Community / Skerries church goes on the market
IT IS not every day a property in Skerries comes up for sale – let alone a church.
But the Church of Scotland building on the island is now up for grabs, for offers over £20,000.
Located on Housay, the detached building has an internal area of 82 square metres.
A spokesman said the Church of Scotland delayed advertising the property to allow a community group to put a bid together.
“Unfortunately no offer to buy was forthcoming,” they said.
The island has a permanent population of around 35 and transport access comes via ferry to the Shetland mainland.
Back in 2018 the Church of Scotland announced it would be closing around one third of its buildings in Shetland.
This was due to falling congregation numbers as well as wider pressures such as fewer candidates training for ministry.
Some churches have been taken on by the community or have been sold privately, with some being turned into homes.
The Church of Scotland spokesman said Skerries and Fair Isle are the only two buildings left in the process.
The spokesman added the Fair Isle local development group is working on finalising a Scottish Land Fund application by the autumn which should allow them to make an offer for the building.
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