The Church of Scotland

General Trustees

The Church of Scotland General Trustees form a statutory corporation set up in 1921 to hold properties and investments for the Church as a whole.

St Matthews in Perth
Since St Matthew’s Perth reopened at the end of 2016 after a £875,000 refubishment, its flexible and accessible new sanctuary has hosted conferences, community concerts, photographic exhibitions and many funerals and weddings as well as busy Sunday services

The General Trustees are charged with ensuring church buildings and funds are managed in the best interest of the Church as a whole and in support of parish ministry. The current chairperson is Mr Raymond K Young and the vice-chairperson is Mr Ian T Townsend.

What do the General Trustees do?

The General Trustees offer practical advice and guidance on maintaining and improving Church properties, manses and glebes. They produce guides and information to help congregations look after their properties. The General Trustees can also offer a limited amount of financial aid to congregations facing expenditure on their buildings. Find out more about looking after church buildings.

Who can be a General Trustee?

General Trustees are appointed by the General Assembly and must be either ministers or elders of the Church of Scotland. While there is no fixed number of trustees, normally there are around 36, of which just over a third are ministers. The elders can come from all walks of life but tend to be accountants, architects, lawyers and surveyors.

Meetings of the trustees and their executive committees are usually held monthly and trustees also are required to make frequent visits to parishes and presbyteries.

Committee Conveners

  • Business Committee:  Mr Raymond K Young
  • Fabric Committee: Michael J P Cunliffe
  • Glebes Committee: Mr William M Lawrie
  • Finance and Resources Committee: Mr Alan Kennedy
  • Audit and Assurance Committee: Dr J. Kenneth Macaldowie
  • Presbytery Strategy & Innovation Committee: Rev Fiona M Mathieson

Contact the Trustees

If you need more information about the work of the General Trustees please contact the Secretary, David Robertson, by email at gentrustees@churchofscotland.org.uk

For specific questions you can also contact:

All can be contacted by emailing gentrustees@churchofscotland.org.uk or at the Church's offices in Edinburgh.

Dates of Meetings 2020

General Trustees' Board Committees: Fabric, Glebe, Business Finance and Resources Audit and Assurance Safe Buildings Committee
10:30 - 15:30 Fabric: 10:45 - 12:45
Glebes: 10:45 - 12:45
Nomination/Business: 14:15 - 16:00		 10:00 - 12:30 10:30 - 12:30 9:30 - 10:30
14-15 January (overnight) 28 January - 21 January 28 January
- 25 February 19 February - -
17 March 31 March 25 March 25 March 31 March
28 April 28 April - - -
12 May - 13 May 7 May -
30 June 16 June - - 16 June
- - 15 July - 22 July
- 4 August - - 26 August
8 September 29 September - - 30 September
27 October - 21 October - 12 October
- 3 November - 17 November 25 November
1 December 15 December - - tbc

Annual Report and Financial Statements