A community campaign has been set up to save a historic West Stirlingshire church threatened with closure.
The Church of Scotland considers Buchanan Parish Church near Balmaha surplus to requirements.
It is part of a Stirling Presbytery rationalisation programme which also includes Logie Kirk, Blairlogie.
However, residents have formed a campaign to keep the Milton of Buchanan church open.
The B-listed church building was designed by celebrated 18th century Scottish architect John Adam, and erected by Alexander Gowan between 1761 and 1764.
Buchanan Parish Church elder Alison Bruce said this week: “Our congregation is in very good heart and we have a regular attendance at the church, which is both in a fantastic state of repair both physical and spiritually.
“We do not agree with Presbytery’s assessment that the church is ‘not fit for purpose’.
“Buchanan Parish Church is more than just a building, it is a direct link to the earliest days of the Church of Scotland and a vital part of the community.
“It is not even a financial burden to the Church, so we cannot understand the rationale behind this proposal at all and urge a rethink. We would hope the Church would allow us to reach a compromise. If not, we may consider acquiring it and running it as an independent congregation.”
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The church was first built through a donation from the third Duke of Montrose, who funded a move from its first home on Inchcailloch on Loch Lomond – Gaelic for ‘isle of the hooded woman’ or ‘isle of the nun – which had been established in honour of St Kentigerna,
The current Duke of Montrose is a member of Buchanan Parish Church and has joined the campaign to save the building.
He said: “The church remains an important hub for the community, having served the villages of Balmaha, Milton of Buchanan, Buchanan Smithy, Rowardennan, and the islands for generations.
“Members of the church play an important and very active role in caring for the needs of the area, and it has served as the backbone for many events.
“In spite of upheavals of the surrounding economy, it has proved to be a financial contributor to the Stirling Presbytery for many years and I feel strongly that it should be allowed to continue.”
Those wishing that the Church of Scotland to reconsider their decision should write to: Presbytery of Stirling, C/o Stirling Park Church, 2 Park Terrace, Stirling, FK8 2MA by August 15, or they can sign the online petition at https://bit.ly/savebuchananchurch.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said this week: “The Presbytery’s Committee on Mission Planning will give all submissions from Kirk Sessions careful consideration when it next meets, before bringing a final draft Presbytery Mission Plan to the Presbytery of Stirling in September.
“It has been well recognised that, with a reduction in the number of full-time ministers throughout the whole Church of Scotland, coupled with the challenge of having more buildings than it can afford to maintain, radical planning is needed and, indeed, long overdue.”
The congregations of Buchanan Parish Church and Drymen Parish Church have expressed a preference to unite as a single charge.
Under the proposals before Stirling Presbytery, this will eventually form a linked charge with Balfron and Fintry Churches, which have expressed a similar preference to unite.
It is proposed that Logie will link with Bridge of Allan Parish Church to support the community including staff and students at the University of Stirling.
