The Trust

The Trust was set up in 1993 in response to public concern about the deterioration of the condition of the former Catholic Apostolic Church in Mansfield Place and its murals.

The aims of the Trust were to secure a viable long-term future for the building and to ensure that the fabric was repaired, and the murals were conserved for the benefit of the public at large. All income and expenditure continues to be dedicated to the ongoing care and conservation of the building and the glorious art it contains.

The Trust purchased the building in early 1998. Successful public and private fundraising (including a total of £3.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund) allowed the repair and restoration of the building’s fabric between 2000 and 2002 and the Traquair murals, with the major support of Historic Scotland, between 2003 and 2005. The building’s restoration and development was designed by Edinburgh conservation architects Simpson and Brown.

The Trustees bring a wealth of experience in the fields of art, architecture, history of art and architecture, fund–raising, conservation and reuse of historic buildings and project and building management.

The Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is constituted as a building preservation trust.

Scottish Charity no: SC021599
Registered Company no: SC159591

The Trust is administered by the Secretary, Gill Stewart.

Dr Duncan Thomson (Chair), former director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Alastair Bryce, director and advisor with 35+ years’ experience in banking and finance.

Jocelyn Cunliffe, conservation architect with experience of building preservation trust projects.

Dr Richard Love, dry stone practitioner and teacher, local community representative and committee member of the Friends.

Malcolm Mathieson (Vice-Chair), project manager of old and new buildings.

Chanté St Clair Inglis, Director of Heritage and Estates at Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh