Community buy-out plan for Edinburgh church in bid to keep meeting place for local groups
‘There are no other meeting places for community groups anywhere in the area’
A community buy-out is being proposed for an Edinburgh church in a bid to ensure local groups still have somewhere to meet.
Reid Memorial Parish Church in Blackford merged with Marchmont St Giles earlier this year to form Blackford and Grange Parish Church, based at the Marchmont St Giles building.
The Church of Scotland plans to put the Reid Memorial premises in West Savile Terrace up for sale and says it expects "considerable interest" from potential buyers.
But a group of local residents have come together to propose a community buy-out. And under the banner The Reid For The Community, they are holding a public meeting on Sunday, October 25, at 4pm in the large hall at Reid Memorial.
A spokesman from the steering group said: "Our concern is that, particularly following the move of St Crispin's special school, which is now Cala houses, there are no other meeting places for community groups anywhere in the Blackford/West Savile area.
"The halls at the Reid church have traditionally been full with everything from yoga to art classes and a pop-up cafe and the usual things like Sunday club, Guides, Scouts, Beavers and so on, local residents associations, fitness classes and a football group for youngsters.
"There are all sorts of organisations using it and they can still do that at the moment, but depending on who eventually buys it, that may no longer be possible."
The spokesman said the church itself was a great performance space and had a world-class organ, on which famous organists had given concerts.
The Reid Memorial property consists of the church, a large hall, a small hall, three meeting rooms and a church officer’s house which is rented out.
The spokesman said: “The church is a surprisingly young building - it’s not quite 100 years old, despite its looks. There are two people who have been connected with the church who remember it being built in the early 1930s. But it’s a grand building - it almost looks like a cathedral and has a very prominent position.”
If the buy-out goes ahead, future income to keep the buildings going would come from rental of the house, letting of the halls and there is also a mobile phone mast in the tower.
The spokesman said there seemed to be good support for the buy-out. He said: “We have been going for about four months and this is our first public meeting to canvas opinion from the community.
"We will be asking if they want this to happen, but we are confident, judging by the comments we've received - people stopping us in the street, messages, emails, responses to our website and surveys bot electronically and on paper, that the interest is definitely there."
Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray has given his backing, calling it “a fantastic initiative”.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: "While the Church of Scotland welcomes interest from community groups in church buildings which are no longer required for worship, as a charity, the General Trustees, and local kirk sessions, are under a legal obligation to get the best value for any asset sold.
"Community groups are welcome to submit an offer alongside any interested parties once the property is offered for sale on the open market.
"The General Trustees are not necessarily obliged to accept the highest offer in every circumstance, and where there are competing proposals, factors including the potential for continued community access and public use of the building can be taken into account.
“While each case must be considered on its own merits, a proposal that enables the building to remain accessible to the local community may be viewed sympathetically."