A POPULAR church which was facing closure has been granted a three month stay of execution.

Last month, we revealed how the local governing body Clyde Presbytery had recommended that Renfrew North should be closed and merged with another establishment in nearby Inchinnan. 

They were due to take a decision at a meeting on November 22.

However, following representations from Renfrew North minister Philip Wallace – who has publicly put his case for keeping the church open – the Presbytery has postponed that decision until early February next year.

Mr Wallace welcomed the three month reprieve.

He said: “I made the case for Renfrew North at the meeting of the Presbytery.

“We are using the time between now and February to have further consultations.

“Many of our parishioners don’t have a car and the great thing about Renfrew North is that you can walk to it. 

“It is a fantastic facility in the heart of Renfrew and we don’t want to lose it.

“On Saturday, February 5, Presbytery will meet and approve, or otherwise, a revised plan.

“Please continue to sign our online petition if you have not done so, and uphold Renfrew North in your prayers.”

Renfrew North campaigners say the church has never been more popular with 750 people and 15 organisations using it every week.

They also have 515 congregation members and attendances can reach 150 on a Sunday.

A petition launched in the last few weeks to save the church has attracted 1,600 signatures.

A church has been in existence on the site since 1843 and the present building was opened in 1879.

Mr Wallace has been a minister for 24 years, the last four of them at Renfrew North. 

He told The Gazette earlier this month: “This is not a dying organisation by any means.”

Clyde Presbytery has 70 churches in total covering an area that includes Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire.

A Church of Scotland spokesperson confirmed that a decision on Renfrew North’s future had been postponed.