The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Brechin Cathedral facing closure
Brechin Cathedral is also facing closure to pay off debt held by the 800-year-old kirk.
The decision came in a year of celebrations to mark the anniversary of the burgh’s oldest building, with events still planned for throughout the summer.
The cathedral’s £169,000 debt, along with a continuing decline in attendance, prompted talks in 2018 to seek a union with Gardner Memorial Church, which was agreed, and the closure was voted through by Angus Presbytery last month.
It is hoped the building can remain in use as a visitor attraction and that artefacts housed there can be donated to other community facilities.
It comes as part of a “once in a generation review” of the Church of Scotland’s estate.
Census data from 2017 shows the number of regular churchgoers has fallen by more than half in the last 30 years. Some critics have queried whether the church taking increasingly liberal stances on the likes of gay marriage and abortion has alienated some devout Christians who have moved to more conservative denominations.
But soon after the review was announced, a Church of Scotland spokeswoman said the shake-up will allow ministers to work more effectively in teams.
“The presbytery has a legacy of many more church buildings than they need,” she said at the time.
“We recognise that we will have to make some difficult choices on which buildings should be retained and which should be let go. At the heart of our decision-making process is the desire to see a sustainable future for the Church of Scotland.
“We are excited by this oncein-a-generation opportunity to renew our church and reinvest.”