A fresh lifeline is being offered to Scotland’s historic churches as a new project gets underway to map out their heritage and find ways to keep their stories — and doors — open.
Backed by a £229,015 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Finding Futures for Scotland’s Churches project aims to gather vital information on the value these buildings hold for local communities before they disappear.
Hundreds of Churches at Risk of Shutting for Good
Scotland is home to nearly 3,000 churches, scattered across cities, towns, and tiny villages. But the numbers tell a stark story. Since 2020, around 200 churches have already closed. Experts fear that by the end of this decade, a third could be shuttered for good.
One short line here.
For communities, that’s not just the loss of a place to worship. It’s the loss of wedding photos, graveyards, parish records, local meetings, and countless stories woven into stone walls.
Tracking What’s Inside Before It’s Too Late
So what exactly does this project hope to do? First up: gather information. The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Scotland’s Churches Trust are partnering up to create a detailed record of church buildings and their contents.
One line here.
From stained glass windows to ancient pews, bells, or even forgotten artefacts in dusty corners — each piece tells a piece of Scotland’s wider story.
But they’re not stopping at paperwork. They’re also hoping to work with local communities to explore practical ideas for reusing and preserving these sites when congregations move on.
The Challenge of Keeping Heritage Alive
Church closures aren’t new. Declining congregations, rising maintenance costs, and ageing buildings have long been a headache for parishes trying to stay afloat.
Here’s what communities are up against:
-
Many churches are listed or in conservation areas, which means repairs can’t be rushed.
-
Insurance, heating, and basic upkeep can run into tens of thousands every year.
-
Rural churches often rely on tiny groups of volunteers to keep things ticking.
One local trustee said: “When a church closes, you don’t just lose a building — you lose part of what makes a village tick.”
New Ideas for Old Buildings
That’s why Finding Futures is looking at real solutions, too. Could churches be repurposed as community hubs, event spaces, or even small museums? Could some be shared with other faiths or charities?
One sentence here.
Across Scotland, some former churches have found new life as galleries, concert venues, or even climbing centres — but each comes with its own challenges and costs.
Communities Hold the Key
In the end, the project’s success may come down to local people. While a £229,015 grant gives it a solid start, the bigger test will be getting residents, councils, and heritage groups to back ideas that work on the ground.
One short line here.
If nothing is done, the risk is clear: boarded-up churches, neglected graveyards, and a loss of heritage that can’t be rebuilt once it’s gone.
For now, at least, there’s hope that Scotland’s churches — from grand city cathedrals to mossy village kirks — can find a future worth celebrating.
