We, the Kirk Session of Lossiemouth Church of Scotland (LCS), are providing the information below to try and give a clear and open update on several important matters concerning our church and the former St Gerardine’s Church building.

We understand there has been much discussion and, at times, misinformation within the community, and we want to ensure you have the facts from our perspective.

This article aims to clarify our efforts regarding the sale of St Gerardine’s, our role in that process, how any future proceeds might benefit LCS, and our current financial situation, especially in light of the proposed union with the Parish of Duffus, Spynie, and Hopeman (DSH).

The Journey of Selling St Gerardine’s

The process of selling the former St Gerardine’s Church building has been a long and, at times, challenging one. The General Trustees of the Church of Scotland approved the movement of the building back in February 2024. Since then, we have worked diligently to prepare the building, including emptying it of contents, with some items like the defibrillator and fire extinguishers already removed. We also confirmed the location of the wooden carved German herdsman (now in the local library) and the 2000 Time Capsule in the church grounds.

The property was initially valued at £150,000 by an RICS surveyor and marketed at “offers over £150,000”. We received our first offer in late May 2025, with proposed purchaser having the stated intention of retaining it for community use. Based on advice, it was rejected to allow more time on the market. By mid-June, there were 10 notes of interest, leading to a closing date of June 24th.

However, when our Kirk Session met on June 24th to consider the offers, we expressed significant concern that the building had been undervalued at £150,000. The highest offer received was primarily for conversion of the building to a residential property, though with a possible “community hub” element too. We estimated that with an additional few hundred thousand pounds investment, such a property could sell for as much as £1 Million, potentially bringing a profit in excess of £600,000 to an investor. Given this, we felt it was in the best interests of the Church that the building be re-marketed at a more realistic value, and that the potential value of the surrounding ground should also be considered.

We further questioned whether the Church of Scotland would include a clawback clause in any accepted offer, to ensure that LCS might benefit from future development value.

Despite our concerns, the General Trustees accepted the top offer, and the property was marked as “under offer” by July 18th. Regrettably, on August 28th, we received word that the proposed sale had fallen through.

Currently, the property is being remarketed, with the Church of Scotland’s marketing team handling new enquiries and notifying original offerers.

We will be holding a Kirk Session meeting during September 2025 to discuss the remarketing strategy.

We, the Kirk Session, have been actively involved in these discussions, providing input and expressing our views to the Church of Scotland’s departments, though we have not always felt we have been fully heard and progress was slow in the months immediately following February 2024.

What Happens to the Sale Proceeds?

Many of you might be wondering what happens to the money from the sale of St Gerardine’s. The proceeds from the sale of ecclesiastical buildings, like St Gerardine’s, are generally vested with the General Trustees and contribute to the Consolidated Fabric Fund (CFF). This fund is administered by the General Trustees for the benefit of congregations and traditionally has been restricted for expenditure on “Fabric items only”.

However, in 2024, the General Trustee report to the General Assembly provided for the possibility of accrued capital being released for non-fabric purposes in certain circumstances. This is a crucial point for us, as it means that, with the right application, some of the capital could potentially benefit LCS.

To apply for the release of CFF capital for non-fabric purposes, the process is quite detailed and rigorous:

• An application must first be submitted to the Presbytery and then to the General Trustees.
• We would need to provide extensive information, including the number and condition of our buildings, details from recent surveys, the probability of significant repairs, and comment from the Presbytery Building Officer, as well as confirm the availability of alternative means to execute fabric repairs.
• The General Trustees will also need to ensure that sufficient funds (over £400,000 generally, or more than £300,000 per ecclesiastical building and £100,000 for residential property) are retained in the CFF Capital fund to cover any potential future fabric costs for a ten-year period. It is also expected that any funds held in our congregation’s revenue account be exhausted before capital is released for non-fabric purposes.
• The process involves three stages: initial consideration by the Fabric Committee to assess our ability to meet future fabric requirements, then the Presbytery’s assessment of the project’s missional value against the spirit of the 2001 Special Commission Report, and finally, a re-submission to the General Trustees for a final decision.

While this offers a potential avenue for the funds to benefit LCS, we have concerns, for example, that we might be expected to pay for further surveys on the St Gerardine’s buildings, yet face restrictions on how much we can actually benefit from any generated profit. This highlights our desire to ensure that the sale truly benefits our congregation and the wider Lossiemouth community.

Our Financial Realities and the Path Ahead

The financial situation of Lossiemouth Church of Scotland is a matter of ongoing concern for the Kirk Session. Our Treasurer has raised frustrations about increasing “Giving to Grow” (G2G) contributions to the Church of Scotland centrally, coupled with decreasing income and a dwindling bank balance since the union of the former St. Gerardine’s High and St. James’ Churches of Scotland.

This is a significant challenge, and the Presbytery Clerk (of the Presbytery of the North East and Northern Isles – “NENI”), Rev Stella Campbell, has agreed to take our concerns back to her colleagues in Edinburgh to see if there is a way to help.

In addition to our financial situation, we have been actively engaging in discussions regarding a proposed union of our parish with Duffus, Spynie, and Hopeman (DSH). This union is agreed in terms of the NENI Presbytery Plan and proposed to take place by no later than 31st December 2025. This is a complex matter that involves significant planning for the future of our ministry and resources. Such unions are part of broader strategic planning within the Church of Scotland, and while they can offer opportunities, they also bring financial implications, particularly concerning the G2G contributions.

Our Commitment to Lossiemouth

We understand that these are complex issues, and we want to assure the community that the Kirk Session is committed to transparency and to making decisions that are in the best long-term interest of Lossiemouth Church of Scotland and its mission. We believe it is important to share information about these processes and our perspectives openly. We will continue to advocate for the best possible outcomes for our congregation, both in the sale of St Gerardine’s and in navigating our financial future and potential union. We appreciate your understanding and continued support as we move forward.