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2025-12-31-accounts

The Church of Scotland

Tranent Parish Church

Receipts and Payments Accounts

For the year 1[st] January to 31[st] December 2025

Congregation No: 030239

Charity No: SC 017423

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name Tranent Parish Church (Church of Scotland) Charity Registration Number SC 017423 Congregation Reference No. 030239 Contact Address Tranent Parish Church Treasurer, 246 Church Street, Tranent, EH33 1BW Session Clerk 19A Duries Park, Elphinstone, EH33 2LL

Trustees

Minister: Rev K Taylor

Elders who are members of Session: Lawrence Brett, Kathleen Gilmer (until Sept 2025), John Greig, Ann Harris, Val Henry (from Nov 2025), Linda Ingham, Fiona Ketchin, Murdo MacDonald, Connor MacFadyen, Sandra McIntyre (until June 2025), David Menzies, Dorothy Menzies, Joan Ramsay, Edith Roberts, Douglas Roberts

Principal Office Bearers

Minister: Rev Katherine Taylor Session Clerk: Mr John Greig Treasurer: Mrs Pamela McGowan Roll keeper: Dr Linda Ingham

Independent Examiner

Mr Robert Stewart, 18 Eskfield Grove, Eskbank, Dalkeith. EH22 3FA

Bankers

Royal Bank of Scotland , 12 Bridge Street, Musselburgh, EH21 4AH

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Trustees Annual Report for the year ending 31[st] December 2025

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The Church is administered in accordance with the terms of the Model Deed of Constitution (Unitary Form)

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 by the Session itself 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 and the ‘teaching elder’, is elected by the congregation and inducted by Presbytery.

Organisational Structure

The Kirk Session, which meets four times a year, or as required, and is moderated (chaired) by the Minister, is responsible for all church affairs under the Unitary form of Constitution.

Each of the four Unitary Teams is chaired and led by a Convenor and has a remit related to their title and agreed by the Kirk Session. The teams meet four times a year, usually two weeks before each Session meeting, to plan, discuss and formulate proposals which are then brought to the Session for approval. Teams are made up of elders and non-elders from the congregation. Each elder is expected to join one of the teams unless exempted but can choose which one to join. If a team decides that a certain person in the congregation would be an asset to their team, they must bring that person’s name to the Session for approval before the person is approached by the Convenor.

Vision, Objectives and Activities

The Church of Scotland is a Christian Church, 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. The vision of The Church of Scotland is to be a Church which seeks to inspire the people of Scotland and beyond with the Good News of Jesus Christ through enthusiastic worshipping, witnessing, nurturing and serving communities.

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.

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There are weekly services of worship in the Parish Church on Sundays at 11.00 am, with occasional all-age services. We celebrate Holy Communion within the morning service four times per year and all ages participate in this. There are also regular monthly services held in two care homes in Tranent.

Weekly prerecorded services are made available on YouTube, Facebook and the Church and Presbytery of Lothian and Borders websites. There is a Worship Team who contribute weekly by reading lessons and leading Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession on a rota basis. A Worship Team also led a complete service and plans are for this team to continue to do so four times a year. One member of the congregation undertook Presbytery Worship leading training.

During the year there has been one adult baptism including Profession of Faith, one other Profession of Faith and the addition of five other members by transfer.

There is an organist and a Praise Band and a Singers’ group was established to contribute to worship and in particular to help the congregation to learn new songs. A Praise Evening was held in March.

There is a Sunday school (called the J Club), which caters for Primary School age children and meets after the opening praise and Sharing Together talk every Sunday during term time. The J Club returns at the end of the service to share their learning with the congregation. We currently have several children, of pre- school, primary and secondary school age who attend worship with their parents. Refreshments are available after the service to allow a time of fellowship and catching up with each other.

The Minister and the part time (0.3) Family & Youth Development Worker (FYDW) are involved to different extents in two local schools. At Windygoul Primary School, the Minister led several series of Godly Play storytelling sessions, supported by the FYDW. The FYDW also led litter picking sessions in partnership with the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. At Elphinstone Primary School, the FYDW runs a weekly lunchtime Church Club, and with support from church volunteers, started a weekly after school Kidz Club there too. The FYDW tells Bible stories to nursery children, monthly. This primary school attended the Church for its Easter Assembly.

The FYDW led a two day Holiday Club for primary school aged children in August and an Autumn crafts afternoon for families in October.

The Minister together with volunteers and the FYDW run a Youth Club for teenagers on a Sunday evening, meeting every two weeks during term time in the Church Hall.

The Church has a Growing Young team, arising from a Growing Young Project, run by Presbytery. The team led a Games Evening in March. Church members took part in the Tranent Gala Procession under the slogan “We are like a box of crayons, Every one of us is unique, But when we get together, The picture is complete”. The FYDW ran a free arts and crafts stall for children on the Gala Day and also at the Elphinstone Fair Day. The team supported a Christians in Sport Quiz in August, a

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congregational all age Ceilidh in partnership with the Explorer Scouts in November and a Light Event for families in December.

There is a Saturday morning prayer meeting each week, open to anyone (about ten people usually attend). A monthly Prayer Bulletin with daily prayers is available, prepared by an elder with contributions from the congregation. The church building was open for a week to make available creative prayer stations to the community. Children from a local private nursery attended.

There were Lent and Creation Time Bible studies and the Church of Scotland Learning Exploring Discipleship course was started in November.

The congregation is part of a local cluster of Churches of Scotland, called the Blindwells Cluster, which focuses on developing good local relationships, sharing resources and working towards the establishment of a Christian community in Blindwells. Members led an ecumenical Good Friday walk in the centre of Tranent, and there was a Good Friday evening service in the church building. The Church joins with other churches in supporting the World Day of Prayer service. An ecumenical Sharing Faith group, meets monthly within Tranent.

There is also a branch of the Church of Scotland Guild which meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from October to April, with around thirty attending.

There is an “Open House” in the hall on Tuesday mornings where tea, coffee and biscuits are available for all in the community and to allow fellowship.

There is a weekly Wednesday morning pool group for older men in the Church Hall and also a weekly table tennis group.

Church members ran a Coffee Morning to raise funds for Cancer Research in May.

Starting before Christmas, the Hall was opened as a Winter Hub weekly on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm for a fourth year to allow people to meet in a warm place and get a soup lunch and refreshments, in response to the expensive utilities and economic situation affecting many families.

Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Rainbows and Guides meet weekly in our church hall as well as other community groups. A congregational magazine “Contact” is issued quarterly.

There is an Eco Action Group. The Group participated in a Wee Green Festival in a local community centre. It had an eco-stall at the Tranent Gala and the Elphinstone Summer Fun Day. It provided monthly eco tips and runs a monthly Fair Trade Stall at the Sunday Service. It participated in a local charity’s litter pick. It led a congregational picnic visit to a local Forest Garden. It led a Creation Time service in September.

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At Christmas, a carol singing group sang carols outside ASDA and in two local pubs on two evenings. There was an intergenerational Nativity Service. Two visits were made to the church building to hear the Christmas story by a local private nursery. There was a Christmas Eve evening service which was attended by a large number of non-members.

Financial Review

The principal source of income is our weekly offering.

2024 2025
WFO Scheme £8,965 £7,587
StandingOrders £34,404 £35,469
OrdinaryOfering £5,172 £6,079
Tax Recovered from Gift
Aidpayments
£11,476 £12,663

The number of ‘active’ Gift Aid declarations is 57. Most requests for issue of WFO envelopes or new regular standing orders are accompanied by a Gift Aid declaration, if the contributors are taxpayers.

The above tax recovered from Gift Aid consists of 4 payments plus a ‘top-up’ payment of £2,000 under the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme.

There has been an increase in the amount given via direct bank payments, but overall there has been a reduction in the amount received as an offering. There has been a significant increase in income from hall users, to £7,524.

£707 was collected for charities including the East Lothian Foodbank, Disasters Emergency Committee, and the Leprosy Mission. On the last Sunday of the month, we have a Fairtrade Stall and purchases by our congregation totalled £1,489 in 2025. This money goes directly to Fairtrade each month and is not shown in our accounts. During Christian Aid Week, donation envelopes are made available and then sent off to Christian Aid.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees consider it advisable to hold sufficient reserves to cover variations in the income / expenditure from month to month.

We have investments with the General Trustees at the Church of Scotland invested in a Consolidated Fabric Fund in revenue and capital accounts and in the General Investment Growth Fund for this purpose.

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The members of the Kirk Session must prepare financial statements which give sufficient detail to enable an appreciation of the transactions of the Church during the financial year. The members of the Kirk Session are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which must reflect the financial position of the Church

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at that time. This must be done to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the Regulations Anent Congregational Finance approved by the Gener8J Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2016. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Church and must take reasonable steps for the prevention andlor detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf, John Greig Session Clerk Date 24 /312<. 6rf13

Tranent Parish ChurchAccoullts for the year 2025 Report of the Independent Examiner Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity trustees consider that an independent examination is needed under section 44(1){cl of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. It is my responsibijity to examine the accounts under section 44{1)(c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examiner's staternent 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 seeking 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 accounts. Independent examiner's statement In the course of my examination of the statement of account for the year ended 31 December 2025 no n￿tter has corne to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that: Accounting records have not been kept in accordance with Section 44 {11(a) of the Charities and Trustee Investments {Scotland) Act 2005 and Regulation 4 of The Charities Accounts (Scotlandl Regulations 2006 and The statement of account does not comply with any of the requirements of Regulation 9 of The Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 There is any item to which. in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. (signed) Mr Robert Stewart Date

Tranent Parish Church Receipts and Payments Account For the period from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Total Prior year
funds funds funds total funds
2025 2025 2025 2024
Receipts £ £ £ £
Donations 65 331 823 66 154 70 107
Legacies 0 0 0 100
Activities for generating funds 164 0 164 488
Bank & Deposit income 1 194 0 1 194 1 180
Investment Income 3 969 0 3 969 4 140
70 658 823 71 481 76 015
Rental of premises 6 121 0 6 121 2 701
Sale of assets 10 0 10 0
Sale of investments 0 0 0 0
Receipts from General Trustees 0 0 0 0
Grants 0 836 836 300
Guild Receipts 0 1 529 1 529 1 800
Other receipts 1 819 0 1 819 1 458
7 950 2 365 10 315 6 258
Total Receipts 78 608 3 188 81 796 82 273
Payments
Costs of generating funds 75 0 75 69
Charitable activities 76 048 1 701 77 749 69 801
Governance costs 0 0 0 0
Guild Payments 0 2 279 2 279 1 926
Total Payments 76 123 3 980 80 103 71 795
Excess of receipts over payments before transfer 2 485 -792 1 693 10 478
Transfers: -71 71 0 0
Excess of receipts over payments for the year 2 414 -721 1 693 10 478

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Tranent Parish Church

Notes to the Accounts, Year Ended 31 December 2025

No monies were paid to a connected person of any Trustees

Movement in Funds
At 1 January At 31 December
2025 Receipts Payments Transfers 2025
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted Funds
Congregational Account 52 958 78 609 62 716 -13 478 55 373
Designated Fabric Fund 0 0 13 407 13 407 0
Legacies 399 0 0 0 399
53 357 78 609 76 123 -71 55 772
Restricted Funds
Flower Fund 234 116 0 0 350
Youth Worker Fund 642 836 1 089 290 679
Charity Account 0 707 431 0 276
Minister's Fund 916 0 50 0 866
Grants 405 0 131 195 469
Special Donations 6 649 0 0 -414 6 235
Guild Account 1 570 1 529 2 280 0 819
10 416 3 188 3 981 71 9 694
Total Funds 63 773 81 797 80 104 0 65 466

Purpose of Designated Funds

Fabric Fund: The Trustees have set aside funds for the maintenance of Church property

Purpose of Restricted Funds

Charity Fund: Handles money collected and passed on to Third Parties

Flower Fund: Is used to purchase flowers and cards

Minster's Fund: Is used at the sole discretion of the Minister to give practical assistance in situations of pastoral need. Income for this Fund derives solely from specified donations

Youth Worker Fund: Is used for Youth work in the Parish

Special Donations: Donations received with the request that the money is not used for general Church expenditure but is used for a specific purpose

Grants: Thanks to the generosity of the congregation and others, the £1,000 grant to our Winter Hub in 2023 has still not been completely used. The Winter Hub continues and any remaining balance will be put towards the following year.

Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
2025 2025 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
3 Analysis of Donations
WFO Scheme 7 587 0 7 587 8 965
Standing Orders 35 469 0 35 469 34 404
Tax Recovered 12 663 0 12 663 11 476
Ordinary Offerings 6 079 0 6 079 5 172
General Donations 2 150 0 2 150 1 645
Congregational Organisations 300 0 300 300
Weddings and Funerals 380 0 380 970
Donations for Third Party (Charity) 0 707 707 1 308
Special Donations 0 116 116 5 144
Tea Money 703 0 703 691
Flower Money 0 0 0 32
65 331 823 66 154 70 107
Legacies
Legacy Income 0 0 0 0
Activities for generating funds
Regular Fund Raising 164 0 164 488
Bank & Deposit income
Bank and Deposit Interest 1 194 0 1 194 1 180

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Investment Income
Investment Income 3 969 0 3 969 4 140
Rental of premises
Commercial Rent Received 6 121 0 6 121 2 701
Sale of assets
Sale of Fixed Assets 10 0 10 0
Grants
Winter Hub 0 0 0 0
ECO Group 0 0 0 300
Elphinstone Drop-In 0 836 836 0
0 836 836 300
4 Other receipts
Use of Premises by Voluntary Organisations 1 403 0 1 403 435
Miscellaneous Income 20 0 20 110
Life and Work Income 126 0 126 168
Growing Young 170 0 170 0
Misc Fabric Income 0 0 0 630
Main Bequest 100 0 100 100
Special Collections 0 0 0 115
Guild 0 1 529 1 529 0
Other receipts Totals 1 819 1 529 3 348 1 558
Receipts Grand Totals 78 608 1 659 80 267 80 474
5 Analysis of Payments
Costs of generating funds
WFO Expenses 75 0 75 69
Charitable activities
Giving to Grow 36 960 0 36 960 35 757
Presbytery Dues 794 0 794 1 126
Upper Hall 0 0 0 26
Minister's Travel 0 0 0 0
Minister's Telephone 552 0 552 571
Pulpit Supply 400 0 400 200
Intern 0 60 60 1 013
Youth Worker's Travel 125 5 130
Organist Salary 2 156 0 2 156 2 533
Cleaner 4 032 0 4 032 4 716
PAYE 1 822 0 1 822 1 109
Stationery 35 0 35 0
Youth Worker's Telephone 27 127 154 0
Church Magazine 101 0 101 0
Life and Work Expenses 98 0 98 168
Outreach and Wider World 528 0 528 291
Worship and Education 1 174 0 1 174 846
Pastoral Care 54 0 54 110
Growing Young 120 0 120 0
J Club 41 0 41 0
Elphinstone Drop-in 0 242 242 0
Tea Expenses 182 0 182 114
Miscellaneous Epenses 31 0 31 20
Flower Expenses 0 0 0 41
Fabric Expenses, Church and Hall 12 893 0 12 893 5 334
Gas, Church 1 089 0 1 089 849
Electricity, Church 830 0 830 895
Insurance 4 413 0 4 413 3 849
Fabric Expenses, Manse 514 0 514 1 044
Council Tax, Manse 4 056 0 4 056 3 715
Winter Hub 0 71 71 252
ECO Group 100 0 100 421
Gas, Hall 1 826 0 1 826 1 522
Electricity, Hall 1 094 0 1 094 988
Special Collections 0 0 0 140
Donations to Third Parties (Charity) 0 431 431 1 651
Minister's Discretion 0 50 50 0

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Youth Worker's Expenses 0 716 716 500
76 046 1 701 77 747 69 801
Guild
Central Expenses 0 480 480 490
Guild Projects 0 200 200 200
Speakers' Expenses 0 261 261 211
Donations 0 300 300 350
Charity Donation 0 468 468 0
Other Expenses 0 571 571 675
0 2 280 2 280 1 926
Payments Grand Totals 76 121 3 981 80 102 71 796

Payments Grand Totals

6 Minister's Stipend

All Church of Scotland congregations contribute to the National Stipend Fund which bears the costs of all minister stipends and employers' contributions for National Insurance, Pensions and Housing and Loan Fund. Ministers' pensions 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 £33,433 and the maximum stipend (in the fifth and subsequent years) £39,856

DEC Myanmar 160 DEC Middle East 160 East Lothian Food Bank 111 Leprosy Mission 276 707

8 Basis of Accounts

The accounts have been prepared on an Income and Expenditure basis

9 Endowments and Glebe Rents

Although not under the control of the Congregation, these funds go towards Giving to Grow

10 Church Properties

The Church Hall (formerly Wishart St Andrews Church) and associated grounds, 87 Church Street, EH33 1BX are owned by the Congregation

The Glebe on the west side of The Heugh (approx 7.4 acres) is Church property vested in the General Trustees

11 Consolidated Fabric Fund

Tranent Parish Church has funds deposited as a result of the sale of redundant property. The fund is administered by the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland on behalf of the Congregation and may only be expended on property.

Acting upon advice from the Church of Scotland Finance Department, Investments amounts which are purely for the benefit of the Congregation have been removed from the Appendix and are shown on the Statement of Balances

13 Garden Work and Premises

Garden work is carried out on the Hall gardens and payment is made annually for the upkeep of the estate of which the Manse is part. The Fabric team continue to be active in ensuring that all premises are regularly checked and maintained, dealing with all faults and repairs timeously.

14 Volunteers

In common with all congregations of the Church of Scotland, the Congregation benefits from the contribution made by volunteers who give of 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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APPENDIX

FUNDS HELD ON BEHALF OF THE CONGREGATION BY THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND GENERAL TRUSTEES

Market Value at 31.12.2025 2025 2024
£ £
Consolidated Fabric Fund Capital Account 36 630 36 284
Consolidated Fabric Fund Revenue Account 5 825 4 404
Temporary Account -267 0
Total 42 188 40 688

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