Parton church purchase plan would honour James Clerk Maxwell

If there is enough backing from locals, the fundraising will begin in earnest to try to ensure the plans can proceed.

“We have to start with a will,” said Hodson.

“It’s never about the money – I think if you have the will, you can move mountains, and the money will come.

“But without that will, we might as well stop at this stage.”

A Church of Scotland spokesman confirmed it had agreed to offer a deal to the community and had allowed it until 1 November to raise the necessary funds.

“Failing this, Parton Kirk, which is currently still in use as a place of worship, will be placed on the open market,” he said.

“The congregation of Parton Kirk is now part of new union of churches known as Galloway Dee linked with Glenkens, which is in the process of preparing to call a new minister.”

Last year, nearly a third of all church buildings sold by the Church of Scotland went to community groups.

The sale proceeds are held for the benefit of newly formed congregations to cover the costs of maintaining, refurbishing and developing other buildings they own.