Council committed to identifying "best solution" for education centre after Camelon church sold

The Church of Scotland confirmed earlier this week that Camelon Parish Church in Dorrator Road was being sold, with the congregation holding their last service in the building on Sunday, October 18.

However news of the sale of the former Irving Memorial Church has led to questions around plans for the building and the nearby Camelon Education Centre.

Earlier this year Falkirk Council had indicated an interest in buying the church and neighbouring hall as a new home for education centre, which is due to be demolished.

The community centre’s activities were originally set to move into modular units when its current home – a former high school – is demolished due to high running costs and a repair bill of more than £3 million. But news that the Church of Scotland was selling Camelon Parish Church and its adjoining hall led to a rethink.

In January Falkirk Council said that it had been in discussions with the Church of Scotland to buy the building and it proposed moving the activities now provided at the education centre to the church rather than to modular buildings.

At the time an appraisal found that moving to the church would be the “preferred option” offering a better fit for the needs of the services and activities, and it would offer a “much longer term, more sustainable option”.

However, following the latest news that the building sale was almost complete, when asked about plans for the future of Camelon Education Centre the council confirmed it was not purchasing the church building.

A spokesperson for Falkirk Council said: "We have not acquired Camelon Parish Church, but continue to engage and are committed to working with the Camelon Management Committee to identify the best solution for services in the local Camelon area."

With the sale of the historic church building, the congregation will now move its services to the Brown Street halls for the time being, while discussions continue surrounding a potential union with Bonnybridge St Helens and Dunipace Parish Church.

The church in Dorrator Road – originally Irving Memorial Church – was built in 1889 and was once operated by the United Free Church.

It has been home to Camelon Parish Church for the last 23 years since the congregations of Camelon St John’s Parish and Camelon Irving Memorial Church united.

Members of Camelon Parish will going forward hold their services in the nearby Brown Street Halls.

Sunday’s service at 11am will see the congregation say farewell to the building and will be followed by refreshments. Everyone is invited to attend.

A Church of Scotland spokesman said: “The sale of the former Camelon Parish Church building is expected to conclude next week.

“A closing service to express thanks for the use of the property as a church over the years is being held on Sunday.

“The congregation is currently in discussion with members of Bonnybridge St Helen's Parish Church and Dunipace Parish Church in Denny about the prospect of the three congregations merging to form a new united congregation.

“The proposal will only go ahead if a majority of members from all three congregations vote in favour and the process is not expected to conclude until November at the earliest.

“At this stage, the aspiration for the future is to eventually build a new principal united place of worship on the site of a church hall in Brown Street, Camelon.

“The sale proceeds from buildings are held by the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland for the benefit of newly formed congregations to cover the costs of maintaining, refurbishing and developing other buildings they own for ministry and community outreach work.

“We are hopeful there is a positive future for the Church in Camelon.”