Closure of Govan Old Church

Govan Old is my family church - my sister was married there, my father's funeral was there, and I spent many a Sunday getting a numb arse on the pews. The heating never worked either. Ah, fond memories!


I'm an atheist, and rarely bother with sentimentality, and yet the news that the Church of Scotland is to close this historic building irks me.

One can't really blame the C of S - no-one attends Govan Old services. Why should they keep a very expensive building open when no-one bothers to use it.

I don't think that protecting this building is a religious issue at all, and if the Church feels that it has done all it can then I think that this is an cultural issue that Scotland and the Govan community should address. Surely a Nation with a growing appetite for Independence and that is searching for an International identity should do everything it can to protect the jewels of its past.

Politicians, and an assorted array heavy-jowled numpties seem to be queuing up to vent hot air against the CofS's decision to close the Church. Alistair Watson, whoever the fuck he is, says that he is, "full square behind retaining this as a working church." Anyone who has witnessed the pitiful congregation on a cold wet Sunday would know that this is nonsense. But then it's much easier to accuse the C of S of "cultural vandalism" (thanks Nicola Sturgeon) than to come up with an alternative plan, or god-forbid put your hand in your pocket.

Govan Old is a A-listed building - which means that ye canny turn it into flats very easily. Here's how this one is going to play out - about a year after this building closes some wee ned is going to get in and set off a fire. If this fire isn't enough to condemn the building the next one will be, or the one after that. Eventually the Church will have to be torn down because it's unsafe. With the A-listed building out of the way a developer will just need to do something with the graveyard.

Persuading Glaswegians to trample over graves to get to their new river-side flat? Nae bother - Nicola Sturgeon will probably be first in line!

If anyone wants to do something about this then you can still join the Friends of Govan Old.