The Free Church of Scotland will start its first congregation in Montrose for more than 100 years this weekend.
In the 19th Century there were three Free Church congregations in the town, but in 1900 they all joined the United Free Church.
Now the Free Church will return to Montrose with weekly Sunday services at the Scott Jubilee Hall off St Mary’s Road, opposite the Montrose Academy Square.
Grace Church Montrose will hold its first Sunday service at 11am and it will be followed by a buffet lunch.
It will initially be linked to St Peter’s Free Church in Dundee, which will help supply preachers until the new church becomes more established and a minister can be called.
The Rev David Robertson, minister at St Peter’s and this year’s Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, and the Rev David Meredith from Inverness will lead this Sunday’s worship.
A spokesperson for the new church said: “We are delighted that this new venture is starting on Sunday in partnership with the Free Church.
“We would like to extend a warm invitation to come and worship with us as we seek to preach the Gospel of Jesus in the town.
“We are really excited to be part of this and trust God will be glorified through it.”
The three Free Churches in Montrose were St George’s, St John’s and St Paul’s.
They were established following the Disruption of 1843, a division within the Church of Scotland when 450 ministers broke away, over the issue of the Church’s relationship with the state, to form the Free Church of Scotland.
However, all three decided to join the United Free Church in 1900 and later in 1929 they became Church of Scotland.
Mr Robertson added: “We have had a desire for many years to plant a church in Montrose.
“There is now a group who would like to start a new church and we will be delighted to help take them forward.”
Everyone is welcome at Sunday’s inaugural service, which will also include a children’s club and a creche.