An Angus community marked a milestone in the 770-year history of a local church on Sunday.
East and Old Parish Church in Forfar closed its doors for 10 months to remove its Foster & Andrews organ, dark wood pews and east balcony, and usher in a modern environment for praise and community use.
The public were given their first look at the new sanctuary – further renovations are planned above – at a rededication service, welcomed by the Rev Barbara Ann Sweetin.
The Rev Sweetin said the new-look building would house the community “we’re all part of”.
“God has given the kirk session of East & Old a vision, and the kirk session took that challenge and rose to it,” she said.
“This sanctuary still holds in excess of 700 people, both downstairs and upstairs.
“We have a new social area we’ve already seated 90 people in for lunch, and can be used for conferences.
“And we’ve a new extension area that can hold 80 people also.
“There’s still more to do.”
The project was helped by donations from members and friends of the church, along with £20,000 from the Robertson Trust, £13,000 from All Church Trust Ltd, £12,500 from Angus Presbytery, £5,000 from the Beatrice Laing Trust, £1,000 from the Alexander Moncur Trust, and skills and goods from dozens of local firms.
For 10 months, the congregation met in the Chapel Street church hall while teams built walls and installed new heating along with an audio-visual system and lighting rig.
A congregation of around 400 people were piped between the halls and Mrs Vina McLaren, 96, cut the ribbon.
At the other end of the age range, Sophie Ann McIntosh was blessed in the sanctuary’s first christening.
Invited guests included a deputy for the Lord Lieutenant of Angus, local councillors, the 2nd Forfar Boys’ Brigade, and the Groovy Gryphons Sunday school group.
The East and Old site has been a place of worship since 1241, with the latest building built to replace the chapel in 1789.
As part of the refurbishment, the church organ was taken to the John Paul II Church in Grajewo, Poland.
Since 1899 the instrument had served the church well and a succession of organists, including the late Willie Bernard.
However the organ began to fail in recent years and the cost of repair was estimated at between £300,000 and £500,000.
