Benedictine Monks at Pluscarden Abbey were given cause to celebrate this week thanks to a £2.2million UK Government scheme for the repair and improvement of historic buildings.
Chancellor George Osborne announced the repair fund during his budget speech last week – now it has been revealed that Pluscarden Abbey was to be one of the main recipients with an allocation of £77,000.
The Abbey had put in place an application for essential roof repairs to the lead flashing around the gable ends and the tower. Now Brother Michael de Klerk hopes that the government funding will account for as much as 80% of the actual cost of these repairs.
He said: “The bits in question have not been properly tackled since the monks returned to the Abbey in 1948, so there is quite a bit of work to do which we were going to have to face doing anyway – but with this grant that’s very cheering.”
Pluscarden Abbey is the only medieval monastery in Britain still inhabited by monks and being used for its original purpose.
Situated six miles south-west of Elgin, the monastery enjoys the peace and stillness of a secluded glen but is easily reached by road from the town. It is believed that the Abbey was founded in 1230.