OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2025-12-31-accounts

Scottish charity number:

SC038275

Hope Church Coatbridge – Free Church of Scotland

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2025

Ho e Church Coatbrid e – Free Church of Scotland p g Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025

Page
Report of the Trustees 1 - 2
Report of the Independent Examiner 3
Receipts and Payments Account 4
Statement of Balances 5
Notes to the Financial Statements 6 - 8

Ho e Church Coatbrid e – Free Church of Scotland p g

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025

The Trustees present the annual report and accounts for Hope Church Coatbridge – Free Church of Scotland for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Reference and administrative information

Charity name: Hope Church Coatbridge – Free Church of Scotland Charity registration number: SC038275 Church address: 173 Bank Street Coatbridge ML5 1HA Bankers: Bank of Scotland Main Street Coatbridge ML5 3EF Independent Examiner: Alison Franks CA Cornerstone Accounting 11 Erngath Road Bo’ness EH51 9DP

Constitution and governance

Hope Church Coatbridge – Free Church of Scotland is a congregation of the national Free Church of Scotland.

The Free Church of Scotland dates from 1843. With its roots in the Reformation, it owes its distinctive title to its historical struggle to remain 'free' from state interference in its internal affairs. It has close and active relations with many other Reformed churches of Jesus Christ throughout the world and stands firmly in the tradition which accepts the Bible in its entirety as the Word of God 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 - the good news of a free and sovereign salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

The Church is established under the unitary form of constitution. The Church is Presbyterian in government and its day-to-day running is undertaken by the Elders (the Kirk Session) and the Deacons (the Deacons’ Court). Elders are charged with the spiritual oversight of the congregation and the Deacons with the property and finance. The Minister and Elders serving on Kirk Session are also members of the Deacons’ Court who, for the purposes of Charity Law, are the Trustees of the Charity.

The congregation is within the Free Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll. The congregation is authorised by the Church to have a minister paid from central funds. The Church building and the Minister's manse are the property of the congregation.

The appointment of new Elders and Deacons is at the discretion of the Kirk Session and must involve the communicant members of the congregation. There is no fixed term. Prior to their appointment, new Trustees would have served the Church for some time in various roles and would be familiar with the Church’s values, aims and objectives. As part of their induction, new Trustees are required to understand their statutory responsibilities as well as their responsibilities as Elder or Deacon.

The Trustees who served during the year were as follows:

J Colquhoun Elder J Fallon Deacon C MacIver Elder A MacAulay Deacon I Macleod Elder J Neilson Deacon R Robertson Elder G Russell Deacon A Walker Elder

Page 1

Ho e Church Coatbrid e – Free Church of Scotland p g

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025

Achievements and performance

During the year, Hope Church met regularly for worship and for prayer and other meetings, fellowship and outreach. The congregation continued its commitment to support the national Free Church of Scotland both spiritually and financially. The church plant at Christ Church, Glasgow being a separate congregation of the Free Church, was no longer supported by Hope Church

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

Financial review

Change of accounting basis

The accounts have been restated this year to the Receipts and Payments Basis of accounting, permissible for all charities with annual income of less than £250k. The figures for 2024 have also been restated on the new basis to provide comparability to users of these accounts.

Principal sources of funding

The Church is primarily funded by church members through their offerings and the associated Gift Aid.

Results for the year

The Accounts for the year are set out on pages 4 to 8. The Receipts and Payments Account on page 4 shows a surplus of £16,281 (2024: deficit of £31,188), comprising a surplus on unrestricted funds after transfers of £24,582 (2024: deficit of £7,192) and a deficit on restricted funds after transfers of £8,301 (2024: deficit of £23,996).

The total funds of the church at the year-end are £37,905 (2024: £21,624). The balance due on the loan fund has reduced in the year from £128,938 to £110,546.

Reserves

The Trustees have set a reserves policy to maintain unrestricted funds of at least 1 month’s running costs which was calculated as £7,000 for 2025. This allows sufficient funds to enable the ongoing work of the Church to be maintained. Per the Statement of Balances on page 5, the general fund at 31 December 2025 amounted to £20,038 (2024: -£4,544) which is above this threshold.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees on 16 February 2026.

Cameron MacIver

Cameron MacIver Trustee

Page 2

Ho e Church Coatbrid e – Free Church of Scotland p g

Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025

I report on the accounts of the Church for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on pages 4 to 8.

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) (d) 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 Independent Examiner’s statement

My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent Examiner’s statement

In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention

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

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

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

have not been met, or

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

Alison Franks

Alison Franks CA

Director

Cornerstone Accounting Ltd 11 Erngath Road Chartered Accountants Bo’ness EH51 9DP

Date: 16 February 2026

Page 3

Hope Church Coatbridge - Free Church of Scotland

Receipts and Payments Account

For the year ended 31 December 2025

Notes
Receipts
Member offerings
Donations
Gift aid recovered
Grants
2
Toddler group income
Deposit account interest
Other income
Total receipts
Payments
FCOS Central Fund Contribution
Presbytery dues
Staff costs
Preaching fees
Minister/Moderator expenses
Toddler group costs
Youth and other outreach costs
Church and manse insurance
Church repairs and maintenance
Church utility costs
Church building costs
Manse council tax
Manse repairs and maintenance
Manse heat and light
Manse telephone and internet
Administration and telephone costs
Travel expenses
Publications
Subscriptions
IT and website costs
Independent examination fees
Loan repayments
3
Transfer to Christ Church Glasgow
Charitable donations
4
Total payments
Surplus/(deficit) for the year before transfers
Transfers
Surplus/(deficit) for the year after transfers
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
funds
£
61,352
-
14,903
-
355
-
180
76,790
48,563
916
4,979
4,107
68
264
1,632
1,806
739
6,769
-
2,619
-
3,795
99
1,122
-
837
153
1,061
1,200
-
-
2,480
83,209
(6,419)
31,001
24,582
(4,544)
20,038		 Restricted
funds
£
28,340
23,200
12,142
-
-
299
289
64,270
-
-
8,913
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8,400
-
-
49
-
-
-
-
-
24,208
-
-
41,570
22,700
(31,001)
(8,301)
26,168
17,867		 2025
Total
£
89,692
23,200
27,045
-
355
299
469
141,060
48,563
916
13,892
4,107
68
264
1,632
1,806
739
6,769
-
2,619
8,400
3,795
99
1,171
-
837
153
1,061
1,200
24,208
-
2,480
124,779
16,281
-
16,281
21,624
37,905		 Unrestricted
funds
£
55,484
3,364
13,392
-
-
-
131
72,371
45,368
1,401
2,598
960
1,835
3,634
969
2,073
774
4,045
5,527
2,398
405
3,016
362
1,650
458
808
163
1,078
900
14,708
-
-
95,130
(22,759)
15,567
(7,192)
2,648
(4,544)		 Restricted
funds
£
21,626
-
4,752
2,750
-
378
-
29,506
-
-
21,183
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
308
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16,444
-
37,935
(8,429)
(15,567)
(23,996)
50,164
26,168		 2024
Total
£
77,110
3,364
18,144
2,750
-
378
131
101,877
45,368
1,401
23,781
960
1,835
3,634
969
2,073
774
4,045
5,835
2,398
405
3,016
362
1,650
458
808
163
1,078
900
14,708
16,444
-
133,065
(31,188)
-
(31,188)
52,812
21,624

The notes on pages 6 to 8 form part of these financial statements.

Page 4

Hope Church Coatbridge - Free Church of Scotland

Statement of Balances

As at 31 December 2025

Notes
Bank and cash
Church current account
Total bank and cash
Represented by:
Unrestricted funds
7
General fund
Restricted funds
8
Chapelhall outreach fund (previously
Building fund
Manse refurbishment fund
Total funds
Statement of assets
Freehold property - at cost
Gift aid due
Statement of liabilities
Building loan
3
FCoS Central funds
Salaries due
Trade creditors
Other creditors		 Opening
Surplus
Closing
balance
for year
balance
£
£
£
21,624
16,281
37,905
21,624
16,281
37,905
20,038
20,038
mission fund)
831
2,739
14,297
17,867
37,905
1,040,000
4,254
1,044,254
110,546
1,950
431
-
-
112,927
2025		 Opening
Deficit
Closing
balance
for year
balance
£
£
£
52,812
(31,188)
21,624
52,812
(31,188)
21,624
(4,544)
(4,544)
26,168
-
-
26,168
21,624
1,040,000
4,917
1,044,917
128,938
-
-
1,565
1,703
132,206
2024

The financial statements on pages 4 to 8 were approved by the Trustees on 16 February 2026 and signed on their behalf by the undernoted:

Iain Macleod

Iain Macleod Trustee/Treasurer

Page 5

Hope Church Coatbridge - Free Church of Scotland

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2025

1. Accounting policies

Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the Acts and Regulations of the Scottish Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Basis of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis. All voluntary income, income from tax recoveries on Gift Aid and bank interest is accounted for when received. Expenditure is recognised when paid.

Receipts and payments account

For the purpose of the receipts and payments account as shown on page 5, funds are defined as follows: Unrestricted funds comprise grants and other income received for the objects of the church without further specified purpose and are available as general funds. Some unrestricted funds have been defined as Designated funds by the Trustees where they have been ringfenced for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds comprise income which has been received for the objects of the church and specified for a restricted purpose within these objects by the donor.

2. Grant income

During the year, we received the following grants:

Free Church of Scotland - for minister in training support costs

2025
£
-
-		 2024
£
2,750
2,750

3. Loans

A loan was received from the Free Church of Scotland for £150,000 in March 2021. It is repayable over 15 years with interest charged at the rate of 2% above Bank of England base rate per annum. Capital due and the timeframe for repayment are listed below:

Amount falling due:
Within one year
Within two to five years
Over 5 years		 2025
£
9,394
42,633
58,519
110,546		 2024
£
14,708
58,830
55,400
128,938

4. Charitable donations

The following donations were made in the year:

Free Church of Scotland appeals
Making a Difference Ministries
Scripture Union Scotland
Centre for Rural Ministry
Glasgow Caledonian University - Christian Union
Coatbridge Federation of Tenants
Benevolent Fund
Page 6		 2025
£
950
480
480
200
200
100
70
2,480

Page 6

Hope Church Coatbridge - Free Church of Scotland

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2025

5. Transactions with Trustees and related parties

All Free Church of Scotland congregations with a minister are expected to contribute to the Sustentation Fund of the denomination the full costs of ministry, including stipend, NIC, pension and an administration levy. All ministers in charges are paid from the central funds of the Church. In the year under review, the stipend was £29,232 (2024: £27,580).

During the year, 3 trustees (2024: 3) received reimbursement of expenses totalling £2,748 (2024: £3,647) for resources purchased on behalf of the church.

The church cleaner is the wife of one of our Trustees and was paid £4,979 in the year. There were no other transactions with related parties in the year (2024: nil).

6. Volunteer time

The Church relies heavily on the contribution of significant volunteer time for the delivery of its programme of activities. This has not been quantified for the purposes of these accounts.

7. Unrestricted funds

General fund
Total unrestricted funds		 Balance at
01.01.25
£
(4,544)
(4,544)		 Receipts
£
76,790
76,790		 Payments
£
(83,209)
(83,209)		 Transfers
£
31,001
31,001		 Balance at
31.12.25
£
20,038
20,038

Explanation of funds

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

8. Restricted funds

Chapelhall outreach fund
(previously mission fund)
Building fund
Manse refurbishment fund
Total restricted funds		 Balance at
01.01.25
£
26,168
-
-
26,168		 Receipts
£
2,894
40,259
21,117
64,270		 Payments
£
(8,962)
(24,208)
(8,400)
(41,570)		 Transfers
£
(19,269)
(13,312)
1,580
(31,001)		 Balance at
31.12.25
£
831
2,739
14,297
17,867

Explanation of funds

The Chapellhall outreach fund (previously the mission fund) represents donations raised to support outreach projects in Chapelhall. The transfer out in the year represents an unrestricted legacy received by the trustees which was designated by them for mission work and incorrectly accounted for last year as restricted.

The Building fund represents funds raised for the extension of the church building and to pay off the building loan.

The Manse refurbishment fund represents funds received for the upgrade of the manse.

Page 7

Hope Church Coatbridge - Free Church of Scotland

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2025

9. Restatement of comparatives

The accounts have been restated this year from the Accruals basis to the Receipts and Payments basis. This has resulted in the following adjustments to the comparatives this year:

2023 brought forward reserves

2023 reserves, as previously stated
Deduct:
Tangible assets - church property and fixtures
Income due but not received
Add:
Loans due
Bills due but not paid
2023 reserves, restated
2024 deficit
2024 deficit, as previously stated
Deduct:
Purchase of fixed assets
Loan repaid
Bills from 2023 paid
Income due but not received
Add:
Depreciation
Income from 2023 received
Bills due but not paid
2024 deficit, restated
Restated 2024 reserves carried forward		 956,970
(1,039,608)
(7,205)
137,128
5,527
52,812
(18,480)
(5,258)
(8,190)
(5,527)
(4,917)
711
7,205
3,268
31,188
-
21,624

Page 8