A city community has rallied together to help save its church from being demolished.
Garthdee Parish Church is currently on the brink of closure, as a result of a dwindling congregation and damage to the building.
The high cost of maintenance is believed to be the reason behind proposals to sell the plot of land.
Garthdee Community Council (GCC) has launched a campaign to protect the building.
Chairman Paul O’Connor, “I cannot see how the Church of Scotland can square it with the people of Garthdee if it were to sell that building without giving it the fullest opportunity to succeed once more.
They are fully aware of the reasons why Garthdee church has struggled in recent years and I am extremely confident that now is the perfect time to see Garthdee church grow, reach out to our community, and become a thriving hub of activity.”
Garthdee Parish Church has served the community since the 1950s. Its current Locum Minister Reverend Flora Munro first visited the church at the age of five when her family moved to the area. She saw the first stone laid inside the building in Aberdeen.
Reverend Munro said: “It is an iconic building. In going ahead, I just want people to listen, and have a conversation about alternative ideas to closing the church.
“This is the heart of the growing community and it gives people a place to meet. We want to find an alternative to knocking it down, and have the community thinking about that too.”
The Garthdee Community Council has called on local organisations and community leaders to join together to save the church.
Mr O’Connor believes more events could be held in the building which could also be saved through community fundraising.
He said: “Whether you are a person of faith, of different faith, or a complete atheist, let us all fight together as one to save the church and rebuild it.
“Garthdee is a growing place. Every community organisation plays their part and we cannot and will not lose another vital amenity.
“We will stand side by side with any campaign the church comes up with and we will work alongside them. It would be wrong to sell and knock down the building.”
He said the current minister was helping to improve numbers in the congregation.
He added: “The Garthdee Parish Church deserves a chance to regrow. It has the potential to.”
