Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust acquires historic parish church
It has been taken on from the Church of Scotland with big plans for the future.
Villagers in Lochwinnoch have officially taken ownership of their 220-year-old parish church as they progress plans to turn it into a thriving community hub.
Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust (LCDT) acquired the Grade A-listed Lochwinnoch Parish Church from the Church of Scotland on May 16.
The church, which closed at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, has remained unused ever since.
Rather than allowing the building that has been at the heart of village life for centuries to fall into disrepair, villagers mobilised and launched a series of funding bids, consultations and surveys in order to retain the asset for future generations.
Diarmid Harris, chair of LCDT, told the Paisley Daily Express: 'We have acquired the parish church, an iconic building, on behalf of the people of the village.
'Community ownership of this cultural heritage, and its restoration, will spur local innovation, creativity and economic growth. LCDT believes this revitalisation will benefit Lochwinnoch for generations.'
The purchase of the church and preliminary works to secure the fabric of the building have been made possible thanks to grant funding.
The Scottish Land Fund awarded the trust 233,300 for the purchase; the National Lottery Heritage Fund handed over £198,250 for the design phase; Historic Environment Scotland has contributed £500,000 towards restoration and conservation works and £10,000 has come from the Architectural Heritage Fund for consultancy services, including business planning and a fundraising strategy.
The project's next phase involves working with architects to find the best way to resurrect the church so it can best serve the community.
The local community will need to raise approximately £1 million through other funders and community fundraising options, including community shares in order to create their multi-purpose hub.
Consultants will also be hired to look in detail at what needs to be done to help the group achieve the ideas that came from a community consultation held last year.
Proposals from those surveyed included possible child care provision, a concert venue for local and touring acts and a space for the community to come together for annual celebrations and special occasions.
LCDT aims to have a design team in place by September 2025, with building works expected to take approximately two years to complete. The active community garden in the church grounds will continue to operate throughout this period.
Tom Arthur, SNP MSP for Renfrewshire South, welcomed the news, and said: 'This is a tremendous achievement by the people of Lochwinnoch and the dedicated team at LCDT.
'The preservation of our cherished historic buildings, combined with their transformation into vibrant community spaces, captures the essence of what community empowerment is all about.
'I've been delighted to support this project and look forward to seeing how this beautiful building will once again serve as a beating heart for Lochwinnoch, bringing people together and creating opportunities for generations to come.'
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