TWO church buildings in Irvine - including one which is almost 200-years-old - face the axe and are in line to be sold after a review by the Church of Scotland.
Both Mure Relief Church, which was built in the mid-19th century, and Mure Relief Mission Centre, which dates back to the mid-70s, are set to be shut down and sold off.
United Irvine Church of Scotland’s (UICS) kirk session meeting on November 25 was visited by representatives from South West Presbytery to discuss which of their five remaining centres might be retained and released going forward.
It was agreed that the two Mure properties would be closed due to the work which would need to be carried out on them to bring them up to standard.
Irvine's St Andrew's Church, which closed five years ago, also went up for sale last month.
The kirk meeting heard that the hope that UICS might retain all five remaining centres of worship was deemed unrealistic.
Put to a vote, the kirk session agreed to follow the recommendations. Thus, on December 2, South West Presbytery agreed to release Mure Relief’s church buildings in West Road and Bourtreehill.
The Dreghorn & Springside, Fullarton and Girdle Toll centres will remain open to give a geographical spread of buildings which can be developed further as hubs for ministry and mission.
It was stressed that present activities in Mure Relief West Road and Bourtreehil Mission Centre can continue until at the earliest, the summer of 2026, and possibly even to the end of 2026, depending on the marketing process.
In this time UICS hope to enable the relocation of groups and to encourage the continuing great work of Mure Relief's people and groups.
Rev Neil Urquhart, ministry team member and moderator of UICS, said: “For over two years now our five Irvine congregations have been United Irvine Church of Scotland.
"There is no easy way through this painful period of transition in releasing three of our six bases for worship, work and witness.
“We assure our brothers and sisters from Mure Relief and St Andrew’s of continuing empathy, love and prayers in United Irvine Church, as we come to terms with unpalatable realities.
“By God’s grace, UICS’s kirk session and ministry team aim to lead UICS into a positive future in which we will continue to reach out with God’s love and see a resurgence of interest in Jesus Christ in our respective communities.”
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