AN 18th-century Scottish church with the potential to be turned into a “beautiful and original” four-bedroom home is going up for auction with a guide price of just £70,000.

The Mary Kirk, which was previously known as Alves Church, in Alves, Moray, dates from 1769 and is Grade B listed.

It fell out of use at the start of the 20th century, and closed in the 1932, with the bell being taken from the building to the new church which replaced it.

The shell of the building is up for auction. Planning permission and a building warrant were previously obtained to convert the church into a two-storey home with a living room and a kitchen.

While those plans expired, selling agents Galbraith believe Moray Council would be likely to approve similar ones.

Rod Christie, of Galbraith in Elgin, pictured, said: “Although the planning consent has now lapsed, it is likely that the local authority will be minded to once again approve conversion to a private home, as has been the case in other deconsecrated churches in the region.

The current Moray Local Development Plan supports this use.

“It would make a beautiful and original home and the purchasers have the opportunity to configure the internal layout and specifications as they wish, subject to the necessary consents.”