A CLOSING date of today (Friday) at noon has been put on the sale of St John’s Church in Whitecraig, following “considerable interest” in the property – while a petition has been launched to ‘save’ the church.

Built in about 1950, the kirk, on Whitecraig Road, was the daughter church of St Michael’s Church at Inveresk, to which the congregation has been transferred.

The building is for sale on the open market at offers over £100,000.

A spokesman for the Church of Scotland said: “The Presbytery of Lothian, like all Church of Scotland presbyteries, is currently consulting on a draft mission plan to determine how limited resources should be allocated to congregations over a five-year period. It is a road map for a realistic new era of mission to ensure that the Church is fit for purpose to meet 21st-century needs.

“Under the draft plan, the long-term future of St John’s Church in Whitecraig was in doubt, and a survey of the building concluded it was no longer financially viable to maintain, not least because the boiler needed to be replaced.

“Office bearers took the decision to close the building as a place of worship and put it up for sale.”

But an online petition has been launched by Whitecraig Gala to ‘Save St John’s Church’.

Becka Macdonald, gala governor and secretary of Whitecraig Gala, said that she was keen to see the church developed into a “positive asset” for villagers.

READ MORE: Church closed and put up for sale for six-figure-sum

She said that her mum Kate Macdonald, gala treasurer, had contacted the Church of Scotland suggesting a lease trial period for a year, as the building had the potential to be used in a similar way to The Lighthouse Community Hub in Prestonpans, where Kate is venue manager.

Becka said: “The church in Whitecraig hasn’t been given an opportunity to show how much of a positive asset it could be for the villagers, which is a shame.”

She added: “We don’t have money that can compete with a property developer – we’re a non-profit organisation that relies on fundraising and donations but we have a big heart for Whitecraig.

“Seeing the gala thrive each year shows we have big ideas.”

The petition states: “We have now done research and had a lot of people message us with helpful advice. We have found grants that we could potentially be accepted for.

“There have been a few stories shared with us about church buildings being saved and bought by the community. Time isn’t on our side as the closing date for offers is Friday, July 8, at 12pm, but we are hoping to get a plan in place.

“We need signatures to show how much the community is behind the idea and why there is such a big need for the church building to stay and how it will benefit the villagers in a positive way.”