Description of the attraction
In October 2003, a rather unusual event took place in Inverness - two parishes, the Old High Church and St. Stephen's Church, merged. Unusually, services are still held in both churches.
The Old High Church Church is an old church that dates back to the 11th century, and the parish, according to legend, founded by Saint Columbus himself, is the oldest in Inverness. The church was built on the hill of St. Michael, where the Christian church existed during the time of the Celts. After the Battle of Culloden, prisoners were kept in the church.
The existing building was built mainly in the 18th century, with minor additions made in the 19th century, but the tower was built in the 14th century. Until now, at eight o'clock in the evening, the bell on the tower announces that it is time to extinguish the lights.
St. Stephen's Church is considered the "daughter church" of Old High. It was founded in 1896. It was built in the Gothic style by the architect Carruthers. The church consists of a nave, a simple north transept, and a circular altar with small windows at the top of the walls. The square tower is crowned with a sharp spire. The stained glass windows for the church were made by the same craftsmen as for the Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh. Miss Margaret Henderson was officially appointed Church Organist in 1915, but unofficially she played here on the organ from 1897 until 1959, i.e. 62 years old. The church has a plaque in her honor.
