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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.
STV News
08-07-2025
- General
- STV News
Historic church to reopen as community arts centre after £1 purchase
A historic church in Lennoxtown which was previously destroyed in a fire is set to begin a new chapter as a community arts centre. Campsie High Kirk Church lay empty and without an owner for years after a devastating blaze in 1984. Friends of Campsie High Kirk acquired the building from the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer for just £1 in May. The building will be formally transferred to the local community and to East Dunbartonshire Provost Gillian Renwick in a milestone ceremony on Wednesday, July 9. It will then undergo a major restoration project to reopen as an open-plan space that can host community meetings, arts events, and theatre performances. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service via Supplied The building is set to undergo a major restoration project The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service via Supplied It will also involve replicating the damaged tower that was torn down in the aftermath of the fire. The new ghost tower will see a frame constructed on the top of the remaining clock tower, which would light up at night. A balcony will be put up around the interior of the building, which has been on the buildings at risk register since 1990, and a Celtic Garden will be created in the middle of the space paying homage to the story of Lennoxtown. The church is being 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). It has been hailed as 'a landmark moment in Scotland's heritage-led regeneration journey'. John Logue, the KLTR, spoke of his enthusiasm for the Campsie project ahead of the visit. He 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, 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.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
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.
