Volunteers are continuing with their efforts to get a fascinating east Perthshire archive back on track.
Alyth Family History Project, based within Alyth Parish Church, has been closed since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
But those behind it last week revealed that digital enquiries are being accepted and hopes are high that the physical historical treasure trove will be re-opened to the public as soon as possible.
Volunteer Irene Robertson explained there were two main objectives when the project was launched in 2009.
She said: “First was a digital archive to capture memories and record the burial lairs for the cemeteries.
“Hundreds of pieces of memorabilia, 7500 photos and as many burial records later, that objective was quickly fulfilled after the launch and the interest in the project over the years has been phenomenal.
“The second objective was to bring people to Alyth, and to Alyth Parish Church.
“Over the years there have been hundreds of visitors walking in their ancestors’ footsteps and enjoying browsing through the project in person.
“All of this has been possible thanks to the many wonderful volunteers who have joined the project to help with the myriad of tasks.”
Irene continued: “Over the past two years the pandemic has thrown a spanner in the works for the face-to-face part of the project and keeping our volunteers and visitors safe is my only priority.
“We have all dealt with challenges the pandemic has brought to us and this has meant the archive has stalled somewhat until we were back in a position to help with enquiries. Volunteers Ken, Zoa and myself have discussed recently how best to get the project back on track, at least digitally for the time being.
“New enquiries can be emailed to fhp@alythparishchurch.org.uk, existing email enquiries will be contacted over the coming weeks and Facebook enquiries will be answered as soon as possible.”
Irene went on to add: “Over the past 13 years we have been often asked to put the archive online and our response has been consistently that the second objective was to bring people to Alyth, which would be negated by an online archive.
“While not everyone has the means to travel to Alyth, we have successfully helped hundreds of people by email and we will continue to do this, sharing photographs and documents where possible.
“Indeed we have hundreds of examples where we have been able to add considerable information and value dealing with enquiries personally one-to-one – including putting unknown far-flung relatives in touch with each other.
“Alyth Family History Project was set up in Alyth, for Alyth, to bring people to Alyth, and to remember Alyth, and none of that has changed.
“We hope to be able to re-open the archive on Sundays once it is safe to do so.”
The project can be contacted via fhp@alythparishchurch.org.uk.
