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Aberdeen church bucking trend with plans for £2 million building

A booming Episcopalian congregation in one of the north-east's fastest-expanding towns is bucking the trend in church closures, with plans to open a £2million new building in two years.

The 300-strong Scottish Episcopal Church flock at Westhill on the outskirts of Aberdeen is now drawing up a detailed blueprint for the project as part of a planned residential development at Broadshade.

With minister the Rev Canon Ian Ferguson marking 25 years at Westhill, progress in the town's project has provided a silver anniversary landmark.

And, last weekend, the congregation provided another red letter day for the popular minister with a surprise present, in form of a local This Is Your Life-style tribute.

The canon thought he and his wife were joining in a pot luck supper in the Trinity Church last Saturday, but he found himself guest of honour instead.

Friends and colleagues from throughout the community joined his congregation at the event.

"I just hadn't the slightest idea what was going on, it had been such a well-kept secret.

"When we came into the hall, the roar of welcome that went up sounded as though Celtic had scored a goal in the European Cup," said Mr Ferguson, whose wife Heather had helped set the stage for the evening of reminiscence and reunions.

Friends from around the country joined in, and those unable to attend had sent video congratulations to be screened and shared.

The minister has let children's puppets share in sermons over the years, and even Hector the Rector and other pulpit puppet figures popped up in a film tribute.

"It was great fun, and really quite emotional at times.

"It was so tremendous to hear from so many friends from down the years," said Mr Ferguson, who was presented with a commemorative red book which, he says, is now one of his most treasured possessions.

While looking back, he and his congregation are also looking forward to building a new place of worship.

As Westhill has expanded steadily over the years, the number of Scottish Episcopal Church members of all ages at the church has grown too.

Parishioners formerly worshipped in the Trinity Church - shared by the Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic Church - but soaring numbers saw their services having to move to the larger Ashdale Hall.

With the hall soon bursting at the seams, plans were drawn up two years ago for a possible new church.

The site chosen for the new church includes space for a football pitch, with all the facilities - building and surrounding area - intended for community use.

Full story at the Aberdeen Press & Journal.