The ruin of St Andrew’s Church, Gullane.
St Andrew’s Church, Gullane, now a ruin, was built in the 12th Century and became the church for the parish which stretched from the western edge of North Berwick to AberladyBay. For over 400 years it was the focus of the community’s worship and exercised control over many aspects of everyday life. It replaced an earlier church dating from the 8th or 9th Century. It is a powerful symbol of our heritage commanding the western approach to the village.
For several years Gullane and Dirleton History Society has been working with East Lothian Council to have this building stabilised to improve its appearance and to secure its future.
HISTORY
The de Vaux family, as new landowners, built their castle at Dirleton but chose Gullane for their church, possibly because of the earlier church being situated there. The church was built around 1160 and was later extended and altered. The ruin still includes Norman features. In the early 17th Century Gullane suffered from huge quantities of sand being blown in from AberladyBay. This had a devastating effect on the village and its economy. In 1612 the church was abandoned and replaced by a new one at Dirleton which was at that time a larger village with a flourishing community. In the 1820s several family burial aisles were created within the ruin.
THE CONDITION OF THE RUIN
The building probably lost its roof soon after being abandoned. An engraving of 1789 shows it with both east and west gables collapsed. Since then stonework has fallen or been robbed for reuse. Ivy and other vegetation have taken hold which along with the ravages of time, has resulted in mortar falling from the joints in the stonework. This in turn has caused stones to fall from the wall heads and sides. It is an interesting, but unsafe place to visit.
REMEDIAL WORK REQUIRED
Historic Scotland has carried out a detailed survey of the ruin and recommended the work required to stabilise the building. This involves careful removal of the ivy and other vegetation, securing the wall heads and protecting them against the ingress of water. The stonework needs to be re-pointed using closely specified lime mortar. Any gaps in the stonework need to be filled with carefully matched replacements. 
A PROGRESS REPORT
Gullane and Dirleton History Society has been busy raising the funds necessary to meet the full estimated costs of the project to stabilise the old St Andrew’s Church in Gullane and to preserve it as part of East Lothian’s cultural heritage.
In June 2009 Historic Scotland confirmed that they would fund half the project costs subject to the remaining balance being secured. By sustained hard work and enthusiasm by a few History Society members the remaining balance has been obtained from the Tyne – Esk Leader Fund, East Lothian Council, the Community Council and over 80 individuals and other organisations. A number of hurdles have been patiently resolved including the need for a bat survey but in early December 2009 East Lothian Council, acting as project managers, requested tenders for the Building Survey. The History Society, in conjunction with the Council, has selected a tender and a contract for a building survey has been placed.
A summary of the costs and funding is given at the end of this report.
PROJECT STAGES
The three parts of the project are to prepare a building survey to trace the Church’s development and history, to carry out building work needed for stabilisation of the stonework and to prepare informative material to help visitors interpret the building and its history.
It is expected that work on the building survey will start in February, initially investigating the history and later making a detailed record of the building.
Tenders will be sought for stabilising the stonework to start in the spring but this work will stop during winter, when frost prevents the use of lime mortar, and will recommence in spring 2011, for completion in the autumn.
Tenders for design and preparation of interpretation display boards and leaflets, will be sought after completion of the building survey and these items will be completed by autumn 2011.
THE WAY AHEAD
We are now on the way towards getting the St Andrew’s Project well and truly launched. But there is much still to be done and we shall be relying on the expert project management services provided by East Lothian Council to ensure that the project is handled with all the sensitivity and control that the old St Andrew’s church deserves.
Costs £ 
Building work 89,330
Supervision and Professional fees 17,015
Building Survey 12,000
Bat Survey 984
Interpretation 11,000
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Total cost 130,329
Funding
Historic Scotland 59,973
East Lothian Council 32,015
Gullane Area Community Council 1,226
Tyne / Esk Leader 29,157
Donations 9,900
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Total funding 132,361
Contingency 2,032
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130,329