Exciting News! The Scottish Land Fund funding secures the purchase of the Parish Church, Lochwinnoch.
Parish Church: Future Hub for Lochwinnoch
Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust secures the purchase of the grade A-listed former Lochwinnoch Parish Church following a £233,300 grant from the Scottish Land Fund. The Trust plans to develop the building as a community hub, with space for a range of services and activities.
Read the official announcement: Community projects receive £829,692 from Scottish Land Fund
The Power of Community Ownership
Diarmid Harris, Chair, Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust (LCDT), said:
“The award from the Scottish Land Fund will allow us to acquire the Lochwinnoch Parish Church, a beloved, iconic building in the heart of Lochwinnoch. The power of community ownership of our own cultural heritage, symbolised by the restoration and refurbishment of this building, will be a catalyst for local innovation, creativity, and economic development in our village. LCDT believes that the revitalisation of this building will have a significant impact on Lochwinnoch for generations to come.”
The Next Challenge
Although we now have the funding to secure the purchase of the Parish Church, we still need to raise a significant amount to complete the renovation to transform the building into a vibrant community hub; likely over £3.5 million.
These funds will cover:
- Immediate repairs– including work on the roof and heating system to prevent issues over the winter months.
- Initial costs– such as insurance, heating, and lighting as we begin our first phase. These expenses will help us complete the designs and documentation needed to get planning and building permissions.
- Building work– focused on repairing, renovating, conserving, and refurbishing all parts of the church and halls.
We have submitted several applications for additional funding, and we’re patiently waiting for responses, which may take between 3 and 6 months. Fingers crossed for positive results!
It takes a Village!
If you have ideas for fundraising activities, we’d love to hear from you. Showing local support in our application always strengthens our case.
Please email us at info@lochwinnochtrust.org.uk
Read more about the project: Lochwinnoch Parish Church
