Evening Times: click here to return to our homepage
MSP joins fight to stop historic church closing
 
Comment | Read Comments (9)
 
Nicola Sturgeon, above, and Alistair Watson, below, have expressed their disappointment at the move to close the historic Govan Old Parish Church, top
Nicola Sturgeon, above, and Alistair Watson, below, have expressed their disappointment at the move to close the historic Govan Old Parish Church, top
 
 

by Iain Lundy

POLITICIANS and community leaders today pledged to mount a full-scale campaign to save the historic Govan Old Parish Church.

The area's MSP and deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said it would be an act of "cultural vandalism" if the church, which contains 6th century religious relics, was lost.

And the managing director of a local regeneration company called it Govan's "jewel in the crown" as he branded the Church of Scotland's decision "nonsensical".

As reported in the Evening Times last night, the Kirk's arbitration committee has decided to merge three Govan parishes, closing both Govan Old and Linthouse St Kenneth's churches and keeping open new Govan Church.

Glasgow councillor Alistair Watson, chairman of Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency, said: "The Church has got this one wrong big time.

"I will be asking our chief executive to prepare a report which would identify ways of saving this historic landmark.

"I am also going to write to the Church of Scotland Moderator. I am full square behind retaining this as a working church and a unique place for people to visit.

"This is a piece of heritage we simply cannot afford to lose. We have lost far too much of Govan's history already."

Pat Cassidy, managing director of regeneration company Govan Workspace, said there was "absolute puzzlement" as to how the decision was reached.

He added: "In the last few years this church has become increasingly recognised for its real value, not just locally but as a site of national importance.

"We have been drawing up a conservation plan for Govan to highlight the significance of Govan's heritage. The jewel in the crown is Govan Old Parish Church. It is just so important for Glasgow as well as Govan.

"It is up there with St Andrews, Iona and Whithorn as a site of religious importance in Scotland."

Mr Cassidy described the decision as "nonsensical" and said he would support any campaign to save the church.

Ms Sturgeon said: "I'm concerned about the situation but I appreciate the Church of Scotland has difficult issues to face.

"There is enormous historical importance attached to Govan Old and it would be cultural vandalism to allow that to go.

"It is difficult for the Church but we have a historic treasure and we have to preserve it.

"I am more than happy to have discussions about how best to go about that and to retain the whole range of services there.

"I will explore all options to make sure we don't let something that is very precious be lost."

Publication date 06/06/07
Posted by: Realist, Kelvindale on 12:28pm Wed 6 Jun 07
Quite a clever bit of spin on the part of the Church of Scotland to win taxpayers' money to keep open their church, given that they are running out of dues-paying worshippers and there is already a glut of carpet warehouses. But if they can't find Govanites willing to pay, why should the rest of us?
Quote | Report this post
Posted by: Jill, Glasgow on 1:42pm Wed 6 Jun 07

Whats clear for all to see here is the way Churches must go back to their roots and start engaging with their communities again.

Churches can be used for more than just services for their dwindling congregations.

They just need to "think outside the box" and come up with imaginative ideas to bring people back in through the doors, and re-unite the members of the community who have stayed away up until now, otherwise why the threat of closure?

Having a Suggestions Box, and a way of them fundraising for charitable organisations, getting the community back onboard and realising that simply preaching the word alone, without any alternative methods will see far more than just this church forced to close its doors.

Afterall - just how many churches have been sold off, converted into bathroom Showrooms, Pubs (Oran Mor, Byres Road.) or bulldozed for flats - Church Street, Queen Victoria Drive ( scotstoun) etc.

Lets hope this church remains in place as a vital key to the community, but for the right reasons, and with SNP's Nicola Sturgeon on board as a genuine concerned MSP, not just as a Publicity / Headline grabbing stunt.

Quote | Report this post
Posted by: Nash, Drumchapel on 2:47pm Wed 6 Jun 07
Nicola Sturgeon, Alistair Watson, Pat Cassidy - you all want to save this church and cannot understand why the Church of Scotland want to close it?

I would like to ask all 3 of these people how often they worship in this church. How often do you visit this church and use its facilities.

The Church of Scotland does not exist to upkeep unwanted old buildings. It exists to bring a living faith to the people. A building is just a building - God does not actually live in it you know!

The Church can only approach this from a financial and congregational point of view. If it is empty every Sunday - then it is simply no longer a church.

IF the building has some wider heritage interest to the local community and to the politicians and regeneration experts - then I think they should put a package together to purchase the building from the church of Scotland so that it can be put to use as a community resource - and so that the Church can reinvest the value of their asset into doing God's work in another way.
Quote | Report this post
Posted by: matt, glasgow on 3:23pm Wed 6 Jun 07
If people are concerned with maintaining the church building as a museum then they are welcome to buy it and invest their own money in this. The Church of Scotland has no responsiblity to provide heritage sites for tourism.

This is a simple fact of what is better for the congregations of the local churches.
Quote | Report this post
Posted by: Rab Jones, Glasgow on 3:39pm Wed 6 Jun 07
Just turn intoa pub.

Its gotta be a better atmosphere than a bunch of old fannies singing dreary, old hat, "praise the lord" hymns.

Churches will be dead in another 50 years. Youth would rather worship their favourite footballers, than some old fella in the sky, that nobody has seen.

Sounds ridiculous doesn't it? That's why the numbers are down. Anyone who believes in God, must still believe that the world is flat and the moon is made of choice.

As for the people who don't believe. "Welcome to the 21st Century."
Quote | Report this post
Posted by: Tam B, Glasgow on 5:13pm Wed 6 Jun 07
Politicians should not interfere in religion. They constantly meddle imposing all kinds of conditions on how religion is organised and in the way churches are allowed to go about their business. They should not be surprised when the church interferes in politics.
Quote | Report this post
Posted by: Ross, Glasgow on 6:19pm Wed 6 Jun 07
Rab - churches will not be dead in another fifty years. there are many places in the world which have large, and growing, Christian communities - even, often, under persecution.

And we have seen the "old fella in the sky": in the person of Jesus.
Quote | Report this post
Posted by: Dave, Glasgow on 8:19am Thu 7 Jun 07
Ross wrote:
Rab - churches will not be dead in another fifty years. there are many places in the world which have large, and growing, Christian communities - even, often, under persecution. And we have seen the "old fella in the sky": in the person of Jesus.
When & where did you see him, Ross?

...or are you taking someone else's word for it?
Quote | Report this post
Posted by: Andy, Westend on 8:20am Thu 7 Jun 07
Alistair Watson would be better off trying to save the Underground!!
Quote | Report this post
Add your comment
Please note: to publish your comment you must be registered on this site. If you are already registered, please enter your details below.
Email:
Password:
Travel Shop
Airport Parking
Travel Insurance
Copyright © 2008 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited. All Rights Reserved
Terms of Use