Since Ulva came into community ownership in 2018, the charity has been progressing a wide range of work across the island. Early efforts focused on areas where action was most urgently needed — including residential property improvements and gradual upgrades to essential infrastructure such as the pier and water supply. As Ulva’s population grows, demand on infrastructure and services continues to increase, and this work is ongoing.

As capacity has gradually been built, the charity is now able to turn attention to the next priority: one of Ulva’s most important historic buildings.

Ulva Church sits at the heart of Ulva’s landscape and history. Designed by Thomas Telford, it is a Parliamentary church completed in 1828, and one of five such churches on Mull and Iona. Its story reflects both Ulva’s past and the way the island has adapted over time.

As noted by the Mull Historical & Archaeological Society, much of the church was converted into a community hall in the mid-1950s, with alterations made to the building to support its continued use. While this allowed the church to remain part of island life, the building has faced long-term challenges around condition, maintenance and sustainability.

Like many historic churches in remote locations, bringing Ulva Church back into meaningful use requires careful thought, community involvement and realistic planning.

To support this, the charity published a three-year Ulva Church Development Plan in September 2025 (available to view under Documents). The plan sets out a phased, long-term approach to understanding the building, managing risk and exploring viable future uses.

In March 2026, the charity has completed an initial concept study exploring the future of Ulva Church. Funded by the Argyll and the Islands Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Fund — provided through the Scottish Government’s CLLD programme — and delivered by New Practice, it marks an important step forward for the project.

The study brings together community consultation, professional assessment and early-stage design thinking to establish a clear and realistic direction for the church. It considers the building’s current condition, explores potential future uses, and outlines the likely scope and cost of repair works. The focus at this stage was to develop a shared and deliverable vision, rather than final designs or construction proposals, providing a strong foundation for the next phase.

As part of a wider three-year plan to restore the building, the charity has already begun progressing the next steps, including funding applications and preparation for detailed technical studies required to move towards delivery.

The church is in need of urgent repairs, particularly to the roof, to prevent further deterioration, and has been closed to the public for safety reasons. Addressing this will require significant investment, but the project is now in a much stronger position to secure the support needed to progress.

With the concept stage now complete and a clearer understanding of costs and options in place, the project can move forward into the next phase. This will focus on securing funding and progressing the detailed technical work needed to take the project towards delivery.

Like the wider island, Ulva Church is community owned, and its restoration will rely on a combination of grants and donations. The concept study provides a strong foundation for this, allowing the charity to make a clear and credible case for support.