List of churches in Orkney

Last updated

Eynhallow Church Eynhallow Church 20110526 from northwest.jpg
Eynhallow Church
Lady Kirk Pierowall Lady Kirk - geograph.org.uk - 953499.jpg
Lady Kirk
Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney was killed by his cousin Haakon Paulsson in April 1116. The building of St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall in his honour by Rognvald Kali commenced in 1137. St. Magnus Cathedral 10.jpg
Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney was killed by his cousin Haakon Paulsson in April 1116. The building of St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall in his honour by Rögnvald Kali commenced in 1137.
St Magnus Church, Birsay St. Magnus Church.JPG
St Magnus Church, Birsay

A List of churches in Orkney, Scotland:

The islands have an estimated 27 active churches for 21,500 inhabitants, a ratio of one church to every 796 people.

Contents

The islands were originally divided into 21 civil parishes: Birsay and Harray, Cross and Burness (on Sanday), Eday, Evie and Rendall, Firth, Holm, Hoy and Graemsay, Kirkwall and St Ola, Lady (on Sanday), Orphir, Papa Westray, Rousay and Egilsay, Sandwick, Shapinsay, South Ronaldsay, St Andrews and Deerness, Stenness, Stromness, Stronsay, South Walls & Flotta, and Westray.

On 1 October 2024 all the Church of Scotland parishes in Orkney united as a single parish, known as Orkney Islands Church of Scotland, retaining most of the current church buildings and served by a team ministry.

NameCivil parish (settlement)WebParish foundedDenominationNotes
Sanday Church of ScotlandCross & Burness (Broughtown) Church of Scotland [2]
North Ronaldsay Church of ScotlandCross & Burness (N Ronaldsay)1812 Church of Scotland
Eday Church of Scotland Eday Church of Scotland [2]
Evie Church of Scotland Evie & Rendall Church of Scotland [3] Shares a minister with Firth, Rendall and Rousay
Rendall Church of Scotland Evie & Rendall Church of Scotland [3] Shares a minister with Evie, Firth and Rousay
Firth Church of Scotland Firth Medieval Church of Scotland [3] Shares a minister with Evie, Rendall and Rousay
East Mainland Church Holm [4] Church of Scotland Serves Deerness, Holm and St Andrews parishes
St John's Kirk, Hoy & Walls Hoy & Graemsay (Little Ayre) Church of Scotland [2] Shares a minister with Flotta and Orphir & Stenness
St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall & St Ola [5] 1137 Church of Scotland Dedicated to St Magnus. Technically no longer a cathedral
Kirkwall East Church Kirkwall & St Ola Church of Scotland [6] Shares a minister with Shapinsay
St Olaf's Episcopal Church Kirkwall & St Ola [7] 1876-1878 Episcopal Church Dedicated to St Olaf. Episcopacy in the islands dates back to C16th
Kirkwall Baptist Church Kirkwall & St Ola [8] Independent
Our Lady & St Joseph, Kirkwall Kirkwall & St Ola [9] Roman Catholic Dedicated to SS Mary & Joseph
Orphir & Stenness Church of Scotland Orphir Medieval Church of Scotland [10] Shares a minister with Flotta and Hoy & Walls
Papa Westray Church of Scotland Papa Westray Church of Scotland [11] Shares a minister with Westray. Building originally Free Church
Rousay Church of Scotland Rousay & Egilsay Church of Scotland [3] Shares minister with Evie, Firth & Rendall. Serves Egilsay & Wyre
Milestone Community Church Sandwick (Dounby)2011-2012 [12] Church of Scotland [13] Serves Birsay & Harray and Sandwick parishes (united 2000)
Dounby United Free Church Sandwick (Dounby) United Free Church [14]
Shapinsay Church of Scotland Shapinsay Church of Scotland [2] Shares a minister with Kirkwall East
South Ronaldsay & Burray CoS S Ronaldsay (St Margaret's Hope) Church of Scotland [15] Also serves Burray
Flotta Church of Scotland South Walls & Flotta Church of Scotland [2] Shares a minister with Hoy and Walls and Orphir and Stenness
Stromness & Graemsay CoS Stromness Church of Scotland [16] Also holds monthly services in a community centre on Graemsay
St Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church Stromness [17] Episcopal Church Dedicated to St Mary
Stromness Baptist Church Stromness [18] Independent
Moncur Memorial Church, Stronsay Stronsay Church of Scotland [2]
Westray Church of Scotland Westray Church of Scotland [11] Shares a minister with Papa Westray. United with Westray UFC 2005
Westray Baptist Church Westray (Pierowall) [19] Independent
Jehovah's WitnessesKirkwallJehovah's Witnesses30 Mill St., Kirkwall KW15 1NL, UK

Defunct churches

NameCivil parish (settlement)FoundedRedundantDenominationNotes
St Magnus Church, Birsay Birsay & Harray Medieval1996 [20] Church of Scotland Built in 1664 on the site of an earlier 11th century church. [21]
St Peters Chapel, Birsay Birsay Early 12th century Catholic Church in Scotland Remained in use until the 13th century. Until the Reformation, it was a popular pilgrimage site. [22]
Birsay (Twatt) Church of Scotland Birsay & Harray 18752008 [12] Church of Scotland
St Michael's, Harray Birsay & Harray 18362010s [23] Church of Scotland
Cross Church of ScotlandCross & Burness Church of Scotland Ruins remain [24]
St Columba's, BurnessCross & Burness Church of Scotland Now vanished but burial ground remains [25]
Italian Chapel, Lamb Holm Holm 1942-43 Roman Catholic Built by Italian prisoners of war; still in occasional use
Graemsay Kirk Hoy & Graemsay C19th Church of Scotland No longer in use [26]
St Olaf's Kirk, Kirkwall Kirkwall & St Ola Medieval Church of Scotland Ruins remain [27]
Eynhallow Church Medievalpre C16thRuins only
Lady Kirk, SandayLady (on Sanday) Church of Scotland Most recent building 1773. Ruined [28]
Orphir Round Church Orphir MedievalC18thRuins only
St Boniface's Church, Papa Westray Papa Westray Medieval1930 Church of Scotland Originally built in the 12 century, expanded in 1710. The site dates to a large Iron Age settlement. Hogback stone in graveyard. [29]
St Magnus, Egilsay Rousay & Egilsay Medieval Church of Scotland Ruins only
Deerness Church of Scotland St Andrews & Deerness 1829 [30] Church of Scotland
St Andrews Church of Scotland St Andrews & Deerness (Tankerness)1801 [31] Church of Scotland
St Peter, Sandwick Sandwick 16701960s Church of Scotland Current building 1836–1837. Scottish Redundant Churches Trust 1998 [32]
Sandwick United Free Church Sandwick 18362008 Church of Scotland Joined CoS in 1929. Sold 2008, along with Birsay & Harray churches [12]
St Lawrence's, Burray South Ronaldsay (Burray)Roofless ruin [33]
St Columba's, South Walls South Walls & Flotta 1832 Church of Scotland Active in 2002 listing but not listed on Orkney Presbytery's website
Stenness Parish Church Stenness Medieval2000s Church of Scotland Rebuilt 1760, 1774. Recently sold [34]
Lady Kirk, Westray Westray (Pierowall)MedievalRebuilt 1674. Ruins only
Westside Church Westray (Tuquoy)Ruins only
St Mary's Chapel, Wyre Wyre Medieval Church of Scotland Ruins only [35]

Citations

  1. ↑ Crawford, Barbara E. "Orkney in the Middle Ages" in Omand (2003) p. 69-70
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Presbytery of Orkney | Church Links". www.orkneycommunities.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Evie, Firth, Rendall and Rousay Churches | Home". www.orkneycommunities.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "East Mainland Church". www.eastmainlandchurch.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney". www.stmagnus.org. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Kirkwall East Church | Home". www.orkneycommunities.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "Home". www.stolafs.org.uk. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "Kirkwall Baptist Church". www.kirkwallbaptistchurch.org.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "Our Lady & St Joseph, Kirkwall". www.catholicchurchorkney.org.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  10. ↑ "Orphir and Stenness Churches | WELCOME". www.orkneycommunities.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Westray and Papay Parish Kirks | Home". www.orkneycommunities.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 "Milestone Community Church | Parish Profile". www.orkneycommunities.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  13. ↑ "Welcome to Milestone Community Church". www.orkneycommunities.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  14. ↑ "Orkney – United Free Church of Scotland". ufcos.org.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  15. ↑ "South Ronaldsay and Burray Church | Home". www.orkneycommunities.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  16. ↑ "Stromness Church of Scotland | Home". www.orkneycommunities.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "St Mary-the-Virgin Church,: Stromness". stmarysstromness.aodiocese.org.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  18. ↑ "Stromness Baptist Church". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  19. ↑ "Welcome - Westray Baptist Church". www.westraybaptist.org. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  20. ↑ "Birsay Heritage Trust - Main Details". www.birsay.org.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "St Magnus Church, Birsay" (pdf). Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  22. ↑ "Brough of Birsay:Chapel (12th Century), Settlement (12th Century)". Canmore.org. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  23. ↑ "St Michael's Church, Harray, Orkney Islands, KW17 2LD - Novaloca.com". www.novaloca.com. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  24. ↑ "Sanday, Cross Parish Church | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  25. ↑ "Sanday, St Columba's Church | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  26. ↑ Stuff, Good. "Graemsay Kirk, Hoy And Graemsay, Orkney Islands". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  27. ↑ "Orkneyjar - St Olaf's Kirk, Kirkwall". www.orkneyjar.com. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  28. ↑ By, Undiscovered Scotland. "Lady Kirk, Sanday, Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland". www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  29. ↑ Gifford, John (1992). Highland and Islands (Buildings of Scotland). Penguin Books. pp. 348–349. ISBN   978-0300096255.
  30. ↑ "Deerness Parish Church - St Andrews and Deerness, Orkney - Places of Worship in Scotland | SCHR". www.scottishchurches.org.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  31. ↑ "St Andrews Parish Church (North Church) - St Andrews and Deerness, Orkney - Places of Worship in Scotland | SCHR". www.scottishchurches.org.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  32. ↑ Administrator. "St Peter's Kirk, Skaill". www.srct.org.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  33. ↑ "Saints in Scottish Place-Names - St Lawrence's Church, S. Ronaldsay (Burray)". saintsplaces.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  34. ↑ "Check out this commercial property on Rightmove!". Rightmove.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  35. ↑ Gifford, John (1992). Highland and Islands (Buildings of Scotland). Penguin Books. p. 377. ISBN   978-0300096255.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orkney</span> Archipelago, county and council area in northern Scotland

Orkney, also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago off the north coast of Scotland. The plural name the Orkneys is also sometimes used, but is now considered incorrect. Part of the Northern Isles along with Shetland, Orkney is 10 miles (16 km) north of Caithness and has about 70 islands, of which 20 are inhabited. The largest island, the Mainland, has an area of 523 square kilometres (202 sq mi), making it the sixth-largest Scottish island and the tenth-largest island in the British Isles. Orkney's largest settlement, and also its administrative centre, is Kirkwall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirkwall</span> Town on Orkney, Scotland

Kirkwall is the largest town in Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland. First mentioned in the Orkneyinga saga, it is today the location of the headquarters of the Orkney Islands Council and a transport hub with ferries to many locations. It is the centre of the St Magnus International Festival and is also a popular stopping off point for cruise ships. St Magnus Cathedral stands at the heart of the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brough of Birsay</span> An uninhabited tidal island off the north-west coast of The Mainland of Orkney, Scotland

The Brough of Birsay is an uninhabited tidal island off the north-west coast of The Mainland of Orkney, Scotland, in the parish of Birsay. It is located around 13 miles north of Stromness and features the remains of Pictish and Norse settlements as well as a modern lighthouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mainland, Orkney</span> Main island of the Orkney Islands, Scotland

The Mainland, also known as Hrossey and Pomona, is the main island of Orkney, Scotland. Both of Orkney's burghs, Kirkwall and Stromness, lie on the island, which is also the heart of Orkney's ferry and air connections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanday, Orkney</span> Island in Orkney, Scotland

Sanday is one of the inhabited islands of Orkney that lies off the north coast of mainland Scotland. With an area of 50.43 km2 (19.5 sq mi), it is the third largest of the Orkney Islands. The main centres of population are Lady Village and Kettletoft. Sanday can be reached by Orkney Ferries or by plane from Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland. On Sanday, an on-demand public minibus service allows connecting to the ferry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westray</span> Island of Orkney, Scotland

Westray is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, with a usual resident population of just under 600 people. Its main village is Pierowall, with a heritage centre, the 15th-century Lady Kirk church and pedestrian ferry service to nearby Papa Westray island. Westray has a number of archeological sites dating from 3500 BC, and remains of several Norse-Viking settlements. The spectacular sea cliffs around Noup Head are home to thousands of seabirds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Ronaldsay</span> Island in southeast Orkney, Scotland, UK

South Ronaldsay is one of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. It is linked to the Orkney Mainland by the Churchill Barriers, running via Burray, Glimps Holm and Lamb Holm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papa Westray</span> One of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, United Kingdom

Papa Westray, also known as Papay, is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, United Kingdom. The fertile soil has long been a draw to the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishop of Orkney</span> Head of the Scottish diocese, c. 1035–1688

The Bishop of Orkney was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Orkney, one of thirteen medieval bishoprics of Scotland. It included both Orkney and Shetland. It was based for almost all of its history at St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orkney Ferries</span>

Orkney Ferries is a Scottish company operating inter-island ferry services in the Orkney Islands. The company operates ferry services across 15 islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Orkney Artillery Volunteers</span> Coast defence artillery volunteers

The 1st Orkney Artillery Volunteers (OAV) was a part-time unit of Britain's Royal Artillery formed in the Orkney Islands in 1860 as a response to a French invasion threat. The unit served as coast artillery until it was disbanded after World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Magnus Church, Birsay</span> Medieval church located on the mainlaind of Orkney, Scotland

St Magnus Church, Birsay is a 17th-century church located in the parish of Birsay on Mainland, Orkney in Scotland. Built in 1664 on the site of an earlier, 11th-century church, St Magnus was later expanded in 1760 and 1867. The graveyard surrounding the church dates to the 18th century. The church is now maintained by the St Magnus Church Birsay Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Boniface's Church, Papa Westray</span> Historic church located on the island of Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland

St Boniface's Church, Papa Westray is a historic church and graveyard located on the island of Papa Westray in Orkney, Scotland. The site of the church dates back to the Iron Age and was possibly used later as a Christian monastery. The present church was built in the 12th century and was remodeled in 1710. A 12th-century Norse hogback gravestone lies to the east of the church. Two Pictish cross-slabs were uncovered in the graveyard in the 20th century, and were later moved to museums. Historic Environment Scotland established the site as a scheduled monument in 1959.

The 2023 of the Parish Cup was won by Westray in a final against Stenness. The first round draw was made on 11 April live on BBC Radio Orkney.

On 1 October 2024, all 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").

References

Further reading

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Churches in the Orkney Islands at Wikimedia Commons (contains photographs of several churches)

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.