Two of the world’s most influential art dealers have bought a village kirk where the late Queen once worshipped.
Millionaire couple Iwan and Manuela Wirth have purchased the 19th century Braemar Church in Aberdeenshire after it was sold by the Church of Scotland following declining congregations.
The Swiss couple run the world’s most powerful commercial art gallery, Hauser & Wirth, with galleries in Los Angeles, New York, London, Zurich and Hong Kong.
Their independent hospitality and development firm Artfarm said they ‘have agreed to purchase this important landmark’ to preserve the ‘influential symbol of Gothic revival’.
An Artfarm spokesman said: ‘The existing planning permission allows for various uses which align perfectly with our commitment to repurpose and support historic buildings for public benefit, and it is important to us that both Braemar residents and visitors can continue to enjoy and access this influential symbol of Gothic revival rather than it converting to private residential use.’
Iwan and Manuela Wirth have purchased the 19th century Braemar Church in Aberdeenshire
The late Queen Elizabeth once worshipped at the village church
Braemar Kirk is just miles from the royal retreat of Balmoral
The couple previously bought the nearby Fife Arms Hotel, transforming it from a watering hole for ghillies into an upmarket hotel offerings suites starting from £400 a night, with Judi Dench among its VIP guests.
Following preservation work to the church, which was being sold for £160,000, they plan to open it up ‘both as an extension of the Fife Arms’ hospitality and as a complimentary space to the village’s other venues’.
The B-listed building is just miles from the royal retreat of Balmoral, and the late Queen, a regular worshipper at nearby Crathie Kirk, attended a service at Braemar in August 2004 to mark the impending union of the two parishes a year later.
The Church of Scotland said a combination of factors, including ‘falling membership’ and a ‘reduction in financial contributions’, meant it was ‘necessary’ to reduce the number of buildings it owns.
A Kirk spokesman previously said money raised from the sale would ‘remain with the congregation’.
