A New Chapter for Brechin Cathedral: Community Group Takes Ownership
The historic Brechin Cathedral, an architectural gem with over 800 years of history, has embarked on a new journey under the stewardship of a local community group. The Church of Scotland has officially handed over the cathedral, which has not functioned as a place of worship for nearly five years, to ensure its place within the community remains vital.
The congregation associated with Brechin Cathedral was dissolved in November 2021. Declining membership made it financially unsustainable to maintain the building, especially in light of recent changes to funding schemes. Earlier this year, the government ended the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS), which had previously exempted historic churches from VAT on repairs. Although Labour introduced a replacement scheme, it comes with a reduced budget and lacks the same VAT exemptions, complicating financial matters for many historic buildings.
At the time of the announcement, concerns were raised about the future viability of such historic sites. Rt Rev Rosie Frew, then Moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly, warned of potential threats to the viability of some church buildings following the funding changes.
Now under the care of the Brechin Cathedral Trust, the historic site is set to continue playing a central role in the community. According to the Church of Scotland, the Trust is “committed to ensuring the landmark building continues to be the beating heart of the community.”
Caroline Fife, chair of the Trustees of the Brechin Cathedral Trust, expressed enthusiasm for the transition. “We are delighted to be taking on this historic building on behalf of the community of Brechin and placing it back at the centre of life in the town,” she said. “The cathedral is much loved by all residents and has been at the heart of family and civic celebrations for over 800 years.”
Rev Dr Scott Rennie, speaking for the Church of Scotland, also shared his optimism. Reflecting on his past role as a minister at the cathedral, he stated, “it gives me such hope that it will continue in the care of the Brechin Cathedral Trust, a group of people passionate about it and Brechin’s future.” He further added, “On behalf of the national Church, it gives me great joy and personal satisfaction to see Brechin Cathedral Kirk begin a new chapter as a community-focused asset.”
However, not everyone views the transfer as a positive development. Marcus Walker, co-founder of Save the Parish, tweeted skeptically, “They’re bragging about it!” accompanied by three angry face emojis.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
