A COMMUNITY initiative is set to be launched to raise funds to buy a historic church in Argyll which has been put up for sale.
The parish church of Inverchaolain, near Dunoon, long associated with Clan Lamont, was put on the open market by the Church of Scotland earlier this month for offers of around £30,000.
The description on the Church of Scotland website says Inverchaolain is a hamlet in “a remote and peaceful location”.
It adds: “Inverchaoalain Church is found at the end of a single-track road along the shore of Loch Striven, providing scenic views over the loch.”
Clan Lamont secretary Mary Lamb told The National the church was an important part of the clan’s heritage and the clan society was considering raising funds to buy it.
“We are all very upset at the prospect of the church being sold and perhaps turned into a dwelling house or hall,” she said.
“We want to retain it as it is for the community, and have weddings and Christmas services there.”
Lamb added: “I feel quite passionate about this sale, 2017 is The Year of History, Heritage and Architecture, and this church is part of our history and heritage. It is part of this community and we don’t want to see it go.”
The present church was built in 1912, to replace one built in 1812 and later destroyed by fire.
However, the site itself is much older and there were even earlier churches on it.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said there had been “lots of interest” in the sale and the building is still on the market.
He added: “The Presbytery of Argyll made a decision to dispose of the building in September 2015 and it is now for sale on the open market.
“Clan Lamont Society has declared its interest in the building as have a number of other parties.”
The Church of Scotland is selling Inverchaolain in order to raise money for a new roof for Toward Church.
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