A CONSERVATION team is braving the elements of St Kilda to help preserve a 200-year-old kirk.
Staff with the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) will face gales and rough seas as they work to conserve the St Kilda Kirk as its 200th anniversary approaches.
Extensive repairs to the roof and the replacement of gutters are required as a first urgent phase of conservation to make the Kirk and adjacent school watertight.
Due to the St Kilda archipelago’s location in the North Atlantic, the islands face gales approximately 75 days a year, with the recent Climate Vulnerability Index assessment showing storms are likely to become more frequent and more severe due to climate change.
The kirk was first constructed in the late 1820s although the last islanders left in 1930 and the building fell into disrepair.
However, it was restored by the NTS in the 1970s to mark the 50th anniversary of the evacuation of the islanders.
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Susan Bain, the NTS's property manager for St Kilda, said: “The NTS is privileged to care for and share St Kilda’s natural and cultural heritage, including the kirk and school, but our stewardship also brings with it great practical complexities.
"The project to repair the roof and replace the rainwater goods of the kirk not only requires specialist heritage conservation expertise and skills, but also involves a gruelling logistical marathon.
“Even transporting the materials for the project has taken months in planning, with initial shipment to storage in South Uist needed in good time for transfer to a landing craft, which sails when sea conditions are right.
"The materials are all checked prior to loading and during the voyage for signs of non-native rodents and the vessel is also inspected before anything is landed on St Kilda.
"Working in the middle of a dual World Heritage Site has its challenges and noise must be kept to a minimum to avoid disturbing wildlife or visitors.
“While the church and school are not open to visitors for the duration of the work, visitors can see traditional skills in action and a key building made safe for the future.
"We’re grateful for the resourcefulness, attention to detail and resilience of our contractors, staff and volunteers who are making the work possible.”
With support from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) grant funding, the project to weatherproof and conserve the kirk is being managed by NTS, which cares for St Kilda – a Unesco World Heritage site.
Anyone wishing to donate to the project can do so HERE.
Dr Susan O’Connor, head of grants at HES, said: “St Kilda has a distinctive story to tell in Scotland’s history and these buildings are testament to a unique way of life.
"HES grant funding in this case is helping to conserve not only the tangible fabric of the kirk and school buildings, but also to safeguard the island’s invaluable cultural heritage, ensuring that its stories and significance continue to be shared with the world.”
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