Arbuthnott church which inspired iconic Sunset Song up for sale

The Aberdeenshire church, which inspired the iconic novel Sunset Song, has been put up for sale.

A north-east community had fought to take control of Arbuthnott Church in Laurencekirk from the Church of Scotland, however, it has been put on the market offers over £45,000.

The historic Kirk played a pivotal part in the Sunset Song, which follows Chris Guthrie in the fictional Aberdeenshire parish of Kinraddie.

The author, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, is buried in the church grounds. The community wanted to raise enough funds to buy out the 800-year-old building and run it as a cultural centre

But hopes were dashed following the results of a feasibility study which showed the finances didn’t add up.

Charles Roberts-McIntosh told STV News: “Purchase by a community group was just not a viable option.

“The costs of running and maintaining the church beyond purchase were too great for it to be a viable position for us.

“So unfortunately we had to say there was not going to be community purchase.”

Arbuthnott church is the latest property being sold by the Church of Scotland in a bid to raise funds.

The religious body said it supported a community buy-out and that the building was only sold after the local group confirmed they were unable to purchase it.

The trust says although its disappointed it can’t look after the church as originally hoped -its “cautiously optimistic that any potential buyer will allow it for community use”.

Campaigner Liz Sangster said: “It is very much the hub of the community.

“This is an agricultural community and it’s hugely important to the locals and it’s also a place of pilgrimage for fans of Lesley Mitchel, otherwise known as Lewis Grassic Gibbon.

“This chapter is not finished yet.”