Latest news with #FriendsofCampsieHighKirk
Glasgow Times
10-07-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Fire-hit Lennoxtown kirk given back under new scheme
Campsie High Kirk, in the heart of Lennoxtown, is set to become a local arts hub after being returned to the community. The move forms part of a flagship case for the new Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme (OPTS) launched last year by John Logue, the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (KLTR). East Dunbartonshire Provost Gillian Renwick, third from left, joined the KLTR John Logue, fourth from left, at a handover ceremony for Campsie High Kirk (Image: Supplied) The 200-year-old church, one of Scotland's best-known kirks, was officially handed over by the KLTR to East Dunbartonshire Provost Gillian Renwick at a ceremony on Wednesday, July 9. This transfer came after the Friends of Campsie High Kirk successfully applied to acquire the building from the KLTR for a nominal £1 plus the costs of transfer. Read more: Thousands of Jet2 ski seats on sale from Glasgow Airport Mr Logue said: "I am delighted that this once-abandoned kirk can now thrive in the hands of those who cherish it most. "This is a model of regeneration that speaks volumes." He also highlighted the success of the OPTS scheme as a catalyst for change in the drive to empower local communities to revitalise vacant properties. The OPTS offers opportunities for properties fallen to the Crown as ownerless to be brought back into purposeful use for the benefit of local communities. Mr Logue said: "It is hard to believe it has only been 15 months since OPTS was launched. "Already, communities across Scotland are coming to us with ideas for gardens, for housing, for space for communities to gather and grow, and other transformative ideas." He praised the Friends of Campsie High Kirk for their clear, compelling, and visionary application, remarking on their belief in taking responsibility for what is broken and breathing life back into it. He added: 'Lennoxtown is a place full of pride, history, and potential. 'And here, in an area facing significant challenges, the community saw the kirk not as a ruin but as a resource, something to be restored, reimagined, and made meaningful again. 'Working closely with East Dunbartonshire Council and partners, the Friends group demonstrated what's possible when people care deeply and act boldly.'
The National
09-07-2025
- General
- The National
Historic 200-year-old kirk bought by community for £1
Campsie High Kirk, Lennoxtown, will become a community arts centre following major restoration after it was left vacant for more than 40 years, after it was badly damaged by a fire in the 1980s. Last year, the Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme (OPTS) was launched by the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (KLTR), and the transfer of the East Dumbartonshire kirk has been considered a flagship case for the new scheme. OPTS aims to bring properties that have fallen to the Crown to be brought back into purposeful use for the benefit of local communities. READ MORE: BBC host takes issue with legal expert labelling Israel's plans 'concentration camps' Local authorities and community groups can apply for ownerless properties to be transferred to them for a nominal sum, but applicants must demonstrate that the planned use is supported by the community, sustainable and in the public interest. The church will be taken over by the Friends of Campsie High Kirk after the group successfully applied to acquire the building from the KLTR for the nominal sum of £1, plus the costs of transfer. According to the Scotsman, John Logue, from the KLTR, said: 'The Friends of Campsie High Kirk presented a really compelling case for not only rescuing this magnificent building from further decline but also providing a community arts hub with the potential to give a huge economic and cultural boost to the Lennoxtown area. 'We are delighted to see the opportunities provided by the OPTS used in this way and look forward to watching the transformation.' Craig Brooks, chair of the Friends of Campsie High Kirk, welcomed the handover, which is due to be completed on Wednesday at the church. 'It's not just about saving a building. It's about something much bigger,' Brooks said. 'It's about communities being empowered by those in a position to give them the tools to make it happen. "That applies from government right down to communities like ours.' Around 3200 buildings in Scotland, including former schools, garage yards, abattoirs and hotels, sit on the vacant and derelict land (VDL) register.
Scotsman
08-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Disused kirk handed to town for £1 in 'ownerless property' deal
Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A 200-year-old church will be formally transferred to its surrounding community for just £1 in a milestone move to bring hundreds of ownerless properties in Scotland back into use. Campsie High Kirk in Lennoxtown has been vacant since it was badly damaged by a fire in the 1980s and will become a community arts centre following a major restoration. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The transfer is considered a flagship case for the new Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme (OPTS) launched last year by the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (KLTR). Ownerless properties in Scotland are described as 'bona vacantia' and typically last owned by a dissolved company. It is not known how many there are in Scotland, with more research to follow. The church will be taken over by the Friends of Campsie High Kirk after the group successfully applied to acquire the building from the KLTR for the nominal sum of £1, plus the costs of transfer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad John Logue, the KLTR, said: 'The Friends of Campsie High Kirk presented a really compelling case for not only rescuing this magnificent building from further decline but also providing a community arts hub with the potential to give a huge economic and cultural boost to the Lennoxtown area. 'We are delighted to see the opportunities provided by the OPTS used in this way and look forward to watching the transformation.' READ MORE: Scottish community loses bid to take windfarm from energy giant Craig Brooks, Chair of the Friends of Campsie High Kirk, welcomed the handover, which will take place at the church on Wednesday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Brooks said: 'It's not just about saving a building. It's about something much bigger. 'It's about communities being empowered by those in a position to give them the tools to make it happen. "That applies from government right down to communities like ours.' Campsie High Kirk was designed in the early 19th Century by prominent architect David Hamilton, who also designed Nelson's Monument in Glasgow Green, Lennox Castle and the Royal Exchange building in Glasgow, which now serves as the Gallery of Modern Art. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The church was used for worship until the 1970s and was ravaged by a catastrophic fire in 1984. The Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme (OPTS) works to bring properties which have fallen to the Crown to be brought back into purposeful use for the benefit of local communities. Local authorities and community groups can apply for ownerless properties to be transferred to them for a nominal sum. Applicants must clearly demonstrate that the planned use is supported by the community, sustainable and in the public interest. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Since the OPTS was launched last year, it has provided opportunities for green spaces, affordable housing and a community hub. Overall, around 3,200 buildings in Scotland - from former schools, garage yards, abbatoirs and hotels - sit on the vacant and derelict land (VDL) register. The overwhelming majority - 88 per cent - have a listed owner or are described as being owned. Many of the rest will also be owned by an individual or active company Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Only a small proportion of properties on the VDL have 'fallen to the Crown'. Over the next two year, proactive work will be undertaken to identify which properties in Scotland can be classed as ownerless. Ultimately, the scheme helps to tackle local problems such as anti-social behaviour which often accompany abandoned properties.
Glasgow Times
07-07-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
New era set for historic church near Glasgow after '£1 deal'
Campsie High Kirk, a 200-year-old building in Lennoxtown, will be formally handed over to the community in a ceremony on Wednesday, July 9, as part of a major restoration project. The church will be transformed into an arts hub under the Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme (OPTS), launched last year by the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (KLTR). (Image: James Fallan) The building will be formally handed over to East Dunbartonshire Provost Gillian Renwick during the ceremony. John Logue, the KLTR, said: "The Friends of Campsie High Kirk presented a really compelling case for not only rescuing this magnificent building from further decline but also providing a community arts hub with the potential to give a huge economic and cultural boost to the Lennoxtown area. Read more: Retired firefighter from Glasgow awarded British Empire Medal for 60 years of service "We are delighted to see the opportunities provided by the OPTS used in this way and look forward to watching the transformation." The Friends of Campsie High Kirk secured ownership for £1 plus transfer costs. (Image: James Fallan) Craig Brooks, chair of the group, said: "It's not just about saving a building. "It's about something much bigger. "It's about communities being empowered by those in a position to give them the tools to make it happen. "That applies from government right down to communities like ours." The OPTS allows community groups and local authorities to apply for ownerless properties if they can show public benefit and community support. Since its launch, the scheme has helped deliver green spaces, affordable housing, and a community hub. Campsie High Kirk was designed in the early 19th century by Glaswegian architect David Hamilton.
