Church of Scotland sells off dozens of churches, manses and offices around country as congregations fall

The Church of Scotland is selling off dozens of churches, manses and offices around the country as congregations fall.

The properties are being sold as part of an ongoing downsizing exercise to ensure the Kirk is “lean and fit for mission in the 21st Century”.

More than 40 properties are currently on the market or under offer, with a total asking price value of more than £7.5 million. Properties currently listed as “under offer,” where the Church has accepted a bid but no binding contract is in place yet, are expected to generate around £5m alone on completion.

Residential properties listed include The Manse, an impressive five-bedroom villa in Brechin, Angus, which is available at offers over £310,000, while a five-bedroom red sandstone mid-terrace property set over three levels in the desirable Glasgow suburb of Netherlee, and marketed at offers over £435,000, is currently under offer.

A grand four-bedroom semi-detached villa in Edinburgh’s Craigentinny, marketed at offers over £495,000, went to a closing date this week. The property, which dates back to 1900, is said to be in need of modernisation but offers “a wonderful opportunity to buy in one of the capital’s best addresses”.

Meanwhile, a three-bedroom detached bungalow on the outskirts of the village of Kirkton of Skene, near Aberdeen, comes with its own paddock of around a third of an acre, for offers over £275,000.

Churches currently for sale include the “majestic” A-listed Glencorse Church in Midlothian, which dates to 1885 and is under offer at over £325,000 and, at the other end of the price scale, the charming traditional Parish Church in Strathkinness near St Andrews in Fife, is also under offer, set to rake in over £80,000.

Secluded Glasserton Church near Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway, is under offer after being put up for sale at offers over £50,000. Dating back to 1732, the striking A-Listed church comes with a nearby vestry and former stable building, but does not include the surrounding graveyard.

At one time, the Church of Scotland’s portfolio of properties exceeded 5,000. It currently stands at around 3,600, including 1,276 churches, 770 manses, 1,096 church halls and 330 miscellaneous congregational properties.

Faced with dwindling income and falling congregations, the current downsizing exercise will see some much-loved buildings disposed of to release equity.

Presbyteries across Scotland are currently drawing up lists of properties deemed surplus to requirements to reduce the number putting a strain on finances due to running costs.

The nationwide sell-off was triggered after the General Assembly in 2019 approved a Radical Action Plan demanding every presbytery prepares a mission plan by the end of the year to future-proof the church.

The far-reaching blueprint will see the church spending up to £25m on growing congregations and establishing new worshipping communities with a focus on reaching the under-40s while cutting spending in many areas.

Central administration costs will be slashed by almost a third; the General Assembly will be made smaller; and the number of presbyteries will be reduced from around 45 to 12 with a special focus on supporting local congregations.

The Church of Scotland said that funds raised are “ring-fenced and restricted for fabric use”. In some cases, funds from property sales will be required for the “maintenance and repair of existing or retained congregational properties, to ensure that all Church property is fit for purpose, confirms to statutory and regulatory requirements and supports the vision of “well equipped spaces, in the right places”.

The Kirk declined to reveal how much money had been generated since the start of the current sell-off but said “funds from property sales revert to the Consolidated Fabric Fund for the benefit of individual congregations”.

The sales do present rare opportunities for buyers, however. Savills architect Jane McPhillips said former churches were among the country’s most sought-after conversions.

She added: “Generally, these buildings provide a wonderful opportunity to create large, open volume internal space and can be cleverly adapted for domestic use, usually without adverse impact on the building’s significance.

“While the layout of a converted church property may not be as conventional as a house that has been purpose built, the fact that it is one of a kind makes it ideal for those in search of something just that little bit different, and it can offer an opportunity to preserve an important piece of history.”