Church of the Week
Fetlar, Shetland Islands
A community group takes care of our Church of the Week – Fetlar Kirk in Shetland. Built in 1791 on the site of previous kirks, in 2021 it was bought from the Church of Scotland by a community-owned charity, Friends of Fetlar Kirk. Regular services for various denominations still take place inside, including Church of Scotland, Episcopalian and Catholic, while the building also hosts concerts, exhibitions and talks. But recently, this thriving space was put at risk due to deteriorating stonework. The team at the kirk applied for a Cherish programme grant for emergency repairs from the National Churches Trust. Cherish is run by the National Churches Trust and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery Players. When the grant was awarded in autumn 2025, the team got straight to work. “Prior to this repair the kirk was not fit for purpose,” continues Ruth. “As it is the only kirk on the island of Fetlar, it is a significant building for the community. It is now fully available for services and for other community activities."
View Fetlar Kirk