RENFREWSHIRE Council is set to dig deep and contribute £50,000 to the campaign to save the historic Thomas Coats Memorial from falling into disrepair, writes Jack Thomson.
The cash windfall – sourced from the Paisley Common Good Fund – would be pumped into the 100 Days to Save Coats Memorial Drive, providing it is approved by the council’s Leadership Board.
The campaign aims to raise £1.5 million to to turn the church building into an events venue and has so far raised just shy of £120,000.
READ MORE: Bid launched to raise £1.5m to save historic Paisley church from ruin
Council chiefs will recommend members of the Leadership Board rubber-stamp the funding proposals on Wednesday, subject to Thomas Coats Preservation Trust demonstrating a “robust and funded business case” for the reuse of the church.
Paisley businessman Ian Henderson, who leads the group of prominent people looking to save the closure-threatened building, said they were aware of the council’s potential support.
He said: “We are aware the council is considering supporting the campaign and we will be delighted if there’s a positive outcome.”
The Grade A-listed church closed as a place of worship last August after the running costs became too high and the congregation dwindled.
Popularly known as the Baptist Cathedral of Europe, Coats Memorial, which was paid for by money made from Paisley’s famous mills, was built more than 100 years ago in the neo-Gothic style.
The tower is 200 feet high and the building is considered one of the finest church buildings in Britain.
If the funding target is not reached by the the Thomas Coats Preservation Trust, any donations received will be used for essential repairs for the building in discussion with the existing trustees of the church.
A series of open days and other fundraising events are scheduled throughout the campaign, with musical performances, exhibitions and tours aiming to focus activity in the building and maintain public profile.
It was confirmed in a report to the Leadership Board that council officers will continue to work with the preservation trust going forward.
The report said: “Any organisation taking responsibility for the building will require support for capacity building and fundraising.
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“This will ensure the building’s end user is informed, equipped and adequately resourced to meet the building’s needs and operate sustainably.
“Council officers can offer significant experience in this regard with historic buildings and will therefore continue to work with Thomas Coats Preservation Trust to build their capacity and identify collaborative opportunities to strengthen their proposal going forward.”
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