classes from both Ferryhill Primary School] and Blackhall Primary School. There were two open sessions for the public and the event was extremely well received by those who attended.

The second project is the display of the knitted bible that takes place in our church in mid March 2026. The Knitted Bible consists of 36 scenes from the Bible peopled by knitted people and animals. Created originally by St. George's United Reformed Church, Hartlepool, they lend the exhibition to other churches to show. The exhibition will be open to the public and will be promoted in our area. There are significant transport and exhibiting expenses and the grant will assist with those.

Financial Review

Total income in the year has increased by £42,747. Weekly offerings, including related gift aid, have increased by 5.4% compared to the 0.9% fall in the communion roll. Charitable income (comprising income from weddings, funerals, coffee mornings and the church magazine) has increased by 3.02%, additional funds of £2,304 were raised from fundraising. The Church Halls continue to generate funds for the Church from activities ranging from Blackhall Playgroup, Badminton, Dance and Art Classes, this income has increased by 79.2%.

There has been an increase in expenditure compared with the previous year of £23,076. This increase is largely from increased building costs, repairs, and other expenses during the year.

Investment policy and performance

The church holds an investment in the Church of Scotland Investors Trust Growth Fund. This fund is very largely equity-based and is intended for long-term investment. The fund is operated on a unitised basis and aims to provide capital growth. Units can be purchased or sold monthly. Income is distributed gross in May and November. The fund started 2025 being managed by Newton Investment Management. During the year a review of the investment management was carried out and this review concluded with the decision to move the management of the Growth Fund from Newton Investment Management who had managed the fund since 2006 to a combination of Wellington Management and M&G. The larger portion of the fund will be managed by Wellington through their Global Stewards strategy which makes long-term investments in and engages actively with high quality businesses, M&G provides a sustainable credit fund which complements the Wellington fund, offering good long-term absolute returns and additional income.

The transition from Newton to Wellington and M&G took place over several tranches and was completed in November 2025.

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The Trustees use a benchmark to monitor the performance of the fund managers. The benchmark was changed from 24 February 2020 to reduce the overweighting to UK equities and Bonds and to allow investment in new asset types now prevalent in both institutional and retail investment funds. The benchmark from that date is: 75% MSCI ACWI NDR, 10% ML Global High Yield ex Bank Cap and Jnr Sub - £ hedged, 8% CPI +2.5% pa, 5% IPD Index, 2% 7 Day Libor.’

The most recent figures published on the performance of the Growth Fund are to 30 September 2025. The cumulative performance over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years is as follows.

|f|ChurchofScotland(%)|[Benchmark(%|Relative(%)| |---|---|---| |[2months to Sepiember2025|14.50|| |10.10|13.40|| ||11.10||

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Trustees’ Report

Year ended 31 December 2025

Risk policy

Investment: The church maintains a current account with a retail Bank where the balance is maintained below the upper limit of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Investments are held in the Church of Scotland Investors Trust Deposit Fund and in the Church of Scotland Investors Trust Growth Fund. The Trust is subject to the risk safeguards put in place by the Church of Scotland and through regulation of the investment manager by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The Trustees of the Church of Scotland Investors Trust maintain a Risk Register which is reviewed periodically by their Audit Sub-Committee in order to ensure that the main risks to which the Trust is exposed are being managed effectively. The principal risk relates to the management of the performance of the three Fund Managers. This is mitigated by the investment expertise of the Trustees and their regular monitoring of the relative performance of the investment managers. In response to such monitoring, the Trustees may vary the terms of the mandates given to each Fund Manager or may terminate the contract with an existing Manager and appoint a replacement. An external investment consultant is retained to provide independent advice on the performance of the Growth Fund Managers. The risk of market fluctuations in capital values and income distributions of our investments rests with Blackhall St Columba’s Church.

Finances:

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||||||||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Management|of|the|finances|is|in|the|day|to|day|hands|of|the|treasurer.|Risk|controls| |1.|include:| |a.|Monthly|management|accounts|are provided|to|the|Finance|Team of the|Kirk| |Session.| |b.|Copies|of bank|statements|are|provided|as|they|are|received|to|the|Gift Aid| |Convenor and the Deputy Treasurer.| |G|The|church’s|accounts|are|examined|annually by|an|Independent|Examiner| |who|are a firm of Chartered Accountants.| |2.|The|risk of income being|less|than|expenditure|is mitigated|as|follows:| |a.|Reserves|are maintained|as|detailed|in the|section, Reserves|Policy.| |b.|The|congregation|are|the|principal|source|of income|through|their|offerings.| |A|second|significant|source|of income|are|the|contributions|received|for|the| |use|of the|halls.|

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh Trustees’ Report

Year ended 31 December 2025

Fimances: (continued)

The congregation are asked annually to review the level of their offerings and are asked to at least maintain its level against inflation. They are also asked from time to time to give to specific fund raising appeals, mainly for fabric related purposes and have responded generously. The principal risk to this income is loss of members through death and moving away and members not increasing their offerings in line with inflation. This is mitigated by new members and members increasing their offerings. However, it remains a major issue for the church that the Kirk Session are aware of and monitor.

The risk of loss of contributions for the use of our halls is mitigated by insurance of the buildings and by the fact that there is a lack of comparable facilities in the vicinity.

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c. The risk of legacies not being received is mitigated by possible future legacies not being included in the planned budgets of the church. d. The risk of expenditure being higher than budgeted is always present and is mitigated by monthly management accounts reporting the income and expenditure in the year to date. Control of this risk largely lies with the Treasurer and the Finance Team together with the fact that any item of expenditure other than routine expenditure has to be approved in advance by the Kirk Session.

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Fire: a fire safety co-ordinator is appointed who carries out an annual Fire Safety Risk Assessment. Fire appliances and the fire alarm system are serviced annually. Evacuation procedures appear on each order of service. An annual fire drill is held.

Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults: written procedures and a designated co-ordinator in compliance with the Safeguarding Policy of the Church of Scotland.

Disability Discrimination: disabled access to both the church and halls with a disabled toilet facility.

Employment: employees are given contracts of employment and employment advice is taken from professional advisers as required.

Insurance: comprehensive insurance, covering all assets, activities and risks to which the church may be exposed from time to time.

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh

Trustees’ Report

Year ended 31 December 2025

Reserves Policy

The Trustees’ have reviewed their reserves policy and consider it prudent policy to hold reserves of at least three months’ expenditure but if possible to hold a reserve of six months expenditure. This will be determined year by year by the level of giving to the Church relative to expenditure. In addition a designated reserve is maintained for future fabric spending. Designated reserves are also maintained where the Kirk Session has ruled that monetary gifts to the church should be used for a specific purpose but where the designation is not binding. In this category, we hold a reserve to fund a Youth Worker and a reserve to meet servicing and repairs to our organ.

Restricted reserves are held where a gift to the church has been made with the use of that money restricted in the terms of the gift. In that category we hold a reserve of the balance of our Building For The Future Appeal after the initial phase of the upgrade to our Church Sanctuary was completed. This is restricted to be used for Fabric work deemed by the Kirk Session to be in line with the original purpose of the Building For The Future Appeal. Other restricted reserves are the small reserves to fund the servicing and replacement as necessary of the church’s two wheelchairs, an amount raised at our midweek services which will be used for charitable purposes, a fund to purchase flowers for the church and a fund to meet expenses of the choir, both musical and social.

At the year end the Church held unrestricted cash funds of £269,901 and investments of £52,419. Total unrestricted funds now slightly exceed the designated reserves and approximately six months' expenditure target. This is partly as a result of legacies received during 2025. During 2026, the designated reserves will be increased to allow for future fabric expenditure which, due to the nature of the church building, is likely to be substantial when it is required and as our current fabric reserve well below the amount recommended by the Presbytery of Edinburgh and West Lothian.

The Church also held £82,592 of restricted funds and an endowment of £13,735 which have been provided for the purposes specified in Note 14 in the “Notes forming part of the accounts”.

Structure, Governance and Management

The congregation is a registered charity, number SC008756 and is administered in accordance with the terms of the Deed of Constitution (Unitary Form) which was adopted during 2017.

At present, members of the Kirk Session are the charity trustees. The Kirk Session members are the elders of the church and are 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.

Within the Church certain responsibilities are delegated to the Finance, Fabric and Premises & Staff Working Teams as appropriate. These teams report to the Kirk Session. The Kirk Session meets 10 times a year and is responsible for spiritual and management affairs within the church.

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of

Trustees’ Report (continued)

Year ended 31 December 2025

Reference and Administrative Information

Trustees

Kirk Session:

Rev. Fergus Cook

Sandy Aitken, James Bishop, Margaret Brown, James Burr, Maha Campbell, William Campbell, Michael Cockburn, Fiona Cooke, Jonathan Coy, John Crombie, George Davidson, Mary Dee, Christine Denham, Amy Donaldson, Frances Douglas, Fiona Drinnan, Brian Duffin, Barbara Duguid, Dianne Fulton, Beryl Grant, Alison Hewat, Pat Horn, Alan Hunter, Adrian Johnston, Ruth Laidlaw, James Logan, Jacquie Lowe, Donald Mackie, Sheila Mackintosh, Pat Macleod, Grant Macrae, Dorothea Mair, Hamish Mair, Fiona Marchbanks, George Millar, Frank Morrice, Leslie Oliver, Deborah Pearce, Russell Pugh, David Simpson, Muriel Stenhouse, Eddie Thorn, Eric Turnbull, Elizabeth Watt, Rosi Watt, Sandy Weir, Marjorie Whiteside, Michael Whiteside, Elspeth Williamson New Trustees during 2025 included above:

Georage Davidson, Barbata Duguid, Fiona Marchbanks, Deborah Pearce and Muriel Stenhouse. All January 2025.

The following either retired or died in 2025 Eric Turnbull - retired October 2025.

The Principal Office Bearers are: Minister: Rev Fergus Cook Session Clerk: Mr E Thorn Church Treasurer: Mr A M Johnston Charity number $C008756

Principal office

The Church Office Columba Road Edinburgh EH4 3QU

Independent Examiner Julian Cordery FCCA FCA CA Gibson McKerrell Burrows Limited 28 Rutland Square Edinburgh EH1 2BW

Bankers

Bank of Scotland 43 Comely Bank Edinburgh EH4 1AF

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh

Trustees’ Report (continued)

Year ended 31 December 2025

Trustees’ Responsibilities in Relation to the Financial Statements

The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

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

• ° select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• ° observe the method and principles in the applicable Charities SORP;

• ° make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• ° state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any 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 charity will continue in operational existence.

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

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information on the congregation’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf,

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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Blackhall St Columba's Church ofScotland Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Year ended 31 December 2025

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on pages 11 to 20.

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).

MyBasisexam of in ationdependentis carried examiner’s statementout 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 any 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: ® to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4

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• ® to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the 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.

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iia dery FCCA FCA CA € Gibson McKerrell Burrows Limited 28 Rutland Square Edinburgh EH1 2BW

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh Balance Sheet

At 31 December 2025

At 3131 December 2025
			2025					2024
		Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment		Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment
	Note	Funds	Funds	Funds	Total	Funds	Funds	Funds	Total
		£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Fixed Assets
Tangible Fixed assets	8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Investments	9	52,419	-	-	52,419	48,609	-	-	48,609
		52.419	-	-	52,419	48,609	-	-	48,609
Current Assets
Debtors	10	30,354	995	-	31,349	26,530	974	-	27,504
Cash atbank and inhand		269,901	81,597	13,735	365,233	246,805	85,713	13,151	345,669
		300,255	82,592	13;735	396,582	273,335	86,687	13,151	373,173
Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year	11	5,524		-	5,524	20,643	-	-	20,643
Net CurrentAssets		294,731	82,592	13,735	391,058	252,692	86,687	13,151	352,530
Net Assets	12	347,150	82,592	13,735	443,477	301,301	86,687	13,151	401,139
EndowmentFunds	14	-	-	13,735	13,735	-	-	13,151	13,151
Restricted Funds	14	-	82,592	-	82,592	-	86,687	-	86,687
Designated Funds	14	139,116	-	-	139,116	117,737	-	-	117,737
Unrestricted Funds	14	208,034	-	-	208,034	183,564	-	-	183,564
TotalFunds		347,150	82,592	13,735	443,477	301,301	86,687	13,151	401,139

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The accounts were ppproved by the Kirk Session on LA Me cH 207 b
For and on behalf f the Kirk Session
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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh

Year ended 31 December 2025

Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies, which have been applied consistently in the current and preceding year in dealing with items which are considered material to the accounts, are set out below. The presentation currency of the financial statements is Pound Sterling (£). Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £. The charity is a public benefit entity.

Basis of preparation , The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102), the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

Fund accounting

Funds are classified as either restricted funds or unrestricted funds, defined as follows. Restricted funds are funds subject to specific requirements as to their use which may be declared by the donor or with their authority or created through legal processes, but still within the wider objects of the charity.

Endowment funds are funds which have been given on the condition that the original capital sum is not reduced, but the income there from is used for the purpose defined in accordance with the objects of the charity.

Unrestricted funds are expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. If parts of the unrestricted funds are earmarked at the discretion of the trustees for a particular purpose, they are designated as a separate fund. This designation has an administrative purpose only and does not legally restrict the trustees’ discretion to apply the fund.

Incoming resources

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102) the general volunteer time of congregation members is not recognised.

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh

Year ended 31 December 2025

Donated services and facilities (continued)

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised as expenditure in the period of receipt.

No recognition of the value of the Church premises provided by Church of Scotland is made in the accounts in line with Church of Scotland policy.

Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.

Tangible fixed assets

The charity has the right to occupy and use for its charitable objects certain tangible fixed assets, including the Church, halls and manse, vested in the Church of Scotland General Trustees. No consideration is payable for the use of these assets. Expenditure incurred on the repair and maintenance of these assets is charged as resources expended in the Statement of Financial Activities in the period in which the liability arises.

All tangible fixed assets costing in excess of £5,000 having a value to the charity greater than one year, other than those acquired for specific purposes, are capitalised. Depreciation is provided ona straightline basis to write off the cost or initial value, of tangible fixed assets over their estimated useful lives:

Fixtures, fittings and office equipment 5 years

Investments

Fixed asset investments are stated at market value at the balance sheet date. Unrealised gains and losses represent the difference between the market value at the beginning and end of the financial year or, if purchased in the year, the difference between cost and market value at the end of the year. Realised gains and losses represent the difference between the proceeds on disposal and the market value at the start of the year or cost if purchased in the year.

Taxation

Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh is recognised as a charity for the purposes of applicable taxation legislation and is therefore not subject to taxation on its charitable activities. The charity is not registered for VAT and resources expended therefore include irrecoverable input VAT.

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh

Year ended 31 December 2025

Financial instruments

The charity only enters into basic financial instrument transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other debtors and payables, loans from banks and other third parties.

At the end ofeach reporting period, financial assets that are measured at cost are assessed for objective evidence of impairment. If objective evidence ofimpairment is found, an impairment loss is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income. If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

Financial assets are derecognised when (a) the contractual rights to the cash flows arising from the asset expire or are settled, or (b) substantially all the risks and rewards of the ownership of the asset are transferred to another party, or (c) control of the asset has been transferred to another party.

Financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Financial liabilities are derecognised when the liability is extinguished, that is when the contractual obligation is discharged, cancelled or expires.

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh

Notes forming part ofthe accounts	Notes forming part ofthe accounts
Forthe	the yearended31 December2025
		Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment		Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment
		Funds	Funds	Funds	Total	Funds	Funds	Funds	Total
		2025	2025	2025	2025	2024	2024	2024	2024
1	Voluntary income
	Offerings	159,902		-	159,902	152,686		-	152,686
	Tax recovered on GiftAid	33,153		-	33,153	32,922		-	32,922
	Legacies	15,339		-	15,339	11,050		-	11,050
	Congregational contributions	1,551		-	1551	3,001		-	3,001
	Grants	2,350		-	2,350	-		-	-
	Other	914		-	914	2,643		~	2,643
		213,209	-	-	213,209	202,302	:	-	202,302
2	Income from charitable activities
	Weddings andFunerals	2,873		-	2,873	3,620		-	3,620
	Coffeemornings etc	1,336		-	1,336	1,102		-	1,102
	Advertising in church magazine	1,384		-	1,384	2,060		-	2,060
	Fundraising,	5,211		-	5211	3,843		-	3,843
		10,804	-	-	10,804	10,625	-	-	10,625
3	Incomefrom other trading activities
	UseofPremises	31,732		-	31,732	39,162		-	39,162
	Other Income	39,754		-	39,754	-		-	-
		71,486			71,486	39,162			39,162
4	Investmentincome
	Deposit interest	11,363		584	11,947	10,314	1,642	653	12,609
	Dividends received	1,029			1,029	1,029			1,029
		12,392	-	584	12,976	11,343	1,642	653	13,638
5	Analysis ofResources Expended
	Raisingfunds
	’ OfferingEnvelopes	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Fundraising	3,657	-	-	3,657	1,539	-	-	1,539
		3,657	-	-	3,657	1,539	-	-	1,539
	Charitable Activities
	Ministries andMission Allocation	109,305		-	109,305	106,776		-	106,776
	Presbytery Dues	2,627		-	2,627	2,220		-	2,220
	Minister'sExpenses	87		-	87	220		-	220
	Pulpit Supply	451		-	451	534		-	534
	Other salary costs	32,293		-	32,293	43,351		-	43,351
	FabricRepairs& Maintenance	54,858		-	54,858	27,825		-	27,825
	Council Tax	4,032		-	4,032	3,738		-	3,738
	OtherBuildings Costs	22,342		-	22,342	37,557		-	37,557
	Church OfficeExpenses	10,604		-	10,604	4,812		-	4,812
	Organ&Music	1,086		-	1,086	1,093		-	1,093
	Otherexpenses	28,606		-	28,606	22,334		-	22,334
		266,290	-	-	266,290	250,460	-	-	250,460
	Total	269,947	-	-	269,947	251,999	-	=	251,999

Support costs have not been separately identified as the trustees consider there is only one charitable activity. Therefore support costs relate wholly to that activity and have not been separately identified.

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh

Notes forming part of the accounts For the year ended 31 December 2025

		2025	2024
		£	£
6	Staffcosts and numbers
	Salaries andwages	31,417	41,541
	Pension costs	876	1,810
		32,293	43,351

The average number of employees during the year, calculated on the basis of a head count, was as follows:

	2025		2024
	Number		Number
Secretarial& office		-		1
Music staff		2		1
Premisesmaintenance	— ee	2
	a

There were no staff in the year under review or previous year paid over £60,000

All Church of Scotland congregations contribute to the National Stipend Fund which bears the costs of all ministers' stipends and employer's contributions for national insurance, pension and housing and loan fund. 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 £39,856.

7 Trustee Remuneration and Related Party Transactions

During the year there was no reimbursements of general expenses (2024: £NIL) to the trustees. Dorothea Mair, a member of the Kirk Session, was paid a salary of £12,121 (2024: £12,480). During the year council tax of £4,032 was paid in respect of the manse occupied by the minister. No Trustees waived the right to the reimbursement of their expenses during the year.

No trustee or a person related to a trustee had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year.

During the year a total of £34,376 (2024: £35,215) was donated to the congregation by trustees. There were no restrictions attached to these donations.

8 Tangible Fixed Assets

Tangible Fixed AssetsFixed AssetsAssets
	Music&	Office
	Audio	Equipment	Total
Cost
At 1 January2025	18,095	5,622	23,717.
Additions	-	-	-
At31 December2025	18,095	5,622	23,717
AccumulatedDepreciation
At 1 January2025	18,095	5,622	23,717
Charge foryear	-	-	-
At31 December2025	18,095	5,622	23,717
NetBookValue
At31 December2025	-	-	-
At31December 2024	-	-	-

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Blackhali St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh Notes forming part of the accounts For the year ended 31 December 2025

9 Investments

==> picture [383 x 481] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |2025|2024| |£|£| |Market value|at 31|December 2024|48,609|44,419| |Disposals|of assets|-|7| |Realised|loss|on|investments|-|-| |Unrealised|(losses)/ gain|on|investments|3,810|4,190| |Market value|at|31|December 2025|52,419|48,609| |Investments|at cost|15,649|15,649| |The following investments|are|held:| |Church of Scotland Investors|Trust:|7,619|Growth units|52,419|48,609| |10|Debtors| |2025|2024| |£|£| |Gift Aid Tax Refund Due|24,865|24,360| |Hall Rent Debtors|6,484|3,144| |31,349|27,504| |11|Creditors| |2025|2024| |£|£| |Accruals|2,902|2,902| |Trade|Creditors|2,622|17,741| |5,524|20,643| |12|Analysis of Net Assets|Among|Funds| |Year ended|31|December 2025|General|Designated|Restricted|Endowment|Total| |£|£|£|£|£| |Fixed|Assets|-|-|-|-|-| |Investments|52,419|-|-|-|52,419| |Current Assets|161,139|139,116|82,592|13,735|396,582| |Current|Liabilities|(5,524)|-|-|-|(5,524)| |Net|assets|at 31|Dec 2025|208,034|139,116|82,592|13,735|443,477| |Year ended 31 December 2024|General|Designated|Restricted|Endowment|Total| |£|£|£|£|£| |Fixed Assets|-|-|-|-|-| |InvestmentsCurrent Assets|155,59848,609|117,737-|86,687-|13,151-|373,17348,609| |Current Liabilities|(20,643)|-|-|-|(20,643)| |Net assets|at 31 Dec 2024|183,564|117,737|86,687|13,151|401,139|

----- End of picture text -----

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13 Volunteers

In common with all congregations of the Church of Scotland the congregation benefits from the contribution made by volunteers who give their time and talents willingly for the benefit of the Church. The areas of congregational life which rely on the contribution of volunteers are many and varied and much of the activity would be unable to continue were it not for the commitment shown.

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh Notes forming part of the accounts For the year ended 31 December 2025

14	Movements in Funds
		At 1 January			NetGain		At31 Dec
		2025	Income	Expenditure	Investments	Transfers	2025
		£	£	£		£	£
	Endowment funds
	RevRJWatsonMathewsonFund	13,151	584	.	-	-	13,735
	Restricted funds
	Building forthe future	85,805	-	-	-	(4,765)	$1,040
	Midweek Services Charity	600	-	-	-	-	600
	Wheelchair upkeep	82	-	-	-	-	82
	Special Purpose reserves	200	-	-	-	-	200
	ChoirFund	-	-	-	-	430	430
	ChurchFlowerFund	-	-	-	-	240	240
		86,687	-	-	-	(4,095)	82,592
	Designated Funds
	Youth Project-Legacy	25,406	1,129	-	-	-	26,535
	Organ	12,331	-	-	-	-	12,331
	Fabric	80,000	20,250	-	-	-	100,250
		117,737	21,379	-	-	-	139,116
	Unrestricted funds
	General Fund	183,564	286,512	(269,947)	3,810	4,095	208,034
	Total funds	401,139	308,475	(269,947)	3,810	-	443,477
		At	January			NetGain
		2024	Income	Expenditure	Investments	Transfers	2024
		£	£	£		£	£
	Endowment funds
	RevRJ WatsonMathewson Fund	12,498	653	-	-	-	13,151
	Restricted funds
	Building forthe future	84,163	1,642	-	-	-	85,805
	Midweek Services Charity	600	-	-	-	-	600
	Wheelchairupkeep	82	-	-	-	-	82
	Special Purpose reserves	200	-	-	-	-	200
	ChoirFund	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Church Flower Fund	-	-	-	-	-	-
		85,045	1,642	-	-	-	86,687
	Designated Funds
	Youth Project-Legacy	24,144	1,262	-	-	-	25,406
	Organ	12,331	-	-	-	-	12,331
	Fabric	56,000	24,000	-	-	-	80,000
		92,475	25,262	-	-	-	117,737
	Unrestricted funds
	GeneralFund	193,203	238,170	(251,999)	4,190	-	183,564
	Totalfunds	383,221	265,727	(251,999)	4,190	-	401,139

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Blackhall St Columba's Church of Scotland Edinburgh Notes forming part of the accounts For the year ended 31 December 2025

14 Movements in Funds (continued)

Purposes ofEndowment Funds

Income from the Mathewson Bequest is to be used to provide help to those with medical or mobility needs. The trustees of this fund are the minister and session clerk.

Purposes ofRestricted Funds

The wheelchair fund is for the upkeep of the church's wheelchairs. The Building for the Future fund is for church improvements.

The Midweek Services Charity fund is money donated at our midweek PEACE services and is held at the call of the attendees of these services who will use the money for charitable donations.

15	Collections for Third Parties	2025	2024
		£	£
	WATCHCommittee	14,300	10,000
	ChristianAid	2,505	1,907
	Other charities	6,934	3,313
		23,739	15,220

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