Jump to content

Orkney Islands Church of Scotland

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On 1 October 2024,[1] almost all of the former parish churches in Orkney united to create a single Orkney Islands Church of Scotland staffed by a team ministry. It is part of the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of the North East and the Northern Isles ("NENI"). As of late 2024, the parish churches of Evie & Rendall linked with Firth are not yet part of this new structure, but all other formerly separate parishes in Orkney have joined.

The former Presbytery of Orkney was split into the three presbyteries of Cairston, Kirkwall and North Isles in 1725.[2] It is not known when they reunited. Orkney Islands Church of Scotland includes the former parish churches of:

Names of former parish (before October 2024) Population Buildings Founded
Birsay, Harray & Sandwick 2,224 Milestone Community Church, Dounby 2012
Flotta l/w Orphir & Stenness l/w Hoy & Walls 1,566 Flotta Church*
Orphir Church* Medieval
St Columba's, Longhope, South Walls* 1832
Stromness 2,286 St Peter's, Stromness*
Graemsay (meetings in hall)
Evie l/w Rendall l/w Rousay l/w Firth

(as of late 2024 not yet part of the recently-united Orkney Islands Church of Scotland)

1,877 Evie Church, Stenso*
Rendall Church*
Firth Church, Finstown*
Rousay Church, Brinian*
Eday 160 Eday Church*
North Ronaldsay 72 North Ronaldsay Church (meets in school)
Sanday 494 Sanday Church, Broughtown (Burness)*
Papa Westray l/w Westray 678 St Ann's, Papa Westray*
Westray Church*
Stronsay Moncur Memorial 353 Moncur Memorial Church, Stronsay*
Kirkwall East l/w Shapinsay 8,575 North Church, Shapinsay*
Kirkwall East Church 1796
Kirkwall St Magnus Cathedral St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall* Medieval
East Mainland 1,746 East Mainland Church, Holm*
South Ronaldsay & Burray 1,318 St Margaret's, St Margaret's Hope, S. Ron.*
St Peter's, Eastside (2 services/year)*

Closed churches

[edit]
Church Founded Closed
St Magnus, Egilsay Medieval
St Olaf's, Kirkwall Medieval C17th[3]
St Nicholas, Stronsay* Medieval C18th[4]
St Peter's, Stronsay* Medieval C18th[5]
Burray Church* Medieval c. 1800[6]
Cross Parish Church, Sanday* Medieval C19th[7]
Hoy Parish Church* Medieval C20th[8]
Lady Parish Church, Sanday* Medieval C20th[9]
Graemsay Church Medieval C20th[10]
Deerness Parish Church* Medieval 1974[11]
St Peter's, Sandwick* Medieval 1984[12]
St Andrews Parish Church, Tankerness* Medieval c. 1990[13]
Stenness Parish Church* Medieval c. 2000[14]
St John's Kirk, North Walls 1883 2001[15]
Birsay Church, Twatt* Medieval 2008[16]
Sandwick Church, Quoyloo C19th 2008[16]
St Michael's, Harray* Medieval 2012[16]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Historic Union of 17 Congregations Forms Orkney Islands Church of Scotland | Church of Scotland Presbytery of the North East & Northern Isles". nenipresbytery.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  2. ^ "Acts: 1725 | British History Online". british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  3. ^ "St. Olaf's Parish Church". www.stmagnusway.com. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Stronsay, St Nicholas' Church And Burial-ground | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  5. ^ "Saints in Scottish Place-Names – St Peter's Chapel, XSP Stronsay (Orkney)". saintsplaces.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  6. ^ "South Ronaldshay & Burray, Orkney, Scotland Genealogy". FamilySearch Wiki. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  7. ^ "Sanday, Cross Parish Church | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  8. ^ "Hoy, Old Parish Church And Churchyard | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  9. ^ "Sanday, Lady Parish Church | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  10. ^ "Graemsay Old Parish Kirk, Graemsay | Buildings at Risk Register". buildingsatrisk.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  11. ^ "Deerness Parish Church – St Andrews and Deerness, Orkney – Places of Worship in Scotland | SCHR". scottishchurches.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  12. ^ "St Peter's Kirk, Skaill". srct.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  13. ^ Stuff, Good. "St Andrew's Kirk, Tankerness, East Mainland, South Ronaldsay and Burray, Orkney Islands". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  14. ^ "Stenness Church And War Memorial | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  15. ^ "St John's Church, Hoy, Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland". undiscoveredscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  16. ^ a b c "Milestone Community Church | Parish Profile". orkneycommunities.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orkney_Islands_Church_of_Scotland&oldid=1263051410"