Bid made to secure future of Holy Rude
One of Stirling’s most iconic buildings is at the heart of a new arrangement to help safeguard its future.
The Church of the Holy Rude has entered into a partnership with Stirling District Tourism Ltd which will see both organisations working together to secure the future of the historic building, situated near Stirling Castle.
Under the agreement, the church will extend its purpose as a place of worship and expand visitor numbers with a view to becoming a leading visitor attraction.
The Church of Holy Rude will continue to serve as one of Scotland’s most important churches and will maintain its programme of religious observances and annual events.
SDT plans to develop a creative programme of cultural initiatives including the development of exhibitions and a new website designed to bring the church’s rich past to life and showcase its stunning architecture.
All visitor income in the first year will be reinvested into the conservation and modernisation of the church and to create an inspiring visitor and event space.
SDT will oversee visitor services, information management and visitor engagement. It will also lead on creative direction and planning of events and exhibitions, branding, marketing, and PR to put the church on Scotland’s illustrious visitor map. The church will be fully staffed to ensure a positive visitor experience and to manage group tours.
The new calendar of non-religious events will be rolled out from May 1 complementing the fixed programme of religious observances and annually recurring events at the church.
Zillah Jamieson, chair of Stirling District Tourism, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to build on the number of people who have already visited this stunning building. Our aim is to provide visitors from across Scotland and beyond the opportunity to explore this glorious building while generating much needed income to conserve this historic gem.”
Reverend Alan Miller said: “I am hugely excited about the opportunity to reveal our stunning church and to gain a greater appreciation for its beauty and historical significance. It will remain a place of worship for our much-valued church community, and I am confident that everyone will see the benefits this partnership will bring to secure our beloved church’s future.”