Church Overview

This beautiful and fascinating church lies in the Georgian town of Cromarty on the Black Isle. It has been described as “one of the finest 18th century parish churches in Scotland” but its origins date back to the medieval period.

The East Church reflects the history of the community it served through the centuries. Previously known simply as Cromarty Parish Church, its current name came about following the 1929 unification of the Church of Scotland and United Free Church denominations, when it was given the the East Church name to distinguish it from the former United Free Church, which was then renamed the West Church. Falling attendances throughout the 20th century saw the East Church being used ever more infrequently, until it was eventually declared surplus to requirement in 1998 and taken into the care of the newly formed Scottish Redundant Churches Trust, now Historic Churches Scotland. The West Church held its final service in July 2023 and was marketed for sale the following year.

Before extensive conservation work was undertaken from 2008-11, there was very little evidence to be seen within the East Church itself of the original medieval building. However, the discovery of interred human remains throughout the east-west axis provided further evidence that the church had been there since the 15th century, as internal burials were banned by the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly in 1581. Post-Reformation, the focus of worship in the church was shifted from the altar on the east wall to the pulpit, which was placed on the building’s south wall, flanked on either side by windows. The north aisle was added 1739 to create a T-plan church and there were further alterations in 1756 and 1798.

The interior today dates principally from the 18th century, with galleries added to accommodate the growing congregation, the most elaborate being the Cromartie Loft of 1756. Fragments of large painted armorial panels, now expertly restored, are displayed in the west loft. These may possibly have once formed the church’s ceiling panels or they may have come from Cromarty Castle. The church also boasts painted box pews dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries which today still feature some of the original painted decoration. Conservation work on the pews, undertaken in 2011, revealed flamboyant colours and designs, including two coats of arms, one bearing a stag’s head (a symbol of the Mackenzies) and the other a ‘trellised ermine’ (a symbol of the McCullochs).

The surrounding graveyard contains many interesting gravestones and houses a number of memorials carved by the geologist, stonemason, writer and journalist Hugh Miller.

Services

Occasional services, weddings and funerals by arrangement. For arranging services, please telephone Historic Churches Scotland on 0131 563 5135.

Opening Arrangements

Open daily all year

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.