Sponsored by the Church of Scotland (Scottish Church Heritage Research Ltd - SCHR) and Historic Scotland, The Places of Worship in Scotland project has been established to “promote the recording of church sites and buildings of all places of worship in Scotland, for the benefit of everyone interested in understanding and protecting this rich heritage of the people of Scotland”.
SCHR has set up The Places of Worship project to complete an online resource of places in Scotland. The website (www.scottishchurches.org.uk) includes limited details of some 10,500 sites and full information of others, for example Fettercairn Parish Church.
SCHR has set up The Places of Worship project to complete an online resource of places in Scotland. The website (www.scottishchurches.org.uk) includes limited details of some 10,500 sites and full information of others, for example Fettercairn Parish Church.
They range from early chapel ruins and monastic sites, through to small rural churches, cathedrals, synagogues, mosques, temples and meeting halls. We record both exteriors and interiors, all at risk in changing times. Especially important are bells, clocks, organs and stained glass.
This project was brought to the attention of East Dunbartonshire Heritage and History Forum in mid-2014 by Carol Primrose for further consideration by the affiliated members. This was done at the next Committee Meeting of Kirkintilloch and District Society of Antiquaries where it was agreed that a small group of interested members should explore the possibility of contributing to this project. The size of the task was appreciated when a list of some possible 34 sites of Places of Worship for study in the region of Kirkintilloch was provided by SCHR As it seemed likely that there would neither be the resources nor time to undertake a study of all of these sites in a reasonable amount of time, it was agreed that a pilot study should be undertaken of Lenzie Union Church about which a considerable amount of information was already known. However, before starting on the pilot, a training workshop at Cadder Church was arranged at which Mrs Edwina Proudfoot of SCHR provided a guide to describing a church for inclusion in the project; important points are the location and setting, description and details of the building, the making of a sketch plan and details of the interior including the location of pews/chairs, sanctuary, gallery, communion table/altar, pulpit, lectern, organ, hangings and windows.
David Graham, Donald MacLeod and William Williamson.
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