284-year-old Dunphail kirk on the market for £40,000 — but potential buyers face tricky restrictions and zero loos
A centuries-old stone church nestled in the Moray countryside is now looking for a new owner, as the Church of Scotland continues its widespread sell-off of underused buildings. Edinkillie Church, built in 1741 and perched by the River Divie, has been listed for sale with an asking price of just £40,000.
That price, though, doesn’t tell the full story.
From sacred space to something else entirely
This isn’t just any old village kirk. The B-listed Edinkillie Church comes packed with 284 years of history — sermons, songs, and sorrow carved into every corner of the structure. It’s seen renovations, organ donations, baptisms, and even memorials to fallen airmen. But dwindling congregations and mounting maintenance costs have brought it to the chopping block.
According to a Church of Scotland spokesperson, the church could be converted into several public functions without the need for formal change-of-use permission. That includes:
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Crèche or day nursery
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Educational space
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Museum or gallery
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Public library
Other uses, like a community theatre, retail unit, or event space, would need additional consents.
It sounds like a dream for community groups or arts collectives. But there’s a catch — or a few.
No toilets, but plenty of ghosts
Here’s the thing. The building doesn’t have any toilet facilities. Not even a basic WC. And it sits alone, nine miles from Forres, along the A940 — not exactly prime footfall territory.
Plus, the church’s adjoining car park has a 75% development uplift clause. That means if anyone wants to build on it or secure planning permission within the next 20 years, the Church of Scotland gets 75% of the increase in land value. Ouch.
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The church does have mains electricity, though. So there’s that.
A tapestry of personal stories etched in stone
While the listing reads like a developer’s puzzle, Edinkillie Church holds deep emotional meaning for the local community.
The pulpit and triple galleries reflect its 18th-century design. The baptismal basin, a gift from Mrs Livingstone-Learmouth in 1886, remembers her grandfather — Reverend Alexander Coull, minister there for 45 years starting in 1745. A full generation of villagers would’ve known only him behind the pulpit.
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In 1941, the church received a pipe organ, a gift from Sir Robert McVitie Grant. Two years later, a communion table was installed by the Bruce family in memory of their son, Flight Lieutenant Robert Bruce, killed in action during WWII. Those names still echo quietly across the kirk.
And outside, in the churchyard, a hexagonal watch-house stands guard — a grim reminder of Scotland’s body-snatching era, when fresh graves were targets for medical schools hungry for cadavers.
Selling history in a tricky market
The Church of Scotland’s strategy isn’t unique. Across the UK, historic religious buildings are being sold off in growing numbers. Maintenance costs, fewer regular worshippers, and heritage preservation issues are forcing local congregations to hand over keys to developers, artists, and even Airbnb hosts.
But Edinkillie poses challenges beyond its location and plumbing. Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | £40,000 starting offer |
| Planning Constraints | Some uses allowed without change of use; others need council consent |
| Amenities | No toilets, limited utilities |
| Legal Clause | 75% uplift clause on car park development |
| Access | Rural site 9 miles south of Forres |
The church may be beautiful, but buyers will need deep pockets, creativity — and patience.
A new life — or slow decay?
The hope is that someone steps up with a plan that preserves its legacy. Maybe a local collective? A museum? A performance venue? Moray doesn’t have many spaces with this kind of acoustic charm and architectural character.
But some worry it could go the way of so many other churches — bought, forgotten, decaying in silence.
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The graveyard will remain open to the public. That’s non-negotiable.
Still, locals can’t help but wonder what’s next. Will tourists stop for photos and ghost stories? Or will the church become a private estate, its stories locked behind new walls?
Echoes of war and peace
One part of the property won’t be changing hands quietly. A war memorial sits along the boundary wall of the car park, and more plaques inside the church pay tribute to community members who served in global conflicts.
In a place like Dunphail, these aren’t abstract names. They’re grandparents, uncles, cousins. The Bruce family’s tribute to their lost son still sits in the heart of the building.
Two circular stained-glass windows, replaced in 2012, tell part of that story too. One was gifted by the Reid family to honour session clerk William Reid, who served from 1980 to 1996.
So while Edinkillie Church might be up for sale, it’s far from just four walls and a steeple. It’s a piece of Moray’s heart — and for £40,000, someone gets to decide what that’s worth now.
