Local Churches
Daviot and Dunlichity
Daviot Church (OS 723 394)
Minister Rev Reginald Campbell
Service: Daviot 12noon
The Church of Daviot was granted its charter in the 13th century as a mensal kirk
for Elgin Cathederal and the Abbey of Pluscarden. The original church may have
been built about the time of the reformation. A later church was certainly built in
1763-4 although no trace remains. (1795 Old Statistical Account Vol. 14 pg70.)
The present church dates from 1826 and is situated beside a small hillock, locally
known for generations (at least from the time of the old drove roads) as Cnoc an
t'Saigart, the ‘Priest’s Hillock’.
(Now across the new A9.)
The contractors were Macphail and Macfarlane (or Macpharlane). The specification
and possibly the design was prepared by Alexander Grant factor to The Mackintosh.
The contract price was £873 13s 0d. The galleries were removed and the walls were
strengthened with steel tie rods in 1936. Daviot and Dunlichity parishes were united in
1618.
After the Reformation there came an unsettled period of national turmoil, with the
story of the parish reflecting the conflicting claims of Presbyterianism and
Episcopacy. The repercussions continued well beyond the Protestant 'Settlement' of
1690, and the Jacobite defeat at Culloden in 1745, and have been painfully felt in
these parts of the Highlands. In the early 19th century, the parish of Daviot became
the scene of one of the test cases over the question of patronage, which led to the
1843 Disruption and the establishment of the Free Church of Scotland.
A landmark on the new A9, Inverness 5 miles north. Daviot Church, was formerly
known to drovers as the 'kirk of the golden cockerel' because of its distinctive weather
vane. Near the church door to the right is the burial plot of the family of the late Rev.
Alistair MacLean, the writer father of the famous author of the same name, and to
the left is that of the late Rev. Dr. John MacPherson.
The present building replaced a previous building with its separate bell tower, it was
completely restored in 1991, with substantial help from Historic Scotland. It is now
part of the linked charge of Daviot and Dunlichity with Moy, Dalarossie and Tomatin.
Dunlichity Church
Dunlichity Church (OS 659 331)
6.5 miles from Daviot.
Service: most months on the first Sunday of the month at 6.30pm
Of old 'Lundichity' dedicated to St Finan.
On a very ancient site. It is believed that St Finan preached here. In 1643 an effigy
of St Finan was taken from Dunlicity and burnt at the Mercat Cross in Inverness.The
present church dates from 1758.
Presbytery ordered reconstruction in 1757 with a westward extension by 12 feet.
Rebuilt 1759-62. There were later repairs in 1826 and an extensive repair by architect
William Lawrie in 1859.
Notable features at Dunlichity include the marks on the wall where arrows or, swords
were sharpened, the old Watch house, built in 1820 for the guarding of the graves, and
a very interesting burial ground, including the stone erected to Rev. Archibald Cook,
who became the first Free Church minister here, at the time of the 1843 Disruption.
The graves record the old families of the Strath, including the burial enclosures of the
MacGillivrays and the Shaws.
On a rocky hillside beside the church there is the baptismal stone –believed to have
been the original stone used in baptisms in the area.
Farr Free Presbyterian Church
Not far up the road to Dunlichity from Farr.
Minister: Rev Alan MacDonald
Services: Sunday 12noon and 5.15pm
Prayer meeting: Fortnightly on Thursdays
St Paul's Episcopal Church, Croachy
Welcome to the Church of St Paul’s, Croachy in Strathnairn! This church is one of the many
churches in the wide-spread Diocese of Moray, Ross, and Caithness, of the Scottish Episcopal
Church. The Episcopal Church in Scotland is a part of the world-wide Anglican Communion.
We are a small part of the church in Scotland, continuing the church that was not part of the
Presbyterian Settlement of 1689/90. That settlement resulted in the Church of Scotland; the
national church of this land, then and now. We are therefore part of the Parish of Daviot and
Duniichity and pleased to enjoy very good relations with our Church of Scotland neighbours.
Craven lists Rectors of Strathnairn as far back as 1560, including one, Michael Fraser, who
led the folk through the tumultuous times of the Presbyterian Settlement of 1689/90. He was still
Rector in 1726, well after the first Jacobite rising. He (and the congregation!) were strong Jacobites
and they would not be removed. Gorthleck, in the upper part of the strath, and part of this ‘parish’,
was well enough recognised as a trusted stronghold to offer sanctuary for a while to the Prince,
and some of his troops, afler the Battle of Culloden.
After the first world war the church was closed for much of the year. Services were held in August
and September. The congregation was inflated in these months by the large number of visitors
for the grouse shooting. St Paul's was (and often still is) referred to as the "Grouse Church".
Minister: Rev Peter Mosley
Service: each Sunday 11.00am
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