Historic Inverness landmark building with links to Battle of Culloden could be sold after church congregation votes to close it
Church members at one of Inverness’s most historic landmark buildings have voted overwhelmingly to close it.
The A-listed Old High Church, which has links to the Battle of Culloden, could now be placed on the market.
It also has important links with Highland Council’s Inverness city committee, hosting the annual Kirking of the Council ceremony, and with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.
The ballot took place after the congregation of Old High and St Stephen’s (OHSS) were asked to confirm a decision to move into one building.
The Church of Scotland said it was not financially viable to maintain both the Old High and the B-listed St Stephen’s in the Crown neighbourhood.
Of 250 ballot papers returned, 179 were in agreement of closing the Old High Church, with 71 against.
A total of 318 ballot papers were issued.
The congregation has been made aware of the result, which has been announced in the OHSS newsletter and will now be passed on to the Presbytery.
Jean Slater, secretary of the Friends of the Old High Church, was disappointed but not surprised by the result.
"I think we have to be very sensitive," she said.
"There are going to be quite a few people in the congregation who are going to be quite distressed about the result even though they may have voted to close it because, on reflection, they see that as the only way forward."
She did not know what would happen next but said there was a possibility the building could be put on the market.
She said it was up to the Church of Scotland to decide whether it would be no longer used as a place of worship, or whether there was a way forward for a multi-use building, which had happened in other places such as Edinburgh.
Miss Slater speculated whether it could be used as a civic and cultural venue and said the Friends of the Old High would be prepared to work constructively with the church on any plans to see if there was a way forward to make it a more usable space.
The present church was built between 1770 and 1772 but the lowest part of the west tower dates back to the 14th century, making it the city’s oldest building structure.
In 1746, the old building was described as "ruinous" and in need of rebuilding.
Kirk Session records of that year refer to repairs which were required as a consequence of the use of the church by government forces to house prisoners captured at the Battle of Culloden.
Those condemned to death were executed in the churchyard.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: "A union was formed between Old High Church and St Stephen’s Church in 2003 and the congregation had to decide which building they wanted to keep because it was not financially viable to maintain two.
"Last week members of the congregation voted in favour of keeping St Stephen’s Church.
"This will ensure the best possible stewardship of our resources to support our mission work as we continue to serve the community in Inverness.
"We have advised the Presbytery of the result and will await further instructions from them regarding the future of the Old High building."
