Kincardine Church in Sutherland at turning point, with last service to be preached on Sunday

A church in Sutherland has reached a turning point in its 115-year-old history.

The last service is to be held at Kincardine Parish Church, Lower Gledfield, Ardgay, on Sunday, October 13.

The church and its nearby hall are among a large number of church buildings that were declared surplus to requirements by the Church of Scotland in a radical restructuring.

Originally built by the United Free Church in 1909, the church has had a varied history, becoming part of the Presbytery of Sutherland in 1999.

Regular services were held in the building until the end of December 2023.

At the start of this year, Kincardine, Croick and Edderton joined with Creich Church and Dornoch Cathedral in a new union - the Dornoch Firth Church of Scotland.

A review of Kincardine Church noted that the congregation was “low in number”.

The report said: “Whilst there are some dedicated members, there is no longer a requirement for a worship space of the scale of Kincardine. Both the church and the hall require considerable investment to make them well-equipped spaces.

“The levels of income are such that the ongoing management and maintenance of the building is beyond the means of the congregation.

“Attaining comfort levels in the church is difficult with the existing system, and the hall is used for worship in the winter.

“The hall is on the same site, and it would not lend well to separating the plots. The hall, if retained, would also require modernisation.”

Both the church and the hall were put on the market with a closing date of September 10. Offers over £90,000 were invited.

It is understood the buildings have been sold with the legal process ongoing.

The sale brochure said: “The buildings could be used, without the necessity of obtaining change of use consent, as a creche, day nursery, day centre, educational establishment, museum, art gallery, or public library.

“It also has a potential for a variety of other uses, such as a theatre, cinema, or entertainment venue, retail space, or community resource, subject to obtaining appropriate consents. Conversion to residential accommodation would also be possible, again subject to the usual consents.”

The Sunday service will begin at1.30pm and is being conducted by Rev Alistair Drummond, interim moderator for the Dornoch Firth Parish.

A spokesperson for the parish said: “All are welcome to mark this historic occasion, and there will be time after the service to share memories and enjoy refreshments.”

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