A Western Isles community is to sell its former meeting place for worship in a bid to raise valuable funds to aid projects in the village.
The former Leurbost Meeting House, which was built in the 1920s, is to be listed on the housing market to allow Lochs Free Church to improve parts of its main church building and hall in Crossbost.
The sale is to also benefit North Lochs Community Association, who will use their share to fund planned upgrades at its community hall.
The building, which served as the focal meeting point within the community, was used almost exclusively to host prayer meetings until the current church hall was constructed at Crossbost at the turn of the millennium.
The building has since lain almost fully redundant.
Despite the ground the building stands on being resumed from crofting tenure, the title has never been taken, meaning the church was unable to sell the building.
Soval Estate has now offered to grant title for Leurbost Meeting House to the local community at no cost, in order that it can be sold to raise funds for the benefit of the locality.
Richard and Marie Kershaw, proprietors of Soval Estate, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to assist the North Lochs community.
“The proceeds from the sale of the disused meeting hall will enable both of these organisations to make improvements to their premises which in turn will benefit all the North Lochs villages including Achmore, Leurbost, Crossbost, Ranish and Grimshader.”
Murdo Macleod, session clerk of Lochs Free Church, and Annabel Mackay, chairwoman of North Lochs Community Association, welcomed the collaborative approach.
Mr Macleod said: “The community of North Lochs has, for many years, substantially benefited from the supportive approach taken by the owners of the Soval Estate and this gesture is a tangible demonstration of that support.”
