Members of St Columba High Church have worshipped in Bank Street for more than 100 years but do not know why they must vacate the building on 9th May as they have nowhere else to go.

The Church of Scotland has decided to move the congregation to the Holm area of the city, but has yet to build a new church.

And yesterday, despite questions from The Inverness Courier, church officials in Edinburgh still skirted around why May was the cut-off point while stressing they wanted a new minister to lead a new congregation in the new area.

St Columba regulars fear the historic congregation will disband and several have been left in tears by the development.

"This has unsettled most of the folk and has caused a lot of upset," said parishioner Bill MacKenzie, who has been church officer for more than 20 years.

"We are like a family. There has been old ladies in tears about this."

Plans to move to the outskirts of the city were first mooted six years ago in response to the population growth on the city's periphery, but the congregation heard no more until September when Rev Alistair Younger announced his plans to retire.

The congregation was then told he would not be replaced and instead, a new charge - St Columba New Charge - would be established, and the manse, hall and church would be sold.

St Columba's kirk session, made up of elected elders, was dissolved and the Church of Scotland then set up a commission to take the new charge forward.

According to one member, who asked not to be named, the congregation - which stands at 300 although a typical Sunday turnout is 50 - feels misled, as it agreed to be "transported" to a new building, allowing it to remain as a whole, as happened when West Church moved to Inshes Parish Church.

But he claims this will not happen now because the church is closing and a new building has not yet been built. "The congregation is very bitter about things," he said, claiming the Church of Scotland has been "underhand" and secretive in the way it has gone about things. "We have been badly let down. I might leave the Church of Scotland altogether."

St Columba High Church officer Bill MacKenzie claims members of the congregation have been in tears over closure of the historic church.

Another member of the church added: "They have been very economical with the truth all the way through this."

Several members have also written to the Church of Scotland's head office, but have not received a response.

Yesterday a spokesman for the Church said although a new church would not be built for a while, it was hoped the congregation would become active in the new area soon.

He explained options to allow the congregation to continue worshipping together after May were now being looked at.

"Interim options include worshipping together in somewhere like a community centre, and we will continue to look at the best way of taking these plans forward," he said. "Officials will be proceeding to the appointment of a new minister as quickly as possible."

However, the congregation still feels the Church of Scotland has not properly explained why the building must close in May.

"Why are they rushing to close us down when they haven't got a sale established?" Mr MacKenzie said. "If nothing is happening, why do we have to move? We have had no satisfactory reason why the church should shut now. I would say about 90 per cent are not happy with what has occurred and the way it has been handled. Most of them will never worship in this new charge."

The Church of Scotland spokesman added: "The congregation has been fully consulted on the presbytery's plans, and indeed voted in approval, with very positive expressions about being able to help in the creation of a new church in another part of Inverness.

"Whilst it is always sad when a church closes, members of St Columba High will be made most welcome following the exciting development of a new building."

h.paterson@inverness-courier.co.uk

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