The Latest Breaking News from Church of Scotland

Kelton Parish Church is expected to be shut down by the Church of Scotland in the next five years due to rising costs and falling attendance

COMMUNITIES across Scotland are praying they can save their historic churches and the treasures within them.

Crossmichael residents believe the Church of Scotland is close to putting the village church – built in the 18th century – up for sale

The future of the church was due to be decided last month.

Pope Francis I has rescheduled his long-delayed trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan for 31 January to 5 February 2023 – cutting out a stop over in the troubled eastern DRC, but fulfilling a long-held wish to accompany other Christian leaders to South Sudan.

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will accompany the pontiff next February.

Pope Francis has rescheduled his delayed trip to Congo and South Sudan for Jan. 31-Feb. 5

Many locals reacted with shock and disappointment as news of the closure spread but Church of Scotland bosses told Edinburgh Live the sale is "necessary for their mission".

Opened in 1894, the Deaconess Hospital was opened in Edinburgh among the overcrowded tenements of the Pleasance and Cowgate - providing medical care to one of the poorest districts of the city at the time.