Historic church given cash boost for repairs

The money will allow the church steeple to be rebuilt

A church where Queen Victoria once worshipped is among eight in Scotland which will share grants of more than £1m for repairs.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Historic Scotland are funding the work through a joint scheme.

The Renfrew Old Parish Church, where the queen worshipped when visiting Lord Blythswood, will receive £260,000 for urgent repairs.

The grant will allow the church's stone steeple to be rebuilt.

Reverend Lilly Easton, minister at the church, said: "The congregation is absolutely delighted to be receiving the money, especially in the current economic climate, and it will go a long way to helping us with the repairs.

Churches maintain a vital link to the past Fiona Hyslop Culture Minister

"We see our parish as being of central importance to our church life and are glad to be moving forward with our refurbishment process."

Seven other churches across Scotland will also receive grants for essential repairs.

They include St Mary's (Of The Assumption) Pro-Cathedral and St Agnes' Church in Glasgow, St Fillan's Episcopal Church in Killin and Jamestown Parish Church in Dunbartonshire.

Also sharing in the £1m will be St Peter's Episcopal Church in Peebles, Dunlop Parish Church in Ayrshire and Innerleithen Parish Church in the Borders.

'Something concrete'

Historic Scotland and the HLF decided to join forces after they realised that there was considerable overlap in the applications they received for funding.

Leslie Brown from Historic Scotland said that by working together they hoped to make the application process easier and give the churches "something concrete to fall back on".

Colin McLean, from the HLF, said: "Our churches are fundamental to the community."

"They provide a place for worship and a venue for all sorts of today's activities for young and old alike".

Culture minister Fiona Hyslop said: "These grants are important for preserving buildings that are landmarks in their area that will have real benefits for their communities.

"They maintain a vital link to the past and are often key to telling the story of how a community has grown and been shaped."

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