History / Repair work and accessible toilet proposed for historic island kirk
ONE of Shetland’s historic island churches is in line for significant repair work.
Some of the maintenance proposed for the B-listed Fetlar kirk includes ceiling repairs, new insulation and changes to the roofing.
There could also be the installation of an accessible toilet.
A planning statement said Malcolmson Architects was appointed by owners Friends of Fetlar Kirk to inspect and survey the building after some of the cornicing fell from the ceiling in May 2024.
Most of the building was then closed off to the public due to the risk of further ceiling collapse.
Emergency repair work was undertaken to the ceiling to make it safe, allowing wider maintenance proposals to be worked on.
The planning statement added that given the extent of repairs required across the roof, it is proposed to strip the roof and replace the slate entirely.
The building could also be in line to get toilet facilities for the first time.
It has been proposed to convert the existing vestry to provide an enlarged rear entrance lobby, an accessible toilet and some storage space.
The proposed toilet would be a waterless system which requires no mains water or sewage connections.
The Fetlar Kirk building was built in the late 1700s.
It is surrounded by burial grounds, while the oldest memorial is set in the wall of the vestry, dedicated to Andrew Bruce who died in 1717.
The Church of Scotland sold the kirk in 2021 to a local community charity called the Friends of Fetlar Kirk, who have kept the building open for community use, weddings, funerals and worship by all denominations.
Another island church has also undergone significant refurbishment in recent years – the kirk in Papa Stour, which now also acts a community hub thanks to sizeable grant funding.
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