East Church, Inverness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East Church, Inverness |
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East Church, Inverness
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| 57°28′49.06″N 4°13′34.97″W / 57.4802944°N 4.2263806°W | |
| Location | Inverness |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| Weekly attendance | 250+ |
| Website | invernesseast.com |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Category B listed |
| Groundbreaking | 1798 |
| Completed | 1898 |
| Administration | |
| Presbytery | Inverness |
The East Church in Inverness, Scotland, is a special old building. It is protected because of its history and design, known as a Category B listed building. For many years, it served as a church for the Church of Scotland, which is a large Christian church in Scotland.
Contents
History of East Church
Early Beginnings and Rebuilding
The East Church first opened its doors in 1798. It was built to help serve the growing community in Inverness. Over time, the church building needed updates. It was rebuilt between 1852 and 1853. Later, in 1897 and 1898, the front part of the church, facing the street, was added by architects Ross & Macbeth.
Changes in Church Groups
The East Church has been part of different church groups over the years. In 1843, many churches left the Church of Scotland in an event called the Disruption of 1843. East Church became the Inverness East Free Church at that time.
Later, in 1900, it joined with another group, the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Together, they formed the United Free Church of Scotland. Then, in 1929, many of these United Free churches, including Inverness East Church, decided to rejoin the Church of Scotland.
Serving the Community
The church's local area, called its parish, included parts of central Inverness. It also covered areas like Longman, Drakies, and Raigmore. The church had a special place in the Raigmore area called 'The Shack'. This building used to be an office for renting homes. The church used it as a place where people could drop in for help. It was also a base for many of the church's activities in that part of the community.
The Church's Closure and New Purpose
In 2022, plans were made to combine the East Church's parish with another church, Inshes Church. This meant that East Church would close. The very last church service was held on Sunday, March 5, 2023. Reverend A. T. B. McGowan was the final minister of the church. He retired from his role on February 1, 2019.
After its closure, the building found a new purpose. In 2024, a charity called Cultarlann Inbhir Nis bought the building. This charity is working to turn the old church into a center for Gaelic culture.
External Links
- Inshes East Church website
