ONE of Scotland’s leading clergymen has criticised the “domestication” of church buildings which, he says, is ruining their traditional character, writes Mark Macaskill.

Professor John Hume, convenor of the Church of Scotland’s committee on artistic matters, says that modern makeovers are robbing many old kirks — some of which date back to the 12th century — of their heritage.

He claims an increasing number of middle-class congregations are forcing ministers to replace traditional wooden pews and stone floors with cushioned seats and wall-to-wall carpeting. Critics say that some look more like furniture shop showrooms than places of worship with their soft-furnished “comfort zones” and even breast-feeding areas.

“There are churches in middle-class areas with middle-class congregations where people are getting used to a higher standard of comfort in their homes and want it transferred to their church,” said Hume, a former chief inspector of buildings for Historic Scotland.

“The concern is that some congregations appear to want to sweep away the past in a very thorough way and end up with a bland and modern treatment in which the symbolism of the way churches are arranged can be lost.

“I have a great deal of sympathy with the view that pews, even the stone floor, are all part of the church experience. It may even be character-forming for some, but the important thing is that the character and the atmosphere of our churches is not lost.”

Renfield St Stephen’s church in Glasgow has replaced its pews with maroon cushioned chairs to make it feel less “regimented”. Holy Trinity church in St Andrews has created a “comfort zone” for breast- feeding mothers.

The minister at Dunbar parish church in East Lothian has had carpets laid and at Limekilns, in Fife, elders are considering replacing the pews with chairs, laying carpets and installing a new central heating system to attract members.

A number of other churches have removed communion tables and replaced pulpits with small reading desks.

Ministers hope the “improvements” will help to halt the decline in congregations.

However, some church members are doubtful whether the “improvements” will lead to more members.

“Some people feel that carpets and couches make it more inviting but it’s not a panacea,” said Douglas Laird, a kirk elder from Dunbar and former convenor of the artistic matters committee. “I don’t think rigid pews and a stone floor are a bad thing. When you’re sitting in a pew you know you are in a special place.”

The Rev Douglas Galbraith, former secretary of the kirk’s committee on church art and architecture, said: “If you turn your church into an airport lounge you’ll get a completely different atmosphere and I think people still want churches to be churches.”

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