Church Overview

Designed in an early Gothic style by architect John Robertson, Invergowrie Parish Church formally opened its doors as St Columba’s Church on Friday 30th April 1909. Its handsome west elevation, imposing square tower, robust doorway leading to the nave with its fine open timber roof, give the church the character of small cathedral.

The church replace a pre-fabricated iron church that been in use on the site, as a chapel of ease, since 1886. Its principal financial backer was Lady Jane Amitstead, from nearby Castle Huntly. It took three years to build, with Robertson refusing all pressures from parish and presbytery to cut any corners to speed-up construction. When it eventually opened, the Dundee Telegraph reported local reactions likening it to a “a poem in stone” and “a piece of petrified music”, fully vindicating the Inverness architect’s design and attention to detail.

The landmark tower contains a bell, over one metre in diameter, cast as a war memorial in 1924 by Mears and Stainbank of London. Its pulpit, Communion table and minister’s and elders’ chairs were created using Austrian oak by Leith and Co of Perth, but further embellished by detailed carvings carried out by several women of the local branch of the YWCA, supported by Lady Armitstead and under the supervision of Mary Musgrove, a “teacher of domestic economy”. A beautiful Caen stone font, carved by Dundee sculptor Alexander Neilson, was also gifted to the church when it opened.

The 1906 Wadsworth and Co pipe organ was relocated to Invergowrie from Carnoustie United Presbyterian Church in 1934. Several stained glass windows, including one depicting Disruption minister Rev R S Walker conducting an open-air Communion and another, showing the church itself supported by the hands of its local community, by Leadline Studio installed in the chancel in 2009 to commemorate the centenary of the building.

Services

Sundays at 11 am (Except first Sunday in November, January, March)

Opening Arrangements

Open Wednesdays in July and August, afternoons or evenings

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.