Colonsay locals appeal for church conservation aid

BRITAIN’S remotest island community has issued an urgent appeal to fund a conservation project at its church.

Colonsay only has 135 inhabitants

The tiny congregation in the remote island of Colonsay has been hit with an urgent bill for £20,000 to make safe its 200-year-old church belfry.

As a listed building, the belfry will be fully restored at a total cost of £55,000 but the structure has to be made safe immediately, pre-empting the possibility of grant aid during the first phase of the operation.

Colonsay has only 135 inhabitants - 90 are either pensioners or schoolchildren, and it is 36 miles from Oban, the nearest accessible community.

The church belfry is 200-years old

The church congregations is normally around 12.

The islanders have only just completed a renovation of their little 1802 Georgian church.

This new work must start immediately, to dismantle the rather elegant birdcage belfry before storms can bring it to the ground.

Session Clerk Kevin Byrne said “The financial implications for this small congregation are serious.

Colonsay is Britain's remotest island community.

“Although our church is presbyterian it has a completely ecumenical ethos and shares all services with the local Baptist congregation.

“It relies upon visiting volunteer preachers for pulpit supply and often welcomes ministers from other branches of the Christian family.

“The building is always open, it is available for suitable secular purposes and provides mortuary facilities regardless of creed.

“Almost incredibly, there are more than a million people worldwide with one or more ancestors who are connected to our church through a baptism, marriage or funeral.
“We are hopeful that well-wishers will assist at this time of crisis and then visit Colonsay to see the result.”

The congregations has been hit with a £20,000 bill

He added that two people with Colonsay connections living in the UK have already donated £2,500 within 24 hours of launching the appeal.

The parish church was built in 1802 at a cost of £444.15s.2d and is notable for its elegant classical design, and for a very fine coombed vernacular wooden ceiling.

The Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments in Scotland state: “There is a blind oculus immediately above the vestry, and the pediment is surmounted by a simple bird-cage belfry with ogival-topped canopy and ball finial; a bell remains in situ.”

Colonsay is an island of 20 square miles in the Inner Hebrides, famous for its ruined mediaeval priory and for its wildlife, including populations of otters, grey Atlantic seals, corncrakes and chough.

It once had a population of almost 1,000, but during the early 19th century lost most of its population to clearance and emigration.
The island was at the centre of controversy when residents voted to welcome employment opportunities offered by fish-farm operator Marine Harvest.

Details of a special appeal are posted at www.colonsaychurches.org.