St Michael & All Angels, Inverness facts for kids

St Michael & All Angels, Inverness
St Michael & All Angels Church
St Michael & All Angels, Inverness Location in Highland
57°28′55″N 4°14′16″W / 57.48194°N 4.23778°W / 57.48194; -4.23778
Denomination	Scottish Episcopal Church
Churchmanship	High Church
Website	www.stmichaelschurchinverness.org/
History
Dedication	St Michael and All Angels
Administration
Diocese	Moray, Ross & Caithness

St Michael & All Angels is a church in Inverness, Scotland. It belongs to the Scottish Episcopal Church. This church is located on the west side of the River Ness. It is part of the Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness.

History of the Church

The church building you see today was built in 1903. It stands on Abban Street in Inverness. This church was a new version of an older chapel. That first chapel was built in 1886 by Alexander Ross. It was located on Factory Street, on the east side of the River Ness. When the church was rebuilt, it was made longer.

Architects and Design

The main architects for the 1903 building were Ross and Macbeth. They were a well-known firm in Inverness. Later, a famous architect named Ninian Comper made many changes. He worked on the church in 1904, 1905, 1923, 1924, and 1928. Because of his beautiful work, the church is sometimes called the "Comper Jewel in the Highlands of Scotland."

The church has a simple design, like many old Gothic buildings. It has a main hall called a nave, a front entrance area called a narthex, and a chancel where the altar is. There is also a vestry, which is a room for clergy, and a Lady Chapel. The church is built from stone with a slate roof. A small tower with a spire holds a bell at the west end.

Inside, the roof looks like the inside of a wagon. Many of the beautiful decorations and furniture were designed by Ninian Comper. His father, Reverend John Comper, was also a priest in Inverness. Ninian Comper designed the special posts and canopy above the main altar. He also created the stone font, which is a basin for baptisms, and its tall wooden cover. The colorful stained-glass windows are also his work.

Special Recognition

St Michael & All Angels Church is a Category B listed building. This means it is an important historical building, especially because of its beautiful interior. The house next to the church, called the rectory, is also a Category B listed building. It was built in 1911 by Alexander Ross and Son.

The church follows a tradition called Anglo-Catholic. This means it has some practices similar to the Roman Catholic Church, but it is part of the Scottish Episcopal Church. It is also a member of a group called Forward in Faith.

The current leader of St Michael & All Angels is the Reverend Canon Dr Iain Macritchie. He became the Rector in October 2021.

See also

• Inverness Cathedral
• John Crook, a former leader of this church who later became a bishop.