Scottish Redundant Churches Trust - a future for our historic churches

	News
Download Feasibility Study (pdf 1.2Mb)	St Margaret’s Braemar Feasibility Study A study has been carried out by Simpson & Brown Architects, investigating the feasibility of the SRCT taking St Margaret’s Episcopal Church into care. The study, commissioned by the SRCT, was funded with a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund. The current owners of the building, the Scottish Episcopal Church Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney, also contributed to the cost of the study. St Margaret’s was built between 1899 and 1904 in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, and was designed by the noted ecclesiastical architect Sir John Ninian Comper. Comper also designed all the stained glass and fittings and fixtures for the church, including an elaborately carved rood screen and a fine set of embroidered silk altar frontals. The church is Scots Late Gothic Revival in style and is Category A-listed for its architectural significance. St Margaret’s is considered by many to be Comper’s finest Scottish work. Originally built to accommodate the large influx of English visitors to Royal Deeside, an area made fashionable by Queen Victoria following her purchase of the Balmoral Estate in 1852, St Margaret’s was designed to accommodate the needs of summer and winter congregations. The main body of the church seated several hundred worshippers and was used during the visitor season. A side chapel, the Lightfoot Aisle, served as a place of worship for the small resident congregation during winter months. St Margaret’s is now surplus to the requirements of the Diocese, but they are keen that the important heritage of the church is preserved and that the building serves a useful purpose for the community. The study investigated the possibility of St Margaret’s being repaired and renovated to accommodate a variety of functions which would allow the building to be preserved and used for occasional worship, but would also enable access and enjoyment for a wide range of users. Potential new uses identified include exhibition/display/function space, educational use, and a small office facility. The building could also function as a venue for concerts, dramatic performances and other arts events. The study also concluded that demolition or radical conversion of St Margaret’s (for housing or other purposes that would destroy the interior) would be inappropriate for a building of Category A-list status and national importance. You can download a pdf copy of the study below: Download Feasibility Study (pdf 1.2Mb)

	East Church Cromarty – Restoration go ahead Plans for the £1m conservation of Cromarty’s historic East Church are in their final stages and work is set to begin this summer. The church came to fame across Britain two years ago when it reached the finals of the BBC’s Restoration Village. Major contributions have come from The Heritage Lottery (£641k) and Historic Scotland (£347k). Other funders include the Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage Trust and the Cromarty Trust, and The Highland Council will be asked on Thursday to provide a grant of £50,000 to complete the financial jigsaw. The Scottish Redundant Churches Trust, who now own the building, have appointed David Alston and Caroline Vawdrey as part-time community and education officers to organise a range of events, activities, exhibitions and volunteering opportunities over the 3-year restoration period. They will provide information on the progress of work at the church and keep both the local community and the wider public up to date with developments. SRCT Director Victoria Collison-Owen comments: ‘The support of the people of Cromarty during our Restoration Village bid was fantastic and we are looking forward to working with the community again as the Church undergoes major conservation and repair work.’

	Communities & Education Officer – Job Vacancy PART-TIME (18.5 hours per week) SALARY £16-18,000 pro-rata Fixed-term contract The SRCT is currently recruiting for the post of Communities & Education Officer. This is a new position that reflects the growing importance to the organisation of learning and access, and of the involvement of communities in its work. The post is project-focused, with a specific remit to develop and co-ordinate activities associated with the project to repair, conserve and regenerate Cromarty’s historic East Church. The role of the Communities & Education Officer will be to work closely with the community and interested parties, providing them with updates on project progress and developments through talks, displays and newsletters. A key task will be organising and running a 3-year programme of workshops, visits, training days and events in Cromarty for a wide audience, including members of the public, building professionals, and young people. The successful candidate will be educated to a minimum of Higher level or equivalent, and have experience of delivering heritage and/or learning activities. They will have the ability to communicate effectively, to use word processing and email packages, and be well organised. They will also have the ability to work alone or as part of a team. It is expected that the post-holder will work from home. The SRCT is an equal opportunities employer. For an application pack telephone the SRCT on 01334 472032 or email contact@srct.org.uk Closing date for applications Friday 22 February 2008.

	East Church Awarded Heritage Lottery Fund Stage Two Pass The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced the award of a full grant of £641,000 for the SRCT’s project to repair, conserve, and regenerate Cromarty’s historic East Church. The confirmation, in the form of a Stage Two pass, follows on from the Stage One pass awarded in early 2007 which required further detailed project information to be submitted for approval. Confirmation of the award gives the green light to work beginning at the church in the spring, and also for the recruitment of a locally-based Communities & Education Officer. The post-holder will be responsible for organising and running events, training and activities associated with the project, and will work closely with the community to ensure that local people are involved, consulted, and kept up to date with everything happening at the East Church.

	East Church Awarded Heritage Lottery Fund Stage One Pass Overwhelming support from the public has helped Cromarty East Church secure a stage one pass for a grant of £641,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), together with development funding of £24,200. Colin McLean, HLF Manager for Scotland said: “There is a huge amount of public support for this building so we are delighted to be involved in saving it from ruin. It will be magical to see such an historic church once again take its rightful place as a hub for community life. The Scottish Redundant Churches Trust and the people of Cromarty should take great pride in what they have achieved. The East Church will now be as important a part of their future as it has been in their past.” The stage one pass means that £641,000 has been earmarked by the HLF for the project, and that an additional £24,200 will be given upfront to enable the SRCT to begin archaeological investigations and environmental monitoring over the next few months. The project will then be further developed and a stage two submission made to the HLF with a view to major work beginning at the church in 2008. Helma Reynolds of the Friends of Cromarty East Church welcomed the news of the HLF award and said: “The East Church is the old parish church of Cromarty and has been worshipped in and loved for generations by local people. The building makes a strong impression on anyone entering it for the first time – seeing the old pews, the furnishings, and the light coming through the fine arched windows. The atmosphere created is very special and should be conserved for everyone to enjoy.” The HLF grant is conditional on the balance of funding for the project (estimated at £1.1 million in total) being raised through other grants and donations. The SRCT is therefore continuing to fundraise for the church and all contributions are warmly welcomed. For more information on the East Church and how to make a donation, please click here. See BBC report and watch video clip: BBC Reporting Scotland.

	East Church Caretaker Honoured for Community Service Mr Willie Hogg, Caretaker of the East Church, has been honoured for his many years of community service in Cromarty. Mr Hogg’s devotion to the East Church, opening it every day of the year for visitors and fundraising for its restoration through sponsored walks, is well known to local people and to the Trust. Now his contribution has been acknowledged more widely in the Ross & Cromarty Community Awards 2006, with a Service to the Community Award. Mr Hogg was presented with his award by Area Chairman Councillor Carolyn Wilson at a ceremony in Dingwall. Image courtesy of Calum DavidsonCromarty Image Library

	Ringing in the New Year at the East Church The age-old tradition of ringing in the New Year at the East Church has continued unbroken, thanks to the Friends of the East Church. Mrs Helma Reynolds and Mr Willie Hogg, assisted by Mrs Reynolds’ nephew, tolled the historic bell to welcome the New Year. Local people and the Trust are hopeful that 2007 will be a landmark year for the church, and bring final confirmation of a funding package of £1.1 million for the repair, conservation and regeneration of the building and its contents. The Trust’s Stage 1 application to the Heritage Lottery Fund will be decided in early February and, if successful, will result in essential preliminary work on environmental monitoring and archaeology beginning in the spring. Image courtesy of Calum Davidson, Cromarty Image Library

	Christmas Cheer at Benholm Local people and representatives from the Trust were joined at the kirk on Sunday 3rd December by children, staff and parents from Lathallan School for a celebration of Christmas organised by the Friends of Benholm Kirk. The event, attended by around 200 people, was in sharp contrast to the previous year when the building was silent and empty and its future uncertain. This year the kirk was decked with holly and ivy and, as well as traditional carols for everyone to sing, there were performances of Welsh and Polish carols by the Johnshaven Group and a selection of songs from Lathallan School’s nativity play. Tea and home-baking provided by the Friends of Benholm Kirk was served afterwards, and £370 raised for the Benholm Kirk Fund.
	The Howe Festival at Benholm Kirk The third annual Howe Festival of music, dancing, poetry and craft in the Mearns takes place from 3-5 November and, for the first time, will include Benholm Kirk as a venue for a range of events on Saturday 4th November. 11am-12.30pm Christine Kydd will hold a Traditional Singing Workshop in the kirk. Songwriting and singing are a special focus of this year’s festival, which is being supported by The New Makars Trust, an organisation for the development and performance of songs about life in Scottish communities., Much in demand as a teacher and performer across Scotland, Christine will introduce participants to local tunes and fun techniques. Bookings on 01569 768353. 1.30pm Those with an interest in writing songs are encouraged to attend the New Makars Trust Songwriting Presentation and Workshop, with singer-songwriter Gifford Lind. Bookings on scotsvoice@christinekydd.com. 7.30pm “Mearns & Angus Verses” will reveal the rich local connections to poetry and songs of the area. Katherine Gordon, editor of Voices From Their Ain Countrie, a recently published collection of poetry by Marion Angus and Violet Jacob, will combine forces with Malinky star and Angus songwriter Steven Byrne. They will be introduced by Christine Kydd and Gifford Lind, and following the concert the audience can join in a singing session. Tickets from Laurencekirk Community Centre on 01561 378298. In addition to the events at Benholm Kirk, The Howe Festival includes a Feein Fair Family Ceilidh at Luthermuir Hall on Friday 3 November, a Crafts & Coffee Morning in Arbuthnott, and “Pop in for a Pancake” at The Venue in Laurencekirk on Saturday 4 November, an Informal Music Session at Drumlithie Hotel, Tea Dancing in Laurencekirk and “An Audience with Paul Anderson & Jim Brown” on Sunday 5 November. To request a printed programme of the entire Howe Festival, ring 01569 768353 or visit www.aberdeenshirearts.org.uk for details. The Festival is organised by a voluntary committee supported by Aberdeenshire Council Arts Development.

	THE EAST CHURCH MAKES THE FINAL Cromarty East Church has reached the final of Restoration Village as the highest scoring runner-up in the series. This means the church still has a chance of winning the funding that is so urgently required to secure its survival. The final will be shown live on BBC2 on Sunday 17th September between 9 and 10.15pm. To vote for the East Church in the final, phone 09013 600 508 between midnight on Thursday 14th September and 10pm on Sunday 17th. (Calls from a BT landline will cost £1. Calls from mobiles and other networks may vary. More than 77p from every call will be donated to The Restoration Fund, a registered charity no. 1098895). An update programme, including new footage of Cromarty and the East Church, will be shown on BBC2 on Friday 15th September at 9pm. Supporters from Cromarty, including the redoubtable 97 year-old Mrs Newell, will be travelling to the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum near Chichester for the final on Sunday. Please watch – and please VOTE FOR THE EAST CHURCH! Click here for more about the East Church in Restoration Village.

	BENHOLM KIRK SAVED FOR THE NATION On 1st February 2006 Benholm Kirk became the fifth church to come into the care of the SRCT, purchased from the Church of Scotland General Trustees with the support of the local community, businesses, heritage organisations, Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen University. Dedicated to St Marnoch, the A-listed church dates from 1832 and incorporates fabric from earlier churches. The earliest documented evidence is for a medieval church consecrated in 1242, but the site is reputed to have early Christian origins. The kirk is a fine example of a late Georgian rural parish church, and retains the majority of its fixtures and fittings from the period. However, perhaps its greatest significance lies in the way in which the past history of the site was treated with unusual reverence during the 1832 rebuilding, with the reuse of a 15th century carved sacrament house and fine memorials from the early and late 17th century. Such respect was not common, with many churches of that period sweeping away all evidence of the past to create contemporary places of worship. The SRCT took the decision to acquire the kirk due to its architectural and historical merit, the unspoiled nature of its setting, the quality and completeness of its fixtures and fittings, and the significance of the monuments within the building. The SRCT was also influenced by the threat posed to the kirk and its contents by private ownership, the removal of public access, and the resulting loss of a major part of Scotland’s ecclesiastical heritage. The support shown by the local community, and their overwhelming wish to see the kirk remain open was also a highly influential factor. Click here for more information and pictures

	YELLOW’S ON THE BROOM AT BENHOLM KIRK Over the May Day Holiday Weekend, 29th-30th April, Benholm Kirk will host its first events since coming into the SRCT’s care. Together with neighbouring heritage site Mill of Benholm, the kirk will be used as a venue for workshops with a World Music and Dance theme, as part of the 7th International Music & Arts Festival, Yellow’s on the Broom. The workshops will give adults and children an opportunity to try a wide range of exciting and unusual activities including African drumming and banjo playing. For more information on the festival and workshops, and to book places, telephone 01569 750756 or visit www.yellowsonthebroom.ifb.co.uk

	HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND GRANT FOR CROMARTY EAST CHURCH The award of a Project Planning Grant of £26,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund has enabled the SRCT to fund a range of specialist studies and reports at Cromarty’s historic East Church. The work is vital in gaining a detailed understanding of the history, significance and condition of the building prior to undertaking a comprehensive repair and conservation project. Covering a range of specialisms from historic furnishings to engineering and archaeology to timber infestation, the information gathered by the studies will define and guide the project and the long-term management of the building. The aim of the project is to regenerate the Category A-listed church and to enable access and use of a nationally significant building to be enhanced and developed for the enjoyment of all. Following extensive repair and conservation, current community activities and uses will be extended and much-improved access and interpretation provided, tailored to a variety of visitors including young people and those researching family history. The process, not simply the end result, is seen by the SRCT as an important aspect of the project – an exciting opportunity to involve and interest a wide variety of people at a critical stage in the building’s history. Training, education and skills development at various levels will be incorporated to allow everyone from members of the public to apprentice craftsmen to learn, take part, and to share in the regeneration of a part of Scotland’s heritage. The SRCT’s last repair and conservation project at St Peter’s Kirk in Orkney won a European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award, an RIBA Conservation Commendation and a Civic Trust Commendation. Conservation Plan The East Church Conservation Plan by Andrew PK Wright is available here as a pdf file. Please note this is a large file (12.6Mb). Click here to download. More about Cromarty East Church

Drawing competition prizewinners with SRCT Director Victoria Collison-Owen The great great granddaughters of John Greenlees McConnell beside the pulpit carved by their master craftsman ancestor.	CHILDREN’S DRAWING COMPETITION AT BANGOUR MEMORIAL CHURCH Congratulations to Alannah Snell, Lara Sneddon and Libby Goishey who were prize winners in the three age groups in the Bangour Memorial Church Children’s Drawing Competition sponsored by the SRCT. Children visiting the church were asked to take their inspiration from the intricate woodcarvings - finding animal figures carved on the pulpit, font and organ screen and drawing their own versions. Present at the prize-giving were three generations of the family of John Greenlees McConnell, the master woodcarver responsible for much of the carving in the church between 1927 and 1931, including his granddaughter, great-granddaughters and great-great-granddaughters.

	St Peter’s awarded RIBA Conservation Commendation St Peter’s has been awarded a Conservation Commendation by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The award is a presidential initiative, awarded by region to schemes that display excellence in conservation and restoration. The award was one of only two made in Scotland.

	Europa Nostra Award Celebration The SRCT’s success in the Europa Nostra Awards was celebrated at St Peter’s Kirk on 18^th September. Europa Nostra Vice-President Professor Sir James Dunbar-Nasmith OBE made the presentation of the diploma award in the category of Architectural Heritage to SRCT Chair Ann McCarter with. The occasion was a double celebration, with Orkney Heritage Society President Ian Heddle presenting the Laura Grimond Award for the conservation of St Peter’s to SRCT Architectural Adviser James Simpson. Following the presentations, there was a performance of Kirk and Parish, produced by Kristen Norquoy and Leslie Burgher. This included dramatised readings from The Statistical Account of Scotland, The New Statistical Account and works by George Mackay Brown and Robert Rendall. Sandwick Young Farmers played a selection of traditional tunes, and Elizabeth Way Sullivan performed Bach’s Partita in D Minor.

	Polwarth Kirk The SRCT is currently investigating the possibility of acquiring Polwarth Kirk from the Church of Scotland General Trustees. Situated in open countryside a short distance from the Berwickshire hamlet of Polwarth the Category A listed kirk was rebuilt in 1703 on the site of a series of earlier churches dating back to the 13^th century. The present building incorporates some earlier fabric, most notably the burial vault of the Marchmont family. The kirk is both historically and architecturally important, and it is notable that the Historic Scotland list description for the building states: “Polwarth Church remains one of the most significant buildings in the parish and, indeed, within Scotland as a whole.” T-plan in form, with a four-stage square tower, the kirk is of rubble construction under a slate roof. The exterior is harled with red sandstone dressings. The interior was substantially recast in the early 20^th century.

	Sources of Funding for Places of Worship in Scotland Published by the Scottish Civic Trust on behalf of Historic Scotland the Directory of Grants for Places of Worship in Scotland is an invaluable free guide to sources of funding for repair and maintenance. This 26-page A5 booklet contains details of 20 funding sources for places of worship, together with information on how to apply. The publication is available on line through Historic Scotland’s website at http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/places_of_worship_directory_of_grant Copies of the booklet are also available by post from the SRCT. Please contact the SRCT to request a copy. A small donation to cover postage and packing would be appreciated.

	St Peter’s Kirk wins European conservation award The SRCT has won a top prize for the repair and conservation of St Peter’s Kirk in this year’s European Heritage “Oscars”. The European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards are given annually to recognize outstanding initiatives and best practice which contribute to the protection and cultural enhancement of Europe. At a ceremony in Munich’s Allerheiligen Hofkirche on 4th June, SRCT Director Victoria Collison-Owen, and Project Architect Leslie Burgher, were presented with a Diploma in the Architectural Heritage category of the Europa Nostra Awards for projects completed during 2003. The presentation was made by HRH The Prince Consort of Denmark, President of Europa Nostra. The SRCT was praised for its exemplary approach in using traditional materials and techniques, and in fostering and developing traditional skills amongst local tradesmen. Where specialist skills were not available locally, expert contractors from elsewhere in Scotland undertook work whilst passing on valuable experience and instruction to others. The Diploma was the only award made to a Scottish organization or project, and one of only three UK projects in the category. Other UK winners were The Royal Albert Hall and the Anderton Boat Lift. Previous winners of Europa Nostra Awards include Windsor Castle and Somerset House. This is the second award that the St Peter’s Project has received. In October 2003, the SRCT won an Orkney Heritage Society Laura Grimond Award for the conservation of the building. A special local presentation of the award will be held at St Peter’s on 18th September 2004. Professor Sir James Dunbar Nasmith, Europa Nostra’s Vice President, will travel to Orkney to make the presentation. The SRCT extends a warm welcome to everyone to attend the event. For more information on the event, please contact us. Click below to link to the St Peter's section on the Europa Nostra site. http://www.europanostra.org/lang_en/awards_2003/uk_peterkirk.html

	St Peter’s Project Architects win award Pentarq, Architects and Surveyors for the St Peter’s Project, have been chosen as “Construction Consultant / Surveyor of the Year” in the ‘Building’ Awards 2004. The award is for the Practice rather than any specific project. The Award entry, however, centred on two particular themes: the retention of the firm’s Investor in People status and its willingness to embrace fresh thinking in construction procurement and management. As part of the judging process, a number of Pentarq’s clients, including the SRCT, were asked to complete a questionnaire about the service they received from the Practice.

	Bangour Village Hospital Memorial Church feasibility study completed The SRCT has recently completed a comprehensive study looking into the feasibility of taking Bangour Village Hospital Memorial Church into the care of the organization. The study, funded by the Architectural Heritage Fund and the village’s prospective developers, covers the history, significance, and condition of the building and investigates options for its reuse. Bangour Memorial Church, 14 miles west of Edinburgh, is a Category A listed inter-denominational place of worship situated within the grounds of Bangour Village Hospital, a psychiatric hospital serving the Lothian region of Scotland. Built between 1924-30 to the designs of Harold O Tarbolton, the church was a regular place of worship for hospital patients and staff. The building was originally conceived as a memorial to members of staff killed during the war, and to commemorate Bangour’s important role as a World War I military hospital. Both the church and the wider village are of tremendous significance within Scotland, the UK, and Europe. The village was the first of its kind in Scotland to be designed using the Continental Colony system for asylums, breaking away from earlier designs based on prisons and workhouses. Culturally, Bangour is a milestone in the development of social attitudes towards mental health care, and a watershed in the treatment, care, and accommodation of the mentally ill. Its use as Scotland’s principal military hospital throughout two World Wars marks out Bangour as unique, and the church is fundamental to the commemoration of this important period in the village’s history. The preferred scheme put forward in the SRCT’s study is for the principal church space to remain intact, and to be used for shared religious worship by a number of congregations, and for the celebration of weddings. In addition, the principal church space would become a performance and exhibition venue, a place for the public to visit, and a home for a permanent exhibition telling “The Bangour Story”. The north range of the church would be sensitively adapted for use as letting business/office accommodation to generate income towards annual running and maintenance costs. The Bangour Village site, including the church, has been acquired from West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust for redevelopment as housing.