It is a trend throughout Scotland: church doors are closing, only to reopen as pubs, and providing a very different type of spiritual uplift to those who congregate therein. But not on the island of North Uist.
Next week, the Carinish Inn at the south of the island closes to allow the necessary alterations to be made to allow it to reopen as a Free Church of Scotland.
The 150-year-old pub andhotel has been on the market for some time, with offers over £395,000 sought. Now last orders will be taken, somewhat inappropriately, tomorrow night.
It is not yet clear how much money changed hands but the Free Church is confident the move makes good sense.
Local minister the Rev Ewen Matheson said: "Basically, there will be one building where historically there have been three churches serving Berneray, North Uist and Grimsay.
"We hope to get into worship as soon as possible and then do the rest of the work as we go along. But the second stage of the work - the manse, church hall, and cafe - will obviously take a little longer. Some may see it as a unique move, but it isn't really. It has happened in other places where the likes of restaurants and bingo halls have been turned into places of worship."
Historically, the Free Church of Scotland has been willing to worship in many unusual venues, even a floating corrugated iron shed on Loch Sunart in the 19th century.
It is something the church's media director, Stornoway-based the Rev Iver Martin, wants to encourage. "I think the Carinish move does reflect the Free Church's desire to be more imaginative in the places we worship, to be more convenient.
"We are no longer tied into the steeple building that our forefathers insisted upon.
We want to be more accessible."
Mr Martin said that, on Benbecula, the Free Church was already worshipping in a community facility which is used during the week as an outreach for people with alcohol problems.
The new church will have a good historical neighbour. In a field nearby are the remains of Teampull na Trionaid, or the Church of the Holy Trinity, which was believed to have been founded in the 12th century by Bethag, daughter of Somerled, the progenitor of the MacDougall and MacDonald clans.
However, many Carinish regulars are not impressed by this new religious presence in their midst.
Retired engineer Neil Beaton, who has holiday accommodation to rent on his croft, said: "There have been petitions against the church taking it over. We are losing a real social focus.
"It was a great place to go for a drink and a meal and there was also a lot of live music. I don't know why the council or the tourist authority didn't stop this loss."
Another man who lives nearby said: "I hope they don't expect me to change the way I behave on a Sunday. We didn't chose to live next to a church. They have chosen to live next to us."
Colin MacMillan, who manages the inn, is about to lose his job.
He said yesterday that as far as he knew the only serious offer had come from the church, possibly because of the downturn in tourism.
"The horrendous cost of fuel has put a lot of people off coming to the islands. We were certainly quieter this year. So on Sunday we will probably be selling off the drink."
Change of use Oran Mor, Byres Road, Glasgow The former Kelvinside Parish Church became a centre for drinking, eating, and culture in 2004 following a two-year refurbishment. Now popular as a wedding venue.
Frankenstein, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh This former Pentecostal church was reopened in 1999 and is now a four-floor "pleasure palace dressed with a Gothic theme".
Triple Kirks, Schoolhill, Aberdeen The A-listed building is one of the more prominent landmarks in Aberdeen city centre. It was built in 1844 to meet the needs of three Free Churches. Now a pub with a nightclub called Exodus upstairs.
Deacon Brodies, Ward Road, Dundee The former Protestant place of worship, built in 1867, has been converted into two bars - Deacon Brodies and Starz.
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