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Lauder Old Church boasts a new flock
"THE icing on the cake."
That was how the Reverend Bruce Gardner described the installation this week of a replacement weather vane at Lauder Old Church.
The decorative device, depicting a shepherd and his flock, was manufactured in mild steel by James Sampson, who runs his own welding and fabrication business at nearby Pyatshaw.
It replaces the vane which was blown from the top of the A-listed building during a severe storm two years ago.
“It landed like a spear into the ground and virtually disintegrated,” recalled session clerk Graham Donald, who was delighted to hear that Mr Sampson had donated the item, along with his time and material costs, free of charge.
“It’s a wonderful example of the great community effort which has seen our unique church transformed to its former glory.”
Dad-of-four Mr Sampson said he was only too happy to help.
“The kirk just did not look the same without its vane which was very, very old,” he told us. “The church is a real focal point in the town and, although it took me three days to make, I wanted to give something back to this great community.”
Mr Donald explained that after the storm, the kirk session authorised an assessment of structural damage.
“We had already planned to repaint the entire building, so we took the opportunity, while the scaffolding was up, to do just that. The paint was donated by a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous.”
A large crowd gathered on Monday to watch steeplejacks, assisted by a crane, lower the vane, attached to a large finial rod, into place at the top of the tower.
The church was built in 1673 and designed by the illustrious architect Sir William Bruce in the form of a Greek cross at the behest of the second Earl of Lauderdale.
It was the first church in Scotland to follow this symmetrical design, others having been erected with a cross-shaped plan.
Sir William had previously remodelled Thirlestane Castle for the first Earl, James Maitland, and went on to become surveyor general of the King’s Works in Scotland.
Ian Stevenson, the kirk’s fabric convener, estimated the total cost of the facelift to be 45,000.
“Most of this was covered by insurance, but we wanted to do a proper job using local tradesmen and I think the result is spectacular, especially when the kirk is floodlit at night,” said Mr Stevenson.
The Rev. Gardner told us: “The installation of the weather vane, which is so decorative, is the icing on the cake of a superb project to which many people have contributed.
“The end result is magnificent.”
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Weather for Galashiels
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
