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Village Races to Buy Historic Church
5 Sep
Summary
- Villagers aim to raise £70,000 to buy a church linked to James Clerk Maxwell.
- A deadline of 1 November gives the community less than 60 days to fundraise.
- The purchased church is planned to become a science and community center.
A spirited fundraising effort is underway in the south of Scotland for a church with significant ties to scientist James Clerk Maxwell. Villagers in Parton are racing against a strict 1 November deadline to acquire the building. They aim to raise £70,000 to purchase the church from the Church of Scotland, ensuring its preservation and protection from market sale.
The community's vision is to convert the historic structure into a dedicated science and community centre. This ambitious project seeks not only to honor Maxwell, whose work laid foundations for modern communication technologies, but also to stimulate rural regeneration and provide a vital boost to the region. Community leaders express optimism about meeting their financial target.
James Clerk Maxwell, born in Edinburgh in 1831, is celebrated for his groundbreaking work on electromagnetism. He is buried in the graveyard of the Parton church, the very building the community now strives to save. The Church of Scotland has set the £50,000 sale price, with proceeds intended for other congregations. Last year, a third of church sales went to community groups, showcasing a trend in local preservation.
