Old West Kirk - support information links

Updated: 24th August 2022 @ 12:16

A retired expert who might be able to offer advice

Professor John Hume OBE CIES FSA Scot Hon FRIAS Hon FRSGS

Honorary Professor at the Universities of Glasgow and St Andrews. Former Chief Inspector of Historic Buildings with Historic Scotland. Former Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and Adviser to the Church of Scotland General Trustees. Author of Scotland’s Best Churches, and an acknowledged expert on Scottish ecclesiastical heritage.

Retired, worth checking if anyone knows him?

Complete the form to ask for OWK to join the at risk register

Community Right to Buy allows communities throughout Scotland to apply to register an interest in land and gives the opportunity to buy the land when it comes up for sale. Community bodies can register an interest in any land, such as churches. Applications can be submitted by a SCIO.

Inverclyde Council’s information/policy on asset transfer.

Groups offering advice/support in saving old buildings

They have a booklet entitled ‘New Uses for Former Church Buildings: A Study of Inspiration & Hope’. There is also a short bibliography which might provide some useful links/source material.

Their information on ‘Buildings at Risk’ has a lot of information and links.

Strategies to protect at risk buildings. No 10: Community Asset Transfer (April 2014) seems particularly relevant.

Seems to be more advice on how to protect them rather than funding.

Their project ‘Creating spaces for inspiring conversations’ might be worth a look.

They aim to raise awareness of forgotten buildings … return them to use and secure the buildings’ future.

There are some possible ideas for reuse of Churches in their Projects section.

Funding possibilities

Heritage & Place programme funding for place-based heritage schemes. Time sensitive.

Working with HES on heritage projects supporting place-based regeneration & boost local economies.

Areas, buildings and monuments: Safeguarding our historic buildings, monuments and archaeology for future generations.

Funding for historic buildings & landscapes.

Below are links to successful Heritage projects involving buildings including decommissioned churches

The Mavisbank Trust is a single building preservation trust that was established in 2002 to preserve, for the benefit of the people of Scotland, the property down as Mavisbank House at Loanhead, Midlothian together with the designed landscape and policies.

The Devil’s Porridge Museum tells the story of the HM Factory Gretna, the greatest munitions factory on earth in WWI, where the devil’s porridge (the explosive cordite) was mixed. The museum has been grown by the local community over the past 20 years; from a small exhibition in a church via a large industrial shed to the modern interactive 5* award winning museum it is today.

In 2007 Abbotsford came under the care of The Abbotsford Trust. The aim of the Trust was to be sustainable for 50 years in terms of maintenance and conservation, learning, engagement and curatorial needs.

Govanhill Baths is a grassroots activist-based organisation in the heart of Govanhill delivering wide ranging health, well-being, arts, environment and heritage projects.

This restored historic eight sailed windmill is a world class visitor centre. The Victorian industrial complex surrounding the windmill has been restored to its original use including facilities for visitors and the community.

Below are links to three successful Art projects involved in building rescue and restoration.

Raising Awareness

Share this link or the QR code above to pass on the information on this page

A petition to the Scottish Parliament could help raise awareness of the situation and help get wider support including financially. However, this situation might not fit the criteria.

Needs 100 members of the public to sign or 50 for a community group to be considered by the Council’s Petition Committee.