Long-awaited demolition paves the way for replacement Black Isle church
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A BLACK Isle church building has been demolished after serving the community for more than 100 years.
But any sense of sadness felt by congregation members of Fortrose Free Church has been lifted by the prospect of the new building that will soon be standing in its place.
Structural engineering problems meant the Church Street building was slowly sinking and it was agreed that the necessary repairs – thought to run into hundreds of thousands of pounds – would not make financial sense.
A new disabled toilet and kitchen were also needed.
The congregation was pleased to be decamping to the adjacent Fortrose Town Hall for the best part of a year, while the new building – costing in the region of £750,000 – is built.
The lion’s share of the money has already been secured through fundraising efforts.
Minister Rev Sandy Sutherland said: "It was a wee bit tear-jerking to see the old building coming down I must admit but we were not left with any choice in the matter really. It had to go because of the subsidence in the building and there were other issues as well. I was sad to see it going but joyful that the new one is coming in its place."
The 40-week building project is set to get underway after the site has been cleared of rubble and new foundations put in.
A special bat box was put up to re-home any bats that are thought to have been using the building at various times of the year.
No bats were found during pre-demolition checks, however.
Rev Sutherland said the congregation still had to raise about £130,000 towards the new-build.
He added: "We have still got the shortfall to do something about but I must say the community have been very supportive and generous. We are looking at various funding bodies at the moment including our own denomination. The next 40 weeks will see the new building being put up and finished. We have got planning permission for everything. It’s all in place."
He added: "While we would not have wished things to be as they are, there is, in the congregation, a great excitement at the prospect of new facilities. We can’t wait for the work to begin.
"We are well aware of the prospect of further housing in the area, and hopefully a care home too, so it’s only right as we seek to reach out to people in the village with the gospel and provide a facility for weddings and funerals that we have first-class facilities that folk would expect."
"We are thankful to have had a number of young families coming to join the congregation in the last two or three years, and at the recent baptism service, both in the main church and also the hall afterwards, it was very clear that the current building is too small and unfit for purpose."
Donations can be made to the congregation’s treasurer Mr Jack Kernahan, Loch Skerrow, Wester Balmungie, Rosemarkie, Fortrose IV10 8SL.
