Church refurbishment is nearing completion
Back in the building
Renovation works at St Andrew’s and St Bride’s Church are nearing completion with the first service in several months being held in the church on Thursday.
The nearby St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School has hosted services while work on both the interior and exterior has been ongoing.
There are still the finishing touches to be completed inside but everything is expected to be finished near enough on schedule and a service was held on Thursday evening.
Scaffolding and a protective wrap were placed around the Category A listed church during structural work as part of a £2million refurbishment.
The building, which has passed its 50th birthday, has been recognised by leading architects as of great importance. However, it was in need of a facelift.
John Hastings, a member of the church and one of those leading the fundraising efforts, said: “As far back as 2011 there was a sense that the church needed major refurbishment.
“Plans were drawn up but they were stuck on the back burner for a few years until a £1 million community grant from Virador came through.
“Further grants from the National Churches Trust for £40,000, along with funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland, helped make the muchneeded restoration a reality.
“And the church itself has undertaken fundraising for the £210,000 balance.”
When the original St Bride’s opened its doors in the Village in 1907 it was the first Catholic church in East Kilbride.In 1955 the congregation were decanted to a temporary building until the new church was completed.
Look out for pictures of the new church in next week’s News.