Elgin parishioners have insisted the town’s St Giles church will continue to be used for worship.
On Sunday, members of the St Giles and St Columbas church congregation held a vote on whether to continue to use the A-listed town centre building as an occasional place of worship, or conduct all services in St Columba’s.
The results of the ballot were disclosed yesterday, showing members had elected to continue using the St Giles building.
A Church of Scotland spokeswoman explained: “A meeting was held at St Columba’s South Church on Sunday to vote on a proposal to stop holding regular worship services in St Giles and hold all regular worship at St Columba’s.
“The congregation decided not to change an agreement that said both churches would be used for regular worship.
“In a 75-55 vote the congregation decided to leave the agreement as written.
“St Giles will continue to host community worship services, including those on Remembrance Day and at Christmas.”
Currently St Giles Church is used for worship only a handful of times each year, and the vote came days after it was revealed that its future could be in jeopardy.
The building is expected to be sold by the Church of Scotland in the coming years, and last week Moray Council was asked to fund a £14,000 study into alternative uses.
Commenting after Sunday’s vote, the minister at St Giles and St Columba’s, Reverend Steven Thomson, said the result would have no bearing on whether or not the Kirk ultimately decided to sell the venue.