REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: SC038168
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
for
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
Mackay & Co Chartered Accountants Unit 8 Golspie Business Park Golspie Sutherland KW 10 6UB
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Report ofthe Trustees | 1 | to 3 | |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 | ||
| Balance Sheet | 6 | ||
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 | to | 11 |
| DetailedStatementofFinancialActivities | 12 | to | 13 |
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Activities and Achievements
During the year, the congregation met regularly and frequently for public worship and carried out various activities in pursuit of its stated aims.
The congregation continued to support the national Free Church of Scotland both spiritually and financially.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves policy
As a result of a surplus for the year of £10,753 (2024 surplus of £63) the church held unrestricted funds amounting to £19,879 (2024 - £9,126) at the year end.
This comprises a General Fund of £3,436 (2024 - £2,319) and a designated Fabric Fund of £16,443 (2024 - £6,807).
Separately, the congregation also has funds held centrally as share pool units - with a market value, as at 31st December 2025, of £7,726.19. During the year, dividends of £176.74 were paid on these, and credited to the share pools.
The Trustees’ policy is to retain a minimum reserve of £1,000 in the General Fund. The Trustees are satisfied with the level of reserves at the year end.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document
Lairg Free Church of Scotland is established by Constitution. It is a registered Scottish charity: No S$C038168.
Page 1
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Trustees and Office Bearers The congregation is governed and administered by elected office bearers (Elders and Deacons) and Finance Committee members (all volunteers), and its minister. The Kirk session, consisting of the minister, elected elders and any assessor elders appointed by the Presbytery of the bounds, has responsibility for spiritual oversight. The Finance Committee, which is composed of minister, elected elders and deacons, and elected volunteers from the congregation, oversees temporal matters. Under charity Law, the Finance Committee are deemed to be Trustees of the congregation as those responsible for the day to day management and control. It is distinct from the role of property trustees who are responsible.only for holding property in trust. The members of the Finance Committee who served during the year were as follows: Minister:Interim-Moder ator: Rev E Paterson Rev E Paterson , Rev J T Mann (assessor elder) , Mrs J Sparling (treasurer), Mrs M MacKenzie (resigned January 2025), Mr C Murray, Mr M Sutherland, Mr J Garvie (assessor Committee Members: elder), Mr M D Maclver (assessor elder) Property Trustees: Mr J Bain, Rev J T Mann, Mrs M Maclennan, Mr M Sutherland
Organisational structure
Lairg Free Church is a congregation of the national Free Church of Scotland having the same aims. The congregation is within the Northern Presbytery and is authorised to have a minister paid from the central funds of the Church. The churches and manses are held in trust for the congregation by locally elected property trustees. The Rosehall church is held under the Free Church's Model Trust Deed while the Lairg Properties are held undera local trust.
Appointment of Charity Trustees
The Kirk Session exercises its discretion in determining the most appropriate method of electing new trustees (elders and deacons). Any election process must involve the communicant membership of the congregation. There is no fixed term for trusteeship. The Session should also recommend to the congregation the additional membership of the Finance Committee on a year to year basis. Those appointed this way will serve as trustees for one year. Any new trustees 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.
Aims and Affiliation
Dating from 1843 but with its roots in the Reformation, the Free Church of Scotland owes its distinctive title to its historical struggle to remain ‘free' from state interference in its spiritual affairs. It has close relations with many reformed churches throughout the world and accepts the Bible in its entirety as the Word of God and, therefore, derives its forms of teaching, worship, ministry and government from it. The main emphasis of our worship is the preaching of the gospel of free and sovereign salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
The Free Church of Scotland is a Presbyterian church adhering in its worship and doctrine to the position of the Church of Scotland at the Reformation. There is an explanatory document stating the origins of the the church and listing documents in which is embodied its constitution.
Page 2
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number SC038168
Principal address Lairg Free Church Bridgend Lairg IV27 4AZ
Trustees Rev J T Mann Mrs J Sparling Mrs M Mackenzie (resigned 9.1.25) J Garvie M Sutherland C M Murray M D Maclver
Independent Examiner David A. Ross CA Mackay & Co Chartered Accountants Unit8 Golspie Business Park Golspie Sutherland KW 10 6UB
Solicitors
The Law Agents for the Free Church are: Simpson & Marwick WS Albany House 58 Albany Street Edinburgh EH1 3QR
Approved by order of the board of trustees on Lh Apa, 2006 and signed on its behalf by:
Rev J T Mann - Trustee
Page 3
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Lairg Free Church of Scotland
| report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 set out on pages five to eleven.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity's trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(a) to (c) of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under Section 44(1)(c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the independent examiner's report My examination was 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 seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently | do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
independent examiner's statement In connection with 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 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and
-
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
David A. Ross CA The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
Mackay & Co Chartered Accountants Unit 8 Golspie Business Park Golspie Sutherland KW10 6UB
Date: and. Apak.. Jono...
Page 4
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
| 31.12.25 | 31.12.24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total | ||
| funds | funds | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | |||
| Donations and legacies | 2 | 32,982 | 15,958 |
| EXPENDITURE ON | |||
| Charitable activities | 3 | ||
| Charitable activities | 22,229 | 15,895 | |
| NET INCOME | 10,753 | 63 | |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||
| Total funds broughtforward | 9,126 | 9,063 | |
| TOTALFUNDSCARRIEDFORWARD | 19,879 | 9,126 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
Balance Sheet 31 December 2025
| 31.12.25 | 31.12.24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total | ||
| funds | funds | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Cash at bank | 19,879 | 9,126 | |
| NETCURRENT ASSETS | 19,879 | 9,126 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT | |||
| LIABILITIES | 19,879 | 9,126 | |
| NETASSETS | 19,879 | 9,126 | |
| FUNDS | 6 | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 19,879 | 9,126 | |
| TOTALFUNDS | 19,879 | 9,126 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on edith. Afe:.20.2.6.......... and were signed on its behalf by:
oe src
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
- ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. Expenditure Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Page 7
continued...
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
,
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
| 2. | DONATIONS AND LEGACIES | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.12.25 | 31.12.24 | |||
| E | £ | |||
| Freewill offering | 12,304 | 11,487 | ||
| Church door collection | 1,403 | 1,232 | ||
| Tax recovered | 2,858 | 2,604 | ||
| Donations | 6,815 | 590 | ||
| Special collections | 50 | - | ||
| Magazines | 90 | 45 | ||
| Transferfrom Bonar Bridge | 7,500 | - | ||
| Electricity refund | 1,962 | - | ||
| 32,982 | 15,958 | |||
| 3. | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS | |||
| Direct | Support | |||
| Costs | costs | Totals | ||
| £ | E | z | ||
| Charitableactivities | 21,995 | 234 | 22,229 |
- TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2025 nor for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Trustees’ expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2025 nor for the year ended 31 December 2024. &. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| Unrestricted | |
|---|---|
| funds | |
| E | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | |
| Donations and legacies | 15,958 |
| EXPENDITURE ON | |
| Charitable activities | |
| Charitable activities | 15,895 |
| NET INCOME | 63 |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |
| Totalfundsbroughtforward | 9,063 |
Page 8
continued...
Lairq Free Church of Scotland
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
5, COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued
Unrestricted funds £ TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 9,126 6. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
==> picture [448 x 164] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Net|
|movement|At|
|At|1.1.25|in|funds|31.12.25|
|£|£|£|
|Unrestricted|funds|
|General|fund|2,319|1,117|3,436|
|Fabric|fund|
|6,807|9,636|16,443|
|9,126|10,753|19,879|
|TOTAL|FUNDS|9,126|10,753|19,879|
----- End of picture text -----
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
==> picture [452 x 152] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Incoming|Resources|Movement|
|resources|expended|in|funds|
|£|£|£|
|Unrestricted|funds|
|General|fund|18,668|(17,551)|1,117|
|Fabric|fund|
|14,314|(4,678)|9,636|
|32,982|(22,229)|10,753|
|TOTAL|FUNDS|32,982|(22,229)|10,753|
----- End of picture text -----
Page 9
continued...
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
6. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- continued
Comparatives for movement in funds
| Net | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| movement | At | ||
| At 1.1.24 | in funds | 31.12.24 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 2,396 | (77) | 2,319 |
| Fabric fund | |||
| 6,667 | 140 | 6,807 | |
| 9,063 | 63 | 9,126 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 9,063 | 63 | 9,126 |
| Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as | follows: | ||
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 15,368 | (15,445) | (77) |
| Fabric fund | |||
| 590 | (450) | 140 | |
| 15,958 | (15,895) | 63 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 15,958 | (15,895) | 63 |
| A current year 12 months and prioryear 12 months combined position is as follows: | |||
| Net | |||
| movement | At | ||
| At 1.1.24 | in funds | 31.12.25 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 2,396 | 1,040 | 3,436 |
| Fabric fund | |||
| 6,667 | 9,776 | 16,443 | |
| 9,063 | 10,816 | 19,879 | |
| TOTALFUNDS | 9,063 | 10,816 | 19,879 |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
Page 10
continued...
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
- MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- continued
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | E | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 34,036 | (32,996) | 1,040 |
| Fabric fund | |||
| 14,904 | (5,128) | 9,776 | |
| 48,940 | (38,124) | 10,816 | |
| TOTALFUNDS | 48,940 | (38,124) | 10,816 |
TOTAL FUNDS
t RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Page 11
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | ||
|---|---|---|
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2025 | ||
| 31.12.25 | 31.12.24 | |
| £ | Fd | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS | ||
| Donations and legacies | ||
| Freewill offering | 12,304 | 11,487 |
| Church door collection | 1,403 | 1,232 |
| Tax recovered | 2,858 | 2,604 |
| Donations | 6,815 | 590 |
| Special collections | 50 | - |
| Magazines | 90 | 45 |
| Transfer from Bonar Bridge | 7,500 | - |
| Electricity refund | 1,962 | - |
| 32,982 | 15,958 | |
| Total incoming resources | 32,982 | 15,958 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Charitable activities | ||
| Remittance to central funds | 848 | 6,236 |
| Pulpit supply & communion expenses |
4,131 | 213 |
| Rates & insurance | 2,795 | 2,629 |
| Church heat & light | 5,413 | S75 |
| Manse heat& light |
1,268 | 3,602 |
| Telephone | 799 | 718 |
| Church repairs & renewals | 2,579 | 450 |
| Manse repairs & renewals | 2,267 | 554 |
| Magazines | 68 | 129 |
| Presbytery and assembly dues | 318 | 454 |
| Minister's expenses | 687 | - |
| Mission donations | 450 | - |
| Glebe rent | 30 | 30 |
| Post, stationery& literature | 67 | 64 |
| Sundry | 275 | - |
| 21,995 | 15,654 | |
| Support costs | ||
| Finance | ||
| Bank charges | - | 7 |
| Governance costs | ||
| Accountancy | 234 | 234 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 12
Lairg Free Church of Scotland
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
Total resources expended Net income
| 31.12.25 | 31.12.24 |
|---|---|
| £ | £ |
| 22,229 | 15,895 |
| 10,753 | 63 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 13