St Kessog’s campaign
Once again, the future of St Kessog's in Ancaster Square hangs in the balance. Callander Community Development Trust, in partnership with the BLV, is seeking your ideas about new ways in which Callander's much-loved architectural focal point could be used to serve the community and become self-financing.
Let's start with some history. In 1843, the growth of evangelism within the Church of Scotland gave rise to a schism, which in turn led to the establishment of the Free Church of Scotland. Callander's congregation, which since 1772 had worshipped in the Reformed Church in Ancaster Square, split and in 1844 the Free Church contingent moved into the new St Bride's Church in South Church Street. Meanwhile, spurred largely by Queen Victoria's enthusiasm for Scotland, visitors began flocking to Callander. The Reformed Church building was no longer big enough and in 1883 St Kessog's Church, designed in the Gothic style by Robert Baldie, was built to replace it.
A hundred and forty-one years later, however, the two congregations of St Kessog's and St Bride's reunited and have been based ever since at the former St Bride's Church, now known as Callander Kirk. In 1987, St Kessog's new owners Stirling Council announced plans for the building's conversion into a visitor centre. Inevitably, this decision caused a certain amount of controversy, particularly among members of its old congregation. Today, however, we are all grateful to its present occupants, the Visit Scotland team, for their sterling work in promoting Callander as a visitor destination. Their professionalism is unstinting and their work is vital to the local economy.
Like all historic buildings, St Kessog's requires constant maintenance and its upkeep is costly. There are no immediate plans to close the visitor centre, and we sincerely hope that Visit Scotland retains its presence in Callander because it is of immense value to visitors and locals alike. But now that the first floor of St Kessog's lies vacant, having been vacated by the old Rob Roy exhibit, the building is not paying for itself. If this fine example of Scottish Gothic architecture is to be preserved then a viable plan for its usage, repair and upkeep must be decided.
It is crystal clear that locals do not want the building to fall into the hands of residential developers. A number of alternative ideas have been put forward by the community to Callander Community Development Trust and Callander & District Heritage Society who, in turn, are discussing those ideas with Callander Community Council, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and Stirling Council.
Friends of St Kessog’s
Callander Community Development Trust has launched a fund to raise money for the acquisition of the St Kessog's building and its redevelopment as a community cultural and events centre. For more information about the St Kessog's campaign and for details of how to contribute to the Friends of St Kessog's please see Callander Community Development Trust's website at: www.callandercdt.org.uk.
Photo: A Cadzow. For more about the history of the churches in Callander, please see Ken Dunn's article at Callander Kirk's website.