Ancient Scots kirk formally transferred to local community ownership

Campsie High Kirk Campsie High Kirk, which is at the heart of Lennoxtown’s community, is to be transformed into a community arts hub.

The move is the culmination of a flagship case for the new Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme (OPTS) launched last year by the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR).

And it has been hailed as ‘a landmark moment in Scotland’s heritage-led regeneration journey’.

The church, one of Scotland’s best-known kirks, will be ceremonially handed over by the KLTR, John Logue, to East Dunbartonshire Provost Gillian Renwick.

The transfer takes place after the Friends of Campsie High Kirk successfully applied to acquire the building from the KLTR for the nominal sum of £1 plus the costs of transfer.

The OPTS provides opportunities for properties which have fallen to the Crown as ownerless to be brought back into purposeful use for the benefit of local communities.

The innovative scheme allows local authorities and community groups to apply for ownerless properties to be transferred to them for a nominal sum.

To be successful, applicants must clearly demonstrate that the planned use is supported by the community, sustainable and in the public interest.

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, welcomed the visit, saying:

“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.”

Since the OPTS was launched last year, it has provided opportunities for green spaces, affordable housing and a community hub.

Plans to proactively locate ownerless property over the next two years will boost the number of properties that can be transformed, helping to tackle local problems such as anti-social behaviour which often accompany abandoned properties.

FOR BACKGROUND

• Campsie High Kirk was designed in the early 19th century by prominent Glaswegian architect David Hamilton, known as the father of the profession.

• His other well-known works include Hutcheson’s Hall, Nelson’s Monument in Glasgow Green, Lennox Castle and the Royal Exchange building in Glasgow, which now serves as the Gallery of Modern Art.

• The High Kirk was used for worship until the 1970s and was ravaged by a catastrophic fire in 1984.

• Details of OPTS cases are available on the KLTR’s website.

• The attached photo of the church today should be credited to Ronnie Shepherd.

• The artist impressions should be credited to James Fallan.