National Lottery Heritage Grants £250,000 to £10 million
Considered the finest Scottish work of celebrated ecclesiastical architect Sir John Ninian Comper, St. Margaret's has been on the Buildings at Risk Register for 20 years. Our development grant of £250,000 is enabling Historic Churches Scotland and The St. Margaret’s Trust to progress plans for the building’s future, including:
- carrying out surveys and investigations to assess the structure’s urgent needs
- developing a fully costed plan for the conservation, adaptation and sustainability of the church
- engaging the local community in the planning and management of the future restoration
Since 2011, the Trust has piloted concerts, exhibitions, ceilidhs, farmers markets, youth music workshops and national commemorations, proving the viability of using the building as a community hub. Historic Churches Scotland took on ownership of the building in 2013.
The long-term ambition is to create a fully accessible cultural heritage and performance venue, balancing the safeguarding of the building’s history with contemporary adaptations that ensure an environmentally and economically sustainable future.
Victoria Collison from Historic Churches Scotland said: “By expertly conserving the church, we will create a vibrant, adaptable, environmentally sustainable and beautiful space for people to use and enjoy.
At a time of crisis for places of worship in Scotland, with large numbers of churches closing, our project aims to be a model for achieving the best possible next life and a source of inspiration for others.”
Discover how we're helping communities across the UK to preserve the heritage of their places of worship.
