Alison TannerInverness City Heritage TrustCity Partnership OfficeTown House, High StreetInvernessIV1 1JJTel: 01463 724 384
The church was built and opened in 1901 on a steeply sloping site to a design by William Mackintosh. The style is early Gothic revival with walls of Tarradale stone. The congregation which was founded in 1787, belonged to the united Free church which united with the Church of Scotland in 1929. Configuration of the site led to halls being built below the Sanctuary. Inside, there are some notable stained glass works.
Paid parking on Ness Bank
It is believed that there has been a church on this site since the 12th century. The present building dates from the late 18th century though it is thought that the building contains remnants of earlier structures.
A church site since Celtic times, St Columba of Iona is said to have preached here at 'St Michael's mound'. Current building is mostly 18th century with 19th century additions, with part of the tower 14th century. Curfew is still rung from the clock tower at 20.00 every night. Used as a prison after The Battle of Culloden (1746) with prisoners said to have been executed in the graveyard.
Inside you can see the King James' 1st Edition Bible of 1611, a field communion set used by the legendary "Tartan Pimpernel" during the Second World War, a Willis organ, a chancel of Iona marble, and monuments to Inverness worthies. It is still the venue of the annual 'Kirking of the Council' when the Provost and councillors process from the Town House for worship.
Carefully detailed Arts and Crafts Gothic by W.L. Carruthers, 1895-97, the church has a high open interior under a braced collar roof.
The stained glass is of note. The three-light west window depicts the Martyrdom of St Stephen and is by A. Ballantine & Son, 1905; in the south wall, a Prophet also by A. Ballantine & Son, 1901; and in the north wall, a portrait of the Very Reverend Norman MacLeod, 1911 while the two-light window in the north transept is of the Marys at the tomb and is by A. Ballantine & Son, 1906. The chancel lights are of strongly coloured glass, 1895.The organ is by Wadsworth & Bros, 1902 and the pulpit is of locally grown oak.
The church was substantially renovated in 2000 by A. Edmonstone.
Guided tour and information leaflet available
Organ music at 11.30 and 14.30 and short talks at 11.00 and 14.00
As the Parish Church for Merkinch,Trinity Church of Scotland was originally the West Free Church designed by James Matthews and William Lawrie in 1863.
The former St Mark's congregation established as a mission station in 1861, merged with the Queen Street Church, whose former building now houses a funeral directors also on the riverside, to form Trinity.
Guided tours and leaflet
Originally the burial place of the Lovat Frasers, the Lovat Mausoleum, Wardlaw was erected in 1634 on the site of the medieval Kirkhill Parish Church onto whose east gable the mausoleum was added. Built by William Ross, notable features include buckle quoins at the east corner below the belfry which is dated 1722.
It was renovated by locally formed Wardlaw Mausoleum Trust with funding from Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund in 1998 when a fine quatrefoil window was exposed in the west gable, which is thought to have been dedicated by Euphemia Fraser in 1341.