Scottish Charity No. SC002953
STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE
Our treasurer works tirelessly to ensure that all our income and expenses are recorded accurately and reports on our financial position to the Board and Session at our regular monthly meetings.
Our revenue mainly comes from our Weekly offerings and donations, which are boosted by the meticulous work of our Gift-Aid Convenor and from the various Hall Lets.
We strive to make sure that no penny is wasted and where possible we try to link our donations to causes which have directly impacted on the members of our congregation and to those in the community around us.
Our latest accounts are available on request.
STAFFING
Apart from our organist, who is self-employed but dedicated to Ladywell, there are no other paid staff at Bannockburn Ladywell. Elders, board members and volunteers fill the positions necessary to oversee the church’s commitments including, but not limited to a Church Officer, Treasurer, Session Clerk, Clerk to the Board, Fabric Convenor, Safeguarding Coordinator, Health & Safety Officer and Gift Aid Convenor.
We also have 2 trained worship leaders, flower arrangers, cleaners, and a maintenance team who
all help keep necessary costs to a minimum.
BANNOCKBURN LADYWELL, HALLS and MANSE
The Church buildings comprise Church itself, a large hall, a small hall, a kitchen, a vestry and a Session Room.
The Church and halls are in good condition and are well maintained. Two new boilers installed in 2020 and the electrical wiring replaced 2223.
Our halls are used regularly throughout the week by a mixture of external groups consisting of Martial Arts, Dance and Exercise Classes.
The Manse, which like the church is in a good state of repair, is situated in the parish at 57 The Firs, on a main bus route. It is a substantial sandstone building, containing on the ground floor three public rooms, kitchen and cloakroom. Upstairs there are three bedrooms, a boxroom and bathroom with shower. The house has full central heating.
Our halls are used regularly throughout the week by a mixture of external groups consisting of Martial Arts, Dance and Exercise Classes.
The Manse, which like the church is in a good state of repair, is situated in the parish at 57 The Firs, on a main bus route. It is a substantial sandstone building, containing on the ground floor three public rooms, kitchen and cloakroom. Upstairs there are three bedrooms, a boxroom and bathroom with shower. The house has full central heating.
There is a small sloping garden at the front and a large mature garden at the rear. There is a garage.
ALLAN CHURCH, MANSE and HALLS
The Church building is well maintained both inside and outside.
Survey reports – The property convenor and the treasurer deal with any reports. The Manse was built in 1986 and consists of a large sitting/dining room, a family room, four bedrooms, large bathroom with shower facilities, a separate toilet, study, kitchen and utility room. There is a single garage with mains electricity and a garden shed. The property comes with good sized lawn areas to the front and rear.
The Church and halls are in good condition commensurate with their age and are well maintained both inside and out.
Our Church halls are used regularly by various groups and any Church events also. The halls are available for rental for children’s parties or concerts as required.
Our Church officer oversees funerals being conducted in the Church.
Scottish Charity No. SC002953 Scottish Charity No. SC0011345
FIVE MARKS OF MISSION
The following provides a summary of how we currently fulfil the Five Marks of Mission.
To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom.
• Ecumenical Services with other local churches.
• Weekly online prayer.
• School Chaplaincy.
To teach, baptise and nurture new believers.
• Offer study groups.
• Encourage young people through weekly Children’s / All Age Talks and School Chaplaincy.
To respond to human need by loving service.
• Providing fellowship opportunities such as through our Ladies Group, Crafternoon Chat Group and both weekly and monthly coffee mornings.
• Supporting local foodbanks.
• Actively support pastoral care needs of housebound and those in care homes through Home Communion and regular visits.
• Deliver bunches of flowers to members of the congregation to let them know that Ladywell are thinking of them in times of celebration, illness or in sympathy for a bereavement.
To seek to transform unjust structure of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation.
• Support of Christian Aid, Farm Africa and other Disaster funds.
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
• Recycling of as much church waste as possible.
• Planting of fruit trees.
• Leaving a wild patch for wildlife in our garden to promote biodiversity and provide a habitat for local plants and animals.
• Moving services into the small hall during the colder winter months to reduce heating costs.
• In conjunction with the other local churches we help provide refreshments to those attending the Annual Bannockburn BioBlitz
In recognition of our key location in Hillpark and our duty of care to our community, a
defibrillator was recently installed on our church building.
The Ladywell Ladies Group and our
Crafternoon Chat Group run on alternate Monday afternoons and are regularly attended by members of the community.
BANNOCKBURN LADYWELL
With roots dating back to 1843, the Bannockburn Ladywell Congregation moved from the centre of Bannockburn Village to its current location as a Church extension charge in 1957 to serve the new housing area, known as Hillpark, which had started construction during the early 1950’s.
The Parish is a relatively small, densely populated parish lying between two main roads, the A872 Stirling to Denny/Glasgow and the A9 Stirling to Bannockburn/ Edinburgh, with the Bannock Burn forming the third side of a roughly triangular shape. The Parish is predominantly urban with three small pockets of shops.
JOINT INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY
The congregation of Bannockburn Allan Church of Scotland (SC002953) and the congregation of Bannockburn Ladywell Church of Scotland (SC011345) moved into deferred linkage on 6th June 2024 as part of the current Perth Presbytery Plan.
The Kirk Sessions have both voted to depart from the historic current practice in order to permit the appointment of a Minister who is in a civil partnership or same sex marriage.
The intention is for a new Minister to initially become the Minister of Bannockburn Allan and in time, to become the Minister of the linked charge, when the current Minister of Bannockburn Ladywell, Rev. Elizabeth Robertson, retires or demits the charge, and the linkage will be activated immediately. This has been laid out in the current Presbytery Plan. The Presbytery shall review the appointment of the minister within six months of the end of a seven-year period from the date of his or her induction.
Adapted from the church of Scotland: Deprivation and Population statistics
Bannockburn Allan
in Deferred Linkage with
Bannockburn Ladywell
Joint Parish Profile
.
Allan Church Ladywell Church
APPENDIX 1: BASIS OF DEFERRED LINKAGE
Presbytery of Perth
BASIS OF DEFERRED LINKAGE:
Bannockburn Allan and Bannockburn Ladywell
The congregation of Allan Church of Scotland, Bannockburn (SC002953) and the congregation of Bannockburn Ladywell Church of Scotland (SC011345) shall move into deferred linkage on 6th June 2024, or on another date to be appointed by Presbytery. On the demission of Rev Elizabeth Robertson from Bannockburn Ladywell, the linkage shall be immediately effective, on the following terms and conditions:
1. Transfer of Property and Funds: The property and funds belonging to, or held on behalf of, each congregation shall remain the property and funds of each congregation as at present.
2. Places of Worship: Both churches at present used and occupied by the congregations shall be the places of worship of the linked congregations.
3. Territorial Responsibility: The bounds to be served by the linked charge shall be the bounds of the present congregations, or as the Presbytery shall determine.
4. Kirk Sessions: The Minister of the linked charge shall be the Moderator of each Kirk Session. The Kirk Sessions may meet together, as they deem it desirable.
5. Congregational Management: The temporal affairs of each congregation shall be administered as at present. The office-bearers of the congregations shall meet annually to decide on their portion of ministry expenses (as listed in the Regulations for Remuneration and Reimbursement of Parish Ministers 2015) and costs for the maintenance of the manse, with any dispute subject to the approval of the Presbytery.
6. Minister: The congregations to be linked shall proceed to the appointment of a minister who shall be inducted in the first instance as minister of Bannockburn Allan, provided that, on the demission of Rev Elizabeth Robertson as minister of Bannockburn Ladywell, the linkage shall immediately be effective under the minister so appointed and inducted. The minister shall be inducted on the basis that the charge shall be a seven year reviewable tenure charge.
7. Manse: The manse of the congregation of Allan Church of Scotland, Bannockburn shall continue to serve that purpose.
However, within three months of the demission of Rev Elizabeth Robertson as minister of Bannockburn Ladywell, the kirk sessions shall meet to decide, subject to the approval of presbytery, which manse shall serve as the manse of the linked charge. If the kirk sessions cannot reach agreement, the decision will be made by the property committee of presbytery.
The other congregation’s manse shall be sold, let or otherwise disposed of, subject to the titles on which it is held, and subject to the approval of the Presbytery and, if necessary, of the General Trustees or the General Assembly. The free proceeds of any such sale or let shall: (a) if falling within the scope of the General Trustees (Delegated Powers) Act (Act 7, 1995), be credited to the benefit of that congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund; or (b) if not falling within the scope of the said Act, be held and applied for fabric purposes in connection with the properties of that congregation.
8. Ministerial Support: The Stipend of the Minister shall be payable in terms of the National Stipend Scale.
9. Power to Readjust: While the articles and terms shall form the Basis of Linkage for the two congregations to be linked, the linked charge shall be free, like other congregations, to adjust arrangements under the authority of Presbytery as need may arise.
BANNOCKBURN ALLAN
The Bannockburn Allan has been in vacancy since 4th March 2023 when our previous Minister demitted his charge having been in post for 20 months. Prior to this, Bannockburn Allan had been in vacancy for almost six years.
The Bannockburn Allan was built in 1838 and is the Parish Church of Bannockburn.
The Church sits in the middle of the Village and is a focal point.
Bannockburn Allan Church currently has a locum Minister providing one day of ministry activity and one Sunday morning service per week.
Our Mission Statement
"To be God's Missionary Church in Bannockburn, to welcome all people and to provide for their spiritual care”
The Church has always tried to include the community in any services or events that it has held and actively encourage engagement whenever possible.
We have an ageing congregation and, since Covid, our regular attendees have dwindled, which has been challenging. However, we have a strong, committed core group looking to the future with faith and hope. We do have members who do not attend regularly either due to age or other reasons. However, our Elders visit their districts four times a year with our magazine and communion cards to try to encourage people to come along and share in fellowship. This is an ongoing challenge which we feel is worthwhile in the hope that someone might respond.
While our congregation is largely elderly, many have attended the Church since childhood and remain faithful attendees. We feel in need of a spiritual boost to refresh and renew us.
We hold regular Coffee mornings, Church social events such as a Winter Festival, Easter breakfasts, monthly Sunday Soup Lunch, Valentine’s Day lunches and, last year, a St. Andrews Day festival.
Scripture Union also make use of our Church Hall for various events and has recently started a group at the local High School.
This is our large hall
Our Communion roll currently stands at 189 and is largely made up of people 60 years plus of age
Our average weekly attendance is now around thirty-five to forty each week.
Over the last five years we have had four people join our congregation.
The Kirk Session currently consists of sixteen Elders and the six Congregational Board members. We have a large group of retired Elders who are no longer physically able to assist. We also have a team of willing volunteers who are very happy to assist.
Bannockburn Allan has three School chaplains who lead assemblies in one of the Primary Schools and in the High School.
CONTENTS
1. Joint Introduction and Welcome to our Community
2. Bannockburn Allan – History
Worship Life
Pastoral Care
Christian Education
World Church
Stewardship & Finance
Staffing
Church, Halls and Manse
Web Links & contact Emails
3. Bannockburn Ladywell – History
Worship Life
Pastoral Care
Christian Education
World Church
Stewardship & Finance Staffing
Church, Halls & Manse
Five Marks of Mission
Web Links & Contact emails
4. Closing Comments
Appendix 1: Basis of Deferred Linkage
WORSHIP
We currently have a team of four Worship Leaders, who arrange Services when the Locum Minister is on holiday. Worship is at 11.15am.
Our Worship style is traditional.
Each week we have an All-Age Address at the beginning of the Service. It also encourages everyone to move around the Sanctuary to speak to others and to share in fellowship.
Our Sunday School Children enjoy this part of the Service before leaving to enjoy Sunday School activities. With 10 regular attendees, the Sunday School enjoy regular discussion and activities and activities from the Bible and take part in several key services throughout the year.
We have had three Baptisms in the last five years.
The locum minister organizes the Order of Service each week and we use overhead screens for Bible readings, Hymns and intimations for the Congregation.
We have an Order of Service which is printed with intimations weekly
Data protection is used and Safeguarding procedures are followed
Musical resources consist of an Organ, Digital hymnbook, CH4, Mission Praise and the use of projection screens.
We share in Joint services for World Day of Prayer, Holy week, Remembrance, 1st Sunday in Advent, and Watchnight Services.
PASTORAL CARE
Our Pastoral care group arranges visits to those who are ill, either in Hospital, Care Home or their own home.
The Locum Minister is advised of anyone in need of a pastoral care visit.
Elders deliver the Church magazine to all members 4 times per year.
Other involvement as notified by the group.
We had eighteen funerals in 2024.
Residential Homes used to hold Communion and Services of Worship until Covid stopped them being held.
When requested, a home communion service will be arranged for any housebound member.
A transcript of the weekly service is prepared and sent out to three members who are unable to attend.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
In the Allan, we have a group of Sunday school leader and teachers
There are currently between eight and ten children who attend fairly regularly at present.
Other youth work is carried out with Scripture Union Scotland
There is a Bible Chat afternoon which is organized by the Locum Minister and is greatly enjoyed on a regular basis by around six or seven people.
WORLD CHURCH
The Bannockburn Allan supports the World Church by giving to Christian Aid and any Red Cross appeals for help in other countries.
WORSHIP LIFE in the LADYWELL
Our main Sunday worship is at 11:15am. Although, broadly traditional in format, drama, stories and other less formal elements are often included. We have an enthusiastic choir and an organist with a new digital organ and keyboard.
We use a mixture of CH4, Mission Praise and Songs of Gods People for our hymns.
Sunday worship is mainly led by the minister, but Elders and other members participate on a regular basis by reading Bible Passages, leading Prayers, sharing personal experiences or participating in small dramas and sketches. which are always appreciated by the congregation.
Some of the highlights of the year are the special services consisting of Easter Sunday, Harvest, Remembrance Sunday, Blue Sunday Service, Christingle and a Nativity Service.
Children and young people are always made welcome and we have a Children’s/All Age Address every week.
Every Sunday the church is decorated with a floral arrangement, after the service the arrangement is made into several bunches of flowers which are delivered to members of the congregation to let them know that Ladywell is thinking of them in times of celebration, illness or in sympathy for a bereavement.
We celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion five times a year in January, March, June, September and November. There is also a joint Communion during Holy Week with the other local churches.
The Minister posts a weekly prayer on our Facebook page.
As with so many other churches, our congregation is ageing, and average attendances has dropped over the years with our Communion Roll currently standing at 148 and an average attendance of 35 worshippers. We do have members who are physically unable to attend church as they are either housebound or reside in care homes and these are regularly visited by either our Minister or their District Elder.
The Charge follows the Model Deed of Constitution, and we currently have 10 active Elders and 6 additional members on the Congregational Board. Both Board and Session meet monthly on the 1st Tuesday of each month. We are looking to move towards Unitary Constitution.
Bannockburn Ladywell aims to provide a place of worship and fellowship where all are welcome, to identify the needs of our community and those further afield and to fulfil those needs through Christian love and action.
The Church and Halls have been a focal point for the community ever since opening its doors in 1957 and with the addition of the two church halls, has provided a location for many groups over the years. Currently our main hall is in use on six of seven days by various external groups.
We hold both regular weekly coffee mornings and a monthly coffee morning to encourage fellowship between our members and the community, we also run several social events including both a Summer and Winter Fete, Afternoon Teas, Beetle / Snowman Drives and Games Nights.
PASTORAL CARE
Our Elders deliver magazines to all members residing in their districts four times per year and will advise the Minister of anyone who is ill, in hospital or in need of a pastoral care visit for any other reason.
When requested, a home communion service will be arranged for any housebound member.
A transcript of the weekly service is prepared and sent out to three members who are unable to attend.
We used to hold services of worship at Fairview Care Home.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
We currently do not have an active Sunday School. Before lockdown, there was an active Sunday School, but we find now that there is competition with many other organisations on a Sunday morning and we may need to look to provide youth activities on a different day or at a different time.
We are very aware of the importance in trying to attract younger adults and children into the church family and are currently looking at organising Messy Church and are open to looking at any other suggestions on encouraging young families and children to attend church on a regular basis.
WORLD CHURCH
As part of our annual Harvest celebration, our cash donations go to Farm Africa. We also regularly support Christian Aid and will hold collections for other Disaster Relief Funds.
We have proudly supported Souper Sunday and its work to raise awareness of the many issues around HIV, as well as to raise money for HIV initiatives around the world since its inception.
Historically we used to maintain links with Malawi via the Mamie Martin Fund and we would be keen to rekindle these links and intend to support the Moderator of the Church of Scotland’s 2025 challenge to Light up Learning in Malawi to help transform students' lives.
COMMUNITY PROFILE
Many years ago, the village of Bannockburn was involved in weaving both tartan and floor coverings and coalmining.
Bannockburn is classed as an urban area and the population of Bannockburn has grown rapidly over the years with many new houses being built in and around the village. Further new housing development is proposed for the area.
The community facilities consist of an Alba Medical Group (Bannockburn Medical Practice), a Dentist, two Primary Schools, one High School, two Care Homes, Sheltered Housing, Post Office, Coffee House, Hairdressers, Pub/Restaurant, Funeral Director and various takeaway shops.
Stirling Community Hospital is less than 10 minutes away by car.
Bannockburn, whilst referred to locally as a village, is in fact more like a small town, which is made up of predominantly working-class people with a large and increasing number of residents from outside the immediate local area. Many residents commute to work taking advantage of the excellent road, bus and rail links available.
There are 2 council run Community Centres – The Hillpark Centre which is open 5 days a week (not at weekends) and Bannockburn Centre is open 5 days a week but evenings only. The link below will take you to a map of Bannockburn.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YTv8PAwPFXgC1ckM6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
ECUMENICAL CONTEXT
Both congregations have always had good relationships with all our neighbouring churches, including all those in our Church of Scotland Grouping (Bannockburn Allan, Bannockburn Ladywell, Cowie and Plean linked with Fallin) along with the Murrayfield United Free Church, Our Lady & St Ninian Roman Catholic Church, Christadelphian & Brethren Churches. Even greater interaction is hoped for in the future.
As local Churches we do come together and share in events and fellowship regularly.
Joint Services with our neighbouring churches are held on Palm Sunday and during Easter Week, World Day of Prayer and Advent Sunday Evening Service.
The Bannockburn Ladywell Minister is a member of three ministerial gatherings.
STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE
Allan Church
– Surplus £4,926
– Deficit £165
Giving to Grow contribution for 2025 - £24,097 (40% of the cost of the Ministry allocated to the Charge) No dedicated Stewardship activity at present. Environmental audit – None conducted to date.
Eco congregations – Engaged with this in 2012 when hall was upgraded and modernized but no recent activity of this nature. As much re-cycling as possible is done, lighting all upgraded to LED and the large hall heated by air source heat pump.
STAFFING
As we do not have a Church secretary in the Allan Church, the Session Clerk deals with enquiries. We have trained worship leaders to assist with services if required.
We have two property conveners who deal with any bookings for our Church halls and any other property matters. We have a willing team of volunteers who tend our gardens and help maintain the high standard of our buildings known locally as “the Garden Gnomes”.
We have a cleaner who is a Church member and is paid by the Church – NLW for hours required.
JOINT CLOSING COMMENTS
In other words, both Bannockburn Allan and Bannockburn Ladywell are in a good financial position with well-maintained buildings. We have close links with each other and to the local community and have an opportunity to expand our congregations with the new housing developments currently planned and under construction.
WEB LINKS & CONTACT DETAILS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Bannockburn Allan
Link to Church website:
https://www.allanchurch.org
Link to Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Allan-Church-Bannockburn
Bannockburn Ladywell
Link to Church website:
Bannockburn Ladywell Church Link to Facebook page:
Bannockburn Ladywell Church | Stirling | Facebook
Contact Addresses of Nominating Committee
Convenor: Ronald McMurray beetlejuice41@icloud.com
Vice Convenor: Richard Johnston rjohnston.ladywell@gmail.com
Clerk: Karen Christie karchris2306@gmail.com
Copyright © Allan Church. All rights reserved.