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To: Church of scotland

Save the High Parish

Stop the closure of Johnstone High Parish Church.

Why is this important?

Johnstone High Parish Church, is a beautiful building situated on top of a hill in the very heart of the town, it is much loved by people of different faiths and by residents of the town who hold no religious beliefs.

I used the word beautiful deliberately, as there is much more to a building than just what its basic function is. Buildings form an aesthetic and historical point of view, and are incredibly important to any town or city, this is the reason people from across the globe travel to Europe to see the architectural splendour and the historical beauty of buildings that a relatively young county like America for example does not possess.

The tower clock and spire are visible from various parts of the town and outwith the town's boundaries. This has been an intrinsic part of our town for over two Centuries and must be saved for future generations.

This is a town with great economic problems at the moment, and with very little in the way of beautiful architecture to lift the centre of town, not to mention the outstanding work the members under take for struggling and under privileged families, with food banks and outreach programmes that go unnoticed by most in the town. But for those who rely on them, they are a buoyancy aid as the rising tide of costs of living crisis and inflation squeezes them when its needed the most.

This is major part of the history in Johnstone town. In the hearts and memories of many generations past and present, but in a real sense is very much part of the present, with families struggling to pay for shopping bills that are getting more expensive every week. The members of the high parish and due to the churches location in the heart of the town, the food bank has been able to top up what would have been half full shopping bags, for local families struggling to make ends meet.

Closure of the high parish wouldn't just ensure the loss of a beautiful building in such a prominent part of the town, it is to cut off the people who in this time of economic crisis rely on the selfless and amazing voluntary work carried out within its walls.
Johnstone, UK

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Updates

2022-12-03 15:36:25 +0000

50 signatures reached

2022-11-24 15:43:06 +0000

25 signatures reached

2022-11-24 12:09:08 +0000

10 signatures reached