The Lockerbie Memorial Church Museum, (Lockerbiemcm.org) has acquired the landmark Dryfesdale & Trinity Church and Sessions House buildings which contain an exceptional World War I and World War II Memorial Shrine Chapel, six registered Imperial War Museum memorials, and over a dozen other commemorative memorials. Having been closed for several years due to health and safety concerns caused by dis
repair and significant water ingress, it is only right that these iconic structures be restored, repaired, upgraded, and repurposed to create a self-sustaining, reverential place of pilgrimage with cultural and educational opportunity. At the heart of the town, the museum will provide substantial benefits to visitors and the community alike. In the interim, with the support of the Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Legacy Foundation (PA103LL.org), we have stabilised the building’s fabric with the installation of massive roof tarpaulins to mitigate water ingress through the flat lead roofs and spires. In tandem, interior balcony ceiling and ground floor bracing has been installed, to prevent further collapse, requiring particular attention and investment. THE REMEMBRANCE HOUSE
The Remembrance House, formerly the church sessions house, has been repurposed to educate and commemorate the 270 innocent victims murdered by the bombing of Pan American flight 103 on 21 December 1988. This remains the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history and against the US until the attacks of 11 September 2001. Killed were 243 passengers and 16 flight crew in the air and 11 Lockerbie residents on the ground, representing a true cross-section of humanity. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 82 years. The victims came from 21 nations, including 190 U.S. citizens and 43 U.K. citizens, spanning the spectrum of ethnicities, socioeconomic sectors, and faith traditions. Within the newly opened Remembrance House are three exhibitions. The LIVING MEMORIAL exhibition is a dynamic, interactive website containing the most comprehensive collection of colour photographs and biographies putting faces and stories to honour each of the 270 innocent victims. Each victim has a multimedia biographical page. We invite visitors to explore victims’ story pages and upload tokens of memory, tributes, messages, photos, audio and videos. The LEGACY STORY LIBRARY exhibition, also available online, allows visitors to hear first-hand accounts from local survivors, 1st responders and volunteers impacted by this attack. There are stories of sacrifice, loss, resilience, advocacy, generosity, and hope that together create our combined history and legacy. Visitors can sign up to tell their unique story about how 21 December 1988 touched your life. WALL OF HONOUR exhibition recognizes the historic actions of thousands of first responders and volunteers from 110+ organisations, following the bombing of Pan American flight 103. Their tireless, commitment and selfless humanity during the unprecedented recovery operations in the weeks and months afterwards, as well as the ongoing criminal investigations and prosecutions, remain an inspiration to us all. THE CHURCH BUILDING
The church building remains closed to visitors and will reopen in phases as it is undergoing thorough structural and systems assessments of the damage caused by a lack of maintenance and repair over many years. Utilizing local conservation architects Douglas Bodell and Andrew Clark of Robert Potter & Partners, we will repair, restore, and repurpose the two historic Grade-B listed buildings, including upgrading and adding modern sustainable systems to bring the entire site into compliance for electrical, mechanical, water, drainage, fire detection, alarm systems and up to disability standards, including wheelchair, access, ramps, lifts, and toilets. Once these remedial works are complete, we will begin a phased transformation of the building interior. The entire south Sanctuary area adjacent to the existing Memorial Shrine Chapel will be transformed into a dedicated Memorial Gallery to exhibit the commemorative memorials within the building. In addition, a living memorial to the 270 people killed in the deadliest terrorist attack in U.K. history on 21 December 1988, with the bombing of Pan American flight 103 over Lockerbie, will be created. The Memorial Gallery will serve as a place of remembrance, ensuring that the stories of those who lost their lives are never forgotten. The nave, organ, central and north sanctuary areas will be refurbished for interactive learning programmes and any appropriate cultural events, commemorative, spiritual and celebratory services required by the community. The north sanctuary will also contain an area for a small library of primary source documents with access to multinational primary source digital archives. The entire upper floor balcony areas will be repurposed into three interactive exhibition spaces. The LOCKERBIE HERITAGE GALLERY exhibition space will advance Lockerbie’s rich local heritage, history, culture, and traditions. This gallery will feature artifacts and exhibitions on Lockerbie’s pre-history and archaeology, including Neolithic excavations, Bronze Age cemeteries, Roman encampments and Viking fortresses. These exhibitions will highlight Lockerbie’s 6,000-year history and connect its historical significance to contemporary society. By showcasing these diverse periods of history, the SCIO aims to foster a sense of pride and connection among visitors, helping them appreciate the depth and breadth of Lockerbie’s heritage. This exhibition will include modern and recent local history, providing a comprehensive overview of Lockerbie’s evolution over the centuries. Through engaging and educational multimedia displays, visitors will be able to explore the town’s development, its cultural milestones, and the stories of its people. This holistic approach to presenting Lockerbie’s history will ensure that visitors leave with a well-rounded understanding of the town’s past and its relevance to the present day. The A MOMENT IN HISTORY GALLERY will consist of numerous 21 December 1988 related exhibitions. The ATTACK EXHIBITION will feature an interactive timeline to teach about the events surrounding the terrorist bombing of Pan American flight 103 and its aftermath. The bombing created the largest crime scene in history at over 845 square miles. The JUSTICE & ACCOUNTABILITY EXHIBITION will tell the story of the largest ever global criminal investigation, which has spanned 37 years and remains an active international enquiry with the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal, Police Scotland and the ongoing Criminal Court proceedings in U.S. courts in Washington, DC. Through these exhibitions, visitors will gain a comprehensive understanding of the event, its aftermath, and its profound and lasting impact on the local community, the families of the victims, and the world at large. The LEGACY STORY GALLERY will tell the extraordinary and inspirational stories of all impacted by the attack. The EXHIBITION “LOCKERBIE—THE TOWN THAT TAUGHT THE WORLD A LESSON IN HUMANITY” will focus on the townspeople of Lockerbie and acknowledge their incredible compassion and generosity. The WALL OF HONOUR EXHIBITION will pay homage to the thousands of first responders and volunteers whose heroic actions during the unprecedented recovery operations remain an inspiration. Included will be first-hand accounts of ordinary people united by tragedy which will provide impactful visitor learning experiences through inspiring true stories of hope, loss, sacrifice, resilience and advocacy. By sharing these powerful narratives, the SCIO aims to honour the strength and solidarity of the Lockerbie community. Ultimately, we will create multipurpose spaces for commemoration, worship, contemplation and education to help foster a sense of community, provide spiritual support and visitor engagement. The integration of these activities within this historic setting is significant as it reflects the importance of faith, humanity and community in the healing process for those affected by the terrorist attack on 21 December 1988 and terrorism in general. Should you require any further information about this project, please contact [email protected]
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Lockerbie Memorial Church Museum, SC054480
