Published: Wednesday, 17th February, 2010 4:13pm

Church merger proposed

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Twin towns ... Could Fairlie Parish Church be sharing minister with Largs in future years?

Churches in Millport and Fairlie could be set to share ministers with Largs under radical merger plans being proposed, the 'News' can reveal.

The Church of Scotland is hoping to roll out a ten year plan which would involve their places of worship in smaller communities sharing their ministers with Largs churches.

Both Fairlie and Millport churches have appealed the proposals after Overton and St Andrew's Churches recently merged together into a single entity of West Kilbride Parish Church.

Last year, a 'Back to Church' campaign was launched nationally to encourage the public to come back to church in an effort to address declining numbers in recent years.

Reverend Johnston Mackay, Clerk of the Ardrossan Presbytery said: "The Church of Scotland has a long term plan that all three of their Largs churches - St John's, the Clark Memorial and St Columba's Parish, will continue but two of these three churches will be linked with parishes in Fairlie and Millport."

Full story in this week's Largs and Millport Weekly News.