Rhu and Shandon Parish Church tower campaign at halfway mark

More than 100 tickets were sold for the Rhu and Shandon Parish Church fund-raiser, held at Rhu Community Hall, while many local businesses also rallied round by providing prizes for the raffle.

The congregation launched a fund-raising campaign in October last year in a bid to raise enough money to carry out essential repairs to the tower of the handsome church building.

And after three fundraising activities in a row – a concert, a clothes sale, and Saturday night's ceilidh – £29,000 has been donated towards the target of £50,000.

The tower of the 175-year-old building is suffering from decades of exposure to the wind, rain and salty sea air.

A spokesperson for the church said: “In a heartening display of community spirit, the fundraising efforts to repair the historic tower of Rhu Church have passed the halfway mark.

“The structure, which has stood as a symbol of faith and endurance for over 175 years, has been showing signs of wear and tear and now needs repairs to the masonry.

“Thanks to the dedication of church members and the community, progress is well under way to secure the necessary funds for its restoration.

“In a time when the attractions of modernity often overshadow the importance of preserving our past, the tower of Rhu Church stands as a symbol of the heart of the village to many local people.

“Its condition and future show the enduring power of community, faith, and the timeless value of heritage.”

The church has set up a fund-raising committee which has have organised several events including crocus teas, nearly new clothes sales, an art fayre, concerts, and this weekend’s ceilidh, with music provided by the local West Coast Ceilidh Band.

As the campaign enters its next phase, organisers are renewing their plea to residents and businesses to continue their support to reach the goal.

Various initiatives, including charity events and community outreach programmes, are planned in the coming months to support the campaign.

Church officials had hoped the work would have been completed by now – with the tower having been protected by netting for three years - but planned repairs have faced delays due to several factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the Church of Scotland's plans for the congregation's future.

The latter issue was resolved last autumn when the formal link between the village church and its counterpart in nearby Helensburgh was brought to an end after eight years following a vote of both congregations.

The vote paved the way for the Rhu congregation to work towards establishing a formal union with its counterparts in Luss and Arrochar.