Village unveils £1.5m community hub

Theatrical spectacle as centre finally officially opened after months of fundraising

For a tiny community like St Madoes gathering the £1.5 million needed to bring to life its vision for a new community was always going to be a big task.

Faced with failing facilities and keen to create a new heart for the village, however, the congregation of St Madoes and Kinfauns Church settled down to do just that.

Along the way there have been naysayers who have felt such a sizeable sum might be better spent elsewhere within the community.

Nonetheless, the congregation refused to be swayed and even those who did not take the project to heart must be impressed with the finished centre.

Widespread use by local people has always at the heart of the project, with the hope to create a real hub for activity in St Madoes.

It will provide space in which young people can come together for activities but will also ensure that more elderly members of the community have a place to gather and chat.

The multiple uses should create a vibrant centre for the community, bring people together and combat social isolation.

Getting to this stage has required months of community fundraising events and hard work together with a long list of generous benefactors.

Key supporters have included the Robertson Trust, the Gannochy Trust and the Jimmie Cairncross Charitable Trust.

The official opening yesterday was a hugely successful event which mixed emotion, with history and a little theatre.

Dressed as St Maddoch and accompanied by monks, the Rev Scott Burton of Perth’s St Matthew’s Church arrived by river in a coracle to take part.

Perthshire North SNP MSP John Swinney was also present to watch Olympic swimmer Stephen Milne cut the ribbon.

That ushered in an afternoon of activities and entertainments which showcased how the centre will be used.

Craft workshops and sports demonstrations took place alongside live music, song and dancing, with Perth and District Pipe Band among those to play to large crowds.

Professional dancers Dean and Sarah Pirie, meanwhile, gave an energetic contemporary dance performance featuring the famous lift from Dirty Dancing.

St Madoes and Kinfauns Church will hope to see the centre in regular use by the community for years to come.

The multiple uses should create a vibrant centre for the community, bring people together and combat social isolation

Picture: Angus Findlay. Anthea Bircham with Olympic swimmer Stephen Milne and, left, St Madoch who brought the stones and scriptures from Perth on a coracle,with MSP John Swinney and Deputy Perth Provost Willie Wilson.