Two dilapidated churches are to be repaired with funding from Historic Scotland, Culture Minister Linda Fabiani announced yesterday.
Two dilapidated churches are to be repaired with funding from Historic Scotland, Culture Minister Linda Fabiani announced yesterday.
The cash boost of £207,700 is for urgent repairs to make Old St Paul's Episcopal Church and Corstorphine Parish Church in Edinburgh stable and watertight.
Old St Paul's will receive up to £92,600, while as much as £115,100 will be available to Corstorphine Parish.
Ms Fabiani said: "It is important that we recognise the value of historic buildings in our communities.
"This includes the facilities they provide and what they mean to the people who use them and work in them.
"These projects are great examples of buildings that serve the needs of a wide range of different groups, each holding a special place in people's lives. This funding will allow them to continue to do this."
Nestled between two medieval closes in Jeffrey Street, Old St Paul's stands on the site of the original home of Episcopalian worship in Scotland.
People have worshipped there since 1689, when a breakaway group from the Old Cathedral of St Giles, led by Bishop Alexander Rose, left the cathedral after refusing to renounce on oath James VII and II - following the joint accession of William and Mary and the re-establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland.
Instead, the Bishop and much of his flock found a new place of worship in an old wool store in Carrubber's Close, which stood on the present site of Old Saint Paul's, where they remained staunchly Jacobite.
Designed in 1880 by Hay and Henderson, Old St Paul's is situated between two narrow, steep closes; only its main chancel end with three simple windows are visible from Jeffrey Street.
It is said to result in a Tardis effect when entering the church. The building is used regularly for worship as well as a venue for the Edinburgh Festival and choral and orchestral concerts.
The Heritage Lottery funding has been earmarked for urgent roof, masonry and window repairs.
Corstorphine Parish Church was originally built in the 14th century as a modest family burial chapel by Adam Forrester, a burgess and provost of Edinburgh who was knighted for his services.
It has a distinctive low tower, dating from 1429, and on the east gable is a niche which held a light used to guide people through the marshland which once existed between Corstorphine and Edinburgh.
The chancel's roof and stained glass windows will be repaired.
