Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland

Category of Risk / Development History
Condition:	Very Poor
Category of Risk:	High
Exemptions to Category of Risk:	-
Site Visit History:	Date unknown July 2003
Reason for Risk / Development History:	1963: The church is threatened with demolition following the merger of the Wilson Fullarton and Trinity Churches into St Paul's. 1966: The merged congregation completes the vacation of the church, which is vested to a trust. It subsequently suffers vandalism and neglect. 1975: The owners seek permission to demolish. The Saltaire Society campaigns against the proposals. 1976: The Trinity Trust takes possession of the church. May 1977: A £131,000 scheme of repairs is completed. The east and north lights are removed to the Museum of Stained Glass at Ely Cathedral. September 1978: A £38,000 project to convert the church into a hall and the church hall into committee rooms commences. Most interior fittings are removed. May 1979: The church opens as the Trinity Centre. 1982: The main roof is damaged by storms and is found to be suffering from nail sickness. 26 April 1985: The Irvine Herald reports that roof repairs will be carried out on the church, part funded by the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland. 1990: Trinity Trust launches an appeal to raise £90,000 for further fabric repairs. The appeal fails and Historic Building Council grant aid is not taken up. December 1995: Irvine Development Corporation approves £300,000 towards conversion into a town museum, subject to contributions from the council. September 1996: The establishment of a trust is mooted to take receipt of the pledged public funds. The Historic Buildings Council approaches Strathclyde Building Preservation Trust to ascertain whether it would act as custodian until restoration was complete and the church could be handed to the council. The Historic Buildings Council is likely to pledge 50% grant aid, whilst the council has pledged a minimum of £200,000. Due to the winding up of Irvine Development Corporation, its contribution will default to the Scottish Office if works do not commence by December 1998. 1997: The last community groups vacate the building. June 1997: Council inspection reveals an urgent need for extensive works to the spire and a Dangerous Building Notice is served. August 1997: The Historic Buildings Council offers £113,000 towards the cost of repairs. North Ayrshire Council provides match funding, and repairs are undertaken. July 1998: North Ayrshire Council begins to consider amending the original use specification from museum use to general community use. December 1998: The Trinity Trust decides to wind itself up and offers the church to both Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland. Both decline. May 1999: North Ayrshire Council asks Historic Scotland to consider de-listing the church. The request is refused. July 1999: Draft feasibility studies identify 3 possible uses: museum, commercial, and community/education. SBPT concludes that the latter is the most viable. Conversion is estimated at £1.5 million. October 2000: A marketing exercise is launched and several expressions of interest, but no firm offers, result. April 2001: The Scottish Executive indicates that it will call in the Irvine Development Corporation monies if a new agreement cannot be reached. Trinity Trust reiterates its wish to disband. June 2001: SBPT transfers funds received from the Irvine Development Corporation to the Scottish Executive. 5 April 2002: The Irvine Times reports that the Executive has now given the Trinity Trust until March 2003 before it reassigns the Irvine Development Corporation monies. A feasibility study into using the church for housing is currently underway, in association with the Ayrshire North Community Housing Organisation. The church would also house a Foyer: a place offering education, training and employment to young people. However, the study subsequently concludes that the project would not be viable. 16 December 2002: A demolition application is lodged. Demolition is estimated at £250,000-500,000. January 2003: Trinity Trust aks if the Scottish Redundant Churches Trust would be interested in taking on the building. SRCT declines due to a lack of remaining original features. 28 February 2003: The Irvine Times reports the Irvine Development Corporation monies have now been withdrawn by the Scottish Executive following the failure to find a future use for the building. Stewarton Historical Society is lobbying against demolition, and instead suggests that the church be used as a heritage centre. 18 April 2003: The Irvine Herald reports on plans by a candidate in the local council elections to find alternative uses for the church and save it from demolition. The Irvine Times similarly reports on the campaign. 18 September 2003: The Ayr Leader reports that a local MP has called for Historic Scotland financial assistance for the church. 19 September 2003: The Irvine Times and the Irvine Herald repeat the story. Local planners continue to consider the demolition application. 17 October 2003: The Irvine Herald reports that 2 expressions of interest in restoring the church have emerged. 7 November 2003: The Irvine Times reports that the Trinity Trust has been unable to find a buyer for the church and does not have the finances itself to seek restoration. 21 November 2003: The Irvine Herald reports reports that restoration costs have been put at £1.8 million. 28 November 2003: The Ayrshire World repeats the story. 23 December 2003: The Scotsman reports that 2 rival Japanese firms are bidding for the church with an aim to rebuilding it in Japan and using it to stage weddings and funerals. January 2004: Historic Scotland commissions the Phoenix Trust to compile a report on the building. 2 January 2004: Press reports note that a Miss Jacqueline McMullen has submitted proposals to the Trinity Trust to turn the church into an indoor climbing centre. 9 January 2004: The Irvine Times reports that the Trinity Trust is prepared to support the scheme if the plans prove viable. Irvine Incorporated Trades Trust has also expressed an interest in making the church its home, whilst a private individual has suggested a creche conversion. 26 March 2004: The Irvine Times reports that the Trinity Trust is to consider completed feasibility studies and business plans. If they are satisfied, the church will be handed over to a building preservation trust which will undertake repair works. 9 April 2004: The Irvine Times reports that local groups and organisations have expressed support for the plans. April 2004: A report by the Phoenix Trust concludes that the demolition application is premature as efforts to find a viable new use have been limited in range. Although it suffers from a defective roof and eroding stonework, the church currently presents no immediate danger to the public. The interior requires comprehensive renewal. North Ayrshire Council is not prepared to assume responsibility for the building in the absence of a viable end use, and is currently in discussion with the Scottish Executive about reassigning the Irvine Development Corporation monies for the Town House, also in Irvine. 17 September 2004: The Irvine Herald reports that the local MSP has raised the issue of the church in the Scottish Parliament. 15 October 2004: Ayrshire World reports that the local MP has held a brainstorming session to consider the future of the church. February 2005: The Trinity Trust has now appointed Alba Conservation Trust to undertake a feasibility study into potential end uses. The Scottish Executive has agreed to carry forward monies earmarked for the church until September 2005, pending the outcome of the feasibility study. 24 June 2005: The Irvine Herald reports that North Ayrshire Council may rent the spire and assume responsibility for maintenance, in the hope of attracting restorers to the main body. July 2005: feasibility study for the church has now been completed. The 2 main options would be for a bar/restaurant or a climbing centre. September 2005: the Irvine Herald reports that the Scottish Executive have extended the deadline for the use of funds to the Church by the former Irvine Development Corporation. October 2006:Historic Scotland report that there continues to be ongoing discussion regarding the future use of this building. The Irvine Herald reports that the Irvine Common Good Fund is to pay the insurance premium on the church. June 2007: Local Planners report that planning permission has been sought by JD Wetherspoons to convert the groundfloor into a pub. The spire would be maintained by a newly established trust.