Borders' church completes "fabulous, welcoming and flexible" renovation

An ambitious project to renovate Eyemouth Parish Church in the Borders, which has improved the usable space available for the congregation and wider community, has been completed costing nearly £500,000.

The changes have included installing a more eco-friendly heating system, removing pews with movable chairs now in their place, installing a small kitchen area, as well as ensuring the site is accessible to all and as welcoming as possible.

Plans began after a review in 2016 showed that changes to the layout of the building to make it more adaptable for different purposes were needed.

Rev Andrew Haddow from Eyemouth Parish Church said: "The main church building is now a fabulous, welcoming and flexible space.

"We're excited to be showing it off to our community, to be dreaming together of what might happen in this renewed space and for the church to use this space to help provide those in need within our community with much-needed support.

"However none of this would have been possible without the community's support and we are very grateful for all those who supported this work."

The congregation began fundraising, which although delayed by the Covid pandemic, was completed by 2022 with work beginning at the start of 2023 and the contractors leaving in time for Remembrance Sunday in November.

The church has already seen the benefits of the new space over the Christmas period holding a family Christingle service as well as welcoming a few birthday parties who have used the space.

The enhancements, which includes allowing the main space to be split, will relieve pressure on the church hall, which is currently heavily used for toddler groups, dance classes, a fitness club and for film nights as well as by the NHS and the local food bank and food larder.

More children will be able to attend holiday clubs and more adults will be able to take part in some of the groups already running within the church hall, as space is now less restricted.

A good proportion of the finances for the project came directly from the congregation, along with funding from other local churches, the Fallago Environment Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, and the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland.

To celebrate the completion of the project the church is hosting a Community Open day this Saturday (January 13) where you can come and see the renewed space, as well as enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with a traybake. The building will be open for members of the public to drop in and see from noon until 4pm.

On Sunday 14 January a special service of thanksgiving will be taking place at 10.15am followed by a celebratory lunch.