Ambitious plans to develop 'beacon of faith and love' in Kirkcaldy to meet community need

A Fife church has unveiled ambitious plans to transform its building into a modern community hub.

Hope Church in Kirkcaldy wants to upgrade its facilities to make them more accessible and welcoming to a wide variety of different groups.

Parish minister Rev Josh Milton said the £2.4 million refurbishment project to create a centre for mission fit for the 21st century is a response to "genuine need".

Hope Church was created following the merger of Templehall and Torbain Parish Churches in February 2021 and uses the former Torbain building on Carron Place.

Its mission statement says: "Hope Church, a vital pillar of our local community, is at a critical juncture where extensive refurbishment is essential to meet the needs of our expanding ministries and comply with current Scottish and UK government regulations.

"Our project aims to transform our 1960s building into a modern, energy-efficient and accessible facility.

"Serving more than 600 individuals weekly across 30 active groups, Hope Church is an indispensable resource for the community.

"It faces several critical challenges, including limited accessibility for disabled individuals and young families, outdated heating systems, poor energy efficiency and insufficient modern amenities.

"Additionally, our current space lacks flexibility and does not adequately support our diverse activities."

The congregation wants to create accessible entrances to the building from a carpark, install a platform lift, new toilets, new kitchen, energy-efficient heating and windows, and reconfigure the internal layout into a versatile modern space.

Under the plans, the pews will be removed from the sanctuary and a new community café will be opened and used when worship services are not being held.

New meeting rooms will be created and the church's audio-visual equipment will be upgraded.

Community need

The congregation wants to open up the organ loft to local groups and there is scope for a small studio which could open up collaboration with Fife College, and a place for school students to study.

The refurbishment project will be carried out in two stages.

Fife Council granted planning permission for phase one – a single storey extension including access ramps and stairs – last October and it has been costed at £1.63 million.

The congregation has so far raised £1.47 million towards the cost of phase one and it is hoped that work will start in August 2025.

The General Trustees, the property holding arm of the Church of Scotland, has awarded a grant towards the cost of phase one, made possible through the sale of other buildings.

This has in turn enabled the congregation to access grants from other organisations such as the Benefact Trust.

An application for phase two of the refurbishment - internal and external alterations - was recently submitted to Fife Council and it is hoped that permission will be granted later month.

The congregation is hopeful that the project will be fully completed by 2028.

Mr Milton, who was inducted into the new united charge in October 2022, explained: "Our church has always been more than just a building.

"It's a home, a safe space, a sanctuary and a source of strength for everyone who walks through its doors.

"But we know there is more that we are called to do, especially in response to the real needs on our doorstep.

"Our vision for Hope Church is to transform it into a beacon of support and care for our community – a church where everyone, young and old, families and individuals alike, can find a place of belonging, safety and hope."

The refurbishment plans have the support of the Kirk Session, Fife Presbytery and a recent online survey revealed 220 people fully endorse the purpose and ethos behind them.

Mr Milton admitted that the task the congregation has set itself is ambitious.

"This isn't just about renovations or modernising a space, it's about meeting real, urgent needs in our parish," he explained.

Hope Church is situated in one of the most socio-economically challenged areas in Scotland.

Poverty, social isolation, unemployment and addiction are daily struggles for many people in the community.

Mr Milton said: "We see the impact every day and feel it deeply.

"Jesus Christ brought the world a message of love, compassion and sacrifice.

"Just as he brought light into the world, we have the chance to share that light with those in need.

"As a church, we're called to respond and this renewed church is our response - it's a way to show love in action.

"Even with all the changes around us, we aim to be a beacon of hope."

The congregation is applying for grants to fund the refurbishment and has launched an official fundraising campaign, seeking to raise £100,000 over the next three years.

Anyone wishing to donate money should visit the it's website, or e-mail fundraising@kirkcaldyhopechurch.com.

The right spaces in the right places

The Church has been engaged in a major programme of reforms in order to deliver sustainable and realistic new expressions of ministry and church, ensuring buildings are suitable for the needs of mission in the 21st century.

Katharine Isherwood, Head of Buildings and Projects for the General Trustees, said: "This project is a great example of the type of improvements being undertaken at many of our churches to ensure that they meet the current and future needs of our congregations and their local communities.

"Working together with our congregations and presbyteries, the Trustees aim to ensure that we can deliver all the right spaces in the right places."

Gordon Thomson, session clerk at Hope Church, said the presbytery mission planning process represented a "fresh injection of life".

"Traditionally many churches have tended to shun changes that are risky, thrilling and occasionally terrifying," he explained.

"But we've found that such changes can also be a lot of fun and a route towards achieving our missional goals.

"Charismatic and skilled leadership from Josh has reinforced our recognition of the need to focus on longer term goals, rather than getting overly drawn into trivia.

"Our vision has been aided by our recognition that repeating yesterday's formulas is seldom a solid basis for future development.

"The redevelopment of the building will give us much more credibility – a renaissance in the eyes of the community."