A SECOND Three Towns church has voted against plans to unite their congregation with others in the area.

The shock vote has now forced the Church of Scotland's decision makers to revisit their plans for the area.

The Kirk had proposed uniting the congregations at four churches in Ardrossan and Saltcoats - St Cuthbert's, North Parish, Kirkgate and Park - into a single parish, with services to be held at the Kirkgate and Park church buildings.

The proposed union is part of a 'mission plan' drawn up by the Church of Scotland's former Ardrossan Presbytery - now part of the Presbytery of South West.

The mission plan - and others like it across Scotland - was drawn up to address the problems of falling membership numbers, fewer ministers and the rising cost of maintaining buildings.

Under the Kirk's plans, North Parish and St Cuthbert's are due to close as places of worship on December 31.

But the proposals hit a stumbling block at the end of last month, when congregations came together to vote on the 'basis of union' of a new charge, which the Kirk suggested should be known as 'Ardrossan and Saltcoats Church of Scotland'.

Those who were able to vote were asked to 'approve' or 'not approve' of two aspects of the basis of union - one on the plans in general, and one on 'clause seven', which states that the Reverend Nigel Chikanya, currently minister at Ardrossan and Saltcoats Kirkgate, be the minister of the united charge.

The Kirk says it plans to appoint a second minister to the charge in due course.

Of the voting congregations, three approved of both aspects - but worshippers at St Cuthbert's rejected both.

The Church of Scotland said the St Cuthbert's vote would not change their union proposals - or alter the plan to shut the St Cuthbert's building at the end of the month. 

READ MORE: Saltcoats church congregation's future in limbo after vote against 'basis of union'

However, the vote does put the involvement of St Cuthbert's in the union in doubt.

Now a second vote, among worshippers at North Parish, Kirkgate and Park, has thrown the union plans into further turmoil.

The three congregations who backed the plan in the first vote were asked the same two questions - one on the principle of uniting the three remaining churches, one on the principle and one on Mr Chikanya being the minister.

In a vote held on Wednesday, December 13, worshippers at Kirkgate and North Parish supported the proposals - but the congregation at Park Church rejected them both.

In a statement posted on the Park Church website, a spokesperson for the congregation said: "This means that Park will no longer be part of the union; however, we do not know yet what will happen due to this vote."

The Church of Scotland say they will now consider their next steps, with senior Presbytery figures set to hold talks with the Park congregation, and others, in February.

A spokesman for the Church of Scotland said: “We can confirm that the congregation of Park Church in Ardrossan voted against a proposed three way union.

“The Presbytery of the South West will now carefully and prayerfully consider all options for the future of the church in Ardrossan and engage with local parishes in the new year.”