Inverness Old High church building attracting interest, say campaigners pressing for community-led buyout
Campaigners trying to save a historic Inverness building for community use say their project is gaining interest from experts.
Save The Old High Inverness (SOHI) was launched earlier this year in the hope of acquiring the A-listed Old High Church building which is back on the market after a previously agreed sale fell through.
As it pursues its aim of a community buyout, the group is inviting bids by the end of May from consultants to assess the options for future use of the building and is “delighted” at the interest shown.
But it is also disappointed that an application to the Inverness Common Good Fund for £9990 towards the appraisal has been turned down.
• Community buyout plan for Inverness Old High Church gains public support
• Save Inverness Old High campaign steps up drive to acquire building
• Sale of Old High Church falls through
The Old High - which has important links with the Battle of Culloden, Highland regiments and the globally-popular historic drama series, Outlander - was first put up for sale in November 2023 after the Church of Scotland concluded it was no longer financially viable to maintain both that building and St Stephen’s in Crown.
An offer by the Friends of the Old High Church, which felt the building had potential as a multi-use space for community events, multi-cultural entertainment, educational, social and tourism activity, was outbid.
But the idea of a community buyout has been revived after building was placed back on the market for offers of over £150,000 when the previously-agreed offer with an anonymous buyer fell through.
Thomas Prag, joint vice chairman of SOHI, said the group has been pressing on with its vision and has invited tenders for a feasibility study and options appraisal for rejuvenating the building.
He said experts and professionals who have visited the church have been inspired by the potential for turning it into something special.
“It has been gratifying to see the quality of the bidders so far – it’s a high profile project and has clearly caught their attention,” Mr Prag said.
“I have no doubt we’ll be spoilt for choice when we assess the bids at the end of the month
“We need professional help to put flesh on the bones and crunch the numbers to make a credible case to funders and supporters so that we can buy this iconic building and save it for the community.”
But he also acknowledged disappointment that the Inverness Common Good Fund Sub Committee turned down a funding application towards an appraisal on the grounds that alternative sources of funding had not been sufficiently explored.
“We thought it was a good match with common good funding - pump priming by funding a professionally prepared business plan,” he said.
“Effectively, the common good funding would leverage investment to the city.”
However, the selection process will continue and it is understood a meeting will be held next week with council officials.
The group will also be in the city’s Victorian Market during the Classic Car Show on Saturday May 17 to share its ideas with the public.
SOHI secretary Chris Lewcock is the key point of contact and can be reached at info@oldhighinverness.co.uk.
In seeking tenders, SOHI describes the Old High as being of international importance.
It was built on the site of Columba's first preaching to the Picts, and the underlying archaeology of the site is unexplored.
The main body of the building is late-Georgian and Victorian and the tower is medieval.
During and after the Battle of Culloden, it was a prison for the Jacobites, some of whom were executed there.
It has been the civic church of Inverness, housed the Cameron Highlander colours and is home to a Father Willis organ which was installed in 1892.
Campaigners say the Old High has an exciting past and can also have an exciting future.
