Evanton history project scoops lottery
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A PROJECT which will shed light on one of Evanton’s most important buildings is to go ahead after landing a lottery grant.
Evanton Community Trust has been successful with a £8900 Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) award to research and record the history of Kiltearn Old Parish Kirk on the shores of the Cromarty Firth.
The total cost of the £13,400 project has also been supported by Kiltearn Community Council, Archaeology Scotland and the Clan Munro Association.
The roofless building, which is owned by the Church of Scotland, dates from the mid-1700s, but there has been a church on the site since medieval times.
The project will be managed by ARCH (Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands) and will enable local volunteers to learn about the history of the Old Parish Kirk.
Volunteers will research historical documents in local and national archives to delve into the old’s Kirk past as well as carrying out a building survey.
Recording the gravestones in the ancient burial ground will also be done for the first time ever and volunteers will be trained to undertake family history research into some of the people associated with the kirk.
Chairman of Evanton Community Trust, Iain Clark, said: "We’re delighted that we have been awarded this grant.
"The old kirk is an iconic and important site and an integral part of the history of Evanton.
"We know there is evidence of a much older, medieval church on the site and this project will enable local people to learn more about its past.
"More importantly the findings on the important piece of our heritage will be recorded and archived for the benefit of future generations.
"Some of the gravestones in the old cemetery date from 1588, but the inscriptions are beginning to disappear so it’s important that we get this information recorded before it’s too late.
"All the information that we glean from the project will be put up online, so it will be a worldwide resource and people will be able to refer to it for things such as researching their family history."
The project, which will last for 12 months, will have an exhibition and open day to present its findings and a display board with information for visitors will be put up at the site.
The first meeting of the project will be held on Monday, January 23 at 7pm in the Cornerstone Café in Evanton and anyone interested in taking part and learning about the history of the old kirk will be very welcome. No experience required.
Other projects undertaken by Evanton Community Trust include the purchase and development of the village green and a programme of major improvements to the network of footpaths leading from the old kirk.
