'We have lost our famous Priory and don't want to lose our Medieval kirk'.
That has been the approach to fund-raisers by Coldstream's Heritage Ltd, a community interest company (CIC) set up to manage the project and own the kirk.
It is a £100,000+ project and one grant funder has decided to give the CIC £35k. Another looks like they might give £20k. Volunteer input and time accounts for nearly £9k and other grant funders are being asked for a total of £8k. Total £72k.
The CIC is waiting for Historic Environment Scotland to make a decision on a £60k grant application. Finger's crossed!
The project would:-
1. conserve the gables walls
2. conserve the headstones of eminent people
3. carry out archaeology surveys to confirm or deny that there are Anglo-Saxon stones buried in the kirk
4. fully research the role of the kirk, it's place in the society of abbeys, kirks, priories and in the body-snatching era.
5. upgrade volunteering skills and their pride in the local heritage.
6. end the moans about the ruinous kirk
7. spur on SBC to cut the kirk yard grass more often.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE PROJECT COULD HAPPEN, TO REVERSE 200+ YEARS OF DILAPIDATION.