GR Direct - Sony - Save up to £500
Sunday 27 July 2025
 14°C   SW Gentle Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / ‘Sad day’ as Uyeasound kirk set to close

Uyeasound Kirk. Photo: Mike Pennington.

THE UYEASOUND kirk in Unst is set to close following a vote by members of the local church group.

Church of Scotland’s Unst and Fetlar group said 73 per cent of those in attendance at a recent annual meeting were in favour of shutting its doors.

The kirk, which was built in the mid 1800s, has not had a regular worship for a number of years.

The church said it was a “sad day but unavoidable in the present circumstances”.

Church member Barbara Priest said the move had been on the cards for some time.

“Nobody wants to see something that’s been in your life – all your life – disappear, but things change,” she said. “Times changes, people change.”

North Isles councillor Ryan Thomson said it was the “end of an era for Uyeasound”.

The kirk, which has only been open for occasional weddings and funerals, is known for its eye-catching white painted exterior.

Become a member of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:

  • Removal of third-party ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.

 
Categories

Sign up
for our Newsletters

Stay in the loop with newsletters tailored to your interests. Whether you're looking for daily updates, weekly highlights, or updates on jobs or property, you can choose exactly what you want to receive.

Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Have you considered becoming a member of Shetland News?

  • Removal of third-party ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.