Perthshire cathedral flock’s prayers may soon be answered

Oct 29 2010 by Denis Brown, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A DESPERATELY needed welcome centre at iconic tourist magnet, Dunkeld Cathedral, would be a blessing, both for the flock and visitors.

Converting Chanonry Cottage – part of the manse believed to have once housed the minister’s horse-drawn cart – into a multi-purpose facility has been a vision of the Parish of Dunkeld for about three years.

But now, with architectural plans submitted to Perth and Kinross Council, parishioners’ prayers may finally be answered, the catch being that an estimated £200,000 has to be found.

A tiny Cathedral Street building, previously revamped as accommodation, the cottage is the only roof church members or visitors have over their heads, other than the actual cathedral where services are held.

The distinct lack of an ante room or annexe is a thorn in the parish’s side, as there is nowhere for volunteer guides to brief visitor groups to the famous cathedral, which attracts 70,000 tourists a year.

Neither is there anywhere for the congregation to gather post-Sunday service for a cuppa as the cramped cottage serves as the Sunday school, as well as a youth club on Thursdays.

Plans drawn up by Edinburgh-based Watson Burnett Architects envisage modifying and extending the ancillary building, which will be reborn as a welcome centre, shop and refreshment area.

“The difficulty with the cathedral is it’s just a single room, so to speak,” explained parish session clerk, Col. David Arbuthnott.

“We have no ante room, you go straight into the cathedral and we have nowhere to brief tour groups or a little shop where we can offer refreshments.

“And our Sunday school and youth club have to squeeze into the cottage, which really is just a pokey little room in a single-storey building no older than the 18th century.

“It’s a pity we’re not like St Ninian’s in Perth, which has a passageway with all sorts of little rooms leading off it.”

Col. Arbuthnott said after the former Chanonry occupant departed to meet her maker, the parish hatched cottage conversion plans.

“We eventually realised our initial plan was too ambitious so we scaled that down to a more simpler version,” he said.

“Once our plans are finalised we will produce a nice colour brochure and begin approaching all these people with too much money and ask them to make a donation.”

Helping fundraise will be the devoted Society of Friends of Dunkeld Cathedral, whose members staff a hut selling merchandise in summer to help with “the fabric and furnishings of the cathedral”.

“We’re all fired up with enthusiasm as a multi-purpose centre is very badly needed here, especially at this time of year – people just end up wandering around in the rain,” said Col. Arbuthnott.

The Church of Scotland parish has a 400-strong congregation and two other churches at Little Dunkeld and Dowally, with more than 100 attending services at the picturesque cathedral, which also hosts at least 30 weddings a year.

“The cathedral is a big draw here and we want to make the most of it,” he said.