WHILE St John’s won’t officially be placed on the market until the end of the year, this newspaper has explored possible options for the building’s future.
The most likely scenario could be community ownership. A trust, charity or newly created organisation could potentially attempt to take ownership and keep the building available for public use.
Under the umbrella of community ownership, St John’s could become a performance venue, exhibition space, community hub with meeting rooms or creative studios.
Dunoon has a solid track record of success with community ownership, with Dunoon Burgh Hall being a prime example, but this option does come with the challenge of meeting a purchase price, maintenance and heating costs, and insurance.
Another option could be the church becoming an arts and performance venue.
With high ceilings, natural acoustics and large open spaces, the adaptation of the building could work well for future concerts, exhibitions, festivals or community events.
However, given Dunoon already has similar spaces in the Burgh Hall and the Queen’s Hall, this option could be in direct competition with these buildings.
A restaurant/café or hospitality conversion is another possible option. St John’s layout naturally lends itself to a destination restaurant, food hall or artisan space. The advantage with this idea is that it keeps public access, although some people dislike former sacred spaces becoming commercial.
One of the most obvious options is that the church undergoes a housing conversion. Other towns and cities have successfully converted large places of worship into luxury apartments, private homes and even holiday accommodation.
However, St John’s being A-listed means changes would likely face much closer scrutiny.
A final possible option, and probably the most ambitious, is that the church becomes a local museum or visitor centre.
An established heritage attraction for tourists to learn about the varied history of the town, the American Navy’s presence, the Cowal Gathering’s history, and Clan Lamont and Clan Campbell’s links.
While some residents hope the building can remain a community asset, any future owner would face the challenge of maintaining and adapting one of Dunoon’s most architecturally significant buildings.
For generations, St John’s Church has been a place of worship, celebration, reflection and remembrance, but when St John’s Church is sold, a new chapter will begin for one of Dunoon’s most recognisable buildings. Right now, nobody knows what that new chapter will look like.
