The Church of Scotland. St Mark s Parish Church of Scotland: Stirling

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1 The Church of Scotland St Mark s Parish Church of Scotland: Stirling RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS For year ended 31 December 2013 Congregation No: Charity No: SC

2 Receipts and Payments Reference and Administrative Information Charity Name: Charity Registration Number: St Mark s Parish Church of Scotland: Stirling SC Congregation Reference No: Contact Address: 4 Victoria Square Stirling FK8 2QZ Trustees Kirk Session Rev S Davidson J T Porter, Deaconess R Edmond (resigned October 2013) W Laird M Letford R Marshall M McKinlay J Murie D Russell F Russell Congregational Board I Asher L Davidson E Ferguson S Malcolm E Mann I Hendry Principal Office-bearers Minister: Session Clerk: Clerk to the Board: Church Treasurer: Rev Stuart Davidson David Russell John Murie Fiona Russell Independent Examiner J.D.P. Cooke C.A. 43 Borestone Place Stirling FK7 OPL Bankers Royal Bank of Scotland 82 Murray Place Stirling FK8 2DR 2

3 Trustees Annual Report Year ended 31 December 2013 Structure, Governance and Management Governing Document The Church is administered in accordance with the terms of the Model Deed of Constitution. Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees Members of the Kirk Session and the Congregational Board 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. The Deaconess is a corresponding member of the Kirk Session, sharing in its work. The Congregational Board is appointed from within the congregation and members of the congregation are invited to nominate individuals who are believed to have the skills and commitment to contribute to the management affairs of the Church, to become members of the Board. Board Members are then appointed at the Stated Annual Meeting and serve for a period of three years after which they must seek re-election at the next Stated Annual Meeting. Organisational Structure The Congregational Board is chaired by the minister and meets four times in a year. Certain responsibilities are delegated to the Finance Committee and the Property Committee as appropriate. The Kirk Session which meets four times a year is responsible for spiritual affairs within the church. The Congregational Board and Kirk Session meet jointly twice a year and at additional times as required. 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. 3

4 Trustees Annual Report (cont) Year ended 31 December 2013 Achievements and Performance The year 2013 was another eventful year where Minister, Deaconess, Elders and Congregational Board members worked together to deliver aims and objectives of the Church both at a local and national level. The Church was active throughout the year as its courts and members served the Parish community. The Minister and Deaconess cared for the Parish through the conduct of 25 funerals and the pastoral care that surrounds these sad losses and the post funeral visits as well as annual Remembering Services. The Minister also baptised 2 babies and officiated at 1 wedding. Our Church buildings welcomed many regular activities throughout the year as a venue to the community and other charities. We also ran our Summer Holiday Club in partnership with Scripture Union and a number of individuals from other local churches. The purpose of the club was to deliver an exciting week's activities where some children of primary school age attended the club without discrimination. Our reunion day at the end of September went well with a valued contribution from a Puppet company, paid for by the Church and offered free to the children. Regular monthly School Chaplaincy continued throughout the year towards the children and staff of Raploch Primary School and Castleview Primary school as well as Raploch Nursery. The Church and its people welcomed the schools to our Easter, Harvest and Christmas services with the Harvest Service being carried out in partnership with Christian Aid. The Wednesday lunchtime group organised and led by our Deaconess with occasional input from our Minister continues to increase as we give the Children the opportunity to experience and ask questions of the Christian faith as well as visiting the buildings as part of the Curriculum for Excellence and RME studies. Our halls were used on a weekly basis by a variety of groups including Stirling Amateur Boxing Club who gathered three nights per week; the local Scouts ran Beavers and a Cub group open to boys and girls within the area one night per week as well as occasional sleep-overs. Also meeting in our halls were: a women s discussion group; a fortnightly lunch club for retired people. We also host a weekly Alcoholics Anonymous group which has been running for some 20 years as well as a Youth group aimed at early secondary school children which meet weekly and is run by church members and volunteers from the community. Other keep fit groups meet on a Thursday night and we hosted various Christmas Celebrations including a Big Noise night where a local group working with the primary schools entertained community for an evening. We've ran a St Andrew's night as well as our Chance to Thrive meetings both in the church and in the rooms in our local Sainsbury's store. On a weekly and once a month basis in the afternoons we host a selection of services and gatherings in the Church halls and in Sainsbury's aimed at celebrating and sharing the Christian religion and 4

5 special services aimed at significant dates in the Christian calendar. During the year we held our sixth joint Ecumenical Armistice Day service in partnership with local children from two of our local primary schools, members of the local community and representatives from the Salvation Army and St Margaret's Roman Catholic Church. As mentioned already this year also saw significant developments in our partnership in the Church of Scotland s Chance to Thrive project. We are continuing to look at how the Church can connect and support the communities of which we are a part. Through this initiative Church members and some people from the community have come together to take part in running our Youth Club, our Eyewitnesses'' (Social History) project, the Fruit Barra where fruit and vegetables are sold from the Church in a joint non profit making venture in partnership with the NHS healthy eating initiative. Grant funding of 1970 was received in support of the Fruit Barra. During the year we were working with and receiving gifts of food from Sainsbury's and Morrison's along with local funds to offer hampers to needy families and individuals towards Christmas time. In May of this year we began holding a service, more properly a gathering for a type of Messy/Cafe Church in Sainsbury's store. This group meets fortnightly and is aimed again at connection with the shoppers and the 300 staff who work in the store many of whom live locally. At present some 15 or so people attend this gathering. Throughout the year we have continued to maintain our buildings and have paid particular attention to making sure that any reserves we have are enough to cover leaner times and any significant fabric issues that arise and need to be repaired or developed in order for our premises to remain viable for the Church's use and to be usable to the local community and the other charities that use our premises. By offering our premises as a resource and office space to the Life guide of "Heart to Heart" we have enabled her to reach out and develop her work with young people in the area who are affected by divorce or separation. Evidence again of our desire to use what we've been given in terms of people and financial resources to have a positive impact on the people of all ages within the communities that we serve. Financial Review The principal sources of income are weekly Free Will Offering and Standing orders. These, together with tax recovered on Gift Aid and other donations represented 78% of normal income. Offerings do not vary significantly from 2012 figures. Reserves Policy It is the Trustees policy to hold reserves of approximately six months expenditure including designated funds. At the year end the Church held unrestricted cash funds of 23,735 of which 5,634 had been designated for the Fabric Fund, 720 for the Kirk Session Fund and 1,920 for the Fruit Barra. The remaining balance 15,461 represents about five month s expenditure. 5

6 In addition there is an investment in the Church of Scotland Growth Fund to provide income and growth which would be available for future needs. The value of this fund at cost was 5,278 with a market value at 31 December 2013 of 10,738. The Church also held 6,113 of restricted funds plus capital investment of 2,661 at cost ( 2143 market value). These funds have been provided for the purposes specified in Note 2. Trustees Annual Report (cont) Year ended 31 December 2013 Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities The members of the Kirk Session / Congregational Board 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 / Congregational Board are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which, on request, must reflect the financial position of the Church 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 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Church and must take reasonable steps for the prevention and/or detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf, David A Russell Session Clerk Date.. 6

7 St Mark s Parish Church, Stirling SC Independent Examiner s Report to the Trustees of St Mark s Parish Church, Stirling I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2013 which are set out on pages 8 to 12. 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 The charity 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 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 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 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. Name: Address: J D P Cooke CA (retired) 43 Borestone Place Stirling FK7 0PL Signed: Date: 7

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