Public meeting to consider new role for 285-year-old Reay church
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Reay residents are being asked for their thoughts on giving a new lease of life to the village's 285-year-old church which is expected to close this summer.
A public meeting is taking place next week to consider whether the category "A" listed building on the North Coast 500 route could potentially be acquired for the community and to seek ideas on possible uses.
In the meantime, an online community consultation is under way.
The church, with its striking white walls and distinctive bell-tower, dates back to 1739. Under proposals by the Church of Scotland, it could close in June.
While the idea of acquiring it for community use is very much at an exploratory stage there appears to be "quite a lot of support", according to local resident Fiona Mackenzie.
She is supporting the community through a Save Reay Church Facebook page and in setting up the initial meeting. It is due to take place in the church on Tuesday, March 5, starting at 7.30pm.
Ms Mackenzie said: "There had been a few folk that had said how it's such a shame that the church is closing, and that it would be such a loss to the community.
"It's positioned close to the graveyard as well, and I think that has been causing a lot of concerns for folk too. If the building is disposed of then what will it become, and will that have an impact?
"I think there is certainly room for something else within the village. The responses that we've got so far are positive.
"Certainly with any funding applications, the key thing they will want to see is that the community support it and that there is actually a need."
Reay already has a village hall. Ms Mackenzie said: "I think that's the key point with the community consultation and whatever business planning comes after that – if it is something that the community show they want to take forward, you don't want to compete with anything else in the village. You want to enhance what's already there.
"From what people have been sharing on the Facebook page, it's got so many memories of significant life events and I think there is a desire that the building retains those historic/heritage links but that folk still have the opportunity to use it for those sorts of events as well.
"Folk that maybe don't live in Reay any more have been in contact and they still have those emotional attachments to the village and to the church. It's such a landmark in the community."
Ms Mackenzie, who is manager of Strathnaver Museum in Bettyhill, says next week's meeting will seek to gauge support – or otherwise – for taking on the church as a community asset "and what that future for the building might look like".
She added: "Hopefully one of the outcomes from the meeting will be that individuals will come forward in order to form a committee.
"Then the next stage would be using all these ideas that come forward at the meeting, and that are shared through the survey, to start putting a bid in to a funder to get some support to put together a business plan and feasibility study."
The survey can be accessed through the Facebook page. An introduction to it states: "Are there any gaps in what is available to the community in Reay? Do you have a great idea that would benefit the community and add to the amenities in the village? If so, we'd love to hear them."
Those filling it in are also asked whether they would be willing to help by joining a committee or volunteering in other ways.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: “We are always open to working with any community groups interested in purchasing one of our buildings, such as Reay church, and would welcome discussing any potential business plan which the community proposes.
“Reay church is currently holding services on the first and third Sundays of each month.
“In the longer term, Reay church is being considered for possible release as part of the draft Caithness Presbytery Mission Plan [PMP], which is aimed at ensuring that the local church is properly equipped for the challenges of Christian mission in the years ahead.
“The Caithness PMP has still to be approved by presbytery and until that happens we are unable to make any further comment.”
It emerged at the end of 2022 that eight Caithness churches, including Reay, could be closed over a six-year period due to high maintenance costs coupled with fewer people going to church.
