Members of the congregation at a historic Moray church have had a taskforce helping them with an ongoing renovation project.
Work was carried out on the railings outside St Peter’s Church in Buckie, which will celebrate its 200th anniversary on Christmas Eve.
An appeal was launched for members of the local community to support two open days, on Saturday and yesterday, with volunteers pitching in with some work.
Local businesses have also backed the project to improve the church as it approaches its special birthday, including Elgin-based Springfield Properties, and the project has also been backed by the local authority’s common good fund.
As a result, the railings look as good as new again, and parish priest Father Tad Turski has been overwhelmed by the help the church has received.
He said: “My sincere gratitude goes to Springfield Properties for sponsoring this project and to the kind-hearted team of men who gave up their free time to do the work.”
The church has been an integral part of the community since opening in 1814. It was consecrated in August 1857.
Buckie councillor Gordon Cowie said: “We are happy to help support this project through the council’s common good fund.
“This weekend was not a massive project, renovating the railings outside, but it was important because that is what people see first.
“It is part of a bigger project which is coming off, and deals with two or three major issues that had to be dealt with.
“Around £300,000 has been spent on improvements such as taking the walls back to their original level, pointing work outside the building and the spire.
“But there is a lot more to come.”
The railings which adorn the outside of the church complement the distinctive entrance to the building.
Wrought-iron gates, with an artful design, were installed for the centenary of the church’s consecration, in 1957, after the originals had been commandeered for the war effort during World War II.