It’s holy orders as pub set to become church
A PUB in Sutherland will become the first in Scotland to host regular Sunday services after its owners donated the venue to the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Although outgoing owners Michael and Kai Geldard have gifted the Crask Inn at Lairg, Sutherland, it will continue to operate as a pub while offering daily prayers, services and spiritual retreats.
It will be run by Douglas Campbell, who is a licensed Eucharistic minister and his GP wife Denise, who are moving from Hopeman in Moray to start the venture in April.
Mr Campbell, who is personal assistant to the Right Reverend Mark Strange, the Episcopalian Bishop of the United Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness, said neither he nor his wife had run apuborB&Bbeforebut were looking forward to the challenge.
But Mr Campbell, 52, stressed that the facility – which has four letting bedrooms – would continue to be “open to all.”
The Reverend Chris Mayo, priest in charge of East Sutherland and Tain, also stressed the Crask Inn’s priority would be to develop “spirituality.”
“There have been other services in the grounds of a pub, but to my knowledge this is the only one that holds services in the fabric of an inn,” he said.
“My job will be to develop the spirituality of the place. There’s an inherent spirituality in the hospitality of the diocese.
“Worshippers can have a drink afterwards – as long as they don’t break the driving laws – it is part of the fellowship.
“I have no problem pulling pints. Our bishop Mark (Strange) used to be a barman. Ultimately, God is our landlord.
“I am excited by the potential of the Crask. It will help build up the worship in the diocese – it will be a house of prayer, spirituality and spiritual journey.
“It will be run as an open B&B. The church will not dominate it. But we will run spirituality days, training days for clergy and other church leaders.”
The diocese will form a board of trustees to oversee the running of the venture. Any profit will go to the church. Room rates are yet to be set.
The old coaching inn, which dates from 1815, had been on the market for nearly three years at £295,000, which included a bunkhouse and some farmland.
The cottage/bunkhouse will be home to the inn’s outgoing owners Mr and Mrs Geldard, who will also continue to farm the land.
Mrs Geldard and her husband are both members of the local Episcopal church and had received “many messages from the Lord” to give the inn to the church, overseen by the local diocese.
Services – usually conducted by Mr Mayo – have been regularly held at the inn every third Thursday of each month.
“It is a special place. There had been interest in buying the inn but it’s difficult for people to borrow money. We thought we had sold it, but we hadn’t,” said Mrs Geldard, 65.
“This is an admirable solution. It is a burden off our shoulders. The church are delighted with their unusual present.
“The Lord gave us lots of messages to do this. I am thrilled it’s happening.
“There’s always been a lot of people up and down this road throughout its history.”