Financial support sought to save St John's Kirk spire in Perth city centre

dailyrecord.co.uk:

For centuries it has dominated the city of Perth skyline.But now the historic lead-clad spire of St John’s Kirk is under threat from the elements with a repair bill spiralling to hundreds of thousands of pounds.Expert surveys of the unique focal feature of Perth’s oldest standing building carried out in 2019 identified water entering through failing lead-work, causing damage to the 500-year-old original timbers supporting the spire.Safety concerns prompted the removal of the Kirk spire’s golden cockerel weathervane by steeplejacks the following year and the structure was capped by a lead cover.Now, however, cash-strapped church officials have revealed growing concerns for the 155 ft high steeple - which dates back to the early 1500s - and are seeking financial support to save one of the city’s most iconic structures from further decay.St John’s Kirk property convener John Kinloch said doing nothing was no longer an option if the Kirk’s spire is to be saved.“Water continues to find its way into the spire and the full extent of the problem won’t be known until specialist investigators can safely access the area,” he said.“Provision of a safe access at height is a costly proposition and the estimated cost of repairs could mushroom beyond the original estimate of up to £650,000 once we determine the full extent of what we’re dealing with.“It seems certain that St John’s Kirk faces a huge financial pressure to safeguard the future of this city landmark.”Specialist advice has been commissioned and the Kirk Session has committed up to £200,000 of repair works.“The most important thing is to keep the structure safe and that is why the cockerel finial was removed and part of the lead cladding,” explained John.“Action - both short