A historic Stirling church - described as an “integral” part of the community - is facing closure.
Stirling Presbytery has taken the decision to shut Logie Kirk, which dates from 1805, within five to seven years.
The plan – mentioned in a letter to the congregation by the Session of Logie Kirk – involves linking Logie and Bridge of Allan Parishes.
However, Blairlogie residents this week pointed out that the church is “integral” to life and society in the area and its closure would be “nothing short of a tragedy”.
Logie Community Council chairperson Mary Maxwell-Irving added: “There has been a church in this area since 1380, the present church having been built in 1805 and thereafter extended.
“The ruin of the previous church and its churchyard lie to the north. This is therefore a rural location which has witnessed Christian worship for many centuries.
“It is well understood that the Church of Scotland needs to make changes to address current and future shortages of ministers and Church members, but Logie Kirk is surely a significant local fixture.
“Logie Kirk is a vibrant well-attended, and, as we understand it, self-funding, church which serves the needs of the local population (it is in within walking distance of most of the Logie area and certainly of Blairlogie village) and people from further afield.
“Many weddings and funeral services (the latter often followed by burials in the adjacent cemetery) take place there.
“As recently as 2015, the Kirk obtained planning permission for a community hall, to be built to the south of the Kirk, on part of its own property. This could surely be renewed, and the Alloa Road church hall consequently sold.”
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In a recent letter to Logie Kirk congregation, session clerks Brenda Smith and Dianne McNaughton said: “At the 2021 General Assembly, presbyteries were instructed to plan for the future, taking into account the falling number of ministers and resources.
“Stirling Presbytery decided that over the next five-seven years Logie and Bridge of Allan parishes are to be “linked” to have one minister while another minister will work at the university.
“It was a shock to our Kirk Session that the plan outlined by Presbytery proposes the closure of the Logie Kirk building and a move down to the Halls.
“The reason given for the proposed closure is that the kirk is located outside the community it seeks to serve. In reality, most members attending churches will drive there, so being a mile or so away is neither here nor there.
“Actually, our large car park probably makes the kirk more accessible than many town churches. We felt that any inconvenience is surpassed by the beauty of the building and its rural setting.”
The B-listed church was built in 1805 and, according to Historic Environment Scotland, was altered and enlarged by architects McLuckie and Walter in 1928.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: “The Presbytery of Stirling’s Mission Plan has been presented, in draft form, to all Kirk Sessions within the Presbytery, inviting reflection and comment on its proposals, by August 15.
“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 mission plan to the Presbytery of Stirling in September.
“It has been 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.”
