Redgorton and Stanley Parish Church - Church of Scotland
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT and RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS For the Year to 31 December 2024
Congregation No: 281690
Charity No: SC010629
1
Reference and Administrative Information Charity Name: Redgorton and Stanley Parish Church - Church of Scotland
Charity Registration Number: SC010629
Congregation Reference No: 281690
Contact Address:
----- Start of picture text -----
Trustees
Active Elders:
----- End of picture text -----
Non active Elders:
----- Start of picture text -----
Elder on leave of absence:
----- End of picture text -----
Principal Office-Bearers
Interim Moderator: Locum Minister: Session Clerk: Church Treasurer:
Independent Examiner
Bankers
Royal Bank of Scotland, Perth Chief Office 12 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 5RB
2
Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31 December 2024
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
The Church is administered in accordance with the terms of the Deed of Constitution (Unitary Form) dated 23 January 2006.
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees
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. Organisational Structure
The Kirk Session is responsible for both the temporal and spiritual affairs of the congregation and to facilitate
this it is divided into three Working Groups (each of which has members of the congregation co-opted to it). These Working Groups and their remits were re-structured in March 2011 as follows:
Fabric & Finance:
i) to oversee the maintenance of the fabric of all congregational properties and ensure compliance with health & safety legislation and with any requirements for insurance or fire certificate purposes.
ii) to bring to the attention of the Session all matters of fabric, equipment and furnishings that require attention/repair/replacement, subject to their having power to proceed with fabric works up to a cost (inclusive of VAT) of £2,000 in any calendar year without reference to the Kirk Session.
iii) to prepare the draft Accounts and Budget.
iv) to ensure compliance with all Regulations of both the Church of Scotland and OSCR re Congregational Finance; and
v) to create and maintain among members a commitment to provide, by regular giving, sufficient income to meet the cost of the whole financial and other temporal affairs and obligations of the congregation.
Fellowship & Communication:
i) to encourage fellowship within the congregation and parish by means of social activities, and regular pastoral care
ii) to keep the congregation and the community informed of the life and worship of the congregation. iii) to make arrangements for the preparation and printing of the newsletter (Kirk Byte).
iv) to pursue the creation of a website for the congregation and to keep under review the use of multi-media technology in the congregation’s proclamation of the Gospel; and
v) to exercise supervision of all congregational organisations, including the arranging of training of members as and when required.
Worship & Nurture:
i) to remain faithful to our traditional Sunday Morning worship, while also developing alternative types of worship, i.e., Messy Church / Intergenerational Escape Room. The first I.E.R. took place on 23[rd] December and was well received. We continue to celebrate Communion with the more informal Café Church Communion. ii) to nurture the spirituality of the congregation, including the promotion and development of prayer within the congregation and parish.
iii) to encourage members to participate in worship and in study and discussion groups.
iv) to plan, in conjunction with the minister and subject to his/her agreement, the means of doing so.
The full Kirk Session met 7 times in 2024.
Working Groups meeting as necessary to fulfil their remits.
The Congregational Annual Stated Meeting was held on the 28[th] of April 2024.
3
Presbytery Plan
Many discussions and deliberations continued throughout the year concerning the proposed Presbytery Plan and its sweeping repercussions. We are in a network with North Church, Letham St Marks, Riverside, Bertha Park and Auchtergaven and Moneydie. From 15[th] April 2024 the our Interim
Moderator was also appointed our Locum Minister. The Presbytery Plan offers us 0.25 FTE Locum Minister to serve us and our linked charge of Auchtergaven and Moneydie and a covenant agreement with Perth North Network.
Objectives and Activities
The Church of Scotland is Trinitarian in doctrine, Reformed in tradition and Presbyterian in polity. It exists to glorify God and to work for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom throughout the world. As a national Church, it acknowledges a distinctive call and duty to bring the ordinances of religion to the people in every parish of Scotland through a territorial ministry. It co-operates with other Churches in various ecumenical bodies in Scotland and beyond.
Redgorton & Stanley Parish Church – Church of Scotland (“the congregation”) is the only Church of Scotland congregation in the villages of Luncarty and Stanley. Worship is conducted in Luncarty Church Centre and Stanley Village Hall. The two villages have a total of approximately 1,500 households and 3,300 inhabitants, of which 44% (1,452 people) reported their religious affiliation as Church of Scotland, well above the national average.
There is only one property within Redgorton and Stanley Parish for which the congregation is responsible, namely, Luncarty Church Centre.
Luncarty Church Centre is a refurbished Victorian farm building that used to be part of Luncarty Home Farm. It is a spacious bright modern building that is well used and much loved by its parishioners. Any maintenance issues are dealt with quickly which means it is in very good condition and, apart from normal running costs, requires modest expenditure to keep it in good condition. Luncarty Church Centre is well used, not only by the parishioners, but also by many external clubs and associations. We feel it has a secure future. Luncarty Church Centre is insured through Church of Scotland Insurance.
Redgorton and Stanley Parish Church is linked with the Church of Scotland congregation of Auchtergaven and Moneydie.
All ministerial costs continue to be shared equally by the two charges.
The principal activities of the Redgorton and Stanley congregation include its regular weekly worship, alternating between Luncarty (Luncarty Church Centre) and Stanley (Stanley Village Hall) at 10am each Sunday. Occasional joint services with Auchtergaven & Moneydie Parish Church in Bankfoot were held throughout the year.
We have a continuing working relationship with the Scottish Episcopal Church in Stanley (St Columba’s) and joint worship has taken place throughout the year, including Celtic Communion and Taize Services. Joint Bible studies/coffee and chat take place on Zoom between Redgorton and Stanley and St Columba’s on a weekly basis. The Minister has a working relationship with Stanley Primary School where she has visited classes and helps run the Scripture Union Group, known as the Soul Choir each week. In December our church participated in the Tree Festival at Stanley Primary School by displaying a wooden tree with sticky leaves with prayers and wishes written on them. On the day, those visiting the trees were invited to add their own thoughts, wishes and prayers making it into a living tree.
In May we had a visit from our Missionary Partners They took the Assembly at Stanley Primary School and had lunch in Luncarty Church Centre before giving a Presentation.
A Digital Hymnal programmed by a team of volunteers is used to lead the congregational singing during the services.
Holiday Club ran for 3 mornings at the end of July.
Café Church and Café Communion; Bible Study and Celtic Communion have continued throughout the year. In November we jointly ran cover for the school’s in-service day with Auchtergaven and Moneydie in Bankfoot Church Centre with leaders coming from both parishes. We also have two teenagers helping us as they work towards achieving their Saltire Award..
All Advent Services were supported and augmented by the Worship and Nurture Group plus other members of session.
4
One member of the Worship and Nurture working group oversees the Cradle Roll, sending out birthday cards to all baptized children, up to and when they are aged three.
The Fellowship and Communication working group continue to organise the publishing and printing of the newsletter (Kirk Byte).
There continues to be regular and generous support for Perth Food Bank with the collection of much needed food items, which are delivered to the Food Bank by volunteers from our Church members. Contributions have been made to Homestart.
Church based organisations include the Guild, Lunch Club, Flower Group, Drama Group (Serendipity), Pins and Needles Group, Mahjong Group. Non-Church Groups who use the Church Centre on a ‘pay as you go’ basis include Luncarty Alive, (an exercise class for over 50’s of all capabilities), Yoga classes, the Community Council and various other groups. Strollers continued with their walks. Events which took place in conjunction with other agencies included Picnic in the Park (Church, Honeypot Nursery and both Care Homes), and the MacMillan Coffee fund raiser which was a joint enterprise with the Honeypot Nursery. The local Parent and Toddler Group use our Church Centre two mornings per week and planned and presented the Christingle service on Christmas Eve.
As of 31 December 2024, the Congregational Roll totalled 258 (2023 – 267), with a further 3 people on the Supplementary Roll. During the year 2024, 9 people were removed by death. There were 9 funerals.
Achievements and Performance
Since September we have a working plan with three goals which we are seeking to achieve within the period September 2024-June 2027. These goals are –
-
To bring people to (back to) faith in Jesus and Church community.
-
Develop faith through weekly worship; fellowship; bible study and prayer.
-
Bring glory to God in this Parish, through our Faith and action.
We also have 4 strategies to help us achieve these goals –
Strategy 1: Discipleship
-
Lead people to a deeper understanding of faith.
-
Lead people to seek membership (and commitment).
-
Encourage growth in faith.
-
Encourage daily bible reading and prayer.
-
Encourage faith and action
We have been expanding our understanding of our faith through weekly services; Bible Study (on the book of Ruth; and Pete Greig’s Prayer Course); Daily Thoughts (prepared by our Minister and distributed through email each Friday where members have been encouraged to explore the book of James; Philippians; Psalms; Psalm 119 and Lent and Advent readings. There is a buzz in both Luncarty and in Stanley about faith and the circulation of the weekly thoughts is growing.
Having conducted joint elder training (with Auchtergaven and Moneydie Parish Church) last year (2023), two elders were ordained in January 2024. And two Baptism’s were held in January and in August 2024 and these two babies plus another born in November 2024 have joined the Scottish Bible Societies Bibles for Bairns outreach programme.
5
Strategy 2: Worship
-
Offer traditional worship but also explore fresh expressions (e.g. Café Worship; Intergenerational worship; mid-week worship; Celtic Communion …)
-
Seek to make worship Inclusive through full use of technology and learning strategies.
-
Working with St. Columba’s Episcopalian Church in Stanley – through Celtic Communion; joint Remembrance activities; World Day of Prayer Sunday, and other opportunities as they arise.
-
Increase our link activities with Auchtergaven and Moneydie through 3 joint services (in addition to Christmas and Easter) – joint communion in September [in Luncarty Church Centre]; World Day of Prayer Service in February/March and BBQ and service in Bankfoot Church Centre.
-
Aspire to return to holding worship in both Luncarty and Stanley on a weekly basis.
We have continued to hold Café Worship on the first Sunday of every month and this is well received and offers the opportunity for a bit of discussion on the theme of worship for that day. Celtic Communion has been held once a month since September during the week and is well attended (including some members of St. Columba’s].
We now have a projector in Stanley Village Hall in addition to the Sound and Visual System installed in Luncarty Church Centre and this allows us to project hymns; use focus videos and learn new hymns. In March we held the first of our joint services in Stanley Village Hall for our World day of prayer service (led by members of our congregation) and many folks from Auchtergaven and Moneydie Church joined us. Our joint communion service, held in Luncarty Church Centre. The second joint service of worship saw us all worshipping together in Bankfoot Church Centre in June followed by a BBQ and the opportunity for children to play on a bouncy castle as the adults came together to enjoy each others company. We welcomed Auchtergaven and Moneydie Church to our church Centre in September for Joint communion.
Weekly worshipping congregations average around mid to upper twenties, with only a few children and young people attending Sunday worship. The number of young people involved in the congregation, however, continues to be reasonable, attending the holiday club and Christingle and other events. The number of Ecumenical activities and services continue through Celtic Communion and Taize services. Several of our members join with St Columba’s on a weekly basis on Zoom for Bible study and coffee and chat.
Once again, it was a great joy for us, when the Parent and Toddler Group organised and conducted a Christingle Service on Christmas Eve with many families attending and enjoying the experience.
The Worship Team assisted the Minister in all the Advent Services.
Coffee Mornings have restarted spasmodically this year and other events during the year included Serendipity Drama Group productions in Luncarty, Bankfoot and Moncrieffe Church in Perth.
Strategy 3: Mission and Fellowship
- Offer fellowship opportunities through Weekly activities [Bible Study Group(Mondays fortnightly); The Guild (Tuesdays monthly); through Pop-up Café’s and Coffee Mornings and Afternoons etc.]
6
-
Children’s Church Activities – Messy Church; all-age worship; intergenerational Church Parties; holiday clubs; working with Bankfoot to offer Inservice Day Childcare.
-
School Links – Minister to work with Primary Schools, in class; in church to cover RME curriculum plus assist with the running of SU group/Soul Choir in Stanley and preparing the way for a group in Luncarty.
As previously recorded we have well establish mid-week groups and we held a few pop-up Café’s and Coffee Mornings/Afternoons throughout the year run by groups from within the Church and wider Community. We have held a variety of events for Children and families throughout the year and more are planned for 2025. School link in Stanley continues to grow.
The Flower Group created Christmas wreaths which were sold for Church funds.
Strategy 4: Pastoral Care
-
Create and train Pastoral Care Team
-
Minister to visit members
We are preparing for the re-establishing of our Pastoral Care Team and our Minister has begun to visit members and to meet with people within our community on the fringe of the church.
Conclusion
Once again, it has been a bad year for losing members through death, and this is reflected in the drop in the Roll, something that, sadly, is likely to continue given the age profile of the congregation. We have worked hard to create more interest within the communities and to be a growing presence there.
Financial Review
The congregation’s principal source of income (around 40% in the current year – compared to around 47% in the previous year) is through the giving of its members. A substantial part of these givings (around 34% in the current year – a very slight increase from 33% in the previous year) is given through Gift Aid.
A claim to recover the tax on the 2024 Gift Aid payments amounting to £2252 is in the process of being submitted (a decrease of around 23% on 2023’s figure).
Fund raising events generated the sum of £645 compared to £3244 in 2023 (a significant decrease of 80%). Income from hall rental increased by nearly 190% from £2714 in 2023 to £5145 in 2023, mainly due to Luncarteenies now meeting in the Church Centre.
Expenses for the year show an increase of £16307 this is due to us purchasing a new Sound System at the cost of £16022 (refunded to us by Church of Scotland from funds held in our Fabric Fund). We had Locum costs amounting to £5503 (£1716 was shared with
Auchtergaven and Moneydie who refunded £858). We also had Pulpit costs totalling £2413, (shared with Auchtergaven and Moneydie who refunded £1206).
Fabric and maintenance costs amounted to £995 (a decrease of 16% from 2023). Our Electricity costs amounted to £2590, this included arrears from 2023 as EON had not taken all Direct Debits. The costs do not include the final three months of 2024 as again Eon failed
7
to collect the Direct Payments amounting to £845. The increase in the costs are partly due to the increase in hall bookings. Reserves Policy It is the Trustees, policy to hold reserves of approximately six months expenditure, including designated funds other than the Fabric Fund. At the year end the Church held unrestricted cash funds of £46734, which (on 2024 figures) represents around twelve sixteen months expenditure. Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities The membei's of tbe Kirk Session miisi p1'epe fjnancial statements which give sufficient detail to enable an apprecialioii of tlie tr]SactIonS of the Churcli duriiig the financial Ye.. The iiieinbers of die Kirk Session are IEspollsible foi. keepillg propel accountillg recoi'ds wbich. on i'equesi. must refleci the fjnancial position of the Chi¢1} at tlial tinie. Tliis niiist be doiie to ensure tliat tlie fiiiaiicial stalen]ents coiiiply witli tlie Cliarities and Tnlee Invesrjnelll (Scotlalld) Act 2005, Ille cl1711eS Accowits {Scotland) Regulaiions 2006 and ille Regiilations An1t Coiigregational Fin]ce approved by the General Assenibly of the Church of Scotland in 2007. TILey 'e also L'espollsible foi Safegu.dillg tbe asseis of the CILwcb and musi take reasonable sieps for the pi'evention all0[ detectioii of fraud and otlier inEgu1.1tie5. 24 NIaTch 2025
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS For the Year to 31 December 2024
9
Redgorton and Stanley Parish Church - Church of Scotland SC 010629 Report of the Independent Examiner Respective responsibilities of trustee5 and examiner The charity (nteeS consider Ihal an independenl examination is needed under section 441){c) of the c.harities and TNstee Investment (Scotland) Act 2nn5. It is my responsibiliry io examine the accounts under seciion 4411)(c) of the Acl and iu siaie wheth¢r particular matters have come to rny attention. Basi5 of independent examiner's statement An examiiiation includes a review nl.the accDunting rccords kept by th¢ charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those re£ords. It also includes consideration of atty unusual irems or disclosures in ihc accounts and seeking explanations from the trusiees concerning any such rnalters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all Ihe evidence that would be rcquirr(l in an audit. and conscquently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounls. Independent examiner's statement In the coursc of my examination of the statement of account for the ythr ended 31 December 2024, no matter has Lome to my attention. which bFj%'es me reasonable cause lo believe 1hat in any rnaterial respect.. accounting r¢¢ords hai'c not bccn kept in accordance with Section 44 {1)(a} of the Charities and Trnstee Investtnents (Scotland) Act 2005 and RegulaiiDn 4 of The Charilics Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 21)06 the accounts do not accord with ihose records. the statement of accnunt does not comply with any of the requirements of Regulation 9 of The Charities Accounts (Scoiland} Regulations 2006 2. to which, in my opinion, attention shc)uld be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the a¢counts lo bu fL.'liliid. io
Red orton and Stanle . Parish Church Recei t5 and Piii"ments' Account Yi'iii- i'ndc.d 31 Di'iL'tnbi'i- 2024 [TJJre%trieted Re%trieted F.JJdowment Trunds TruDds Tr"unds Total Total 21124 2024 2024 2024 2023 Recei Note DoItIonS 20.246 20.246 19.007 Legacies ]ll¢OJlle of Coll8teBaiiollal {h8lISatiO115 Aciii'ilies for Gleirjg Futids BaJ]k. & Deposii lllieSt 4.540 4,540 645 3,244 38.5 651 651 135 120 26.217 26.217 28.183 Rejital of pi"emises Collectioiis foi Thd Parties 5.145 1.298 2.714 1.811 2.820 1.298 Refiuid foi HNI]]nal froni Cos Fabiic Fillid RefiiIid foi Ciirta]llS aiid bllljds fi-oIii Cot5 RefiiIid of s]thied MiIiesleiial explse¥ froijj A&M Refuiid foi Soiiiid Svsieiii fi'oiii Cos Fabrie Fiwd C.oJJJtni)iJiTh Otli¢i Riciiprs Total Reeei 2.068 2,068 L6.022 16.022 376 96 96 Il6 50.846 -fO.846 40.296 "meDts Costs of generating funds Charitable actiTrities 99 99 128 29.095 Govfrnancc costs Totk)I Pa 'ments 29,223 Eicess Receipts (PA)mellt5) foT the yesr 11,073 li
Red orton an tanle Pari tatem nt of Balanc ureh U•roqtrlded Rejbletal Endowment Fund$ Totsi 21124 2024 2024 2024 2023 -Yote BAnk Baok & deposit balanc btoughi totwatd 48,557 48.557 37,484 Movement in )'ear: Excess Ol.RLx%ipt(Py¢tsI tor the y 5.316 5.316 l L.073 Bdjjk & dwusit ballra ¢jaI forwwd 53.873 53.873 48.557 InvestmeDts mark v&lue I(KJD Cburth of ScoilaMI Investo TnLSt cJTotth Fund Units {w5t £500) 6,380 6,3XO 5,1130 Fomxtt Ralgorton Co]JJt)kuniot) Cups las valued Mch 20181 Gift Aid R¢Vable 2024 18,000 2.252 18.000 2.252 18,0(M) 2.993 EON El¢etriiYty supply for 3 month pttiod (kt-Dce 24 848 848 1015 The Accounts were approved by the Kirk Session on 24th March 2025 For and on behalf of the Kirk Session 12
Red orton And StAnlei. P11'ISh Chui'ch Notes to the 2024 Accounts l. Trustee Remuneration *nd RelAt¢d Pni'h. T1.)%1Cf7Qn Duriiig the year 7024 one Trustcc. £1080 for her seThi¢es at Lun¢arty. Apart from the foregoing, no TnL%tcc or any person r¢lat to a Tru8l¢e had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year. 2. Movements in Funds AtlJa At31 D 2024 Recdpts PaYts Trnnsftt3 2024 Unrestricted funds Gthernl Futhd: Royal of Scotland Alc 41.17) 46.306 40.742 46.734 Total GeTl Fullds 41,170 3116 40,742 4I7J4 Deslgnated A¢unts. Guild Alc 816 2.015 303 1.720 127 Luoth Club Al¢ 757 933 Setendipity A/c childr,5 & Yuuih Minislry AIL Total funds 5,059 755 2.139 83 2900 4,298 797 41 oses ofDesl nat1 Funds These Accounts are not operated by the Trn5t. but by those responsible for the various organisaiions within th¢ congr¢gation. subj(xt to the overall sw¢rvision of th¢ Kirk S¢ssion. Th¢ funds in these accounts are those ingathered aThl disbursed by the respective organisations. 13
l-nrestri¢ted Restrltted Fulld5 2024 EdTmellt FuDd5 Funds Tot1 Total 2024 2024 2024 2023 3. ADAh'5is of DollatlOll5 IIFO SclieIne lllon Gift Aid) Gill Aid DO11105 6,890 6890 Tax Recoi'aed Oll Gih Aid Dthiaiiotjs OrdlliaiN Offerillgs (Opetj Plate) oiipegarional OLpaiiisaiioJis Otliei Offeiings. DoltIo1}S et¢ 4670 3.820 2.800 1470 3.993 2.600 7_37 ?800 20.246 20346 19.007 4. AnAh'sis of P8)ments C.o$ts of generating funds Offeiiiig eijbelopes 99 99 128 99 128 ChllritAble Activities (iii"li)g to (iroi Lociun 7.357 3.787 1.716 817 7.357 6.537 3.787 slied LOCU expellses Ptesbytetv diies 1.716 817 394 A&M Piilpivtrai'el Sed Piilpil siippljltraiel S Piilpil siipyly NoIJ-iJiiIJisieiial siaffitjg co$is rakn'ic repalls & iiiaitir*iatJce Hear aiid lighr 24 2,413 2,413 5,000 160 L,080 995 1.080 720 1.178 2.590 2.-590 903 868 EYpeJIditte of Coiig Oipaiiisatiojis Piiiitiiig. statjoi1. la postage Collectioiis foi Thitd ptieS 4.788 103 4.788 4.741 86 103 1.298 660 1.298 660 1.811 -i44 StaIdes' Hall Rlt Cla]Us alld bld5 Mici"ophone Sout)d Systei Digital H}'iillial Miisi¢ Licellee 2024&2025 Pj'inr QJllLiiiinity Alt Poppp. Scotlat]d. Wreatlis Miseellaiieous expesiditllre 23 23 16,022 16,022 2.820 190 190 343 719 64 64 62 -$83 $83 -4_1_3 14
S. l¥lillister's Stipend All Church of Scotland congregations contribute to the Natiotl Stipend Fund throu} their Gii"ing to Grow Contribution. That Fund bears the cost5 of all ininisters, stipends and ernployevs contribut10115 for national insurance, pension and housing and loan fund. Mii)ister5' Stipends are paid in accordance Ivith the national stipend Scale, which is related to years of seTh'ice. For the year of these Accounts, the initnujn stipend was £31,642 and the jnaxirnum (in the 5th and subsequent years) £38,884 2024 2023 6. Collections for Third Parties N'oj'ld Da}, of Pl5. Memillai) 40 86 660 1.218 CHAS LIO Te¥Ji' Fujid Food Baith. Cl]rigtiaJi Aid 6.5 420 1,298 1.811 15
APPENDIX FIJNDS HF.LD ON BF.HAI.F OF THF. COliC.RF.GATION BY THE CHIIRCH OF SCOTLAND GENERAL TRifsTEES 2024 2023 CAPITAL ACC'OIINT Cr¢dit Balan¢¢s h¢ld at.11 D¢¢¢mb¢r at cost 441.854 457.887 Market Value of Balantyes at 31 December 459.70.1 68.187 REI"ENIIE ACCOI",LNT Credit Balance at 31 December 63.915 40.699 TETrIPOIURY FtrND Credit Balanee at 3 l December Nole.. PeTrI[S madefi'om ihe FLibrie FupidRaJenue Aceoiinl in 2024 toralled £16,022 16