Enterprising communities: Bigton

Bigton, a small community in Shetland's picturesque South Mainland is a busy place on Saturday mornings. Very busy.

Even knowing that, I was amazed by the length of the queue snaking round the former kirk at 9.30am. What was getting people from across Shetland out of their beds at this hour?

The answer lies in a remarkable story of community spirit that has transformed both a building and a village.

At its heart is Hymhus, a former village church reborn as a community hub. The building, constructed in 1905, once echoed with hymns and life milestones.

By 2020, the Church of Scotland planned to sell it off, as it did with many across the country.

For Bigton residents Alice and Jonathan Ritch, standing in their kitchen and staring across the road at the building where Alice's great-grandmother had played the organ at its opening, the idea of it becoming another holiday home felt unbearable.

"I had one of those moments," Alice recalls, "like a big hand from the sky pointing down: 'you need to do something'."

To her surprise, Jonathan agreed. Together, they began what would become a years-long journey of community consultation, fundraising, and renovation.

With backing from the Scottish Land Fund and a local crowdfunder, they secured the building in 2022.

Today, Hymhus hums with activity that reflects the community's diverse needs. There's Friday Friends (crafts and soup), Bigton Straw Makers (heritage basketry), Bigton Samba (joyful, beginner-friendly drumming), and Sunday Star community walks.

Raspberries, tomatoes, and herbs, among other things, grow in a community Polycrub. Music therapy happens in a dedicated private room, while quieter Tuesday openings cater to those who might find busy Saturday crowds overwhelming.

The space is deeply personal. Clients and neighbours have had a say in everything from door handles to window choices. "Everyone feels invested," Alice explains. "It's not just a building, it's a shared work in progress."

"We wanted it used," says Alice, "not just done up and waiting. So, we moved in before it was perfect. That was part of the charm."

Everyone feels invested. It's not just a building, it's a shared work in progress.

Soon, there will be Friday evening Listening Parties – a calm, alcohol-free space to experience full albums together, offering a welcome respite from cherry-picking tracks on streaming platforms.

There's also a growing support group for parents and carers of neurodivergent children, offering peer support and creativity. Like so much at Hymhus, it's a response to an identified need, developed slowly and locally, with care.

That community-first approach extends beyond Hymhus and encapsulates the enterprising mood.

The Bigton Weekend Bakery, which now draws those Saturday morning queues, began in the boot of Gus Dow's family car. During lockdown, he baked baguettes in batches and sold them from his Citroen Berlingo outside a neighbour's house.

"We had three timers going," he laughs, "every 20 minutes, a new batch. It was chaos."

Demand kept growing and soon his neighbour Matt joined in, bringing croissants and creative bakes to the mix. The duo eventually relocated their operation to Hymhus, where they now serve legendary cheese twists, cinnamon buns, and babkas alongside fellow baker Jenny's jam sandwich focaccias. As they joke, "The Berlingo Boulangerie has outgrown the boot."

Both Gus and Matt came to baking from other careers – Gus learned by trial and error, watching YouTube and experimenting through sheer repetition. Matt came from a background in sustainability and national parks. Neither had worked in a bakery before.

"I was just trying to get better," says Gus. "We stopped buying bread. If I didn't bake it, we didn't eat it."

Coffee by Alex and Sarah Green currently fuels the Saturday mornings at Hymhus with a pop-up service. Alex, who moved to Bigton in 2024 with his young family, serves specialty, single-origin coffee through his business Stakkadale Coffee.

Bolstered by the support of his pop-up café at Hymhus, he's now planning to open a new café overlooking the iconic tombolo and Saint Ninian's Isle, with a launch pencilled in for early 2026.

Alex speaks warmly of the support that’s come from the local community.

For Jonathan, the project marked a personal turning point. After 12 years with Shetland Arts, he took a career break to project manage the renovations – and never went back. "It was life-changing," he says. "Being close to home, working on something we helped build, being around for the bairns. It's been a gift."

Today, both Alice and Jonathan are employed by the Bigton Collective, with Creative Scotland funding allowing their small team to grow. More concerts, more workshops, more space to gather and connect.

It's further evidence that communities all over Shetland, when supported and resourced, can be some of the most dynamic places to live, work, and raise a family. The challenges are real – weather, distance, and funding constraints all play their part. But what's happening at Hymhus demonstrates something powerful about what becomes possible when a community decides to act.

For newcomers like Alex, who moved to Bigton with his young family, the welcome has been immediate and genuine.

"Everyone's arms were open," he says. “It's that kind of place."

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