Scottish Redundant Churches Trust
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Redundant Churches Trust is a registered charity
founded in 1996 which looks after Church of Scotland
churches which are all listed buildings of architectural significance but are no longer used for regular worship
. It receives funding from the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, the Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund
and Historic Scotland
amongst other trusts, although much of its funding comes from public donations.
The Trust conserves and repairs all of the churches in its care and runs a range of projects to encourage greater public enjoyment and understanding of historic churches. Many of its buildings are used for community, arts and educational activities. All are still consecrated
and occasional services are held.
The Trust presently maintains five properties throughout Scotland: St Peter's Church, Sandwick
in Orkney (acquired 1998), Cromarty East Church in Ross-shire
(acquired 1998), Pettinain
Church in Lanarkshire
(acquired 2000), Tibbermore
Church in Perthshire
(acquired 2001) and Benholm Kirk, Kincardineshire
(acquired 2006). St Peter's Church in Orkney was the first major conservation project undertaken by the Trust. This building was on the Buildings at Risk Register of the Scottish Civic Trust and rescued with the aid of £250,000 in grants.
Later, Cromarty East Church was restored after being a finalist in the BBC Restoration Village series. Following this exposure, it was awarded a major grant in 2007 when the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and The Highland Council paid for a £1.3 million restoration. Benholm Kirk, Kincardineshire was purchased by the SRCT in February 2006 with the support of the local community.
Charitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
founded in 1996 which looks after Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
churches which are all listed buildings of architectural significance but are no longer used for regular worship
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
. It receives funding from the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, the Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
and Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
amongst other trusts, although much of its funding comes from public donations.
The Trust conserves and repairs all of the churches in its care and runs a range of projects to encourage greater public enjoyment and understanding of historic churches. Many of its buildings are used for community, arts and educational activities. All are still consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
and occasional services are held.
The Trust presently maintains five properties throughout Scotland: St Peter's Church, Sandwick
Sandwick, Orkney
Sandwick is a parish on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney. It commences four miles north of Stromness.The coast, except at the small sandy bay consists of cavernous cliffs, from 100-200 ft, and includes a lofty natural arch called the hole of Rowe, and is much flanked by insulated...
in Orkney (acquired 1998), Cromarty East Church in Ross-shire
Ross-shire
Ross-shire is an area in the Highland Council Area in Scotland. The name is now used as a geographic or cultural term, equivalent to Ross. Until 1889 the term denoted a county of Scotland, also known as the County of Ross...
(acquired 1998), Pettinain
Pettinain
Pettinain is a small village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, 7 miles east of Lanark.-External links:* * * *...
Church in Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
(acquired 2000), Tibbermore
Tibbermore
Tibbermore is a small village situated about 4 miles west of Perth, Scotland. Its parish extends to Ruthven; however, the church building is now only used occasionally for weddings and funerals....
Church in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
(acquired 2001) and Benholm Kirk, Kincardineshire
Kincardineshire
The County of Kincardine, also known as Kincardineshire or The Mearns was a local government county on the coast of northeast Scotland...
(acquired 2006). St Peter's Church in Orkney was the first major conservation project undertaken by the Trust. This building was on the Buildings at Risk Register of the Scottish Civic Trust and rescued with the aid of £250,000 in grants.
Later, Cromarty East Church was restored after being a finalist in the BBC Restoration Village series. Following this exposure, it was awarded a major grant in 2007 when the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and The Highland Council paid for a £1.3 million restoration. Benholm Kirk, Kincardineshire was purchased by the SRCT in February 2006 with the support of the local community.
Key
| Grade | Criteria |
|---|---|
| A | Buildings of national or international importance, either architectural or historic, or fine little-altered examples of some particular period, style or building type. |
| B | Buildings of regional or more than local importance, or major examples of some particular period, style or building type which may have been altered. |
| C | Buildings of local importance, lesser examples of any period, style, or building type, as originally constructed or moderately altered; and simple traditional buildings which group well with others in categories A and B. |
List of properties
| Name | Location | Image | Date | Notes | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cromarty East Church | Cromarty Cromarty The Royal Burgh of Cromarty is a burgh in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland.-History:It was previously the county town of the former county of Cromartyshire... , Ross-shire Ross-shire Ross-shire is an area in the Highland Council Area in Scotland. The name is now used as a geographic or cultural term, equivalent to Ross. Until 1889 the term denoted a county of Scotland, also known as the County of Ross... 57.680288°N 4.031965°W |
Formerly Church of Scotland Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation.... , the kirk was founded in the late 16th century but the building dates largely from the 18th century. The north aisle was added 1739 to create a T-plan church with further alterations in 1756 and 1798. The interior dates from the 18th century with several galleries added in the decades afterwards, most notably in 1756. The church was acquired by the SRCT in 1996, and is presently undergoing restoration. |
A | ||
| Pettinain Church | Pettinain Pettinain Pettinain is a small village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, 7 miles east of Lanark.-External links:* * * *... , Lanarkshire Lanarkshire Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland... 55.664729°N 3.66279°W |
A rural parish kirk, the site has been a place of worship since the early 12th century when David I David I of Scotland David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots... established the chapel of Pedynane. The present building dates principally from the 18th century, incorporating an earlier belfry of 1692. Acquired by the Scottish Redundant Churches Trust in 2000. |
B | ||
| St Marnoch's Church | Benholm, Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic... 56.8144°N 2.3220°W |
Mainly constructed in 1832, but incorporating parts of a 15th or 16th century sacrament house and 17th century mural monuments from earlier an 13th century church. The church is in a rectangular-plan with four bays, pedimented gables and belfry. Declared redundant in 2003 and taken into the care of the Trust in 2006. | B | ||
| St Peter's Church | Sandwick Sandwick, Orkney Sandwick is a parish on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney. It commences four miles north of Stromness.The coast, except at the small sandy bay consists of cavernous cliffs, from 100-200 ft, and includes a lofty natural arch called the hole of Rowe, and is much flanked by insulated... , Orkney 59.058269°N 3.337294°W |
An unaltered Church of Scotland Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation.... Parish Kirk of 1836 situated on an exposed site near the Bay of Skaill Bay of Skaill The Bay of Skaill is a small bay on the west coast of the Orkney Mainland, Scotland.-Visitor attractions:Bay of Skaill is the location of the famous Neolithic settlement, Skara Brae, and a large residence, Skaill House, the property of the laird on whose estate Skara Brae was discovered... , the interior "evokes the experience of Presbyterian worship in the 19th century" when over 500 people attended the church. It was acquired by the Trust in 1998 and restored between 2002-3. |
A | ||
| Tibbermore Church | Tibbermore Tibbermore Tibbermore is a small village situated about 4 miles west of Perth, Scotland. Its parish extends to Ruthven; however, the church building is now only used occasionally for weddings and funerals.... , Perthshire Perthshire Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south... 56.395096°N 3.538963°W |
The present building dates from 1632, although the site has been a place of worship from the Middle Ages onwards. The church was enlarged in 1789 to designs by James Scobie, and remodelled into a T-plan formation in 1808. The interior was refurnished in 1874 and is little altered since that date. The graveyard contains several monuments of interest, in particular a memorial to curler James Ritchie, displaying his curling equipment. Transferred to the Trust in 2001. | B | ||
External links
- Scottish Redundant Churches Trust website (currently undergoing renovation)