BASIS OF UNION
The congregations of Dun and Hillside Church of Scotland (SC000572), Montrose: Old and St Andrew’s Church of Scotland (SC009934) and Montrose: South and Ferryden Church of Scotland (SC009016) shall be united from a date to be determined by Presbytery, and that on the following terms and conditions:
The manse of the congregation of Dun and Hillside, if not disposed of prior to the union shall be sold, let or otherwise disposed of, subject to the titles on which they are held, and subject to the approval of the Presbytery and, if necessary, of the General Trustees or the General Assembly. The free proceeds of any such sale or let shall: (a) if falling within the scope of Act VII 1995, be credited to the benefit of the congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund; or (b) if not falling within the scope of the said Act, be held and applied for fabric purposes in connection with the properties of the congregation.
11. Ministerial Support: All ministerial stipends of the united congregation shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the National Stipend Scheme.
12. Power to Readjust: While the articles and terms shall form the Basis of Union for the three congregations now uniting, the united congregation shall be free, like other congregations, to adjust arrangements under the authority of Presbytery as need may arise.
Montrose Draft Basis of Union Version 4.1 24/4/23
The congregations of Dun and Hillside Church of Scotland (SC000572), Montrose: Old and St Andrew’s Church of Scotland (SC009934) and Montrose: South and Ferryden Church of Scotland (SC009016) shall be united from a date to be determined by Presbytery, and that on the following terms and conditions:
- Name: The name of the united congregation shall be Montrose Trinity Church of Scotland and charity number SC009934 will be retained.
- Transference of Property and Funds: The property and funds belonging to or held on behalf of each congregation shall belong to or be held on behalf of the united charge and any transference necessary shall be duly effected.
- Places of Worship: The united congregation shall hold services each Sunday, at times to be determined by the Ministers and Kirk Session, in three worship centres: in the Town Centre in the current Old and St Andrew’s Church building, in Ferryden in the current South and Ferryden halls and at Hillside in a suitable venue to be selected by the Minister(s) and Kirk Session.
(This does not preclude occasional joint services in one venue as part of congregational life as may be set out in the Basis of Team Ministry).
The church at present used by the congregation of Dun and Hillside and the Church at present used by the congregation of Montrose: South and Ferryden shall be sold, let or otherwise disposed of subject to the titles on which they are held, subject to the approval of the Presbytery and, if necessary, the General Trustees or the General Assembly. The free proceeds of any such sale or let shall: (a) if falling within the scope of Act VII 1995, be credited to the benefit of the congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund; or (b) if not falling within the scope of the said Act, be held and applied for fabric purposes in connection with the properties of the united congregation.
In the short term and subject to the annual review of the Presbytery Mission Plan, the Church building at Ferryden and the Church building at Hillside may be used temporarily in order to facilitate improvements to the Halls at Ferryden and the provision of a suitable venue for worship at Hillside (which, for the avoidance of doubt might be a let). - Other Buildings and Land: The church halls at present used by the congregation of Montrose: Old and St Andrew’s and the Philos Community Hub currently used by the congregation of Montrose: South and Ferryden shall be retained in accordance with the approved Presbytery Mission Plan for use by the united congregation. The Church and glebe at Dun Church (already closed to worship) and the hall site at Dun (if not already sold) shall be sold, let or otherwise disposed of subject to the titles on which they are held, subject to the approval of the Presbytery and, if necessary, the General Trustees or the General Assembly. The free proceeds of any such sale or let shall: (a) if falling within the scope of Act VII 1995, be credited to the benefit of the congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund; or (b) if not falling within the scope of the said Act, be held and applied for fabric purposes in connection with the properties of the united congregation.
- Territorial Responsibility: The bounds to be served by the united congregation shall be designated as the bounds of the parishes of Dun and Hillside Church of Scotland, Montrose: Old and St Andrew’s Church of Scotland and Montrose: South and Ferryden Church of Scotland, or as the Presbytery shall determine.
- Kirk Session: The elders of the three Kirk Sessions shall form with the ministers of the two charges the Kirk Session of the united congregation. One minister shall be deemed to be the Moderator of the Kirk Session. At its first meeting, the Kirk Session shall consider the numerical size and composition of the united Kirk Session and also whether use might be made of fixed term appointments. The Ordained Local Minister in the Team Ministry shall be associated with the Kirk Session in accordance with Act 9 2011.
- Congregational Management: The temporal affairs of the united congregation shall be administered by the Kirk Session in terms of the Unitary Constitution, the Delegation of Assembly being authorised to issue the appropriate Deed of Constitution to the said congregation.
- Ministers: The united congregation shall be served by a team of two full time ministers of Word and Sacrament. Although a single parish, it shall be considered as two reviewable charges.
The Rev Dr Ian A McLean, currently minister at Montrose: Old and St Andrew’s and the Rev Geoff Redmayne, currently minister at Montrose: South and Ferryden shall each serve in one of the two charges within the united parish in terms of Section 8.2 of Act 8, 2021, as amended.
Within the Presbytery Mission Plan there is also provision for one Ordained Local Minister placement.
A Basis of Team Ministry is appended which gives detail on how the team ministry in the united congregation shall operate. - Additional Posts: The approved 2022 Angus Presbytery Mission Plan provides for a MDS post working mainly with families to be funded nationally at 1.0 FTE. The current Families Worker postholder will continue to serve the united congregation as she currently serves the three congregations which are uniting.
The Plan also provides for an OLM to serve the united congregation. The Rev Ian Gray, currently OLM at Montrose: Old and St Andrew’s will continue to serve the united congregation.
The manse of the congregation of Dun and Hillside, if not disposed of prior to the union shall be sold, let or otherwise disposed of, subject to the titles on which they are held, and subject to the approval of the Presbytery and, if necessary, of the General Trustees or the General Assembly. The free proceeds of any such sale or let shall: (a) if falling within the scope of Act VII 1995, be credited to the benefit of the congregation in the Consolidated Fabric Fund; or (b) if not falling within the scope of the said Act, be held and applied for fabric purposes in connection with the properties of the congregation.
11. Ministerial Support: All ministerial stipends of the united congregation shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the National Stipend Scheme.
12. Power to Readjust: While the articles and terms shall form the Basis of Union for the three congregations now uniting, the united congregation shall be free, like other congregations, to adjust arrangements under the authority of Presbytery as need may arise.
Montrose Draft Basis of Union Version 4.1 24/4/23