A bid to buy an Aberdeenshire village’s only church and bring it into the hands of the community has failed – despite a “valiant attempt” by residents.
Johnshaven Church and Hall has been put on the market for offers of about £75,000 with a closing date set for this Friday.
The Church of Scotland said keeping the building afloat was no longer financially viable and that services would move to neighbouring St Cyrus.
It comes despite locals banding together to look at ways of buying the property, which opened in 1860, so it could continue as a place of worship and community facility.
Mearns Parish Church minister, Reverend Colin Dempster, said villagers had been forced to admit defeat at talks on the future of the building last week.
He added: “This was a meeting arranged by members of Johnshaven community to look at ways to save the church building from redevelopment and to keep it for use by the community.
“Alas, after a valiant attempt at saving the church, there was no viable way to come up with a firm offer to buy the building.
“As the parish minister, along with other members of the church and community, we are obviously very sad that such a lovely wee church cannot be saved for the public worship of God and other community uses.”
He added that services would be retained at Johnshaven Church on the last Sunday of each month for the time being, with transport laid on to St Cyrus Church on all other Sundays.
Benholm and Johnshaven community council spokesman Don Marr said: “The time limit was against them for a start to raise the money to buy it.
“You have got to be realistic. It is a shame but it is a sign of the times.
“The community council would have supported anybody who wanted to take it on board.”
Mr Marr stressed that a great deal of money would be required on top of the asking price to renovate the church roof and meet the cost of heating the building.
“Raising the money to buy the church is the easy part,” he said.
“Benholm Kirk is still open and still available to take funerals and other things.”
A Church of Scotland spokesman said he was unable to confirm whether any bids had been made to purchase Johnshaven Church.