The Oban Times

Ardchattan Kirk up for sale for £115,000

- By Kathie Griffiths kgriffiths@obantimes.co.uk

A beautiful B-Listed church on the shores of Loch Etive is finally up for sale one year after it shut.

It has taken 12 months for the Church of Scotland to get Ardchattan Kirk ready for the buyers’ market.

Since its doors shut, the congregati­on have been travelling instead to St Modan’s Church in Benderloch.

Offers of around £115,000 are being asked for the striking-looking church built back in 1836.

With its nave, east and west transepts, vestry, hall, WC and upper gallery area, church officials are hoping it will be snapped up soon.

Parishione­rs have been hoping after 182 years of worship, there is still a chance the building could start a new life as a hub of sorts for the community.

Reasons for the delay in putting it up for sale included the lengthy process of getting approvals from various church committees, The Oban

Times was previously told. The church at Achnaba had to close because of its straitened financial circumstan­ces after a review by The Church of Scotland.

The new owner at Achnaba could use it as a crèche, day nursery, day centre, educationa­l establishm­ent, museum, art gallery or public library without having to go to planners for change of use consent.

It also has potential for other uses such as a theatre, cinema, restaurant, shop or community resource space but would need the right permission from Argyll and Bute.

Using it as a home is also a possibilit­y but would need the proper planning permission first.

The Church has kept the right to remove fixtures and fittings, including the pews.

As well as the outside of the church being listed, it also had a rare central communion table about 30ft long and a precentor’s box inside that are also listed.

A Church of Scotland spokespers­on said: ‘In agreement with the congregati­on, the communion table and precentor’s box will be marketed as part of the church building.’

Anyone wanting to go and view it should contact The Church of Scotland Law Department on 0131 240 2263.

 ??  ?? Ardchattan Kirk, Achnaba, near North Connel, is being sold by the Church of Scotland.
Ardchattan Kirk, Achnaba, near North Connel, is being sold by the Church of Scotland.
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom