PROPOSED PROGRAM OF WORKS 1999 -2001

1999

MEMORIAL WINDOW LIGHT

a) Execute repairs to the window light as per tender documents submitted by Crafted in Stone, Kilmarnock and John Thomson Construction Ltd. This work to commence as soon as possible after new stone is available. Possibly the beggining of March.

b) Fit new memorial window on completion of masonary repairs and replace grillework.

NOTE - The above work was completed in April 1999

CHURCH HALL

Following the flooding of the hall in October 1998, it was agreed that remedial repairs be put in hand as soon as a financial agreement has been reached with our insurance assessors and availability of the main contractor John Thomson Construction Ltd. Acting on their advice, it was also agreed that the outbreak of dry-rot be looked at by specialist contractors and such measures as necessary be taken to eradicate the problem. Such repairs however, still be processed through the offices of Historic Scotland as it is quite possible that some of them would be of grant-eligible status and we should take advantage of any such awards even if they may not become due for payment until the year 2000/2001.

a) Treat dry-rot in kitchen/toilet areas and lesser hall.

b) Lift floor in main hall and line, pack and concrete out solumn.

c) Lift floor in kitchen/passage/toilet areas and line, pack and concrete out in solumn.

d) Reinstate all floors with main hall floor being raised possibly by 3" - 4".

e) Inspect, and strip and replace if necessary plywood dadoes in main hall after reinstatement of main hall floor.

f) Renew plasterwork in kitchen/toilet and passageway areas and redecorate.

g) Possibly strip all wallpaper from main hall. Make good walls and decorate with breathable emulsion paint.

h) redecorate lesser hall.

i) Check out all electrics and renew as necessary.

j) Fit new kitchen units, replace sink unit with double sink and drainer unit.

k) Renew cooker.

l) Check out leaks possible in leadwork on roof above passageway.

m) Take out trenches around the hall, close to walls. Clear all gutters and downcomers and improve drainage system.

VESTRY and WEST GABLE

a) Repair stonework as necessary and mullions of triple light.

b) Replace Celtic-type cross at apex of west gable.

c) Strip slates from vestry roof check and replace sarking as may be required. Lay membrane and reslate as per original slates.

d)Re-lay main electric cable under vestry steps in to church .

e) Overhaul and replace as necessary defective and missing rainwater disposal components.

f) Install new drain from rear gate to rear of vestry.

g) Overhaul all drainage systems from church and in the grounds.

BELL TOWER

Although the was originally scheduled for work under Phase lll, it was felt that the recent storms and periods of prolonged, heavy rain may have had a deteriorating effect on the upper stonework of the tower, with consequent possible danger to properties and pedestrians in Church Lane and also the main roof of the church. It was therefore agreed that works on the tower be brought forward.

a) Strip slates, check sarking and renew as necessary, lay membrane and reslate as per original slates.

b) Replace weathercock and fit new lightning conductor.

c) Install rainwater disposal system around edge of roof with downcomers leading down inside tower and connected to drainage system.

e) Clean all stonework and repoint as required.

f) Survey and overhaul as required all bell mountings and etc.

g) Replace internal access systems to upper tower level.

h) Install adequate lighting on each level.

i) Overhaul vestibule panelling.

j) Rub down and revarnish front door.

a) Execute repairs to remaining stonework of church walls as much as time and finances will allow.

a) Dalrymple Donaldson Fund have extended their grant of £2500 till December 1999.

b) The Baird Trust grant of £5,000 must be taken up by June 2001.

c) Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage Trust grant of £5,000 must be taken up by May 2000.

It is proposed to phase the remaining works over a period of three years 2002 - 2004, always providing funding can be established. The three are broadly based as follows.

PHASE 1 - 2002

Chancel and nave to be inspected for dry rot and treated as required. Window repairs. Plasterwork to be replaced as necessary and complete redecoration. Vestry to be redesigned to allow enlargement and fitting of disabled toilet facilities. Timber and leadwork repair to roof as necessary and reslate. Repairs to stonework of tower and vestry, and tower roof to be repaired as required and reslated. Privy to be reslated, repointed and redone internally, Paving to be laid from the main gate to rear gate and south door of vestry to allow for easier walking and disabled access. Ramp to main door of Church.

PHASE 2 - 2003

New access stairs to tower and stabilisation of internal stonework. Provide safer access in roof space of nave and install internal lighting. Repair and reline as necessary, walls of vestibule after dry rot treatment and replace damaged floor tiles. Stonework of chancel, nave and transepts to be repaired and repainted. Replacement of finials at apexes of east and west gables.

PHASE 3 - 2004

Remaining stone repairs and repointing to church and church hall. Extensive repairs, stone replacement and repointing to boundary walls. Repairs and replacement of church railings and general landscaping.

FUNDING

Historic Scotland has agreed to funding of 60% for the project, but certain items, such as vestry works, paved pathways and ramp access facilities do not qualify for grant aid. We very much hope that the Heritage Lottery Fund will also help to support the project, but even with the aid of these two major funding agents, the church will still be required to find a considerable amount of money each year. We have done it before and we can do it again, but we need your support.

UPDATE ( from Iain Davidson - Building Restoration Manager )

Many of you will be wondering what is happening as there has been no sign of any works about the church this year. I am afraid this goes back to last December when the Heritage Lottery Fund were originally due to consider our STAGE II application. Due to a backlog we were put back in the queue until March and the loss of those three months has had a snowball effect in that everything has been shunted. By the time we had been granted permission to go ahead and awarded a grant, our architects had to work very hard to have all the tender documentation ready for the beginning of June in order to catch the last Presbytery meeting before the summer recess. This proved to be impossible and as a result we lost a further two months.
All the documents were sent off to Presbytery at the end of last month and we should hopefully have their reply by the beginning of October.
We have prepared a list of interested contractors who should receive tender papers by the end of November. After they have been returned we have to apraise them, then prepare a Report, which will again be forwarded to Presbytery, then to the General Trustees in Edinburgh. Copies are also sent to Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund for their comments and approval. At this stage we also have to satisfy the foregoing bodies that we have the necessary finance in place in order to fund the next Phase.
All being well we should be in a position to start work early in the New Year. As is shown on the display in the church, the next Phase consists of alterations to the vestry to accommodate toilet facilities for the disabled and access to them, and to the main door of the church where we intend to install an access ramp. A new control panel for the church heating will be installed and its attendant wiring overhauled. The stonework of the west gables and tower will be attended to, with the replacement of certain stones, permanent removal of growth and repointing in lime putty. As the latter has a 'season' and can only be worked between the end of March and the beginning of September, our loss of time may not have been as relevant as it first appeared. With the cost of scaffolding being what it is, it would have been foolish to start stoneworks this year as we would have been unable to complete before the end of the 'season'. The next Phase is scheduled to last some eight months, so let's hope the weather for 2003 is considerably better than we have experienced in 2002.