Organisers of events to celebrate closure-threatened Brechin Cathedral’s 800th anniversary have insisted the show will go on.
The Brechin 2020 committee said they will “redouble their efforts” to mark the milestone despite the imminent threat to the building’s future.
Brechin owes its origins to the medieval cathedral, which is the oldest building in the burgh, and the Celtic monastery which preceded it.
Angus Presbytery recently agreed to initiate the closure of the cathedral which carries a debt of £169,114 including £73,000 which was paid to repair dry rot in the Canadian pine timbers of the roof more than a decade ago.
A further meeting will be held on Tuesday to set out the timescale of closure.
The church is currently celebrating its 800th anniversary with a programme of events already planned throughout the summer to mark the milestone.
Brechin 2020 chairman Steve Dempsey said the planned closure has only strengthened the committee’s desire to “promote and nurture interest in the cathedral in the local community”.
He said: “The committee have a programme of events scheduled over the coming months and it was the unanimous view of the members was that they will continue with their plans and redouble their efforts to celebrate the 800th birthday of the cathedral on June 7.
“The events and projects will continue after June 2020 for the remainder of the calendar year.
“The response of the group was robust in the face of the challenges that lay ahead for the congregation of the cathedral.”
He said: “Brechin 2020 recognise the opportunities the committee can play in ensuring the future for the building.
“They are keen to work in partnership with the congregation and other partners to consider how the historic building can be used in the future.
“The committee are resolute in their view that planned events can be used to promote and nurture interest in the cathedral in the local community and how it can be used in the future.”
The dedicated group of local people have been working over two years to develop special projects and plans for the celebrations to mark the 800th anniversary.
The committee has also worked closely with a design company called Bright Bricks to develop a Lego model of the cathedral.
A final session is being planned to allow the public to build their own small scale model of the cathedral.
With the support of teachers from Brechin High School, a group of pupils are producing a set of multi-media sequences of Lego figures which tell the story of key events in the history of the cathedral and the local community.
Plans are being developed to produce a patchwork embroidery hanging drape which will tell the story of cathedral and the events in the history of the local community.
A pageant procession is also planned, which will fill the streets of Brechin with medieval knights, jousters on horseback and jesters.
Bravo Brechin are making the 2020 Pageant in the City medieval-themed to tie in with the event on May 30 while an 800th birthday concert will be given on June 6 by the Friends group before a Churches Together celebration takes place the following day at 10.30am.
