A row has erupted over the Church of Scotland’s decision to close an Inverness kirk – before a replacement is built.

The church has decided that St Columba High in Bank Street will close on May 9 as part of moves by Inverness Presbytery to reduce the number of churches in the city centre.

A new one will be built in the Holm area to the south of the city to try to attract more worshippers from the growing population there.

In the meantime, the 80 or so regular St Columba High congregation, who have worshipped at the church for more than a century, would have nowhere to go.

A spokesman for the Church of Scotland has acknowledged that “not everyone is happy” about leaving the riverside location, but claimed the plans were approved followed meetings with the congregation last summer.

• Full story at the Aberdeen Press & Journal.

• Filed under Church Buildings, Church of Scotland, Highlands + Islands, Scottish Christian News Monitor.