Attribution: photograph courtesy of W J McCulloch

Ferintosh Church of Scotland, Conon Bridge

This church, built in 1909, stands within the Parish of Ferintosh, formerly known as the Parish of Urquhart and Logie Wester.

“Logie” in Gaelic means “valley or hollow” and in the valley of the River Conon there was a small township adjacent to the present Conon House. The township church was known as Logie Wester to distinguish it from Logie in Easter Ross.

Near to Conon House can be found the foundations of Logie Wester Church, now overgrown, but calculated to be 66 ft by 50 ft. It was stone built, would have been thatched with heather and had a loft added, probably in the 17th century.

Sometime before 1490 the Parishes of Urquhart and Logie Wester were united and by the mid 17th century the original Logie Wester Church was finding it hard to compete with the more centrally situated Urquhart Church. In 1749-50 the Urquhart Church was rebuilt and enlarged as a result of which the church at Logie became disused and was in ruins by 1792. The rebuilt Urquhart Church of 1749 was struck by lightning and destroyed by fire forty years later. Its successor, also called Urquhart Church, was built nearby and opened in 1795.

The building of a bridge over the River Conon in 1810 led to the establishing of the village of Conon Bridge, further enhanced by the arrival of the railway in 1863. The Rev Walter Macquarrie became minister of Urquhart in 1891 and, that year, he began fortnightly evening services in Conon School. He saw the need for a “Mission Church” in the village and this was achieved by July 1906.

The Mission Church continued until 1961 when union with the former United Free Church of Ferintosh and Maryburgh took place and the united congregation took the name of Ferintosh.

Ferintosh Church of Scotland - possibly 1920s

Attribution: Photo by Tony Innes

Ferintosh Parish Church 1909 - 2009

Book written by Mhairi Mackenzie

“This booklet aims to recollect the life and times of our church here in our community; however, not only to look at how these recollections have shaped who and what we are today, but also how they might enable us to shape the life of our church here in the future.

It takes us through the history of the church in terms of its buildings, its ministers, its worship and its place within the community, and ends with all that is happening within the life of our church today. An appropriate way perhaps to end such a booklet, leaving scope and opportunity to look to the future as we seek to build on what we already have in place.”  – Andy Graham

Attribution: Book written by Mhairi Mackenzie

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images 
Conon » Conon Places » Conon Churches » Conon Ferintosh Parish Church
Church from the Gallery
Church from the Gallery
Photo courtesy of J W Bremner.
Ferintosh Church of Scotland, Conon Bridge.
Ferintosh Church of Scotland, Conon Bridge.
Church Baptism Font
Church Baptism Font
(Photo courtesy of RCHS)
Note: no bell !
Note: no bell !
Photograph by Mhairi Mackenzie
Photograph by Mhairi Mackenzie
Centenary Meal - Photo courtesy of Hugh Steele
Centenary Meal - Photo courtesy of Hugh Steele
On 10 November 2009 a centenary meal was held in the hall, the catering being provided by the Riverside Tavern, Conon Bridge. On this occasion the congregation was joined by Rev Dan Carmichael, Joanne, Matthew and Anna. There was no charge for the meal but members of the congregation were invited to donate to the Feeding the Elderly programme in Malawi, and responded generously by giving £612.
Centenary Meal - Photo courtesy of Hugh Steele
Centenary Meal - Photo courtesy of Hugh Steele
Centenary Meal - Photo courtesy of Hugh Steele
Centenary Meal - Photo courtesy of Hugh Steele
Centenary Meal - Photo courtesy of Hugh Steele
Centenary Meal - Photo courtesy of Hugh Steele
Centenary Meal - Photo courtesy of Hugh Steele
Centenary Meal - Photo courtesy of Hugh Steele
Postcard view courtesy of W J MacCulloch.
Postcard view courtesy of W J MacCulloch.
A young Malcolm Maclean in 1914
A young Malcolm Maclean in 1914
Photograph courtesy of Mrs C Bennett, niece of Malcolm Maclean.)
Ferintosh Manse possibly in 1920s.
Ferintosh Manse possibly in 1920s.
Ferintosh Manse possibly in 1920s. Rev J Izzat Johnstone in foreground. Photo courtesy of Donald Macleod Jnr.
Conon and Maryburgh Brownies
Conon and Maryburgh Brownies
Photo courtesy of Nettie Roy.
May Adam presented a painting to the Church
May Adam presented a painting to the Church
First of all, artist May Adam presented a painting to the Church, which has proved to be popular in its subsequent transformation into notelets and prints.
Book cover
Book cover
Vacating Maryburgh Manse 1907
Vacating Maryburgh Manse 1907
Rev Roderick Mackenzie and elders vacating Maryburgh Manse on 25 January 1907.
Drawing of the building location
Drawing of the building location
Drawing of the building location
Drawing of the building location
Photograph courtesy of Tony Innes (date late 1920s/early 1930s?)
Photograph courtesy of Tony Innes (date late 1920s/early 1930s?)
Rev Roderick Mackenzie, MA.
Rev Roderick Mackenzie, MA.
Rev Roderick Mackenzie, MA. Photograph courtesy of Rev Douglas MacKeddie, Maryburgh Free Church.
Malcolm Maclean in the 1940s.
Malcolm Maclean in the 1940s.
Malcolm Maclean in the 1940s. (Photograph courtesy of Mrs C Bennett, niece of Malcolm Maclean.)
Rev D R Macleod, MA
Rev D R Macleod, MA
Photograph taken outside Ferintosh Manse in 1971 and courtesy of his sister, Mrs Marion Macdonald.
Rev T Clifford Kelly
Rev T Clifford Kelly
Photograph courtesy of Rev T C Kelly
Rev Daniel J M Carmichael, MA, BD
Rev Daniel J M Carmichael, MA, BD
Photograph by Alasdair Cameron
Alcaig Fete
Alcaig Fete
Millennium Banner
Millennium Banner
Rev Andrew F Graham
Rev Andrew F Graham
Members of Ross-Shire Flower Club
Members of Ross-Shire Flower Club
Some of the beautiful creations of Ross-Shire Flower Club
Some of the beautiful creations of Ross-Shire Flower Club
Interior of Church
Interior of Church
Photos courtesy of J W Bremner.
Photograph courtesy of Mhairi Mackenzie
Photograph courtesy of Mhairi Mackenzie
Conon and Maryburgh Guides 1965-66.
Conon and Maryburgh Guides 1965-66.
Photograph courtesy of Margaret Olsen.
Rev D R Macleod at the opening of the new hall with John Lyall(?) and Donald Fraser
Rev D R Macleod at the opening of the new hall with John Lyall(?) and Donald Fraser
Rev D R Macleod at the opening of the new hall with John Lyall(?) and Donald Fraser. The entrance was on the gable side of the hall, facing the car park. [This photograph has been reproduced from a slide, which has resulted in the image being reversed.]
Before .... (stage, emergency exit, etc.) .... and after
Before .... (stage, emergency exit, etc.) .... and after
Guild outing to Rosemarkie, 1983
Guild outing to Rosemarkie, 1983
Cover of book "Pot Pourri - a collection of recipies"
Cover of book "Pot Pourri - a collection of recipies"
The creche
The creche
Prayer Group
Prayer Group
Social Committee
Social Committee
Fred McCreadie doing his death-defying act when positioning a banner
Fred McCreadie doing his death-defying act when positioning a banner
Part of decoration for 'Going Bananas' .... and Fred McCreadie doing his death-defying act when positioning a banner.
Part of decoration for 'Going Bananas'
Part of decoration for 'Going Bananas'
Drama ....... and Games
Drama ....... and Games
Bible Story
Bible Story
James Curr with Long Service Certificate
James Curr with Long Service Certificate
Saffron and Ruby dressed up
Saffron and Ruby dressed up
May Adam presented a painting to the Church
May Adam presented a painting to the Church
First of all, artist May Adam presented a painting to the Church, which has proved to be popular in its subsequent transformation into notelets and prints.
Dressing up
Dressing up
The Tea Ladies
The Tea Ladies
The Tea Ladies - Nettie Roy, Annette McKee, Pam Yuill, Dorothy Howie, Isabel Macdonald (J.M.)
Joan and Bill Mackenzie (J.M.)
Joan and Bill Mackenzie (J.M.)

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