WORKMEN have started repairs to an Old Kilpatrick church ravaged by fire last year.


St Patrick’s Church on Dumbarton Road suffered major damage after the bins were set alight last summer.


It left the congregation and Father William McGinley devastated, who watched the inferno destroy the church.


Church of Scotland worshippers kindly lent Old Kilpatrick Parish Church to the Catholic congregation to continue services.


Now, Father William McGinley said he is excited that work has finally started and that it is looking to reopen by June this year.


He told the Post: “It’ll be great when the repairs have been finished. Despite all the goodness, of people helping us out, there’s just nothing like having your own place, knowing where everything is and being settled. I think it’s important for the community in Old Kilpatrick that we get the parish re-established.”


It is believed vandals torched bins at the back of the church without intending to destroy the building. CID investigated but no arrests were made.


Last year, Father McGinley, 77, saidtold how he felt physical pain as he watched the blaze, which started at around 5.25pm on Monday, August 17.


“The heat was so intense as I approached the fire and due to the black acrid smoke I could barely see the young man who had come to my door to alert me of the fire,” he said at the time.


On Sunday, January 24, an ecumenical service was held by both the the Church of Scotland and Catholic churches.


The Post heard how the congregation has been coping well, with Father McGinley saying: “I’m fine – I’m not the one who has been doing all the work. It’s the builders and people in the office, they deal with all the business. I just have to deal with the inconvenience of people carting stuff back and forward. I don’t feel any pressure, or choose not to.”


Members of the congregation are missing the evening vigils, and many find the current Sunday service at 10am too early in the day to turn out, reducing attendance and income.


By June the repairs should be finished and activity can begin returning to normal.