DEVELOPERS are to be offered church land to allow a city kirk to be demolished and rebuilt.

The congregation at The Martyr's Church in Townhead hope to use cash from the sale to build a new place of worship.

The Martyr's Church in St Mungo Avenue was built in the 1970s, but needs a massive cash injection to make it suitable for the 40-strong congregation.

Church of Scotland leaders have applied for permission to demolish the existing building and put up a new church on part of the same site.

They also hope to get planning permission for 52 flats on the remainder of the plot, with the sale of the land funding the new place of worship.

Rev Ewen Maclean, who has been minister at Martyr's Church for the past 11 years, said the existing building is no longer fit for purpose.

"It probably needs hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on it. It is a very bad design, the roof needs replaced, we need disabled toilets and we can't replace light bulbs in the sanctuary because they are 80ft up and can only be reached by scaffolding.

"We also need a new kitchen and are down to one heating boiler, so we are talking a serious amount of money."

Mr Maclean said as well as being wind, watertight and warm, the church will have a cafe allowing people to drop in during the week.

He added: "It will be comfortable and practical. The present building is like a fortress and we want to change that and have a place that is open, welcoming and enlightening.

"We leafleted all the flats and houses in the vicinity and people have been really supportive."

Architect Simon Fisher said: "The proposed church is conceived of as a welcoming, community friendly building that will be open for activities during the week as well as on a Sunday."