'New' Barn Church at Culloden celebrates 40 years
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AN Inverness church welcomed back some familiar faces from across Scotland to help celebrate a 40-year milestone.
The Barn Church at Culloden held a weekend of celebration and thanksgiving to mark the opening of The New Barn in 1982.
Although the original Barn has a long history of Christian worship, the opening of The New Barn 40 years ago marked a new era for the church, which serves the Culloden, Balloch, Smithton, Westhill and Cradlehall area to the east of the Highland capital.
The original barn was built in the early 18th century and was used to shelter Jacobite troops on the eve of the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
In the 20th century, it was used by Inverness East Church as a mission station.
This led to Barn Church being awarded the status of an extension charge and taking the first steps towards becoming an independent church on New Year’s Day 1975.
The Barn’s first minister, Rev Peter Taylor, was ordained to serve the new housing estates being built in the area.
To meet the growing demands of its mission, a modern hall church, The New Barn, was opened in August 1982 and linked to the historic building, which now serves as the church hall, with a new entrance, kitchen and toilets.
The congregation celebrated the anniversary of the opening of the New Barn with two days of events, beginning with a barbecue and a chance to see photographs and videos from the Barn Church’s history among the entertainment on offer.
A praise and thanksgiving service followed the next day, attended by previous ministers Rev Jim Robertson and Rev Mike Robertson, the most recent minister at Barn Church who is now a healthcare chaplain with NHS Highland, the family of the late Rev Peter Taylor and past and present elders, missionaries and youth group leaders and members.
During the service the Moderator of Inverness and West Moray Presbytery, David Thompson, presented long-service certificates to David Reid and Elizabeth Mackenzie who both have served the Barn faithfully for 41 years each.
