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 engage with the community and the many visitors to Argyll to raise awareness and appreciation of our built heritage,” said Liz MacKay, secretary of the Friends of St Conan’s Kirk, which organised the event.
“It’s truly an astonishing building,” added Rondi Craig from Ontario, Canada, who is in Scotland visiting his daughter, Hailey, a law student at Edinburgh University. The pair, on a trip to explore the country, admired the extensive leadwork inside and outside St Conan’s Kirk, especially William Bonnington’s
eccentric gargoyles.
As well as guided tours of the Kirk and its grounds, examples of work in progress were on show. Representatives from restoration experts PM Stained Glass were in attendance to explain progress on the repair and renewal of the stained glass window, The Penitent at the Tomb of Christ. This window was recently removed and a temporary facsimile put in it’s place.
“Once The Friends of the Kirk have secured the funding we will be able to complete the restoration work on the window,” explained a company spokesman. “There are a number of other windows in the church that require major repair to protect the building.”
Much work has already been completed thanks to the first phase of National Lottery Heritage Funding obtained by the Friends. “We’re currently working on a bid for Phase 2 funding which will allow us to complete much of the outstanding work, including improved visitor access,” said Peter Hennessy, vice chairman of The Friends. “We plan to restore the underground crypt and develop this as a venue
for events.”
The Kirk is already proving a popular venue for events. Peter added: “We already have a programme of musical and other events. If we’re successful with our application for Heritage Lottery funding, this will mean we can have a bigger and better programme and improve the facilities for visitors. Today we’re delighted to have musicians, especially fiddler Calum Macphail, and storytellers Kathleen Hannigan and Vivienne Price who are holding audiences enthralled in the creepy surroundings of the church’s crypt.”
