Heaters Installation

When you have a large stone built building with vast open spaces, the biggest challenge is to heat it. Too little heat and the place remains fridge-like, but too much and, as we know, heat rises, so it could start to dry out the wonderful wooden roof trusses, causing damage to the building. We have […]

Spruce the Bruce!

With so much beautiful wood in the Kirk, it is an ongoing process to look after it. Today, one of our key volunteers, Peter Hennessy, donned his pinny, grabbed his rags and oil and painstakingly worked over the beautiful carving of King Robert the Bruce, bringing out the best of the oak. Once done, he […]

Heritage Open Day

The Kirk was a hive of activity for its 2024 Heritage Open Day, attracting more than 200 people. The event, on Saturday September 21, showcased ongoing work and plans for future restoration and development. “While we’re working hard to raise the funds to restore the fabric of the building, our most important aim is to […]

Cloister Update

OK, so this isn’t the most exciting of news for most people, but we were delighted, as today saw us moving one step closer to improving the accessibility of the Kirk and the conversion of the Engine Tower into toilets for the public. This was heralded by the arrival of the huge granite slabs that […]

The Penitent Window

After securing some initial funding we have been able to have the Penitent Window removed from the Bell Tower to prevent any further damage. We have yet to raise the funds for the repairs to be made, but in the interim, we have installed an amazing facsimile of the window. The facsimile was made by […]

The Bruce Chapel

The renewal of the Bruce Chapel roof was carried out in 2019, however it remains a damp area due to moisture penetration of the lime mortar in the walls which requires attention. Repointing of the walls and installing lighting remain key needs.

Tree Removal

It’s always a shame to cut down beautiful mature trees, however, the two non-native Douglas Fir trees that stood in the gardens at the front of the Kirk were proving to be causing multiple issues with the integrity of the building. At such a size, they were blocking out the sunlight and therefore warmth to […]

Rose Window Repairs

St Conan’s Kirk is blessed with amazing windows which allow light to flood into the Kirk through clear leaded glass windows and also with colour through the stained glass windows. However, after 100 years we have the ongoing task of conserving them. There are three main types of windows in the kirk: The west facing […]

St Conval’s Chapel

The St Conval’s Chapel is the resting place of the 4th Lord Blytheswood whose family granted Walter Douglas-Campbell the land to build the Kirk and then, with the Trustees, completed the Kirk after the death of Walter and then the death of Helen, his sister. It is a beautiful place place and we have managed […]

The Bruce Basement

Underneath the Bruce Chapel is a double height space that was never completed when the Kirk was opened in 1930. The feeling is that the Trustees had run out of energy to complete this space with the effort needed to complete the building. It is believed it may have been designed as a small accommodation […]

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