Stanley Church Update October 2016
Many have been asking what is happening to Stanley Church Building? I am sorry to say that since my last update there has been no significant progress in deciding what the long-term future for the building and grounds may be. This apparent lack of progress is not for lack of effort being put in by our property convener and his team, but rather such planning processes do not move swiftly. As things develop we will of course keep you informed.
Shortly after we fenced off the Church building because of safety concerns a large bit of stonework fell from the height of the clock face smashing into the front steps. Since then another three, thankfully smaller, sections of stonework have also fallen from the same height. Any one of these bits of stonework could have caused a serious injury or worse. Thankfully no one was hurt because we acted when we did and fenced off the building.
In the mean time we have been working hard to tidy up and clear out huge amount of stuff which has collected over the years, re-homing what we still use and deciding what to do with the rest. We have also been carefully recording all of the memorials and items of historic interest. Part of that has been going through the various Church records, did you know that; In 1828 the mill owners built Stanley church and it became the chapel of Stanley Mills. In 1875 Stanley Church building and its grounds were sold by Mrs Howard of Stanley Mills to the Presbytery of Perth for £1,250. She had originally asked for £2,000 but following a building assessment commissioned by the Presbytery problems of water ingress through the stonework and other repairs were highlighted. So 50 years after the Church was built at a cost of £4,000 a further £4,500 was spent on it and following that the Church was estimated to be valued at only £3,000.
Looking through the records we can see that over the years that followed these problems with the stonework have had ever increasing sums of money spent on them but have remained a fundamental weakness right to the present day. Despite any frailty and failings this building has faithfully served the Church. Worship in word and sacrament, hymn and prayer has taken place, liturgy and life have met and merged in Stanley church building, and so we have much to thank God for down through the years.
Bankfoot Church Centre 