Castle Street Church Of Scotland ⋆ Ross and Cromarty Heritage

Castle Street Church Of Scotland

Attribution: unknown (Greenhill street in Dingwall looking North)

Castle Street Church of Scotland

The Castle Street Church of Scotland is situated in Castle Street opposite the National Hotel. Built in 1909 as the United Free Church (a result of the Union of Free and United Presbyterian Churches in 1900), the architect was William Mackintosh. The Free Church won right to property and assets of the pre1900 Free Church. A congregation of around 300 (members and adherents) meets twice on Sundays for worship, with a weekly Prayer Meeting/Bible Study and Coffee Morning. Internally the church is finished in pitch pine. The west stained glass window was inserted in 1926 as a memorial to Provost Crawford. The organ, by Messrs. Foster and Andrews, was installed in 1991 but was built in 1895 for Blackadder Church, North Berwick. New Hall suite built at rear was opened and dedicated in 1991.

Attribution: unknown

Centenary of Castle Street Church of Scotland 1909-2009

We all know about being in the right place at the right time! For me this does not happen often, but since this is the Centenary year of our Congregation it is certainly true. I count it an honour to be asked to contribute this Foreword to the Centenary Booklet as minister of the Congregation at this momentous time. The fact that I am here is within the providence of God, and I am happy to commend this short history of the Congregation to you. This will inevitably mean most to those who have been around Dingwall for the longest time, since it will mention the names of individuals and families who have played an important part in the history of the Congregation, but I trust that even those who are comparative newcomers will find something of interest in our history.

– Rev. Grahame McL. Henderson

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Dingwall » Dingwall Places » Dingwall Churches » Dingwall Castle St Church Centenary

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Rev. Malcolm Buchanan, M.A., 1952-1972

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Pedestal offering box.

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To the Glory of God and sacred to the memory of Donald Cameron, Elder and Session Clerk of this Church. Died 16 December 1960. These choir chairs were presented by his widow.

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Pulpit and choir chairs.

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Sketch (1981) by Mrs Sue Hughan, the daughter of the late Mr Murdo Bethune and of Mrs Mary Bethune.

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The clock in the Church and the one in the Hall were presented by the choir; the Vestry furniture was supplied by the children of the Congregation. Another elder made the picture frames and tables. Someone offered a handsome donation towards a bell (which was never actually installed).

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Plaque on the clock.

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Pedestal offering box plaque. Presented by Provost Colin Stewart of Dingwall to the United Free Church Dingwall in 1909.

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Castle Street Church of 1909.

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Church hall.

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Church hall lectern.

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Church interior from pulpit looking towards organ gallery.

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Church interior.

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Church interior.

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Roll of Honour 1939-45

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Lectern Bible. Presented by Mr. James Ritchie, Mrs. Anne McRae and Mr. David Ritchie in 1988 in memory of their parents Mr. James Ritchie (ex- Postmaster in Dingwall) and Mrs. Nan Ritchie.

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Lectern and Bible In 1957 a reading lectern was purchased by the Church and on the 10th November 1957 (Armistice Day) Mrs. Dorothy White unveiled the lectern and plaque in memory of six members of the Congregation who gave their lives in the World War 1939-1945.

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Rev. Murdo MacAskill, M.A.

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Rev. Ranald McDonald, M.A., 1904-1929

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Rev. Alexander McLean, M.A., 1930-1932

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Rev. Donald McLeod, M.A., 1946-1951

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Rev. J. H. Boyd McPhail, B.A., 1940-1945

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Rev. Archy MacVicar, M.A., 1973-1986

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Kirk Session members during the ministry of Rev Malcolm Buchanan.

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Plaque reads: The west gable of this Church is dedicated to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Hector Crawford, Provost of Dingwall 1919-1927, and his wife Lillie Nicol Crawford. Erected by their Daughter 1950.

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Communion table and chairs.

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Memorial Plaque of 1st World War 1914-1918 On this plaque are 26 names of those who gave their lives in the 1914-1918 World War and whose families were members and adherents of Castle Street Church of Scotland. "Greater love hath no man than this"

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Stained glass window.

Attribution: unknown

Dry rot work

‘Dry rot’ is how some would describe the subject of history, but in 2013-14 this was a problem facing the congregation of Castle Street Church when a fallen piece of plaster revealed what would become a period of extensive, and expensive, repairs.

The congregation engaged John Morrison, Timber Preservation Ltd, a firm with experience in this type of work, since buildings associated with sister churches, built like Castle Street, in the first decade of the 20th century, had encountered similar disasters.

The photographs which follow are courtesy of John Morrison Ltd and the Minister and Kirk Session of Castle Street Church.