Shetland church closures: names revealed

On Tuesday, the Kirk revealed that only eleven of its 31 church buildings on Shetland would remain operational as it would be “unaffordable” to keep them open.

While the closures are among a raft of measures included in a new Presbytery plan endorsed by the majority of the Church of Scotland’s 975 members in Shetland, local congregations will have the option to appeal against the closure of their church.

Here is the full list of churches set to close:

• Bigton St Ninians
• Bressay
• Cunningsburgh
• Dunrossness
• Fair Isle
• Fetlar
• Foula
• Gulberwick
• Hillswick
• Nesting
• Quarff
• Sandness Church
• Sand – Sandsting
• Skerries
• St Magnus, Yell
• Sullom North Mavine
• Tingwall
• Voe Parish Church
• Weisdale
• Whalsay Church

Reverend Ian Murray is an assessor minister to Shetland and told Premier the closures mean they can invest in other areas such as youth work and employing other staff.

Speaking during News Hour he said: “It sounds dreadful that we’re closing two-thirds of the buildings in Shetland [but] in doing so, we’re clearing the way for a new chapter, for a reformation of the Church and for a revival of the Church.

“We are breathing new life into it.”

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The Church of Scotland has announced the names of 20 of its churches that will be closed on the Shetland Isles.