Church is now shining beacon at top of street

A Hamilton church has been given a full-scale makeover.

Work on the external conservation of Hamilton South Parish Church, located in the town’s Mill Road, has cost the church £99,000.

The church has been a landmark in the area since it was built in 1903.

It was constructed of sandstone, and through the years its walls were stained by industrial pollution, especially from the transport of coal from the local collieries.

A spokesperson for the church said: “The stonework has now been cleaned and repointed and the building is now truly a shining beacon at the top of Cadzow Bridge.

“Also included in the work were improvements to the disabled access, upgrading of fire exits, painting of the original railings and gates and the installation of an automatic bell toller.”

The external restoration of the church was funded by various trusts.

Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd (WREN) FCC Scottish Action Fund donated funds which were spent on the refurbishment of the railings, upgrading the external fire exits, repointing and cleaning the stonework and the new bell toller.

WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.

This was followed by a donation from the Levenseat Trust, which went towards the upgrading of disabled access and scaffolding.

The Levenseat Trust was set up initially to utilise funds available from the landfill Tax Credit Scheme and has been helping to fund local projects since 1997.

The spokesperson added: “In addition to the external funding, thanks are due to all our members and friends whose donations and fundraising efforts allowed us to contribute £14,000 towards the project.

“As well as improvements to the exterior of the church, work has been done over the last two years to improve the halls complex which are well used by several non-church groups.”