Church Overview

This charming little cruciform Gothic parish church, perched on the banks of Loch Inver in Sutherland, was actually first built in 1845 just over one hundred miles away in Nairn. Originally built as a “Protestant Episcopal Chapel”, it was carefully dismantled in 1902 and “transhipped” to Lochinver where it was re-erected and opened as a Church of Scotland Parish Church the following year.

It was designed and built in Nairn 1844-45, by local architect George Fowler Jones, against a nationwide backdrop of religious tumult in Scotland. Adherents to the fledgling Free Church of Scotland had only very recently seceded from the Church of Scotland and were in the process of building churches, schools and manses all across the country.

As soon as it was erected, the little chapel was also drawn into its own drama, as it became the centre of a hotly contested legal dispute, when members of its inaugural congregation and those that had funded its construction fought a very public and at times bitter battle over whether it should be part of the Scottish Episcopal Church or the Church of England. The latter won the argument and the church remained outside the jurisdiction of the local Scottish Episcopal Diocese and was known in Nairn as the “English Church” until its closure and demolition.

Architect John Robertson oversaw the careful deconstruction, transportation and reconstruction on its new site in Sutherland 1902-03. The existing 18th century kirk at Lochinver was described as being unfit for the needs of the growing resident and visiting tourist population of the Sutherland village. Shipped by sea, the little Gothic church from Nairn was re-erected to look externally almost exactly as it had done before, but its formerly ornate interior was reordered to suit the Presbyterian form of worship. Two arches were removed and the sanctuary was lined in pitch pine and provided with seating to accommodate 250 individuals, with the entire costly dismantling and rebuilding work paid for by local subscription from the community and local landowners.

The church underwent significant repair and refurbishment work in 2022. These works included new wiring, heating, plaster work, the introduction of a refreshment area and a new artwork, commemorating the building’s move from Nairn to Lochinver, commissioned from local artist Lizzie McDougall. Today its congregation is part of a united group that serves communities across Assynt and Sutherland, known as Lochinver, Rosehall and Scourie Church of Scotland.

Services

Sundays at 11am

Opening Arrangements

Open by arrangement         

Image Gallery

Click image to open gallery.

Disclaimer

The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.