Historic books, including former Inverness Burgh Council Bibles and 1706 Old Testament Exposition, gifted into safekeeping of Highland Archive Centre after being removed from Old High Church
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Historic books have been removed from the city’s Old High Church building for safe keeping.
It marks another poignant chapter for church members as they cleared items from the A-listed building which has now been put up for sale by the Church of Scotland.
It hosted its final service earlier this year.
Following a clear out last week, church members gifted 19 historic books, including one dating back more than 300 years, into the safekeeping of the Highland Archive Centre.
Church member Willie Morrison said it was with “a heavy heart” he had helped to remove the books.
“The clear-out of the Old High marks a sad end to a long and historic era of religion in the Highland capital’s centre,” he said.
“I feel we are losing too easily a very precious, irreplaceable historical, spiritual and secular symbol.”
The church had important civic links, hosting the annual Kirking of the Council ceremony, and from the late 19th century served as the regimental kirk of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.
Mr Morrison said the books included an Old Testament Exposition dated 1706 while the Inverness Burgh Council Bibles were dated 1775.
He recalled the burgh Bibles used to be placed in the balcony where the Provost and councillors sat for centuries until the 1980s when a councillor complained the height caused vertigo.
The collection also included Dochfour Estate Bibles and hymn books and an Old High petty cash book from the early 1950s.
The archive centre already holds the records of the Old High Church from the 1680s onwards including communion rolls, proclamation of banns, and minutes of the kirk session.
Mr Morrison hoped a suitable home would also be found for the Cameron memorial, various battalion colours and the field communion set of Rev Donald Caskie – The Tartan Pimpernel – who helped orchestrate the safe return of around 2000 men from France during World War II.
Archivist Alison Mason said: “The Old High Church has always been closely associated with the council and over the centuries has been an integral part of the Kirking of the Council, with the traditional procession starting at Inverness Town House and finishing at the Old High.
“Although we don’t usually take printed materials such as books, as these were the official bibles of Inverness Burgh Council and are embossed with the Inverness Burgh Council crest, it felt appropriate to add these items to the existing collection of historical records we hold for the Old High.”
A campaign has been launched by the Friend of the Old High in a bid to rally public support to develop the building as an affordable not-for-profit venue for the community to enjoy.
Campaign launched to save Old High Church for community use
It was built between 1770 and 1772 but the lowest part of the west tower dates back to the 14th century.
It was requisitioned by government forces to house Jacobite prisoners captured at the Battle of Culloden and those condemned to death were shot in the churchyard.
