Kinneff church is put on the market
Empty pews in a Mearns coast church has resulted in a decision to close it and put it up for sale.
- By Liz Fowler
- Published in the Courier : 28.07.10
- Published online : 28.07.10 @ 12.28pm
The congregation in Kinneff was warned a year ago there had to be an improvement in attendance to justify the cost of the building's upkeep, but the warning appears to have fallen on deaf ears and, according to the kirk session, worshippers continued to dwindle to an alarmingly low level.
The situation was compounded by the church losing its minister.
Kinneff is linked with Arbuthnott and Inverbervie as one Church of Scotland parish, but the charge has been vacant since last July when the Rev Georgie Baxendale departed, and though a new minister has been found — Rev Dennis Rose from Bathgate — it will be September before he is inducted to his new charge.
A letter signed by session clerk Peter Smith and interim moderator the Rev William Wallace was sent to all the Kinneff members in April warning that services could be discontinued and the building sold for some purpose other than religious worship.
A meeting called to decide the church's fate agreed it could be disposed of and the Kincardine and Deeside Presbytery has sanctioned the move.
Since the union between Arbuthnott, Bervie and Kinneff in November 2007, there had been considerable concern about the small number of people attending the Sunday services in Kinneff Church, said kirk leaders.
"We are well aware that some people with long connections with the church will be sorry to see its closure," said the kirk session. "However, it is not good stewardship to continue maintaining a building and services for the very small number of people who attend.
"It was also important that we resolve this matter before a new minister was inducted."
Kinneff Old Church is famous as the site where the Honours of Scotland were hidden after the siege of Dunnottar Castle in 1651 by Cromwell's forces and kept until the Restoration in 1660.
Though maintained by a dedicated preservation trust, the church has not been in use for worship since a more modern building was constructed by the side of the A92 at the south end of the village.
Add a comment