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The Herald Scotland
01-07-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Plan launched to save heritage of Scotland's for-sale churches
However, around one third of the country's places of worship are predicted to shut by the end of this decade – from buildings with their roots in medieval times to modern structures of architectural significance. Now work is to begin to explore practical solutions to avoid the loss of heritage when churches are closed, while sharing resources and prioritising sites for further action. The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Scotland's Churches Trust have received a £229,015 funding boost to help ensure a sustainable future for Scotland's churches and their contents. St Mary's Parish Church, Whitekirk, East Lothian (Image: Credit - Scotland's Churches Trust) With almost 200 religious buildings already closed since 2020, the two bodies say the problem is an immediate one which constitutes a 'national challenge for the heritage sector' as many of these churches hold tangible and intangible cultural heritage significance. In addition to their religious and ceremonial use, they also possess tangible architectural, historical, archival, genealogical, archaeological and artistic legacies. These can be of local, regional, national, and international importance and may be sold, lost or damaged depending on the fate of the building. The grant, from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will fund the Finding Futures for Scotland's Churches project and will be used to support the collection of information on these heritage buildings. There will also be work to fill knowledge gaps using heritage surveys, with opportunities for local communities to get involved. This information will be made publicly accessible through a dedicated microsite with a regularly updated database and blog. Many churches are repositories of heritage and cultural artifacts in their architecture (Image: Scotland's Churches Trust) The two-year project will draw together people to connect with organisations as part of an action group to explore practical solutions, share resources and prioritise sites for further action. It will also develop a plan to ensure heritage of local and national importance is not lost when churches are re-used or re-purposed. The National Lottery Heritage Fund also brings to the project its own strong record of delivering new futures for Scotland's historic church buildings through previous work. With support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Govan Old church in Glasgow has been transformed into an internationally-significant heritage attraction as the home of the Govan Stones. These Viking-age monuments are said to be among of the best collections of early medieval sculpture anywhere in the British Isles. In the Cairngorms National Park, the Fund is also supporting the community in partnership with Historic Churches Scotland to develop a new role for St Margaret's Church in Braemar as a cultural hub and performance venue through a grant awarded in 2024. St Margaret's is considered the finest Scottish work of celebrated ecclesiastical architect Sir John Ninian Comper. However, with several hundred churches already on the market, there is a national challenge to understand their significance and address their loss as they are bought and repurposed or sink into dilapidation. Govan Hogsback stone (Image: Credit - Peter Devlin) Dr Helen Spencer FSAScot, Head of Research at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, said: 'Thanks to National Lottery players, the Society will be able to work with communities across the country to bring together crucial information about the heritage of Scotland's churches. 'Working with Scotland's Churches Trust and the many other groups involved in caring for these places of worship, we hope to make the heritage sector much better prepared when churches are closed or re-purposed, to ensure that important treasures are not lost to the nation forever.' Dr DJ Johnston-Smith, Director of Scotland's Churches Trust, added: 'For hundreds of years, communities across Scotland deposited a trove of culturally significant heritage in their local churches all across the country. This collective cultural inheritance needs to be documented before it vanishes from public sight, possibly forever. 'We look forward to working with the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and colleagues to continue the roll out of our Rapid Church Recording methodology and our ongoing collaborative work with the local congregations and communities who are currently writing the next chapters in the stories of these precious historic buildings.' READ MORE: 'Landmark' chapel and cathedral to undergo urgent repairs 'The situation is stark in Scotland': Conference held to equip churches to stay open Government minister sets up meeting over future of Scotland's crumbling churches Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland, said: 'For centuries, churches have been cultural and physical landmarks at the heart of Scottish community life. A meeting place, a repository of lives and histories and a physical link to the intangible heritage of generations. 'We recognise the significant challenges now facing those churches. This project will take a strategic lead in ensuring there is accurate recording of the heritage of individual churches.
Glasgow Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Boys' Brigade call for former members to join group
The Glasgow Stedfast Association supports the Boys' Brigade, founded in the city in 1883, and aims to bring people together from the organisation's long legacy. Born in 2008, as one of many across the UK and Ireland, The Glasgow Stedfast Association was created to sustain the spirit of the Brigade by fostering friendship, sharing updates, and promoting its values to the wider public. Read more: Parent says 'many factors' contributing to rise in home education The movement has since expanded worldwide, with 49 companies still operating within the Glasgow Battalion. People don't need to be a former Boys' Brigade member to get involved. Any former officers, helpers at badge classes, event organisers, Bible Class worship leaders, or supporters of the Brigade's mission and values are welcome to join. The Glasgow Stedfast Association orchestrates a yearly programme filled with an array of events that people can get involved in. These range from social evenings to festive Christmas gatherings, and from afternoon visits to local landmarks to summer away days. Recent outings have featured visits to the Govan Stones exhibition, the Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow City Mission, and the Hamilton Low Parks Museum. The kick-off for the 2025/26 session is a social evening, featuring fish and chips at Ibrox Parish Church in September. Glasgow's association also holds a treasure trove of Boys' Brigade history, and it is currently negotiating with Glasgow Life to locate a permanent exhibition space. Read more: Met the Glasgow teacher preparing to trek 50km along Great Wall of China Access to this rich collection is just one of many reasons to consider membership, which comes at a yearly rate of £15. Along with three editions of the Link Magazine annually, members will receive regular updates on the Brigade's activities and the work of the Association. With 49 companies still within the Glasgow Battalion, the organisation continues to have an impact throughout the city. For more information and an application form, interested parties can contact secretary John Montgomery at 0141 637 2416 or johnsmontgomery@
