Halkirk Auld Kirk Explained

Halkirk Auld Kirk is a former parish church in Halkirk, Caithness, Scotland. Built in 1753, it stopped being used in 1934[1] and is now a ruin. Halkirk parish was formed at the time of the Reformation by the union of the Halkirk and Skinnet districts.[2] The "Halkirk Village Old Parish Church And Burial Ground" is a category B listed building.[3]

Geography

The church is situated on the east side of the River Thurso. Situated close to Skinnet, it is on the right bank of the water on a small round hill in the middle of an extensive plain. The glebe measured from 7.5-, which included the manse site and garden.

History

The church of Halkirk, originally only a chapel attached to the bishop's residence, was dedicated to Saint Catharine, or according to some, to Saint Fergus. The Auld Kirk was built in 1753 upon the same site.[4] The Georgian T-plan design was built to accommodate about 756 individuals, and underwent a substantial repair in 1833. The manse was built about the same time as the church, and underwent some repairs in 1823.[5] By the mid 20th century, the interior had been greatly altered internally and the building was in a decaying state.[6]

See also

References

Bibliography

58.5169°N -3.4863°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Old Parish Church Halkirk. caithness.org. 17 December 2014.
  2. Book: The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland. Public domain. 1868. Virtue. 171.
  3. Web site: Halkirk, Old Parish Church. RCAHMS. 17 December 2014.
  4. Book: Anderson. William. Robertson. Joseph. Brichan. James Brodie. John McNab. Origines Parochiales Scotiae: pt. 1. Diocese of Argyle. Diocese of the Isles. Public domain. 1855. W.H. Lizars. 758–.
  5. Book: The New Statistical Account of Scotland: pt.1–2 Sutherland, Caithness, Orkney, Shetland, General index. Public domain. 1845. Blackwood. 78–.
  6. Book: Hay, George. The architecture of Scottish post-Reformation churches, 1560–1843. 1957. Clarendon Press. 92.