In a public meeting on Thursday held by Will John Anderson, a church elder at St Magnus in Hamnavoe in Yell, Kirk members expressed the desire to run as an independent church instead.
Mr Anderson told Premier that the decision to try to buy the church wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction to the planned church closures.
He said that members had “thought long and hard” about it.
“I have been thinking about us buying the church building for more than two years,” he explained.
The closures are among a raft of measures included in a new plan endorsed by the majority of the Church of Scotland’s 975 members in Shetland.
Shetland, which includes more than 100 islands – 15 of which are inhabited – will be served by just one parish minister, under the plan.
Mr Anderson said while he wasn’t sure how much it would cost to buy the building, others in the area had sold for between £10,000 and £15,000.
However he said he was “hopeful” they could buy it with everyone in the church chipping in until they can get finance arranged.
“We will be completely independent – run as a centre with Christian services and different community activities taking place as well,” he added.
The following 20 churches have been named by the Church of Scotland as the churches set to close on the Shetland Isles:
- Bigton St Ninians
- Bressay
- Cunningsburgh
- Dunrossness
- Fair…
… Read More
—
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.