Edinkillie Church, Dunphail, Moray placed on market by Church of Scotland

A much-loved 284-year-old public building in a village to the south of Forres is up for sale.

B-listed Edinkillie Church at Dunphail - dating back to 1741 - has been placed on the market for offers over £40,000 by owners the Church of Scotland.

A CoS spokesperson has suggested a number of alternative uses for prospective buyers.

He said: “Edinkillie Church could be used - without the necessity of obtaining change of use consent - as a crèche, day nursery, day centre, educational establishment, museum, art gallery or public library.

“It also has potential for a variety of other uses, such as a theatre, cinema or entertainment venue, retail space or community resource subject to obtaining appropriate consents.”

The small place of worship is nine miles south of Forres on the A940 Grantown-on-Spey road. It is situated on the banks of the River Divie near a former railway bridge which now forms part of the Dava Way.

Edinkillie Church was built in a traditional 18th-century style, with a central pulpit and galleries on three sides. The building was renovated in 1813.

A baptismal basin was gifted in 1886 by Mrs Livingstone-Learmouth in memory of her grandfather, the Reverend Alexander Coull, who was minister at Edinkillie from 1745 to 1790.

The church’s pipe organ was installed in 1941, gifted by Sir Robert McVitie Grant in 1943.

At the same time, a communion table was provided by the Bruce family in memory of their son, Flight Lieutenant Robert Bruce of Glenery, who had been killed in action that year during the Second World War.

A hexagonal watch-house sits in the graveyard, a remnant of the body-snatching era. The kirkyard contains mainly 18th and 19th century gravestones. The graveyard remains open to the public.

In 2012, two circular windows were replaced, matching the early original windows. One was gifted by the Reid family in memory of session clerk William Reid (1980-’96).

The property is connected to mains electricity, however, there are currently no toilet facilities.

A war memorial forms part of the boundary wall of the car park with further war memorial plaques inside the church.

The CoS spokesperson finished: “The car park will be subject to a development uplift clause which will entitle the CoS general trustees to a 75 per cent uplift in value resulting from development or planning permission within 20 years.

“Potential buyers should be aware that this clause may impact the car park’s future development potential.”

For more information visit https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/departments/property-and-church-buildings/properties-for-sale/properties/churches-and-halls/edinkillie-church-dunphail-forres-iv36-2qq