|TOP|An increasing number of abandoned, ruined and redundant churches in Scotland are coming under increasing threat from conversion into secular facilities, particularly licensed premises such bars and nightclubs.

Conservationists in Scotland are increasingly calling on entrepreneurs to convert hundreds of rural churches and city steeples under threat from the country’s increasing secularisation, reports The Scotsman.

The conservationists would like entrepreneurs to renovate churches through ‘innovative business planning’, with the focus on preserving Scotland’s historical character.

They highlight the number of former churches which are now being converted into bars and nightclubs, and activity centres, including the well-known Oràn Mór arts venue in Glasgow.

|AD|The call from the conservationists coincides with the recent report from Historic Scotland that it has been overwhelmed by the number of applications from churches for funds for urgent repairs.

Historic Scotland, which backs the call for more church conversions, said it used more than a third of its grant money in 2002 to maintain or renovate churches.

"[We] cannot solve the problem alone. Sustainable new ways need to be found for redundant churches before they deteriorate too far, and that is why we fund the Buildings At Risk register," said a Historic Scotland spokeswoman.

A report is currently being compiled by the Scottish Civic Trust, which advises the government on conservation, on how best to deal with redundant churches.

Terry Levinthal, trust director, said: "These buildings are very important socially and architecturally. The implications of change to them can be quite significant. What the trust is looking at is the positive dimension that can come out of any change of use.”

Others, however, remain alarmed by the threat to the unique and vital social service played by churches in the community.

The Scottish Redundant Churches Trust, a private body that works in raising funds for threatened churches, said finding uses for churches in the future was a “highly emotive issue”.

"Churches are buildings that people have strong feelings about and if you were baptised and married in a church and then someone told you it would be turned into a pub or bar you can see that people's feelings would be hurt,” said Victoria Collison-Owen, executive director of the Trust.