May Coghill passed away earlier this month at her home in Badrinsary.

When she discovered she had a terminal illness, she told her family she wanted to have her funeral service at the local church in Berriedale, but it had been closed by the Caithness Presbytery of the Church of Scotland due to organisational changes and put up for sale.

However, Welbeck Estates Company Ltd, which is based in the village, expressed an interest in taking over the building and making it available to the community for functions such as weddings and funerals. The sale was recently completed and Mrs Coghill's funeral service was held at the former church last week. She was laid to rest in the local graveyard which is run by the Berriedale cemetery committee.

The family was pleased that Mrs Coghill's request was able to be granted.

As previously reported, the presbytery acknowledged the family was going through "a difficult time" but a spokesman explained that due to organisational changes it had been decided the five churches in the Latheron parish would be reduced to two – one at Dunbeath and one at Lybster. The churches at Berriedale, Bruan and Latheron were formally closed and put up for sale.

At the time it appeared Mrs Coghill's wish would not be granted but the sale of the property to Welbeck Estates was finalised before she passed away. As a result, the estate made the building available for the funeral service last Wednesday and was able to ensure that her request was fulfilled.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---