Plans for TidesMeet

The FOCC plans to adapt the Church building into TidesMeet - a small, flexible, tranquil space and a venue that we, the community, can hire and use for a range of activities, such as small concerts, workshops, book groups, singing, 'coffee and chat’. A hub where we can meet in a small and comfortable setting, making the most of the natural light and acoustic potential, and complementing rather than competing with any existing facility.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

7pm Tuesday 18th March 2025

Colintraive Village Hall

The 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Colintraive Church (FoCC) will be held at 7pm on 18th March 2025 at Colintraive Village Hall. 

All categories of membership: Ordinary, Associate, Junior and Friend are welcome to join us.

Agenda

1. 1.  Welcome

   2. Chair's Report

   3. Report of Financial Position

   4. Election of Charity Trustees

   5. AOB

NOTES

Voting

Only Ordinary or Associate Members of FoCC, registered as such before the date of the meeting, are eligible to vote at General Meetings.

Appointment of Proxy

If any Ordinary or Associate Member is unable to attend in person and wishes to vote on any particular matter they are entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote at the meeting on their behalf. An appointed proxy need not be a Member. Forms of Proxy can be downloaded from the FoCC website or a paper copy obtained from the Colintraive Village Shop. 

The signed form appointing a Proxy must be (a) sent or hand delivered to the Secretary, FoCC, Church Field, Colintraive PA22 3AT, or (b) deposited in the FoCC Deposit Box at the Colintraive Village Shop, or (c) a scanned signed copy sent to the FoCC Gmail address (friendsofcolintraivechurch@gmail.com), to reach the respective destination in all cases no later than 48 hours before the meeting i.e. by 7pm on 16th March 2025.

FoCC Notice of AGM 2025
FoCC Board Nomination Form 2025

FoCC AGM Proxy Form

Thank you to everyone who came to the Open Meeting on Saturday 9th November and for your kind support for the acquisition of the Colintraive Church building

The film from the Open Meeting is below and subtitles can be shown as it plays by using the menu at the bottom of the screen

Latest News: 

Kirk Session Meeting and latest news

The Friends of Colintraive Church (FoCC) is raising funds to acquire and upgrade the Colintraive Church building, retaining it for the community. A Totaliser is currently displayed by the Heritage Centre in the village of Colintraive. How to Donate

Trustees met with members of the West Cowal Churches Kirk Session on the 9th December to share that FoCC is now in a position to make an offer for the church building. 

FoCC has recently been awarded funding from the Community Led Local Development Fund in Argyll & Bute. This has enabled us to arrange for a number of different surveys and for advice which will aid negotiations and planning for the building. McNee Building Services provided internal scaffolding free of charge for some of these surveys to be carried out.  

More information about the background of the Colintraive Church acquisition can be found out by watching the film on YouTube (search for the Colintraive Church) or by visiting the website: www.tidesmeet.org.uk 

Posted 12 Jan 2025

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Previous updates may be found at the bottom of the page

Update on fundraising for the proposed acquisition of the Colintraive Church building

The Totaliser has been updated today to show that we are on the way to being able to raise the funds to acquire the Colintraive Church building.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated or handed in a Pledge Form. Please remember your Gift Aid form, if you wish to sign that, as this helps us raise more funds from your donation.

Gift Aid forms are on the website and in the Village Shop. They can be put in the FoCC postbox in the Village Shop or handed to Wendy Black, Secretary.

Donations can be made through a bank transfer (details on the website) or through Just Giving (search for Colintraive Church).

Pledge and Gift Aid Forms are available from the Donate page of this website.

If you have any questions please email: friends@tidesmeet.org.uk

Posted 17 Nov 2024

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Update on fundraising for the proposed acquisition of the Colintraive Church building

The Friends of Colintraive Church (FoCC) are raising funds to acquire the iconic Colintraive Church building and retain it for the community. An Open Meeting was held on Saturday 9th November when around 50 people attended the Colintraive Village Hall to hear the latest updates.

A film was shown that had been created by the FoCC committee, with input from other volunteers in Colintraive. This film shared that the Church of Scotland has deemed the building to be surplus to requirements and that it is required to be disposed of this calendar year.

After the film was shown there was an open discussion on whether this would be a good way forward. There were concerns expressed about another building needing to be maintained, especially with the shortage of grants and funding in the current economic climate. However, there was also a lot of positive support for this building which was donated to the congregation of Colintraive in 1841.

FoCC plans to use the building in a different way from other community buildings in the location. Special ceremonies and services will still be held in the church building, along with music events such as concerts, which will take advantage of the acoustics in the building.

The building will also be available for hire and for quiet contemplation, small cosy meet-ups,  book clubs etc. The venture will trade under the name of TidesMeet. Events such as weddings could be held in conjunction with the Village Hall and local businesses.

Funding is being raised by donations and pledges, which have started to come in. The FoCC is very grateful to all those who trust them to do the right thing for the community. A Totaliser is displayed by the Heritage Centre in the village and will shortly be on the website too. 

More can be found out by watching the film on YouTube (search for the Colintraive Church) or by visiting the website: www.tidesmeet.org.uk 

Posted 13 Nov 2024

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Update on Kirk Session and the proposed acquisition of the Colintraive Church building

The FOCC Trustees attended a meeting with the Kirk Session on the 30th of September to update them on our progress. It was agreed that the FOCC could purchase the building, with a value of £70,000 being given.

At the meeting FOCC Trustees asked that one monthly Sunday service in Colintraive might continue but it was confirmed by Reverend Robertson that this was not possible due to his tight working schedule. Further discussion has since indicated that it could be possible to look at alternative ways to worship regularly in Colintraive, but as yet, these discussions are still at an early stage. 

As well as that, our Church building will continue to play an important part in our community,  where we can still hold weddings, funerals and other special services. 

We are also very pleased to report that we secured funding for a Feasibility Study by AGL Architects, Stirling.  We are most grateful to the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Community Council and the Cruach Mhor Windfarm. This work has now been completed and the Feasibility Study (AGL Architects) and Business Plan (Helen Terry Associates) reports are available to all.

The FOCC plans to adapt the Church building into TidesMeet - a small, flexible, tranquil space and a venue that we, the community, can hire and use for a range of activities, such as small concerts, workshops, book groups, singing, 'coffee and chat’. A hub where we can meet in a small and comfortable setting, making the most of the natural light and acoustic potential, and complementing rather than competing with any existing facility.

Please can you help?

Funding for acquiring the building from the Scottish Land Fund is unavailable in the current economic climate. We, therefore, need to appeal to members, the wider community and other supporters to raise the capital outlay and costs of £85,000 by mid-December by which time we must report back to the Kirk Session to continue the purchasing process.

Further information and details on how to donate are on the Donate page, our posters located in the Colintraive Church, Colintraive Shop and The Colintraive Hotel, and the West Cowal village notice boards.

Contact us on: friendsofcolintraivechurch@gmail.com or friends@tidesmeet.org.uk

Posted 17 Oct 2024

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Update on Colintraive Church – Feasibility Study & Funding

The FoCC Group are very pleased to be able to say that they have been awarded funds from the Architectural Heritage Network, the Community Council and the Windfarm Trust to allow a Viability Study to proceed during September.

Following new information, the group has moved towards retaining the church for services (general and special) as well as exhibitions, workshops, concerts and groups rather than the previously proposed and more ambitious exhibition hub. The viability study will consider options and confirm a viable position which we will fully share with the community.

Sadly, the position regarding accessing capital funds from external funding bodies to acquire the church has become almost impossible in the current economic climate, particularly with respect to the Scottish Government's recently announced retrenchment. We are now actively investigating other methods of raising the necessary funds to retain the church for the community, including a possible crowdfunding effort.  If you have any ideas or suggestions, then please get in touch.   friendsofcolintraivechurch@gmail.com

Posted 2 Sep 2024

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Since the last Open Meeting in February, we have completed a tendering process and agreed suitable consultants to carry out a feasibility study comprising architectural services (surveys, design and costings) and business planning (options appraisal, consultation and business planning).  

We are currently waiting for a response to our funding application to the Scottish Land Fund. This is the main source of funding for the Feasibility Study. The funding response has been delayed due to the Scottish Government not yet having agreed a budget for 24/25. We have also submitted a further application to the Architectural Heritage Fund. We are in a Catch 22 position. We cannot proceed without a feasibility study and yet, it must be completed by September for review of plans by the Kirk Session.

We are therefore appealing to local sources of funding and seeking smaller amounts which would allow us to apply for match funding elsewhere and would also allow the initial stages of the study to be carried out. Any suggestions will be welcomed!

The company appointed to carry out the Feasibility Study is AGL Architect, a firm that is very experienced in helping communities to create viable and sustainable ventures in heritage buildings. We will keep you informed when we have more news to share. Any questions – please contact us on friendsofcolintraivechurch@gmail.com.

Posted 25 May 2024

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Five companies or consultants have responded to the Feasibility Study tender and they are currently being considered by the Friends of Colintraive Church committee. Interviews are to be held next Wednesday with those that have been shortlisted and a decision is expected by the end of the month. Funding applications are in hand to cover the cost of the feasibility study project.

Posted 22 Mar 2024

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The West Cowal Kirk Session on the 12 Feb 2024 were pleased to see the progress being made by The Friends of Colintraive Church towards the acquisition of the church building. The Kirk Session next require to see the outcome of the Feasibility Study and the progress being made by the Friends of Colintraive in September 2024, with a view to the Friends of Colintraive Church being able to acquire the building by the end of December 2024. 

Posted 27 Feb 2024