THE future of the Lochgelly Baptist Church building in the town's Station Road is in jeopardy.

Lochgelly Baptist Church has been at the heart of the community since 1910.

Though the church made a decision to cease to use the building as a place of worship earlier this year it has continued to seek to find a way in which the building could continue to be a resource to the community.

This would have meant a charitable Trust with an interest in the local situation being set up. Such a trust would have been gifted the building, with conveyancing costs being covered by the church. If set up as a Limited Company, the Trustees would have been only liable to £1 per head if there were any difficulties ahead. However, sadly time has now ran out without such a trust being found.

Former Baptist minister in Lochgelly Rev Jon Magee said: "Throughout its history the church has been supportive of the community in numerous ways. This has involved clubs for children and teenagers, drop-ins for men and Parent and Toddlers, as well as opening its doors for dancers and bowlers.

"The church has in recent years been the host of international events open to all the community, including a Christian Drama company from Taiwan, and American partnership teams. Personalities such as Paul Jones, lead singer from Manfred Mann; John Gaughan who once performed with Herman's Hermits; George Hamilton IV, and Helen Shapiro, as well as Bruce Khun, a Broadway actor, have all been sponsored to come to Lochgelly by the local Baptist Church."

As from the end of this year the building in Station Road will be handed over to the Baptist Union of Scotland, who will then take responsibility for what lies ahead.

The local members are now attending Cowdenbeath Baptist Church, and would welcome any other residents in Lochgelly joining with them there if they are seeking a fellowship that continues to demonstrate a similar interest in the people of the locality.