THE future of one of Dunoon’s most iconic buildings has been thrown into doubt after the Church of Scotland (COS) this week confirmed St John’s Church is likely to be released and potentially put up for sale.
The move comes despite Cowal Kirk’s stated preferred option being to retain St John’s as its main place of worship.
In a statement to the Dunoon Observer, a COS spokesperson said: “The preferred option of Cowal Kirk’s kirk session was to retain St John’s as its place of worship. However, after thorough consideration, a recommendation has now been made to release St John’s.”
The decision followed an assessment by the General Trustees, the property-holding arm of the COS, which identified St John’s as 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.
“We understand and recognise the emotional attachment people have to a building such as St John’s, but the Church is undergoing a nationwide process to ensure the best use of resources and tackle a historic over-provision of buildings by serving our communities via flexible and accessible spaces in the right places so that we can best continue our core purpose of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.”
The development marks a significant shift from proposals outlined to members just weeks ago. As previously reported, Cowal Kirk had been considering two options for its future estate, with the kirk session favouring retention of St John’s.
News that the church could be sold has sparked anger and concern, and one frustrated Cowal Kirk member described the move as rushed and questioned the reasoning behind the recommendation.
They argued St John’s—described as one of Scotland’s top 20 churches by architectural historian John Hume—offers both a sanctuary and hall, giving it flexibility other buildings do not.
They also challenged suggestions over accessibility concerns, pointing to wheelchair access, a central location and nearby parking.
The member said: “Once again, the COS appears to be acting far too quickly, and quoting evidence which I believe is seriously misleading.
“They stated that St John’s was a problem due to its size, limited flexibility, accessibility constraints, and exposure to significant and volatile fabric costs.
“On the contrary, the building includes a hall, offering real flexibility, and has excellent access from Hanover Street, including wheelchair access, as well as from Victoria Road, not to mention a car park adjacent and a central location.
“As for volatile fabric costs, fortunately the church has been very well looked after, with the new roof being only about 12 years old, and the original building being of remarkably high quality. Fortunately, the sanctuary itself is large enough to be able to accommodate large gatherings including weddings, funerals, school visits and large choirs—a distinct advantage. This one building has a large and a smaller space within it—an excellent and flexible option.”
They added: “It seems irresponsible for COS, represented by its men in grey suits, to try to override the wish of the Cowal Kirk congregation here, who voted that their preference was to keep St John’s. And why all the hurry? Is it time for a campaign?”
No date has been given for when St John’s Church will go on the market, but for many in Dunoon, the prospect of losing one of the town’s most recognisable landmarks is likely to reignite debate over the future of historic community buildings.
