Bell finally tolls for old kirk moved stone by stone from its original site

A CHURCH which was moved stone by stone from one of Scotland's most historic palaces is to close its doors after several hundred years as a place of worship.

The Church of Scotland yesterday ruled that Scone Old Kirk, build in 1286, should shut as part of a programme to reduce the number of active church buildings in the village.

The kirk was the first building to be moved when a member of the aristocracy ordered Old Scone village be relocated because it spoiled the view from his palace.

In 1805, the incumbent Earl of Mansfield decreed that every single one of the 200 residents should have their houses torn down and moved to a new location two miles away.

The mini-clearance saw Old Scone moved over a hill and beyond a wood to its present location where it was known as New Scone until 1985.

The church was taken stone by stone to a new location and gifted 40 acres of the estate.

Yesterday the Church of Scotland confirmed that Scone Old Kirk was to close after two centuries in its "new" location, due to the amalgamation Scone Old, Scone New Church and nearby St Martins.

The Church of Scotland has opted to use Scone New church, a B-listed building, dating back to 1887 as the place of worship for the united congregations.

Scone Old Kirk was originally built in 1286 near Scone Palace, but was moved in 1805 to become the first building of the newly created village of New Scone.

A spokesman for the Church of Scotland said: "We appreciate people will have strong feelings on the matter and both session clerks have been sent a document explaining the decision."

It is understood that the Church of Scotland is faced with reducing the number of charges due to a shortage of both ministers and money. Jim Nicol, clerk to the board at the 400-seat Scone Old Parish Church, said the kirk was not an obvious candidate to turn into a house or flats.

He added: "It was always going to be a difficult choice for the panel. The decision is final and the question is where do we go now? It is up to the congregations to decide what to do with Scone Old Parish Church."

Mike Moir, who was chairman of the "new" villages bicentenary group, said some families still resented the way their ancestors were moved.

He said: "Up to 1805 the village more or less sat in front of where Scone Palace is, and I suppose they were just about living in (the earl's] front garden.

"He was thinking of building an extension to the palace and he offered them all a new site.

"They were given a double feu as a carrot to move. There is still a lingering feeling among some of the original Sconeites.

"A lot of the families who were moved still exist in Scone. They feel that they had their whole village moved on the whim of an Earl. It just seems to have been the thing at the time that the aristocracy didn't want to be looking out over the plebs."