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July 2016
New lease of life for Stoer Parliamentary Church

New lease of life for Stoer Parliamentary Church

July 26 2016

Morgan McDonnell Architects have tabled plans for the restoration and conversion of the roofless Stoer Parliamentary Church, Lairg, to form a new home.

The C-listed property sits within the village of Stoer, Assynt and was one of 32 Parliamentary Churches to be built by Thomas Telford in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars but has lain empty since 1972.

In a design statement Guy McDonnell wrote: “The restoration will save the building from further deterioration and eventual collapse and its conversion to residential use will ensure its continued use for many years to come.

The exterior of the building is to be restored to as near to its original form as is practical. The roof will be reinstated and clad in natural slate. Coping stones will be reinstated and replaced as necessary. Detailing to rhones, downpipes, ridges and hips will follow traditional methods using lead and/or zinc. No rooflights are proposed. Stonework joints will be raked and repointed with lime mortar. All cement pointing will be removed. Aluminium windows will follow Telford’s original mass produced cast iron window frame designs. Double glazed panes and thermally broken frame construction will meet modern standards.

"Internally the layout borrows from the original design with the upper level echoing the congregation galleries whilst the central space will remain full height to the roof. The original door to the church (The West door) is restored as the main door to the house.”

Highland Council own a surrounding graveyard

10 Comments

#1 Posted by Islands of sanity on 26 Jul 2016 at 21:51 PM

Usually it is the headstones that lean.

#2 Posted by Connie Macleod on 27 Jul 2016 at 20:05 PM

Utterly disgraceful that this hallowed turf should be converted into somebody's holiday home. Local families are buried here and the church is a ruin, yes, but a landmark and a wonderful piece of history - to say nothing of a rare example of Telford's work of this type. Not every relic requires 'saving'.

#3 Posted by Terra on 27 Jul 2016 at 22:34 PM

Have to agree with Connie that, although I'm not particularly religious, I can't agree with the idea that a home can be built on/right next to a graveyard.
However it's good that there are plans to restore a lovely building.

#4 Posted by Rev. Archibald Beard on 28 Jul 2016 at 13:17 PM

Have to say, I agree with Connie on this. Not so much interested in what the building shell would be used for, but the whole idea should be stymied because of the proximity of the cemetery.
They're moving father's grave to build a sewer? Nah! Shouldn't be happening.

#5 Posted by Graham Macdonald on 17 Aug 2016 at 13:03 PM

Any one willing or wanting to object can do so here.

http://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=OA05QQIHGPT00

#6 Posted by Graham Macdonald on 17 Aug 2016 at 13:17 PM

We as locals, are very upset at this proposal. It's sited in a location where there are holiday homes aplenty, and certainly does not need a place of worship and burial to be turned into another one.

The only access to the site is over the graves, and it's very disrespectful to locals who have family buried there. Thanks.