Pub to be converted into place of worship

A church famous for its hard line stance against drinking has bought a pub to bring its parishioners together.

But the Free Church of Scotland is adamant its purchase, through property firm Bruce and Co, has nothing to do with trying to deny anybody the chance of enjoying a drink.

It has acquired the Carinish Inn on the island of North Uist in the Hebrides for around £395,000. The pub will be converted into a church complex serving three different island communities.

A downturn in tourism trade to North Uist, due in part to a dismal summer, is understood to have persuaded owners the Macinnes brothers to put the three-star Visit Scotland rated pub and restaurant-with-rooms on the market.

The Free Church was keen to acquire a building able to act as the focus for a currently scattered congregation.

Spokesman Rev Iver Martin told The Publican ​the new church would bring together worshippers currently meeting in small numbers on Berneray, North Uist and Grimsay.

"This is not about the church wanting or trying to close down pubs," he said. "It's just the case that this building came on the market and is ideal."

The church would have preferred a new build but the pub is in a good central site, has full disabled access and a large car-park.

The purchase goes against the trend which has seen former churches being converted to licensed premises - for example in Glasgow's West End two landmark former churches already play host to major "arts-with-bars" hybrid ventures.

Two pubs in South East England are also facing conversion into places of worship. In October the Skinny Dog in Aylesbury was sold to the Toheed Ul Islam Association to be redeveloped into a mosque, whilst regulars at the Swan on Clapton Common in East London are campaigning against the conversion of the pub into a synagogue by the Stamford Hill Bobov Jewish community.