Aileen Campbell, SNP MSP for the South of Scotland, has welcomed the announcement that St Mary’s RC Church in Lanark is to benefit from £250,000 of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Scottish Government agency Historic Scotland to carry out essential repairs and conservation work.

The funding is made up of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £82,500 and Historic Scotland funding of £167,500. As part of the project a learning pack will be produced for schools including a DVD showing the stages of conservation work.

Commenting, Aileen Campbell MSP said:

"This is excellent news not just for the church and parishioners of St Mary’s, but for everyone in Lanark who values this wonderful building.

"I hope the whole town and beyond will feel the benefit of the quarter-million pounds of investment by the Scottish Government’s agency Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Conservation and maintenance work can be highly specialised, but I hope it will help to bring or protect local jobs.

"I’ve written to Fr Brannigan, the Parish Priest, to pass on my congratulations, and I look forward to seeing the church once the work is complete."