Hundred Scottish churches up for sale as UK turns away from Christianity

London, NT Bureau: The Church of Scotland is selling 100 historic buildings to free up funds after a drastic decline in the number of worshippers and ministers.

Churches, plots of land and former council houses, some dating back to the 1700s, have been listed for sale at prices ranging from £35,000 in what the Church has described as a “painful” move, reported The Telegraph.

The institution said financial pressures have forced it to make “difficult” decisions on its future, adding it now owns “far more [churches] than is required”.

The Church of Scotland has lost a million members since 2001 and the majority of Scots now say they have no religion, according to the latest census data.

It is also grappling with a fall in clergy numbers. In 2022, the Church revealed it had lost 40pc of its ministers since 2000.

By ridding itself of centuries-old, energy-sapping buildings, the Church is hopeful it can “reduce the pressure on congregational finances”.

A Church of Scotland spokesman said: “We understand fully the wide range of emotions – anger, guilt, sorrow and relief that the burden of trying to keep a place of worship open with few people and little, if any contribution from other community sources, has finally been lifted.

The Church of England said it closes around 20 churches each year. Current listings show most up for sale are located in the north of the country.

Results of the 2021 census show that less than half the population of England and Wales describe themselves as Christian (46pc), a 13pc drop compared to the 2011 survey.

While the drop is sudden, it is not as stark as Scotland where only 20pc of the population class themselves as Christian.