A Service of Union will take place this evening to mark the merging of two churches in the local area.

The official union of Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay Church with Inverkip Church officially took place on January 1.

A service conducted by Clyde Presbytery to recognise this merger will take place at Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay Church, starting at 7pm.

Largs and Millport Weekly News:

Certain aspects of the churches will be amalgamated, such as having one session clerk and one treasurer.

Since Reverend Archie Speirs retired, the area has been without a minister.

Following the Service of Union, the unified church will be actively looking to call a minister.

Lynsey Graham has been the pastoral assistant for the linked charges of the two churches for the past two years.

A church spokesperson said: "We are grateful for the worship leaders who have led Sunday services for two and a half years.

Largs and Millport Weekly News:

"The Service of Union is being held in Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay Church and will be conducted by the Moderator of Clyde Presbytery, the Reverend David Burt, minister of Gourock and Old Ashton. The Presbytery Clerk, the Reverend Robbie Hamilton and the Reverend Teri Peterson, Minister of St John's Church Gourock.

"Attending the service are members of both congregations, as well as previous ministers the Reverend Bill Armstrong and the Reverend Archie Speirs. Also attending is Canon Desmond Berry, the parish priest of St Joseph and St Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Wemyss Bay.

"We are looking forward to working together as a united church and eventually welcoming a new minister.

"This is a very important milestone in the churches history in the area."