Cash-strapped church bossesare selling a stunning beachfront property for offers over almost £1.1million in one of Scotland’s most desirable coastal locations, near Edinburgh.
The four-bedroom home in North Berwick is “just moments from the beach” and is pitched at offers over £1.08million.
The property occupies a prime seafront position in the town’s coveted Marine Parade and is expected to attract strong interest due to its sought-after location and enviable coastal views.
The spacious semi-detached former manse is one of the most expensive properties the Kirk has ever offloaded.
The sale is part of the Church’s plan to reduce its massive property portfolio and slash costs amid shrinking congregations and soaring maintenance costs.
Previously, the moderator’s former home in Edinburgh was pitched at offers over £890,000 two years ago and is understood to have sold under the £1million mark. The elegant two-storey conversion at 2 Rothesay Terrace was part of an historic townhouse in the capital’s sought-after West End.
Among the North Berwick home’s standout features are a stunning bay-windowed living room overlooking the Firth of Forth and a beautifully kept south-facing garden, as well as off-street parking.
A gate at the rear opens directly onto expansive common grounds and tennis courts, adding to the appeal of the sought-after seaside property.
North Berwick, just 35 minutes east of Edinburgh, was once simply a charming seaside town but has transformed into one of Scotland’s most coveted property locations, creating a market where homes sell within days and values consistently exceed expectations.
Famous for its golden beaches and rich history, with views of volcanic Bass Rock, it is frequently named one of the best places to live in the UK.
It retained its title as the best place to live in Scotland, according to the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide last year.
Judges praised North Berwick for its “unbeatable combination” of beaches, schools, independent businesses and proximity to Edinburgh.
The town is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering clubs for yachting, surfing, sea kayaking, paddleboarding, open-water swimming and golf.
It also boasts cultural attractions, including the Fringe by the Sea festival.
Originally known as an Edwardian “watering hole”, where stressed-out city dwellers would board trains to “take the waters”, the town has managed to retain its traditional seaside charm. Visitors can explore the Scottish Seabird Center and take local boat trips to see puffins and grey seals.
The Kirk sell-offs are part of a major restructuring exercise and has seen many of Scotland’s best-loved churches disposed of over the last five years to release equity tied up in the Kirk’s vast property portfolio, which at one time numbered more than 5000.
Sunday attendances may have plummeted to an all-time low but property hunters seem to worship ecclesiastical buildings with stronger than ever demand for former kirks, manses and halls.
The Church is offloading hundreds of surplus buildings the length and breadth of the country, offering buyers the chance to purchase properties in stunning coastal, countryside and city locations, often at very attractive prices.
Crippled by soaring costs, falling congregations and dwindling ministers the church set in motion a range of far-reaching reforms in 2019 to recalibrate its dire financial position and stimulate the rebirth of community worship.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: “Reducing the number of buildings we own has been one part of a raft of radical reforms being undertaken by the Church in recent years aimed at ensuring we are lean and fit for mission in the 21st century and have well equipped spaces in the right places.
“In the majority of cases, the money that is received from the sale of church buildings is returned to local congregations or held centrally for their benefit and therefore does not reduce the national Church’s budget deficit.”
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