Expansion time for church that began in garage

Summer camp sold out in less than 12 hours

A church has gone from meetings in a garage to services so packed out it now needs to extend its state-of-the-art kirk.

In these days of dwindling congregations, Dunfermline East Church on Nightingale Place is bucking the trend and making plans for an extension to meet demand.

It sold out its children’s summer camp in less than 12 hours and attracted 500 people for Christmas services last year.

The kirk began as an informal group in 2003, meeting at the house of its then minister the Rev Alan Childs.

For nine years gatherings were held at various locations until a home for the congregation was built in 2012.

It now incorporates a soft play area for children and a cafe.

The Rev Andrew Morrice has been in charge since 2010. Explaining the popularity of the church, the married father-of-three said: “We seek to make our worship services relevant and accessible to people from all walks of life and situations.

“We have a contemporary style of worship and have a group of musicians who lead.

“Our services are relatively relaxed and informal and have the constant background chatter of little ones.

“I try to apply the Bible’s teaching to ordinary life and also encourage folk to open the Bible for themselves and look at what is in there.”

He added: “We don’t aim to attract new members as such.

“We find the current generation is reluctant to commit to membership in the way in which perhaps older generations do.”

The church recently celebrated being granted full status by the Kirk, a prestigious seal of approval by the national body. Mr Morrice said: “We haven’t looked at it as an ‘end goal’ but rather an opportunity to look back with enormous thanksgiving.”

We seek to make our worship services relevant and accessible. THE REV ANDREW MORRICE

Dunfermline East Church is planning to expand its kirk on Nightingale Place, having started out in a garage in 2003.