Inverness Old High Church: Campaign Hopes to Secure Its Future

The Old High Church has a wild history. Some say St. Columba banished a monster there; Jacobites were executed in its graveyard, their blood ran red on that ground.

The Church of Scotland wants to sell the building and put it up for sale last November. Now, the church might get a new future, as people are making plans to save it.

A group, Friends of the Old High Church, is meeting to explore a community buy-out. They hope the church serves the people and benefits people in Inverness.

They tried to buy it before, but their bid of £150,000 failed. Someone else won then, but the deal fell through; so, the group is trying again now.

Thomas Prag is a Friends member. He says the meeting explores community support and they want a non-commercial bid to save the church. They might form a new group too, SOHI, which could stand for Save the Old High Inverness.

The main church building dates to 1769. A 16th-century tower sits on a 1300s base, as legend says St. Columba built the first church there and converted King Brude in the 6th century.

Brude gave land to St. Columba, where the church stands on St. Michael’s Mount. No one can find evidence of St. Columba’s building; the first record of a church is from 1171.

King William the Lion mentioned it in a document and, in 1199, he gave “Church of St Mary” to Arbroath Abbey. It soon went to the Bishopric of Moray; Black Friars built a monastery in 1233, north of the Old High Church.

The “Curfew Bell” warned people to leave the streets. From 1703, they rang it at 5 pm in winter, which stopped people using lanterns, as lanterns risked fires in the town.

The church saw dark times during Jacobite rebellions. Bonnie Prince Charlie’s soldiers paid a high price, as government forces killed the Jacobite prisoners. These executions happened after the Battle of Culloden; musket ball scars mark the church wall.

One grave has a notch on top. Soldiers used it to steady muskets, which made it easier to shoot prisoners. The church appeared in the “Outlander” TV series.

The Friends group wants to use the church again. They envision a community space that would host events and entertainment. It could also be used for education and tourism.

Mr. Prag says the church tells Inverness’ story, a story that runs from St. Columba to today. The building has the curfew bell and an organ and should be open to all.

Chris Lewcock advises the Friends group. He thinks saving the church is important, as Inverness Castle will reopen soon, the city needs something else to attract people.

Lewcock told the Inverness Courier it would be a tragedy and the oldest building could fall apart. He believes that would be foolishness in the long run and calls the Old High “a beacon of hope.”

The meeting is on February 11.