18/10/2026
St Fillan’s Church Restoration Moves into Its Next Phase
£235,000 Historic Environment Scotland grant helps secure the future of Houston’s historic church
The restoration of one of Houston’s most important historic buildings is entering an exciting new phase, with major conservation work on St Fillan’s Church now set to get underway. St Fillan’s is a Category B listed building and has stood at the heart of the Houston community since 1841, forming an important part of the architectural and social heritage of the village and wider Renfrewshire.
The project, which aims to safeguard the historic fabric of the church for future generations, has received a £235,000 grant from Historic Environment Scotland, providing a major boost to the restoration programme.
The latest phase of the project will concentrate on the conservation and repair of the building’s historic fabric. Specialist contractors and traditional conservation skills will be brought together to ensure that the work is undertaken with the care and attention appropriate to an historic listed building.
Acting parish priest, Monsignor Joseph Burke said “St Fillan’s is much more than an old building, it is part of the story of Houston and has been a place of worship, community and gathering for generations. This next phase gives us a wonderful opportunity to not only repair the building, but to share its history and the skills involved in conserving it with the wider community. We are deeply grateful to Historic Environment Scotland for their generous support, which means that we can now move forward with confidence. Equally, none of this would be possible without the incredible effort of our parishioners and villagers who have fundraised to get us here. This is a church for the whole community, and it’s the community that has carried it forward”
Historic Environment Scotland’s support recognises the national significance of St Fillan’s and the importance of conserving Scotland’s historic places of worship.
Dr Susan O'Connor, Head of Grants at HES, said:
"We are delighted to support the restoration of St Fillan's Church and enable the parish to repair and conserve this vital part of their landscape, a landmark which continues to be a place for people to come together in worship and community.
"The best way to ensure that a historic building continues to stand the test of time is by working with traditional craftspeople when it needs maintenance, and this project highlights that important work through open days, demonstrations and local engagement. Scotland's listed places of worship are often at the centre of their communities, be they villages, cities or towns, and conserving these buildings means we can carry forward their history into the future."
A restoration project the community can see - as the work progresses, there will be opportunities for local people, history enthusiasts and anyone interested in traditional buildings and conservation to see behind the scenes. Among the events being planned are:
• Scaffolding Tour (subject to favourable weather)
An opportunity to get a unique perspective on St Fillan’s and see parts of the building that are normally impossible to view from ground level, while learning more about the conservation work being undertaken.
• Traditional Skills Demonstration Days
Specialist craftspeople will demonstrate some of the traditional techniques and skills used in the repair and conservation of historic buildings, helping to explain why these skills remain so important in protecting Scotland’s built heritage.
Further information about these and other events will be announced as the restoration programme develops.
The project team also hopes that the restoration will attract interest from the wider heritage community, including local history and conservation organisations such as the Renfrewshire Local History Forum, The Engine Shed and Houston & Crosslee Historical Society.
The project team looks forward to sharing the progress of the work with the community and welcoming people to the forthcoming events.
Further updates and details of forthcoming events will be announced through St Fillan’s church website/social media/newsletter and the local press.
Contact for Further Information: Alan Rodgers
Grant Co-ordinator
[email protected]
07932 074156
