THE owners of Braemar’s five-star Fife Arms Hotel have purchased a historic village church.
Hospitality and development company Artfarm, which is owned by Swiss art dealers Iwan and Manuela Wirth, have bought Braemar Kirk, reportedly for "way over" the £160,000 valuation for the historic landmark.
The kirk, which dates to 1869, was sold by the Church of Scotland due to to dwindling congregations in the village.
An Artfarm spokesperson said it will be used as “both as an extension of the Fife Arms’ hospitality and as a complimentary space to the village’s other venues”.
They added: “Following the decision of the Church of Scotland to deconsecrate and sell Braemar Kirk, a beautiful historic B-listed church, we (Artfarm) have agreed to purchase this important village landmark.”
“It is important to us that both Braemar residents and visitors can continue to enjoy and access this influential symbol of Gothic revival rather than it converting to private residential use.
“With that in mind, our first priority is one of preservation, to fix the roof and repoint the building.”
Rev Kenneth MacKenzie of the Parish of Braemar and Crathie said: “In Braemar Village there are at least three buildings that can be used for a church service.
“We have always known we would have to do something to at least one of the buildings.
“Nonetheless a lot of us have got a real attachment to this building which has a wonderful history.
“It was built at a time when lots of churches were erected around the parish, in fact it is the old free church, it’s not an original Church of Scotland.”
