The restoration of historic St Ninian’s Cathedral in Perth could cost as much as £3.5 million, it has emerged.
A fundraising campaign is being launched to save the ageing city centre landmark.
The Atholl Street building, one of the city’s few A-listed properties, is being slowly destroyed by rainwater getting into stonework and is in desperate need of roof repairs and a new drainage system.
Around £750,000 is needed for the first phase of the project, which will involve making the church weathertight.
The Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and several trusts have already stepped in with initial offers of help but the restoration committee set up by the cathedral still faces an immediate shortfall of £140,000.
Two more phases are planned to restore the cathedral designed by renowned architect William Butterfield to its former glory. The whole project is estimated to cost between £3m and £3.5m.
St Ninian’s was the first cathedral built in the UK after the Reformation and is the “mother church” for congregations across the Scottish Episcopalian Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane.
The severity of the problems only became apparent after an annual inspection carried out in 2014. This was followed by a survey last year, which confirmed the full extent of the damage.
Cathedral provost the Very Rev Hunter Farquharson said he has spent significant time working with vestry secretary Maureen Prett to try to reach a solution.
“Sadly the resources of the Scottish Episcopal Church are already spread very thinly,” he said. “Therefore the bulk of the necessary money has to be raised by the congregation. We are an active congregation who, though not in the first flush of youth, connect well with the local community. Our worshippers have been almost sacrificial in their giving but a project of this magnitude is simply beyond our means.”
Unless action is taken quickly, dry rot will set in and cause widespread damage to interior fixtures and fittings.
The second phase of the plan will be the most expensive at about £2m and involves repairs to masonry. Stained glass windows will be restored during the third and final stage.
Mr Farquharson said: “Our congregation acknowledges the need for good stewardship of our heritage to pass to future generations. However, without wider support this A-listed building will fall into further disrepair and ultimately disuse. We should not let this happen.”
Details of how to get involved can be found at www.perthcathedral.co.uk.