A CONGREGATION in Glasgow is celebrating after being given a free church.

The red sandstone building in Fulton Street in Knightswood has been gifted to the Thornwood congregation of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) who have until now been worshiping in a primary school in Partick.

Their new building had previously been used by the Assembly of Christian Brethren, who disbanded because of dwindling numbers.

They didn't want to see the church fall into disuse and so their final act was to hand it over to the Thornwood worshippers.

Rev William Macleod, minister of the Thornwood congregation, said he was amazed by the gift.

He said: "We're over the moon.

"I've never before heard of a case where a congregation were simply offered a church as a gift.

"The expression goes there's no such thing as a free lunch and really that's true in this case, because this gift places a huge responsibility on us as a church to reach out to the community in Knightswood.

"We've been worshipping in Thornwood Primary School for the last eight years but we've many members living in the Knightswood area.

"We've been looking around to find a church to rent or buy but that is very expensive. Most are huge old buildings with problems with their roofs. This building is ideal for us."

The church just off Knightswood Cross will be officially re-opened as Knightswood Free Church at a service on Friday, November 21, at 7.30pm, when the Rev Hugh Ferrier, a former minister of Partick Free Church will preach.

The Fulton Street building was built as a Brethren Gospel Hall in 1936 but the founding group has declined in numbers over the last few years.

The new church will hold services on Sundays and Tuesday evenings.

The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) was formed in January 2000.