The Society of Friends of Dunblane Cathedral, now entering the 85th year of its existence, was set up with a number of objectives, principal amongst which is the safeguarding of the amenity of the Cathedral and the beautifying of its surroundings.
At the time of the foundation of the Society, concern was being expressed about the poor condition of many of the properties in the vicinity of the Cathedral. During the next decade, with the help of funds donated to the Society by its founder members and others, individual properties were bought up as they became available so that, eventually, the entire block at the corner of Kirk Street and The Cross had been purchased by the Society. The properties were gradually upgraded. Part of the block became the Dunblane Cathedral Museum (later the Dunblane Museum) and the remainder was renovated to form three residential units for lease.
By the early 1950s, the Society had begun to turn its attention to the row of terraced houses in Kirk Street, several of which were barely habitable and some were subject to demolition orders.
Some members of the
Society felt strongly that these buildings should be saved, to prevent the immediate surroundings of the Cathedral being for ever changed. Following a series of battles with the local authority and others, the supporters of the houses in Kirk Street were successful in having the demolition orders rescinded, were able to obtain funds for the restoration of the houses and, thus, the Society was in a position to gift the entire row of houses to the Ecumenical Council of Churches for use as an ecumenical centre. Today, the building is leased for use as a restaurant, guest house and meetings venue under the marketing name of Old Churches House.
The Society was later in a position to purchase the former Leighton Church building which was also gifted for use as part of Scottish Churches House. More recently the Society helped instigate a successful approach being made to Stirling Council to prepare a planning
brief in relation to any future development of land at Holmehill.
Following publication
of the planning brief, a planning application then being considered was withdrawn.
As mentioned above, the Society of Friends of Dunblane Cathedral
retains ownership
of the block at the corner of Kirk Street and The Cross and leases part of the block to the Dunblane Museum - one of the objects of the Society is the support of the Museum. Over the past year or so, the Society has carried out a major refurbishment of the exterior of the buildings at a cost of some £65,000.
Maintenance of these historic buildings takes up a considerable proportion of the Society’s income (mostly from membership fees and rents from the let properties), leaving limited funds for the Society to apply to other projects which it might wish to support (including giving of aid to the Leighton Library, the encouragement of research in to the history of the Cathedral and the adornment and equipment of the Cathedral).
Membership of the Society of Friends of Dunblane Cathedral is open to all, not just members of the Cathedral congregation. In fact, many of the current members do not live locally and some 60 per cent of the membership are not members of the Cathedral congregation.
If you are interested in the objects of the Society, and would like to lend your support to the work of the Society including the safeguarding the unique amenity of the Cathedral not only for the benefi t of current residents and visitors but also so that it may be enjoyed by future generations, please think seriously about becoming a member of the Society. Membership is not expensive – the annual fee is currently an aff ordable £10.
Further information is available
www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk
Please mention thewire when responding to adverts
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