The New Kirk in North Ronaldsay has been home to the island's extensive archives for a number of year. It's full of information and records and includes a significant photographic archive that documents life in North Ronaldsay over the years.
The state of the building has long been a concern, and many of the paper folders and photographs in the collection were showing signs of dampness. This project aimed to sympathetically repair the building, improve facilities and support the archive group to ehance and future proof the collection.
NILPS and Orkney Islands Council funding enabled work to begin on site in 2024 to repair the roof, reharl the building, install a septic tank and water supply to include WC facilities and a small welfare/kitchen area in the session house, to improve accessibility into the new kirk site and the building, and to repair or replace doors and windows.
Funding also supported North Ronaldsay Trust and members of the North Ronaldsay Archive group, to work with heritage professionals based in Stromness 'Kolekto' to develop and enhance the exhibitions and displays in the archive. In tandem with this, NILPS funded a short term, part time role with North Ronaldsay Trust and the archive group to begin the task of digitising the huge number of documents and photographs in the North Ronaldsay Archive collection.
The New Kirk is now a fantastic space for visitors, and islanders alike, to spend time enjoying the collection - there's a new photographic archive of isalnd life now which builds on the original created by Dr. Beatrice Garvie during the 1930s. Her collection is now digitised and available to view in the New Kirk, new exhibitions and displays have been created and original art work by local artist, Iain Scott is also housed in the New Kirk. Iain has dedicated many hours of his time to building and caring for the North Ronaldsay archive collection over the years. Below is a selection of photographs taken early in 2025.
