A Scottish church which was deliberately destroyed by fire is set to be rebuilt. 

St Mungo’s in Cumbernauld went up in flames last August. The iconic pyramid roof, part of the B-listed building, had become an iconic symbol for the wider community.

During an open-air service on Sunday to mark a year since the fire, parish minister Rev James Gemmell announced plans to build a new worship centre where St Mungo’s stood.

He said it will serve as a “beacon of Christ's love, hope and grace” in Cumbernauld, although emphasised that the church’s “confidence is not in a building, but in the risen Christ, who has been faithful to us every step of this journey".

The service was held next to the now cleared site, with a large metal cross in front of blue hoardings which had the message “a church will be built here again”. 

“As plans for the new church move forward, the congregation does so with confidence that Christ, who has sustained them through loss, will continue to lead them into a hopeful future,” Rev Gemmell added. 

Church members and local residents gave thanks for God’s faithfulness, praying for all those who have supported the congregation and allowed its ministry to continue over the past year. The service ended with prayers for the future, asking for God’s blessing for the rebuild and reaffirming their commitment to serving the people of the North Lanarkshire town.

St Mungo’s, built in the 1960s, was designed by renowned Scottish architect Alan Reiach. It was part of the Church of Scotland’s Trinity Parish Church, a union formed from Cumbernauld Old Church and Kildrum and St Mungo's churches three years ago.

An investigation into the fire remains open, with no arrests or charges having been made. 

A time capsule was found buried in the rubble underneath a foundation stone, laid by Queen Elizabeth II in 1964. It was opened by the congregation last November.