List of churches in Shetland facts for kids
This article lists the churches found across the Shetland islands in Scotland. Shetland is a group of islands where many different Christian groups have places of worship.
The Reformation was a big change in religion. It reached Shetland in 1560. This change happened peacefully here. There is not much history of religious fighting in Shetland.
The islands were once divided into 12 main areas called civil parishes. These included Bressay, Delting, Dunrossness, Fetlar, Lerwick, Nesting, Northmaven, Sandsting, Tingwall, Unst, Walls and Sandness, and Yell.
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Church of Scotland Churches in Shetland
The Church of Scotland is the national church of Scotland. It is a Presbyterian church. This means it is run by elders and ministers, not by bishops. In Shetland, they have their own group called a Presbytery.
Main Church of Scotland Buildings
Here are some of the Church of Scotland buildings in Shetland:
- Bressay Church, located on the island of Bressay.
- Fetlar Kirk, found on the island of Fetlar.
- St Magnus Kirk, in Hamnavoe on the island of Yell.
- St Columba's Church, located in Lerwick on Mainland.
- St John's Church, in Baltasound on the island of Unst.
- Whalsay Parish Church, found on the island of Whalsay.
Episcopalian Churches in Shetland
The Scottish Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican family. It has bishops who lead the church. Shetland is part of a larger area called the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney.
Episcopal Church Buildings
These are some of the Episcopal churches in Shetland:
- The Chapel of Jesus the Good Shepherd is in Westing, Unst. It is looked after by a group of nuns. They are called the Society of Our Lady of the Isles. Their old church in Fetlar has been sold.
- St Colman's Church is in Burravoe, Yell. It is the most northerly Episcopal church in all of Scotland.
- St Magnus' Church is in Lerwick, on the Mainland.
Methodist Churches in Shetland
The Methodist Church has many members in Shetland. Shetland is a special area, or District, for the Methodist Church. The rest of Scotland is one District. But Shetland is its own District.
Methodist Church Buildings
There are 53 Methodist churches in Scotland. Almost a quarter of them, 13 churches, are in Shetland.
- Haroldswick Methodist Church is in Haroldswick, Unst. This church building is the most northerly in the entire UK.
Roman Catholic Church in Shetland
Shetland is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen. There is only one main Catholic Church building in Shetland. It is located in Lerwick. However, Catholic services are sometimes held in other places. They use buildings that belong to other Christian groups.
Roman Catholic Church Building
- The Church of St Margaret and the Sacred Heart is in Lerwick, on the Mainland.
