Barn Church, Culloden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barn Church |
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Denomination | Church of Scotland |
Website | Barn Church |
Administration | |
Parish | Culloden |
Presbytery | Inverness |
The Barn Church is a special church located in Culloden, Scotland. It's part of the Church of Scotland and serves the local community. Even though the church community itself is quite new, the building where they meet is very old and has a fascinating history!
The building was originally built as a tithe barn. A tithe barn was a place where farmers stored a part of their crops (called a "tithe") that they gave to the local landowner or church. This particular barn belonged to the Culloden House estate.
Contents
A Building with a Story
This old barn has seen a lot of history! In 1746, it was used by the Jacobite army. Soldiers stayed there the night before the famous Battle of Culloden. Imagine soldiers sleeping in the very place where people now go to church!
From Barn to Blacksmith Shop
Later, in the 1800s, the barn changed its purpose completely. It became a blacksmith's workshop. A blacksmith is someone who works with metal, shaping it with heat and tools. So, for a while, this building was filled with the sounds of hammers and the smell of hot metal.
Becoming a Church
In the early 1900s, the building was taken over by the East Church, Inverness. It became a "mission station," which is like a smaller church or outreach center.
Then, in the 1970s, the community grew, and the church needed more space. They built a brand new church building right next to the old barn. This new part is sometimes called "the New Barn." It was designed to look a bit like a barn too! The old, historic building (now called "the Old Barn") is still used today, but it serves as the church hall. This means it's used for meetings, events, and other church activities.
Cool Features of the Old Barn
The Old Barn has some interesting design features that show its history. For example, it has narrow "slit windows." These were originally for defense, allowing people inside to see out while being protected. It also has two doors that are parallel to each other. This design could create a strong wind tunnel, which was useful for a process called winnowing. Winnowing is a way to separate grain from its husks using wind.
Serving the Community
The Barn Church serves several areas around Inverness, including Culloden, Balloch, Smithton, Westhill, and Cradlehall. It's an important part of these communities.
Church Leaders
In November 2014, a new minister, the Reverend Mike Robertson, started leading the church. He took over from the Reverend Jim Robertson, who had served the church for about 20 years.
See also
- List of Church of Scotland parishes
- Barn Church in Kew, London, England
- Barn Church in Michigan, United States