Fairtrade fortnight is 21st September to 4th October
After the services on 27th September and 4th October there will be a table where Fairtrade items are for sale.
Harvest Thanksgiving Service 2026
Harvest Thanksgiving Service: will take place in Balfron Church on Sunday 4th October and the Kirk Session asks members to donate tinned and packaged foods for Start Up Stirling. After the service there will be a Retiring Offering for the work of Tearfund.
The Beacon - opening ceremony on 12th September
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Saturday 12th September sees the opening of ‘The Beacon’, a new community hub for Balfron and surrounding villages, run by the Strathendrick Baptist Church. Feel free to drop in any time from 11am-3pm, and the official ceremony will take place around 11.30am.
Raspberry Tea at the Manse - Saturday 8th August
Everyone is invited for our Raspberry Tea this Saturday, 8th August 2026, in the Manse between 2-4pm.
There will be hot drinks, masses of cakes and even some games for the young at heart! Please turn up whenever suits during those hours and enjoy meeting some new people from our sister congregation.
The Manse address is 7 Station Road, Balfron, G63 0SX.
(Please be aware of the parking on our street. Try and keep to parking on one side only, once the driveway is full. If coming into the drive, please note the narrow width. There are also plenty spaces behind Balfron Church with a short walk along Station Road.)
Balfron and Fintry Church Report and Accounts 2025
The Balfron and Fintry Trustees' Report and Receipt and Payments accounts, for the year ending 31st December 2025, are now available to view here...
Click to download the report and accounts
Annual Stated Meeting of Balfron and Fintry Church
The Annual Stated Meeting of Balfron and Fintry Church will take place on 24th May after the morning service.
The Agenda for the Meeting and the Minutes of last year's Meeting can be found by clicking the links below.
Fintry Kirk Resilience and Community Trust grant application success!
A message from the Fintry Kirk Resilience and Community Trust
The Fintry Kirk Resilience and Community Trust are delighted to announce that our application to the Scottish Land Fund - the funding body established by the Scottish Government - has been successful. This grant will provide the funds to acquire Fintry Kirk from the Church of Scotland General Trustees, a landmark achievement in the Trust's three‑year journey. Confirmation of the grant was received this week, sparking a flurry of thought and activity within the Fintry community.
Although the formal handover of the Kirk will not be completed until the New Year, the joy and excitement of this success have inspired us to celebrate now. In partnership with the Fintry Museum, we warmly invite everyone to gather in Fintry Kirk next Sunday, 21st December at 2 p.m. to mark this historic milestone.
The celebration will take the form of mulled wine, mince pies, music, song, and stories - perhaps even a carol or two to lift the season’s spirit. Friends, family, neighbours, and visitors are all welcome, and we especially hope our friends in the congregation in Balfron will join us so that Fintry and Balfron can celebrate side by side.
This is more than a gathering; it is a joyful moment for our whole community. Come share in the warmth, raise a glass, and be part of history in the making.
The Fintry Kirk Resilience and Community Trust are delighted to announce that our application to the Scottish Land Fund - the funding body established by the Scottish Government - has been successful. This grant will provide the funds to acquire Fintry Kirk from the Church of Scotland General Trustees, a landmark achievement in the Trust's three‑year journey. Confirmation of the grant was received this week, sparking a flurry of thought and activity within the Fintry community.
Although the formal handover of the Kirk will not be completed until the New Year, the joy and excitement of this success have inspired us to celebrate now. In partnership with the Fintry Museum, we warmly invite everyone to gather in Fintry Kirk next Sunday, 21st December at 2 p.m. to mark this historic milestone.
The celebration will take the form of mulled wine, mince pies, music, song, and stories - perhaps even a carol or two to lift the season’s spirit. Friends, family, neighbours, and visitors are all welcome, and we especially hope our friends in the congregation in Balfron will join us so that Fintry and Balfron can celebrate side by side.
This is more than a gathering; it is a joyful moment for our whole community. Come share in the warmth, raise a glass, and be part of history in the making.
Church Treasurer position available
This is a paid role requiring around 1-2 hours per week, with some flexibility during key periods like year-end reporting. Full support is provided on transfer from existing treasurer and office bearers.
What does the Treasurer do?
- Maintain financial records and prepare a brief report for the Leadership team of the church (Kirk Session), held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
- Submit annual accounts to OSCR and manage Gift Aid claims
- Process payments and oversee banking
- Support budgeting, stewardship, and fundraising efforts
- Ensure transparency and compliance with charity regulations (OSCR)
If you or someone you know might be interested, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Rev. Alex Smeed (asmeed@churchofscotland.org.uk), Ian McVean (ianmcvean@yahoo.co.uk) or Meg Duckworth (milnemeg@btinternet.com), our Session Clerks, for more details.
Harvest Thanksgiving Service
The Harvest Thanksgiving Service took place on Sunday 5th October and collected 99 kg of foodstuffs for Start Up Stirling and raised £364.70 for Tearfund.
Malawi partnerships exhibition
This travelling exhibition is organised by The Scotland Malawi Partnership and, whilst in Killearn on the 13th and 14th September, supported by The Killearn Malawi Group and Changing Lives Malawi (in Balfron).
Members of both organisations belong to local churches and it would be wonderful to have the support of the congregations in the villages at this event. Please do pop in to say hello and see the wonderful photos. Everyone is very welcome.
The exhibition is in Killearn Kirk Hall on Saturday 13th Sept 10am-4pm and Sunday 14th September 11am - 3pm.
Election of Rev. Alex Smeed as minister
as minister of the vacant charge of Balfron & Fintry linked with Drymen and East Loch Lomond
10th August 2025
I am delighted that the congregations of Balfron & Fintry linked with Drymen & East Loch Lomond have today elected Rev. Alex Smeed to be their minister. He received overwhelming support.
Members and adherents in the two congregations will be able to sign a Call to Alex before and after church services on the next three Sundays, 17th , 24th and 31st August. Details will be shared with the congregations at these services.
A service of induction is planned in late September. Details will be shared as soon as possible.
I am most grateful to all eleven members of the nominating committee convened by Anthony Weld Forrester and with Sarah Jane Black as clerk. They prepared an excellent Parish Profile and performed their responsibilities with great diligence. It has been a great privilege, as Interim Moderator, to help members and office-bearers through this last period of their vacancy. I am heartened by the faith and commitment of so many in both congregations and thank God that you will be entering an exciting and very encouraging next phase of church life.
Blessings
Peter Murdoch
Interim Moderator
Balfron Book Festival
Taking place from the 5th to 7th September 2025, this weekend-long festival is a celebration of books and storytelling in the Stirlingshire village of Balfron. From author events and creative writing workshops, to family storytelling sessions, we’re excited to bring you a fun-filled programme for readers of all ages.
More information, including the programme of events, can be found here: https://www.balfronbookfestival.com/
Keswick Convention - live stream
Killearn Kirk presents a live stream of the Keswick Convention on Sunday, 27th July 2025 at 7.30pm
The Keswick Convention is a 150-year-old resource which boasts three weeks of seminars, guest speakers, praise bands, book shops and prayer groups.
We are going to broadcast Sunday’s session live from the 'KesCon' tent where we’ll listen to guest speaker Ray Ortlund with praise music performed by the guest band 'Emu Music'.
You can access Killearn Kirk from 7pm where teas, coffee and cake will be provided before the start of the livestream.
All are welcome to this free event, it will be great to see you there!
Nominating Committee select Rev. Alex Smeed as nominee for Minister
The Nomination Committee charged with seeking a minister for the vacant charge of Balfron and Fintry linked with Drymen and East Loch Lomond. unanimously selected Rev. Alex Smeed as their sole nominee.
It has been arranged that he will lead Sunday morning worship in Drymen and Balfron Churches at the usual times on Sunday 10th August 2025.
Congregational votes will be held immediately after the services.
Formal edicts will be read to congregations on 27th July and 3rd August, and posted on the websites then. It is hoped that as many as possible will attend on 10th August as only members and adherents present will be able to vote.
Balfron and Fintry Church Report and Accounts 2024
The Union of Balfron and Fintry Trustees' Report and Receipt and Payments accounts, for the year ending 31st December 2024, are now available to view here...
Click to download the report and accounts
Revised Door and Offering Duty Rota 2025
On the third Sunday of every month the service will be at Fintry, starting at 11.30am.
On all other Sundays each month the service will be at Balfron, starting at 11.30am.
Team B: Mr J. McLean, Mrs F. Christie, Miss J. Browning, Mrs E. Mottram, Mrs A. Taylor, Mrs M. Duckworth, Mr H. Edmond
Team C: Mr I. McVean, Mrs P. Lightbody, Mrs L. McCartney, Mrs R. Wilson, Mr D. Jamieson, Mrs R. Walters
May
11 - Team B at Balfron
18 - Team C at Fintry
25 - Team A at Balfron
June
1 - Team B at Balfron
8 - Team C at Balfron
15 - Team A at Fintry
22 - Team B at Balfron
29 - Team C at Balfron
July
6 - Team A at Balfron
13 - Team B at Balfron
20 - Team C at Fintry
27 - Team A at Balfron
August
3 - Team B at Balfron
May
11 - Team B at Balfron
18 - Team C at Fintry
25 - Team A at Balfron
June
1 - Team B at Balfron
8 - Team C at Balfron
15 - Team A at Fintry
22 - Team B at Balfron
29 - Team C at Balfron
July
6 - Team A at Balfron
13 - Team B at Balfron
20 - Team C at Fintry
27 - Team A at Balfron
August
3 - Team B at Balfron
10 - Team C at Balfron
17 - Team A at Fintry
24 - Team B at Balfron
31 - Team C at Balfron
September
7 - Team A at Balfron
September
7 - Team A at Balfron
14 - Team B at Balfron
21 - Team C at Fintry
28 - Team A at Balfron
October
5 (Harvest) - Team B at Balfron
October
5 (Harvest) - Team B at Balfron
12 - Team C at Balfron
19 - Team A at Fintry
26 - Team B at Balfron
November
2 - Team C at Balfron
November
2 - Team C at Balfron
9 (Remembrance) - Team A at Balfron
16 - Team B at Fintry
23 - Team C at Balfron
30 (Start of Advent) - Team A at Balfron
December
December
7 - Team B at Balfron
14 (Gift Service) - Team C at Balfron
21 - Team A at Fintry
24 (Watchnight) - Team B at...to be confirmed
25 (Christmas Day) - Team C at...to be confirmed
28 - Team A at Balfron
Election of Nominating Committee
The Election of five members of the Congregation to serve on the Nominating Committee, for a new minister for the Charge of Balfron and Fintry linked with Drymen and East Loch Lomond, will take place on 23rd March after the morning service in Balfron Church.
CrossReach Prayer Diary
CrossReach, part of the Church of Scotland's Social Care Council, have created an online weekly prayer diary. The message below will update and display Prayer Points each week for you to prayerfully consider and reflect upon.
For more infomation about CrossReach's work, please click here.
Letter from Interim Moderator
Letter from Interim Moderator, Dr Peter Murdoch
Dear Friends,
24th January 2025
Dear Friends,
I
have the privilege of being the Interim Moderator for the newly linked
congregations of Balfron and Fintry, and Drymen and East Loch Lomond. Whilst I
have met the kirk sessions and a few of you after the Service of Linkage on
23rd January, I realise I
am unknown to many of you so I welcome the opportunity to introduce myself,
explain my role and explain what steps the two churches will go through
in the next few months.
I
am a retired medical doctor (mostly specialising in medicine of older people
but from 1975-81 working in a Church hospital in Nigeria), a church elder and
session clerk at Park Church Stirling and a member of Presbytery. I am married to Sarah, a retired nurse, and
we are blessed with seven grandchildren in Devon and Angus.
My
main responsibility is to support the congregations in their vacancy and help
them through the necessary steps to call a full time minister for the linked
charge in coming months. I am very grateful to the locum ministers who have
supported worship and pastoral care so well and also to your very able and
committed office bearers, elders and other members supporting church
activities.
In
coming months, we will be agreeing a parish profile outlining our vision for
the future, our missional priorities, how we hope to work with and support a
minister address the various opportunities and challenges of the this larger
charge, as well as some of basic information about the linked churches. Earlier this week the two sessions met
together in a very encouraging meeting when it was apparent there is a large
degree of consensus and shared purpose as well as enthusiasm for some of ways
in with we might complement and help one another. The congregations will, in a
couple of months, update their electoral roll, elect a nomination committee, 6
members from Drymen and East Loch Lomond and 5 people from Balfron and Fintry;
in in due course, by God’s grace, vote for a sole nominee.
I
am excited and heartened by hearing of the faith and loving service of so many;
and pray that, trusting in God and the
strength of his Holy Spirit, we might move forward in faith to build on the
witness and endeavours of the past, and to further his Kingdom in this part of
the county.
Blessings