Court rules on “occupied” Free Church 26/1/13
A church building taken over by breakaway Free Church Continuing should be returned
to the Free Church the Court of Session has ruled.
The Partick Free Church of Scotland situated in the exiled Hebridean heartland of
Glasgow has been at the centre of a legal row since it was occupied by the Continuing
after the schism about 13 years ago.
The Free Church of Scotland said the court has informed it that the Crow Road property
belongs to the original congregation. The Continuing had claimed the church, manse
and halls.
Following the division in 2000, the Partick Free congregation has worshipped in the
next door Baptist Church.
A Free Church of Scotland spokesman said: “We are very thankful and relieved that
the Partick Free Church congregation will finally be back in their own church building
as they have effectively been homeless for more than a decade.
“It is remarkable that the Partick Free Church congregation has been able to maintain
such an effective witness during such a prolonged period of trouble and uncertainty.”
He added: “Although the Free Church congregation has strived for peaceful and amicable
discussions with the FCC and has made a number of previous offers to settle the dispute,
we realise the spectacle of Christians fighting has been damaging to the cause of
Christ and this is a reason for great sorrow.
“We earnestly hope that we can now put this issue behind us and move on to better
things.
“Our focus now is to continue to develop the work of the Partick Free Church of Scotland
congregation and make the most effective use of the buildings.”
The Free Church has made an an ex-gratia payment of £50,000 to the Continuing “as
a gesture of goodwill.”
It said this was less than previous offers made by the Free Church of Scotland in
an attempt to avert legal action.
