Description

1839 Episcopal Church, "Erected by voluntary subscription 18(?3)9" inscription on belfry tower on front (W) gable. Gothic; rectangular plan; smaller and narrower chancel (1954), low gabled vestry on north flank alongside and front porch may all be additions of various dates (though porch has more the appearance of possibly being original). Dry-dashed; polished yellow ashlar margins, slate roofs. Nave flank windows have cusped tracery in timber (stained glass c.1898 memorial window on south flank). Tower is shallow in overall depth and shallow advanced from main wall-plane (cf tower of Free Church Kenneth Street), pinnacled belfry stage reaches above main roof ridge with pointed belfry opening and classical cornice; bell said to be inscribed "Te Deum Laudamus 1631", and is said to have been the town bell, but it was re-cast in memory of Canon H A Meaden. Inside, roof has Gothic detailing to cornice, ribs, vaulting and unusual centre pendants all in plaster and presumably original; Gallery at west (also likely to be original) hs arcaded Gothic front in timber, and is supported centrally on pair slender cast-iron columns, organ and tubes above installed 1887, gifted by Mary Jane, widow of Sir James Matheson, in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Jubilee. Pulpit is particularly elaborate and sculptural; also Gothic; octagonal, supported on centre pier and ring of columns, canopied niche on each face, some containing figures. Triptych a memorial to John Alexander MacAskill, drowned 1919 in the Iolaire disaster. Framed documents record gift to St Moluag's, Eoropie, of David Livingstone's prayer book by his daughter, Anna Mary Livingstone Wilson, 23 January 1914. (Church also has early font taken from the Flannan Isles - not seen, 1989). Rubble-built perimeter wall, rubble gatepiers, decorative cast-iron vehicle gates, wrought-iron pedestrian gate.

Statement of Interest

Ecclesiastical Building in use as such. Gas lamps appear to have been suspended from the ceiling - presumably after Sir James Matheson had built the gas works.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17853960

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
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  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
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  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
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  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)