Empty pews in a Mearns coast church has resulted in a decision to close it and put it up for sale.

The congregation in Kinneff was warned a year ago there had to be an improvement in attendance to justify the cost of the building’s upkeep, but the warning appears to have fallen on deaf ears and, according to the kirk session, worshippers continued to dwindle to an alarmingly low level.

The situation was compounded by the church losing its minister.

A letter signed by session clerk Peter Smith and interim moderator the Rev William Wallace was sent to all the Kinneff members in April warning that services could be discontinued and the building sold for some purpose other than religious worship.

A meeting called to decide the church’s fate agreed it could be disposed of and the Kincardine and Deeside Presbytery has sanctioned the move.

• Full story at the Dundee Courier.

• Filed under Church Buildings, Church of Scotland, North East + Northern Isles, Scottish Christian News Monitor.