St. Andrew’s Kirk, Glass
Trust Members
Minutes of Meeting No. 13, 22nd January 2025
at Glebe House
Present:
Ted Andrews (EAA)
Marc Day (MBD)
Jack Ingleby (JI)
Bob Yuill (BY)
The minutes of the 12th meeting held on 18th August 2024 were approved.
Matters arising:
The Completion Certificate for the work to install the toilet and car park has still to be applied for owing to doubts over the disable parking area markings. It was agreed to submit the application and await the council’s response.
EAA presented the treasurer’s report together with a cash flow forecast for the next 3 months and subsequently a detailed analysis of the items of expenditure and income was provided by email to the trustees.. This forecast indicates that the trust is able to meet its commitments for the period. The only anticipated expense being the electricity bills. These are within budget.
The potential installation of solar panels to provide a source of income for the building was discussed with the attendant difficulties anticipated from planning authorities and Historic Scotland regarding the replacement of the existing roof covering. (see section 6)
The condition of the stained glass windows was discussed and EAA stated that the opinion of the window expert who had carried out an inspection of ALL of the windows in the church and had refurbished the plain glass windows at the Northern end of the building, was that they were sound at the time of inspection (2 years ago).
One of the protective plastic screens covering some of the windows has shattered and should be replaced.
Further work needed on the structure of the building was discussed and funds are available from a successful grant application for paintwork, gutter refurbishment and clearing, with some repair work needed on skews and doors. A high-lift vehicle would be required for the gutter work and this was in hand.
The trustees discussed other sources of funding in order to guarantee the running costs (insurance and power) for the foreseeable future with the possibility of obtaining a stipend from a reliable and continuing source in order to preserve this historic building. Attempts will be made by trustees to identify such sources and apply to them.
An open day was held on 5th October with refreshments provided by Glass residents. Books and prints were offered freely and donations asked to cover them and the refreshments. The day was very successful, with many people visiting and generous donations were given.
Subsequently books and prints were offered to commercial book sellers and Mr Clifford Milne of Cullen Book Shop and Aberdeen took some and made a generous donation to the church charity.
Blytheswood Care have offered to take books and arrangements are in hand to get many of the remaining books to them.
Any Other Business:
The condition of the yew tree near the south face of the building was mentioned. It was suggested that it needed trimming as it had grown and was now obscuring some gravestones.
The wall surrounding the graveyard is in poor condition and collapsing at one spot. The council (responsible for the graveyard) will be informed.
Aurora Choir (based in Huntly) has been in touch and would like to use the church for a concert on 28th June.
Further to requesting the Church of Scotland to provide a minister to take occasional communion services, the Venerable Richard Pratt, although retired, has intimated that he would take communion if asked.
It was agreed that the next meeting should be held when progress had been made.
There being no further business, the meeting was closed.