Light of Findhorn Sanctuary: building has begun!
23 April 2024: A day to celebrate, as building work began today on our new Sanctuary, 56 years after the original Main Sanctuary opened in April 1968.
It’s an auspicious month: that Main building was razed by fire three years and 13 days ago, on 12 April 2021. The aim is to open the new Light of Findhorn Sanctuary in December this year.
It’s been an immense journey to get to this point, through planning, revisions, collaborations and community consultation, to fundraising and grant applications. (See more on this here.)
‘Here we go, it has started,’ said Kathy Tyler, Sanctuary Project Co-ordinator and Advisor. ‘I feel deep gratitude to all the groups, donors and volunteers who have helped bring in the manifestation of our Light of Findhorn Sanctuary. It shines ever bright.’
The new Sanctuary is larger, seating almost 100 people. The pillars will be from windfall logs that came down in a storm, while the planks and lumber are from trees that were felled on the sanctuary site after the fire.
The new Light of Findhorn Sanctuary remains right next to the Original Garden, where the community’s founders – Eileen and Peter Caddy, Dorothy Maclean and Lena Lamont – first had their caravans over 60 years ago. Greenleaf Design is the building contractor, led by Jason Caddy, grandson of Peter and Eileen.
In her blessing of the Sanctuary site in 2023, Kathy Tyler said: ‘May the Light of Findhorn Sanctuary be a place where each and everyone is welcome and may the Love of the Sacred prevail in all Hearts that enter into its inner sanctum.’
Milestone dates
14 April 1968 The Main Sanctuary opens in line with guidance from co-founder Eileen Caddy
12 April 2021 The Sanctuary is burned to the ground, along with the Community Centre
3 October 2023 Kathy Tyler leads a blessing ceremony on the site of the new Sanctuary
23 April 2024 Building starts on the new Light of Findhorn Sanctuary
For more details on the Sanctuary build visit Park Ecovillage Trust, and read a beautiful history by John Willoner, who helped build the original Sanctuary in 1968.
There’s also a wealth of stories about the Sanctuary and blessings ceremonies on Celebrating One Incredible Family (search on Sanctuary).
With thanks to Jason Caddy for the drone images and Jonathan Caddy for the ground images.
