Forres community invited to shape future of a beloved high street landmark, St Laurence Church
A community is being invited to shape the future of a beloved landmark in a town centre which is marked for closure as a place of worship at the end of the year.
An engagement event to explore alternative uses that could preserve and honour the rich heritage of St Laurence Church at 129 Forres High Street will take place within the Church of Scotland’s (CoS) building next month.
Social enterprise development officer at tsiMORAY, Edward Fitsell, is helping to publicise the event which is happening on Saturday, October 26 from 11am-2pm.
He said: "We’re excited to hear the community’s thoughts and ideas for the future of St Laurence Church.
“It has been a cornerstone of the community for many years, and we want to ensure it continues to serve and inspire future generations."
Members of the public will also be able to share ideas on a board at Forres House Community Centre on an ideas board or by completing an online survey at bit.ly/stlaurencefuture by October 20.
St Laurence Church is one of a number being closed for worship at the end of the year, against a backdrop of diminishing CoS finances and membership across the country.
Following the closure of Alves and Rafford churches last year, and the planned closure of Findhorn Church and St Laurence this year, CoS reforms mean churches in the area are being served by a team ministry working across two remaining buildings for worship in Kinloss and at St Leonard’s, Forres.
It is hoped that a community group or social enterprise will take over the running of St Laurence rather than it being sold to a private/commercial buyer.
CoS West Moray coordinator, Reverend Tommy Bryson, attended a 90 minute meeting with around 50 other people to discuss the church’s future on Saturday, September 21.
He said: “It was held to address questions people had, particularly those of members of St Laurence, as well as those simply wishing to add comment or question what has happened. It went fine.”
Rev Bryson was joined by Rev Monika Redman and CoS reader Simon Jackson as official representatives of the presbytery.
Convenor of Presbytery Mission and Planning, Rev Redman, explained why the CoS has decided that St Laurence will no longer host church services. She explained the process started in 2016 and the plan was later approved in 2020.
Rev Redman described the course of action that each congregation and Kirk Session took part in, highlighting the formula used for determining which buildings were to be kept and sold.
CoS general trustees use ‘Five Marks of Mission’ to judge if buildings are fit for purpose, including having “the right spaces in the right places”.
The General Assembly of October 2020 endorsed the Five Marks of Mission, adding that a church being fit for purpose in the 21st Century must be evidenced at local, regional and national levels.
Consultation with presbytery, session and congregations was carried out, including surveys. Every church and manse in the country was inspected and photographed for a data bank.
This resulted in St Leonard’s Church at 49 High Street being chosen to remain open for worship rather than St Laurence. However, Rev Bryson is hopeful St Laurence will have a new purpose so it can remain at the heart of the community.
He said: “We are trying to find a group or trust to embrace the building that we can work alongside. This may be via community ownership, perhaps independently from the kirk, and could be made up of numerous stakeholders and/or partners.”
CoS West Moray hopes the heritage and traditions of St Laurence will be retained by a new owner or custodian.
“We are working extremely hard towards the building not being placed on the open market,” said Rev Bryson. “But this will be possible if no one comes forward. The building is priceless but has value in many other aspects besides financial.”
Rev Bryson confirmed, if there are proceeds from a sale, they will be the responsibility of the newly formed West Moray trustees or kirk session.
Another meeting attendee, who does not want to be named, felt that the event should have been better publicised to encourage a wider attendance.
He said: “Quite a few people from St Laurence spoke passionately about saving the church but didn’t get any answers.
“A message was read out from the Lord lieutenant of Moray, Major General Seymour Monro, in support.
“I feel a decision to sell St Laurence has already been taken so the next meeting will be primarily about interested parties. CoS have indicated their preferred choice would be Forres Heritage Trust or a similar group.
“I don’t think the procedure for closing the church has been handled fairly. The fact is that when St Laurence church members first heard about a possible closure they had an interim moderator minister, whereas St Leonard’s already had a permanent minister making their case.”
