A Highland community has launched an appeal to preserve the last remains of a legendary ‘floating church’.

The crowdfunding appeal will help lift and conserve the anchor of the floating church of Loch Sunart, in Lochaber.

The floating church arose from the Disruption of 1843, when the Free Church split from the Church of Scotland. Refused permission to build a new church, Free Church worshippers in the parish of Strontian realised the landowners couldn’t stop them having a church on the loch.

The ship, built in Glasgow at a cost of £1400, included a pulpit and seating for 750 worshippers. It sailed up the coast to Loch Sunart in 1846 and was moored at Ardnastang Bay, where it remained for many years until blowing ashore during a storm and eventually being broken up for salvage.

None of it was thought to remain, until earlier this year when a local diver found one of the original anchors and some chain on the Loch bed.

The community has now started a Crowdfunding appeal for £6000 towards the costs of lifting and conserving the anchor, which is to be displayed in Strontian village. The appeal website is www.crowdfunder.co.uk/raise-the-anchor/