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We have far too many buildings, says Church of Scotland amid Halkirk closure concerns





Concerns over the future of a Caithness village church have prompted a reminder that Christians historically have been able to worship together “with or without building ownership”.

A petition is under way to save Halkirk’s 138-year-old church, which is under threat of closure as part of plans being considered by the Church of Scotland’s Presbytery of the Highlands and Hebrides.

Halkirk and Westerdale Church Session Board has described the church in Bridge Street as a “central pillar” of the community while maintaining that it is “financially secure”.

A petition is under way to save Halkirk’s 138-year-old church, which dates back to 1886.
A petition is under way to save Halkirk’s 138-year-old church, which dates back to 1886.

The session board takes the view that it would be “unthinkable” for Scotland’s first planned village to be without a church.

An online petition has been launched on change.org and paper versions are available locally.

A Church of Scotland spokesperson said: “The Church of Scotland has been going through a deep and sustained review of all of its core purposes and resources for a number of years.

“Presbyteries throughout Scotland were tasked with doing this within their local areas. At the same time, we were creating larger, more collaborative presbyteries so that some of our common tasks, previously done centrally, could be devolved.

“For several years, the former Caithness Presbytery worked diligently to try and find a way to provide ministry across its breadth, but could not get a plan agreed amongst the congregations of the county.

“Clèir Eilean Ì, the Presbytery of the Highlands and Hebrides, was formed in January 2024 with this as one of its first priorities. The first draft of the plan is being prepared for presbytery’s next meeting on June 22.

“With just 526 ministers across the whole of Scotland, in some places we’re looking at a team ministry approach using ordained and lay members as a way to enable local gatherings of faithful Christians to continue to worship within their communities.

“Sometimes this will be in church buildings, sometimes in community centres. So many people have deep roots of faith, and while in our shortest memory that has always been evidenced around buildings and a minister, going back into our longest history, the people of God have known how to worship together, teach each other, be a bright and serving presence in their communities with or without building ownership.

“Many congregations across Scotland are being asked to unite with neighbouring congregations to enable ministers or teams to work across larger areas – but in rural areas there will always be an emphasis on the congregations worshipping and living out their faith locally, whether we are able to retain our buildings or not. The draft plan certainly envisages both union and team ministry for Halkirk and Westerdale.

“The Church has always been the people more than it was ever supposed to be the buildings, and the stark fact is that, because of our history, we have far too many buildings.

“There has been sadness growing over recent decades as buildings designed for several hundred now have 15 or 20 people worshipping in them on a Sunday.

“While some church buildings will be retained, others will be given a date to work towards for the release of the building. In a few cases, a congregation may be given a little longer to see if, missionally, the life of the congregation can be revitalised.

“The buildings will remain in the community, and it is our fervent hope that other organisations will find creative, imaginative uses for them – and where they are really important to the community, a community group may form that can take them over. Indeed, it may well be that some of our own members are part of these very community groups.”

There is another petition on change.org opposing the closure of St Fergus Church in Wick.


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