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Plans for new church in Cunningsburgh submitted

16 July 2026 15:24

A NEW church could be built in Cunningsburgh under plans submitted to Shetland Islands Council.

The United Free Church of Scotland is looking to erect a new church and parking on a plot of grass at Flanderstown in the village.

Currently the church meets at a building in Cunningsburgh every Sunday, but said it was “constrained” by the small size of the property.

In a submission to planners from Blueprint Architecture, the church said that it could only fit around 40 people in for breakfast when set up as a café.

“Weekly we have to reconfigure seating etc to suit the event planned and stack chairs/tables not in use, with storage being fairly limited,” it said.

“At present we can accommodate children’s work, but again when the room is used for other events we have to clear away seating and craft materials used at Sunday school.

“We are now the only church in the village and the building is being used for purposes other than Sunday worship alone. We are providing space for community involvement and expanding on that.

“The access to our existing premises is at a road junction with very poor visibility, and due to the lack of parking, along with the constrained space, it was agreed to look for a new site.”

The church said that the empty plot at Flanderstown had “good access” and would allow them to develop a space more suited to the needs of the church and wider community.

“It will allow us to grow our existing food ministry with a better café space to use for breakfast church services, and other events.

“We plan to grow our community use for things like drop in coffee afternoons, children’s clubs etc.”

Blueprint Architecture said that the new building would be just 220 metres south of their existing church, and would have more parking space.

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There have also been plans to turn Cunningsburgh’s former Church of Scotland kirk into a café for the area.

Brian Hughson unveiled plans in 2024 to create a space for selling locally made crafts too, along with residential accommodation, at the more than 100 year old church.