ST TERNAN'S SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
MUCHALLS


INTRODUCTION
St Ternan's Scottish Episcopal Church Muchalls, is located to the West of the A90 approx. 500 yards from the Cookney turnoff. It is located on the section of road that formed part of the Causey Mounth. When the main part of the church was built in 1829-31 it was on the road that led from Stonehaven to Aberdeen.    The congregation of St Ternan's are the descendants of the Scottish Episcopalians who in 1698 were turfed out of the Parish Church of Fetteresso when Presbyterianism in the shape of the Church of Scotland became the established church, rather than Episcopalianism. They moved first to a chapel at Muchalls Castle, later destroyed by Cumberland on his way to Culloden (along with the one at Portlethen). Two further chapels were built to the West of Muchalls castle and they were known as the "Episcopal Chapel at Muchalls" until 1860 when the name St Ternan's was adopted. Muchalls being the castle/estate not the village which only become Muchalls about 1950. Before that Muchalls was known as Stranathro'.

In the years until 1900 St Ternan's congregation consisted of fisherfolk and farmfolk from Skaterow, Stranathro' and the surrounding area of Cookney Maryculter, Banchory Devenick, PortLethen. After 1900 there was a mass emigration of people to Torry (Aberdeen) and Stonehaven. Where there would have been 100/150 people at a service at St Ternan's they was reduced to a dozen by the early 1980's. St Ternan's was built from the 6p and shillings donated by it's members. St Ternan's congregation were poor financially but rich spiritually, no rich benefactors here.
These days are past now and at St Ternan's we have a vibrant and resourceful congregation who cannot progress unless the building is brought up to modern standards. Nothing apart from electric lights and inferior heating system has been installed since the chancel of the church was completed in 1865.

 
Background: Earlier this year the Vestry of St Ternan's, which is the managing body for all the Church premises and Church activities, decided to set up a 'Planning and Premises Group' under the convenorship of Mrs Sheila Usher, to undertake a review of the current usage of the Church as a place of worship and community hub in the 21st Century and to put forward appropriate plans that now form the foundation of this project. A feasibility study was undertaken by the "Planning and Premises Group" by employing an architect to confirm that it was practical to build the extension on the North exterior wall of the church. The services of 'Renewables Connection' were used as technical advisors to ensure the feasibility of installing heating system and to obtain quotes from vendors to ensure best value and technical competence.

The current state of the church facilities are such that it is difficult to use the church for any other activity other than religious services, concerts, or musical recitals. The existing electrical heating system barely warms the church for services in the colder months, even though it is augmented with portable gas space heaters. There are no toilets in the church and lack of water supply to the church severely restricts hosting cultural, social events, plays, and ecumenical services.
St Ternan's now wishes to move forward and be able to provide further community activities ensuring we comply with current health, hygiene, and safety regulations. Replacing the heating system and building an extension that will include toilets, (one for the disabled), a kitchen, and a meeting room, will allow us to do this. 

A section of St Ternan's mission statement requires the congregation to show God's love in the community, develop ecumenical relationships, which means to provide community facilities so that we realise our mission statement. St Ternan's has held musical concerts, Christmas plays, ecumenical services, services for the deaf but are restricted on developing further because of the lack of basic facilities.  The congregation of St Ternan's has increased over the past few years to the extent that the lack of basic facilities is restricting further growth, and the use of the church for further community activities.

Project aims: The aim of the project (1) Replace the electrical heating system in the church and the LPG boiler supplying heat to the rectory with a heating system that is environmentally friendly, carbon neutral, uses local resources, and is more cost effective to run in comparison to the existing systems, thus giving more comfort for both community and congregational use, in the church and the new extension. Improved heating will also ensure that the integrity of the building fabric is kept in good order.
(2) Addition of an extension externally along the North wall of the church consisting of a kitchen, 3-toilets (including one for the disabled) and a 30 person meeting room available for community use.

The objective of the project is (1) to make the church more user friendly and inclusive by improving the heating system in the building and thus allow it to be used for more community, cultural, and social activities than it is at present. This will extend the use of the church facilities to all the community rather than to the part of the community that attends St Ternan's on a Sunday for fellowship and worship. 
(2) Building the extension will allow us to remove the severe restrictions that are in place at St Ternan's due to the lack of running water, kitchen and toilets particularly disabled toilet. The supply of hot water for dispensing hot drinks is particularly onerous; members have to carry flasks from their homes. A 30 person meeting room will allow us to increase participation in the present Ecumenical Group meetings and deaf language courses and will provide an amenity for the local Reading Circle and any other Community Group; these activities will be open to all members of the surrounding community.

Project activities:
Provide more opportunities for hosting musical and drama events to which the greater community is invited by advertisements placed locally. Holding more special services where young people are encouraged to join in with playing of musical instruments. The meeting room will be used by the local Reading Circle (presently held in private residence), ecumenical groups, and for classes in 'Sign Language' and 'Deaf Awareness', together with appropriate one to one support. This latter facility will be unique in this area and will be made available by the Priest-in-Charge at St Ternan's (Rev Michael Sabell) who is also honouree Chaplain and Co-ordinator for Sensory Disability Services (Deaf and Blind) for 
N. E. Scotland. Any youth groups, mothers groups or any other groups that can make use of the 30 person meeting room will be welcome to apply. They will also have use of the kitchen and toilets.


Integration with Aberdeenshire community and Rural Development plans.

Ref. Aberdeenshire Council Economic Development perspective that the Council will focus on within the framework of Community Planning and Objectives.

The St Ternan's Project meets two of their proposed objectives (Table 1)
1) Lead the UK in biomass/biofuels production and related technology
6) Be nationally recognised for the self-sufficient and inclusive communities in the area.
The Local Community Plan for Kincardine and Mearns area in Aberdeenshire has set objectives for meeting the needs of fellow residents and community users in Kincardine and Mearns. The St Ternan's project integrates with these objectives as outlined in the Local Community Plan (D5) by promoting energy and efficiency measures and the use of biomass boiler (woodpellet) for heating the church, rectory, and the extension. Supporting local industry in the supply of wood pellets produced locally. Local tradesmen will be used in building the extension.
The use of the church and extension for social and cultural activities integrates with the Local Community Plan by community users. 



GEORGE MASSON
Member St Ternan's Planning and Premises Group
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