Reay Parish Church facts for kids
Reay Parish Church is a special Church of Scotland building. It serves the community of Reay in Caithness, Scotland. This church is in one of the most northern places on the Scottish mainland. Reay is located a few miles west of Thurso. A big employer nearby is the Dounreay nuclear facility.
Contents
A Look Back at Reay Church
Reay Parish Church was built a long time ago, in 1739. It has a unique T-shape. The outside of the church is painted white. Because it is so old and important, it is protected as a special building. This means it is a "category A listed building."
Inside the church, you will find a wooden pulpit. This is where the minister speaks from. It probably dates back to when the church was first built. The church has dark wooden pews where people sit. They face each other along two arms of the 'T' shape. The third part of the 'T' was made into a vestry in the 1950s.
Special Anniversaries and Visitors
In 1989, the church building celebrated its 250th birthday! For this big event, the church had a major restoration. This means it was repaired and made to look new again. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother visited the church during these celebrations. The leader of the Church of Scotland, Reverend Dr William McDonald, also came to visit. Reverend James Dewar, who was the minister at the time, wrote a book about the church. It was called "The Old White House of God."
Joining Together: North Coast Parish Church
In 1994, Reay Parish Church joined with a nearby church. This was Strathy & Halladale Parish Church in Sutherland. They then shared the same minister. These churches are part of the Church of Scotland’s Presbytery of Caithness.
Later, in 2006, Reay, Strathy, and Halladale parishes united even more. They became one big church called "North Coast Parish Church" (NCPC). This new church kept and used all their separate places of worship. They would take turns holding services in each building.
The first minister for the North Coast Parish Church was Reverend Paul R Read. He started his role on August 18, 2006. Reverend David Macartney became the minister on September 22, 2017. He left his position in June 2023.
More Information
- North Coast Parish Church website
- Church of Scotland website
