FEARS have been raised about the future of St Michael’s Church, Inveresk, as it prepares to host Musselburgh’s annual remembrance service in the church hall for the second year.

Services were moved to the hall, on Dalrymple Loan, Musselburgh, at the end of March last year, after an inspection found the ceiling in the church was “unsafe”.

READ MORE: St Michael's Kirk in Inveresk closed on safety grounds

The concern about the kirk’s future comes just weeks after the closure of St Clements and St Ninians Church in Wallyford because it was no longer financially sustainable, with the congregation taking the decision via majority vote. 

Maureen Talac, session clerk at St Michael’s, said: “Once more, the town’s annual remembrance service will be held in St Michael’s Church Hall on Sunday, November 10, at 10.45am.”

She explained: “We had an inspection and were told that the ceiling was unsafe so, of course, health and safety is of the greatest importance, and we had to close the building.”

Presbytery of Lothian and Borders is expected to discuss the ceiling and the way forward in December.

Mrs Talac said: “We have had experts in and have passed on all the information and costings to presbytery.

“The Church of Scotland I am afraid have rules and, depending on the amount of money that needs spent, we first must go to presbytery for a decision, and they then decide if it goes on to the general trustees for a final decision.”

She said that more than 60 per cent of the expected cost of the work was already available from the sale of St Michael’s daughter church, St John’s at Whitecraig – plans have been lodged to turn it into a family home.

READ MORE: Plans to transform Whitecraig's St John's Church into home

“We believe the remainder could be raised if St Michael’s were to remain a place of worship,” added Mrs Talac.

Musselburgh has three Church of Scotland churches: St Michael’s, Northesk and St Andrew’s High.

Mrs Talac said: “The Church of Scotland have been closing churches throughout Scotland.

“I am afraid Musselburgh is no different – a decision was taken that there would be one building in Musselburgh and the three congregations would unite and worship in one church.

“Understandably, we all want it to be our own church which will be saved.”

READ MORE: Talks underway to unite all of Musselburgh's Church of Scotland kirks

She explained that the historic parish of Inveresk comprised the whole of Musselburgh and surrounding area to Dalkeith on both sides of the Duke of Buccleuch’s estate.

She said: “St Michael’s Parish Church was built not to serve a small exclusive village but as the prominent centre point of that large and populous domain.

“It would be unforgivable if the Church of Scotland made the decision to close this building.”

In 2017, £228,000 of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Environment Scotland was secured for a major conservation project at St Michael’s which saw work carried out to the roof and masonry.

A Church of Scotland spokesman said: “A fault was discovered with the ceiling in March 2023 that on closer inspection turned out to be a far greater issue than previously thought.

“This required reports from building professionals to clarify the full extent of the issues before costings could be sought. All of this took time.

“When costings were received, the question of whether the church should invest significant quantities of money had to be addressed.

“Grant money will be required as the congregation do not have the funds to cover it entirely themselves.

“The sums are significant and it requires input from the congregation, Lothian and Borders Presbytery and the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland.

'Sometimes the hardest decision is the right one'

“Lothian and Borders Presbytery is likely to discuss the ceiling and the way forward at its next meeting in December. In the meantime, we are glad the congregation have the hall for continued worship.”

No decision has yet been made on the churches in Musselburgh uniting.

“The local churches are talking to each other to come up with a locally led way forward. That will then come to presbytery and national bodies for approval,” the Courier was told.

The last service in St Clements and St Ninians was on September 29.

The Church of Scotland spokesman explained: “Unfortunately, the congregation of Musselburgh St Clements and St Ninians was no longer able to sustain itself going forward and the trustees of the congregation, and the congregation themselves, voted to close.

“Everyone involved is sad that this situation came about but recognises that sometimes the hardest decision is also the right one, which in this case was to close.

“Lothian and Borders Presbytery are currently considering the best way to restart a congregation in Wallyford, recognising our responsibility to bring the good news of Jesus to all our people.”

Justin Hynd, chair of Wallyford Community Council, said it was “sad” for the village to lose the church, which had “served the community for generations.”

He added: “We do hope that the huge influx of new residents to Wallyford might allow for the church to reopen in the future and the community council would be more than happy to help in any way we can.”