DUNOON’S iconic St John’s Church is to be sold, after an official decision on the future of the property was rubber-stamped late last week.
It’s understood the Church of Scotland (COS) general trustees decided to put St John’s up for sale, even though mounting frustration and anger from members of Cowal Kirk congregation opposed the move.
Over the past few months, COS has been deliberating over releasing either St John’s Church, in the heart of the town, or Kirn & Sandbank Church as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
However, their decision last week was made as, according to their findings, St John’s was the highest-risk asset within the Cowal Kirk’s building portfolio due to its size, limited flexibility, accessibility constraints, and exposure to significant and volatile fabric costs.
In April, it was reported that Cowal Kirk’s preferred option was the opposite, in that the congregation wished to retain St John’s and sell Kirn and Sandbank Church instead.
However, this week a Church of Scotland spokesperson explained: “Clèir Eilean Presbytery took the decision to release the St John’s building for sale after agreeing with the recommendations of a review by the general trustees of the Church of Scotland.
“This carefully considered review took more than a year and was requested by the Kirk Session on the basis that keeping three church buildings and the Hanover Street Halls to the rear of St John’s was unsustainable.”
They added: “St John’s will continue to be used as it currently is until the building is sold and the process of putting it up for sale will not begin until the end of the year.
“Dunoon will not be left without a Church of Scotland – the Church will still be working for the community out of the Hanover Street Halls, church facilities at Kirn, Sandbank and Toward, and The Wee Shop run by the Church in Dunoon town centre.”
St John’s has been described as one of Scotland’s top 20 churches by architectural historian John Hume and, for many local residents, is the heart of the town centre.
The news of its forthcoming sale and the claim from the COS that Dunoon will not be left without a church in the town has been met with anger and derision by some members of Cowal Kirk.
They’ve described the A-listed town centre building as much more than a historic landmark, as it remains an important place where generations of local people have gathered to celebrate, mourn and create lasting memories.
Others have questioned the Church of Scotland’s approach to managing its buildings following the loss of other churches in the town, including the former High Kirk, and called on decision-makers to listen to the communities who value and care about these historic places of worship.
