Scottish Catholic Observer

SCO EXCLUSIVE

The keeper of the Scottish Catholic Archives has said the short-term future of the archives looks ‘positive.’

Speaking for the first time about the dispute over the archives’ future—which has seen some Scottish historians at loggerheads with the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland—Andrew Nicoll told the SCO the ‘main thing is that the archive will return to near normality from the end of August’ in terms of its opening hours.

He added that he personally felt ‘much more comfortable’ about its future.

Turbulent period

The archives have been the subject of controversy since the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland said earlier this year it would be sticking to its plans to move a section of material to Aberdeen University and the traditional home of the rest at Columba House would ultimately close. This provoked a hostile reaction from leading historians and archivists, especially after staff illness meant the archives at Columba House, Edinburgh, were open on an appointment only basis.

Mr Nicoll said it had been a ‘turbulent situation.’

“I have sympathy to the academics’ views and I share their concerns, however the points made by Archbishop Mario Conti and others address obvious needs so there needs to be balance through that,” he said. “I believe the archives is a wonderful institution and the next few weeks will be a period of change that will hopefully end in clarity.’

Mr Nicoll added that it was important to appreciate the true value of the archives.

“The archives provide the Church with its memory,” he said. “And the memory of the Church in Scotland is very important not just to the Church but also to the nation. Our understanding of our past informs what we do in the present and how we look to the future.”

Clarity on plans

Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti of Glasgow has also called for clarity about the archives in his role as chairman of the Bishop’s Conference heritage commission.

Writing in a national newspaper, the archbishop lamented the ‘misinformation and misunderstanding,’ which he said had surrounded the debate.

In pressing forward with relocation plans, he said he been acting on behalf of the Scottish bishops who had unanimously decided to pursue the present course.

While he said the ‘modern archive remains at Columba House, Edinburgh’ in the ‘meantime,’ he said the decision to move the older section to Aberdeen made perfect sense for its preservation and digitisation.

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