£45,000 Scottish Land Fund Award to Transform Kilchrenan and Dalavich Churches into Unique Community Hubs
Our two historic churches are set to be transformed into thriving community spaces, following a £45,040 award from the Scottish Land Fund to Avich & Kilchrenan Community Heritables (AKCH).
The funding will allow AKCH to purchase Kilchrenan and Dalavich churches, preserving their character and heritage while adapting them into inclusive, multi-use venues that reflect the evolving needs of this rural, multi-generational community.
Chris Goldsmith, Chair of AKCH, said:
“This grant marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our community. By transforming these historically significant churches into vibrant, inclusive spaces, we’re not only preserving our heritage—we’re building places that bring generations together, support creative and cultural life, and meet real local needs.”
Importantly, both churches will continue to be used for worship and important life events — while also offering welcoming spaces for people of all ages to connect, create, and come together. Each church will offer a distinctive but complementary roles within the wider community. Their acoustic warmth and architectural intimacy make them ideal settings for music performances, arts programming, and wellbeing workshops. They will also provide space for smaller-scale community services not currently supported by larger venues in the area. A key part of the project will be an oral history initiative, in which young people gather and record stories from older residents—bridging generational gaps and celebrating the area’s rich cultural memory.
Oscar Pearce, AKCH Youth Representative, said:
“These churches are part of our history, and now they’ll be part of our future too. It’s exciting to see them become places where young people like me can connect with others, learn from the past, and help build something that really matters.”
Looking ahead, the churches will also play a central role in a planned Christian and Clan Heritage Trail, linking local sites of spiritual and historical significance. The trail will highlight Dalavich’s early Christian legacy and Kilchrenan’s clan heritage and location on a historic drovers’ route. Together, these venues will help extend the tourist season, engage local visitors year-round, and foster economic resilience.
With the purchase funding now secured, AKCH will begin a three-year programme of improvement and maintenance work. The immediate priority is to install essential facilities such as running water and toilets, making both buildings usable year-round. This will be followed by broader adaptations to ensure each kirk is enhanced to suit its specific community role.
To achieve this, further funding and volunteer support are essential. Anyone interested in contributing time, skills, or donations is warmly encouraged to get involved.
Contact: rhona.knox@
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FAQ's
Yes, the kirks will be available for multi-faith worship, weddings, christenings, funerals and other important services.
The graveyards are owned by Argyll & Bute council and there will be no change.
To cover maintenance costs, it is vital that the kirks are used by more people, more often and hence generate enough income to cover maintenance.
AKCH want to enhance our area hence it is vital that we do not compete with existing facilities. As such, it is a key criteria that all of our development opportunities complement existing services. Additionally, addressing a vital community need, and not competing with existing facilities, is a key criteria for all public funding.
We will do this in 3 ways:
Regular drop-in engagement session on key topics – first sessions April’24.
Quarterly Update Letters – first edition published June’24, distributed door to door, via email and Facebook.
Website Latest News – Board Meeting Minutes, Community Events, Funding Support Outcomes will all be posted.
