The union of three rural parishes, Birse, Finzean and Strachan, in 1987 created the parish of Birse and Feughside.
Efforts were made in the early stages to enable the three churches, one in each community , to be kept open, but eventually it was decided to be realistic and focus on the geographically central church at Finzean. The sale of Birse Kirk, its adjacent hall and Strachan church, in addition to a successful application to the Church of Scotland’s Millenium Grant Fund, enabled us to imaginatively extend and refurbish the church at Finzean. The building work was completed in 2005 and opened officially by the then Moderator of the Church of Scotland, the Very Reverend David Lacy on 22nd September 2005.
The communion roll at present is 205 members with a regular worshipping congregation of 30-60.
The congregation is mainly in the 50 to 80 age group, though we do have a number of young families who regularly attend church. Messy Church has brought more young parents to be involved in church life.
There have been no new members by profession of faith in the last 5 years, but 9 members have joined by certificate. There are 15 members on the Kirk Session, 7 men and 8 women. We are planning to admit new elders soon, which has not happened since 2009. We operate under a unitary constitution so have no congregational board.
Our vision is to be ‘a sustainable church in a rural community, where everyone is welcome and everyone is needed.’
Our mission is to connect the church to the life of the community and encourage members to be involved in all aspects of the community and pray for its needs. We are part of the global church and we are bringing that awareness to the people of the parish.
We aim to be good stewards of our environment and we are an Eco- congregation and a FairTrade place of worship.
We are a worshipping community, secure in living out our Christian Faith.
Now our focus will be how to make part- time ministry work for the congregation, the parish and for the new minister.