Reay Parish Church
Encyclopedia
Reay Parish Church is a Church of Scotland
parish church serving Reay
, Caithness
. It is one of the most northerly communities on the Scottish mainland, located several miles to west of Thurso
. The largest local employer is the Dounreay
nuclear facility.
In 1989 the church building celebrated its 250th anniversary. The celebrations included a major restoration programme, a visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
and a visit by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
, the Very Reverend Dr William McDonald. The minister, the Reverend James Dewar, wrote a history of the church, “The Old White House of God”. (now out of print, but available in Thurso
library).
In 1994 Reay Parish Church was linked with neighbouring Strathy & Halladale Parish Church in Sutherland, being henceforth served by the same minister. The linked parishes are, however, within the Church of Scotland’s Presbytery of Caithness. Since the Reverend James Dewar moved to Edinburgh in 2000 to become minister at Juniper Green Parish Church the linked parishes have been without a permanent minister.
In 2006 Reay, Strathy and Halladale parishes were united into one "North Coast Parish Church" (NCPC), but retaining separate places of worship. The first Minister of NCPC is Rev Paul R Read BSc MA, who was inducted to the parish on 18 August 2006.
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
parish church serving Reay
Reay
Reay is a village which has grown around Sandside Bay on the north coast of the Highland council area of Scotland. It is within the historic Parish of Reay and the historic county of Caithness....
, Caithness
Caithness
Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
. It is one of the most northerly communities on the Scottish mainland, located several miles to west of Thurso
Thurso
-Facilities:Offices of the Highland Council are located in the town, as is the main campus of North Highland College, formerly Thurso College. This is one of several partner colleges which constitute the UHI Millennium Institute, and offers several certificate, diploma and degree courses from...
. The largest local employer is the Dounreay
Dounreay
Dounreay is the site of several nuclear research establishments located on the north coast of Caithness, in the Highland area of Scotland...
nuclear facility.
History
Built in 1739, the church is a T-shaped church, and is protected as a category A listed building. Externally it is painted white. The wooden pulpit is probably original to the church, complete with an old sounding board as a canopy. The pulpit is on the long wall of the church with the people seated facing each other on dark varnished wooden pews along two arms of the 'T' shape; the third part was partitioned off in the 1950s to form a vestry. Sunday services are held at 10.45am, with communion twice yearly (on the last Sunday of April and September).In 1989 the church building celebrated its 250th anniversary. The celebrations included a major restoration programme, a visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
and a visit by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
, the Very Reverend Dr William McDonald. The minister, the Reverend James Dewar, wrote a history of the church, “The Old White House of God”. (now out of print, but available in Thurso
Thurso
-Facilities:Offices of the Highland Council are located in the town, as is the main campus of North Highland College, formerly Thurso College. This is one of several partner colleges which constitute the UHI Millennium Institute, and offers several certificate, diploma and degree courses from...
library).
In 1994 Reay Parish Church was linked with neighbouring Strathy & Halladale Parish Church in Sutherland, being henceforth served by the same minister. The linked parishes are, however, within the Church of Scotland’s Presbytery of Caithness. Since the Reverend James Dewar moved to Edinburgh in 2000 to become minister at Juniper Green Parish Church the linked parishes have been without a permanent minister.
In 2006 Reay, Strathy and Halladale parishes were united into one "North Coast Parish Church" (NCPC), but retaining separate places of worship. The first Minister of NCPC is Rev Paul R Read BSc MA, who was inducted to the parish on 18 August 2006.
