Save the Old West Kirk

26/11/2024

A photo shared by Tommy Leith on
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18vBmnmwgT/

The OWK before it was moved brick by brick ❤️

05/10/2024

How beautiful ❤️

5th October

27/09/2024

Just in case you don't know.....

Thanks to the OWK's owner Mr Marco Medinelli, the OWK will be open for Inverclyde Doors Open Day this Sunday between 11am-4pm.

If you haven't seen inside it, please go, you definitely won't regret it, it's stunning.
There will be members of Inverclyde Heritage Network on hand to tell you it's history and answer any questions you may have.

You can find more information at
https://www.inverclydeheritage.network/events

Everything Inverclyde Greenock Telegraph Gourock. Inverclyde Now

04/12/2022

A personal reflection from our Minister, Jonathan:

As many of you will have read or heard by now, the Old West Kirk site has been sold to Mr Marco Medinelli with guarantees that safeguard this beautiful piece of Greenock’s history and landscape.

The Kirk Session of Lyle Kirk were delighted to accept Mr Medinelli’s offer and to work together on creating this window of opportunity for our local community groups to have time and space to obtain funds, build a vision and make it a reality.

While there were a wide range of offers made on this site, Marco’s desire to keep the Old West Kirk available to the people of Greenock was more important to us than the amount of money on offer, which would have always been the case.

I wish Marco every blessing for the future and all that is made possible in this building in the years ahead.

When I came to Lyle Kirk, I was excited to journey into a new future with a congregation ready to move forward as one with the community at the centre of all that we did as a church.

What became very clear soon after my induction was the realisation that buildings have played a significant part in peoples decision to remain a part of the Lyle Kirk family, which continues to deeply sadden me.

I hope and pray that today’s news brings some degree of comfort to those disheartened by the decision to close this building a decade before the start of my ministry here and that you will consider coming back and at least giving me a chance to share our vision for the future.

The season of Advent is a time of preparation, taking stock of all that has been and looking ahead with hope to all that is still to be. It would be wonderful to have an opportunity to walk through this season with some of you for the first time and into the future.

I look forward to breaking bread with all who join us for communion on Sunday.

If you want to talk, I am here.

Every blessing,
Jonathan

04/12/2022

An update on former Old West Kirk:

The Church of Scotland is pleased to announce the successful sale of the whole of the site of the former Old West Kirk in Greenock to a well-known local businessman Mr Marco Medinelli.

As part of the sale, Mr Medinelli has granted a formal undertaking by which, for a period of two years following acquisition he:

(a) agrees not to sell the Church;
(b) will not apply for planning consent or listed building consent for change of use of the
Church building for any purpose which might conflict with continuing community use;
(c) will enter into discussions with representatives of the Old West Kirk Trust and associated community groups to allow them to use the Church building for community activities; and
(d) will use his best endeavours to ensure that the Church building continues to be available to the people of Greenock for community purposes.

The Church of Scotland believes the terms of sale together with the additional undertakings represent a very satisfactory outcome providing a secure future for the site of the former Old West Kirk and an opportunity for the local community to become involved in the conservation of the historic Church building.

23/09/2022

We learned earlier today that the Old West Kirk Trust SCIO was unsuccessful in its bid.

No further information is available at this time. If we find out more we will let you know.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of the OWK Trust SCIO for your support during this process.
This page will continue to stay available for some time to allow all supporters to access this latest information.

06/09/2022

Today is the closing date of sale of the Old West Kirk. The Old West Kirk Trust have been in communication with the sellers and have submitted a heads of terms document We are hoping that this will be accepted, but it may take several weeks for any decision to be made. For now, sincere thanks to everyone who has donated and please continue to do so as our campaign will continue. Your patience and support is much appreciated!

05/09/2022

The Old West Kirk will be open during Inverclyde's Open Days. It'll be open this Saturday the 10th of September. The link's below ⬇️⬇️.

Do yourself a favour, go see it.

Church with history dating back to 1591 moved from original site elsewhere in town and containing outstanding series of stained glass windows and other historical features.

04/09/2022

A few folk have asked about the model ship that was hanging from the roof, well I'm glad to say that it's still there, and look at the detail in it ❤️

02/09/2022

I've separated the Cradle Rolls so you can have a look for your own name, family or even friends names. You should be able to zoom in and see them better 😊

02/09/2022

I realised last night that I hadn't added all of the framed Cradle Roll pictures on, so here are the ones I saw.

01/09/2022

Some pics I took today.

Stunning, simply stunning.