The Fogo Parish Church Community Trust is a charitable trust registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (SC049278).

The Trust was initially set up because the Presbytery of Duns determined that the building should be transferred out of the ownership of the Church of Scotland when the last full-time stipendiary minister of the charge which included Fogo retired at the end of August, 2016. In large part Presbytery’s decision was shaped by its understanding of the importance of the building and its desire that it be cared for beyond what was seen at that time as the probable lifespan of the congregation.

Although the Trust was created, the building was not transferred into local ownership. Recently, as part of a national planning exercise by the Church of Scotland, Fogo Parish Church was again determined to be a building which was not required in the straightened circumstances in which the national Church found itself.

Fogo Parish Church from the air

Discussions have therefore restarted with a view to the building being transferred into local ownership.

The Trust is keen to take ownership of the building because it wants to ensure that an ancient and historic building is preserved for future generations. The building has been part of our local heritage for more than eight-hundred and fifty years and, with care and proper maintenance, can be part of the heritage of our community for many years to come.

The Trust is keen to take ownership of the building because it wants to provide a home for the active congregation which worships Sunday by Sunday in Fogo Parish Church. It recognises that there is something special about the congregation which numbers among its members worshippers who have grown up in the Church of Scotland, the Roman Catholic Church, the Scottish Episcopalian Church, the Anglican Church, the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, the Brethren as well as those who are only starting on their journey to Christian faith. It also recognises that the congregation wishes to be thought of as an interdenominational church while keeping its links with the Church of Scotland not least to allow it to play its full part as the parish church of the area.

The Trust is also keen to take ownership of the building to safeguard the interests of the community which has loved and cared for the building in different ways over many hundreds of years. At present the Trust, in co-operation with the congregation, presents a series of musical and cultural events to raise funds to enable the Trust to fulfil its eventual responsibilities, again in co-operation with the congregation, to care and maintain this beautiful community asset.

The work of the Trust will be amplified in the following pages of our web-site which we thank you for visiting!