We are delighted to announce that Solas Eige SCIO has secured £92,703 funding from the Scottish Land Fund to bring St Columba’s Church into community ownership. This marks a major step in transforming the historic building into the Solas Eige Centre – a vibrant hub for heritage, culture, and community life on the island.
“We’re thrilled to have received this support—it’s a powerful endorsement of the vision and potential of Solas Eige,” said Catherine Davies, Chair of Solas Eige SCIO. “This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the building and for the island.”
“This is great news for Eigg, its community and visitors” said Ailsa Raeburn, chair of the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust. “The project will ensure a much loved island building will stay in public use as it is developed to tell the story of this beautiful place and its people. Solas Eige are to be congratulated for all their hard work in getting to this stage and I look forward to seeing St Columba’s reopen as a valuable asset for Eigg. “
"It's a step closer to building the island archive we so badly need" echoed Hilda Ibrahim, Chair of Comunn Eachdraidh Eige, the Eigg history society who has strongly supported the acquisition campaign.
"I am so pleased to hear we can now start repairing the church, I hate to see buildings and especially historic buildings getting run down! " said Christine Booth, a member of Solas Eige SCIO.
The funding will allow the Solas Eige trustees to purchase the church, create all-ability access, install essential services, and plan for the building’s future.
Solas Eige SCIO plans to celebrate this milestone with the whole community of Eigg this weekend at the island's cafe bar. In the meantime, islanders braved the October drizzle to have their picture taken in front of the church for social media and it was great to see so many smiling faces - young and old!
