A NEW congregation will move into an historic church in the centre of Haddington early next year.
Haddington Community Church is looking forward to finding a home in the building on the town’s Court Street previously home to Haddington West Church.
The congregations of Haddington West Church and St Mary’s Parish Church merged last month to become Haddington Parish Church, meeting at the historic church on Sidegate.
Now, Haddington West Church, which dates back to 1889, could once again be welcoming churchgoers.
The Rev Ali Sewell, minister of Haddington Community Church, said that there were various criteria when it came to making a move.
He said: “Right at the top of the list was location.
“We had very much planted the church here in Haddington and want to be part of the community.
“We are called Haddington Community Church and did not want an industrial unit in Macmerry; we wanted to be part of the community.
“The building there, you could not have a better location in terms of being central to the town, close to the schools and everything going on.
“That was a real driving force and we were looking for somewhere that had enough size to fit us in and allow us to grow and other things to be able to happen.
“In that way, we are really glad to be able to protect and continue the use of a really valuable building.”
Haddington Community Church, which is part of the Free Church of Scotland, was formed in 2018.
The Free Church of Scotland has a network of about 110 congregations across Scotland, welcoming more than 12,000 people to services weekly.
Haddington Community Church was originally based in Haddington Town House before the Covid-19 pandemic forced services online.
Since then, it has met in the Trinity Centre before moving into its current home of the Maitlandfield House Hotel.
Mr Sewell said: “We have been getting a bit at capacity there and looking for somewhere else.
“We were looking for a permanent home for the church as well, so we do not depend on places being able to host us on a Sunday.”
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A friendly relationship between Haddington Community Church and the West Church led to discussions about the congregation moving there.
Mr Sewell, who was an outdoor instructor before training to become a minister, was happy to see the building remaining in use as a church.
Various pieces of work are planned for the building, although the minister stressed that there would not be anything too “radical”.
Instead, it is hoped that the congregation, which is up to about 140 people, could move in early in 2026.
Theresa Laing, chairwoman of Haddington and District Community Council, was pleased to see “such an iconic building” being taken over.
She said: “I was just delighted that the Haddington Community Church was taking it over.
“They are going to be joining us for the Christmas lights switch-on.
“Haddington Community Church Choir, Haddington Community Choir and Knox Academy will all be singing together.”
