The West Church in the town of Rothesay on the island of Bute was built in 1846-7 and remained in use until 1978. It is considered a fine example of a three by six bay Victorian Romanesque kirk; since 1978 there have been several applications to demolish the building but all have so far been refused.
There's no doubt that the fabric of the kirk is in decline - it couldn't yet be described as totally derelict but perhaps well on the way. While the arguments about the future of the building rumble on, nature has found a remarkable use for the sunny south facing walls........
......which have become a vertical garden of ivy and flowering plants.
In early summer the walls surrounding the empty window apertures bloom into a carpet of brilliant purple flowers. It's not so easy to get close enough to ell which species, but the effect is undeniably beautiful, transforming a run-down building on the edge of a car park into something more attractive entirely.
Ironically, the builders use of sandstone rubble to incorporate into some of the detail of the building has probably created the conditions in which this vertical garden has flourished.
There's a sort of symbolism in the decline of a church building giving rise to such an outpouring of natural energy - but aside from that, on its own merit this is a lovely and colourful display.
