I reckon the angels and saints associated with St Columba's Parish Church in Largs were out in force last week when the popular local choir, The Upbeats, staged the final concert in the now redundant majestic building on the seafront.

The celestial guardians of the 19th century Church of Scotland institution must have been looking down on an extraordinary show, which featured a spontaneous standing ovation for 11-year-old Isla Baker. 

She sang, like an angel, in memory of her young father Zak Baker, who died suddenly a few years ago.

The audience - including yours truly - sprung to our feet when little Isla, backed by the melodic choir, performed the Coldplay classic, Fix You. 

There was hardly a dry eye in the House of God. It was heavenly. Perhaps only God knows what will happen to the magnificent church, which closes its doors to the public at the end of this month.

As they always do, the Upbeats, directed by Largs Academy head of music Craig Smith, were raising money for charity; in this case the Epilepsy Society in Scotland, as requested by Isla's mum, Colleen Garrett, who is a leading vocalist with the group.

At the start, Mr Smith urged the audience to make the most of "this marvellous building".

The St Columba's congregation, now part of the one church at Clark Memorial, along with the former parishioners of St John's, which will also go up for sale, had tried for the past decade to broaden the appeal of their 'home' by booking in concerts, shows, exhibitions and meetings.

Upbeat by name, upbeat by nature, the choir started proceedings with 'Lovely Day' and 'Mr Blue Sky'. I was amused that the electric piano played itself for these songs as the conductor strode up the aisle, fine-tuning the sound. Even the lights suddenly came on over the altar, no doubt triggered by the harmonies soaring to the sculpted rafters.

We were all 'doo-dooing' along by the time A-Ha's 'Take On Me' was delivered by the mostly female choristers. However, baritone David Mann stepped forward with Lucy Smith to give us a duet of John Lennon's 'Imagine', and I almost felt like apologising on behalf of the enthralled 'congregation' when we, inadvertently, clapped too soon before the song was finished.

The guys certainly held their own when Alan Howie sang 'Mountain Thyme' (Will Ye Go Lassie Go), with Martin Beattie on guitar, to complement Craig Smith's keyboards.  And, surely, yet another mystical moment when the town clock chimes heralded the end of the song.

We had a Justin Bieber number and then a personal favourite, 'Mirrors' (Justin Timberlake), which featured Colleen, Alan and Lucy Smith with a wonderful chorus backing. 

It was hair-raising, and spine-tingling, as the powerful, pulsating and polished congruity resounded around the stained glass windows. (Whatever will a developer do with those precious windows that rise from floor to ceiling?)

The second half started with sounds of the 80s and more 'doo doo doos' from the audience. Apparently, the male choristers worked as waitresses in a cocktail bar!  (Madam, I am referring to the Human League.) Congratulations also to soloists Ian Sommerville, Jenny Mackay and Lucy Newbery.

They certainly selected appropriate tunes such as 'Through The Echoes' (Paolo Nutini), from the raspy tenor voice of Alan Howie, and the finale, 'My Church', a C&W number, vocalised by Carole Summers (whose grand-daughter shouted "that's my gran!"). And yes, it ended in Hallelujah.

Craig Smith told us that the ages of the choir ranged from 17 to 83, and they are looking for new members. It surely won't be long before Isla Baker is joining them.  Perhaps she will at the next concert in Room on June 30? 

On behalf of the Upbeats, Carole Summers pointed to Mr Smith and said: "He's a blooming genius."

It may take a blooming genius, or a modern day miracle, to preserve St Columba's Church.  Amen.

The concert raised £1,000 for the Epilepsy Society.

Thought for the Week: One day you'll look back and realise that you worried too much about things that don't really matter.