Orkney Islands Church of Scotland

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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.

Contents

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)PopulationBuildingsFounded
Birsay, Harray & Sandwick2,224Milestone Community Church, Dounby2012
Flotta l/w Orphir & Stenness l/w Hoy & Walls1,566Flotta Church*
Orphir Church*Medieval
St Columba's, Longhope, South Walls*1832
Stromness2,286St 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)

1,877Evie Church, Stenso*
Rendall Church*
Firth Church, Finstown*
Rousay Church, Brinian*
Eday160Eday Church*
North Ronaldsay72North Ronaldsay Church (meets in school)
Sanday494Sanday Church, Broughtown (Burness)*
Papa Westray l/w Westray678St Ann's, Papa Westray*
Westray Church*
Stronsay Moncur Memorial353Moncur Memorial Church, Stronsay*
Kirkwall East l/w Shapinsay8,575North Church, Shapinsay*
Kirkwall East Church1796
Kirkwall St Magnus Cathedral St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall*Medieval
East Mainland1,746East Mainland Church, Holm*
South Ronaldsay & Burray1,318St Margaret's, St Margaret's Hope, S. Ron.*
St Peter's, Eastside (2 services/year)*

Closed churches

ChurchFoundedClosed
St Magnus, Egilsay Medieval
St Olaf's, KirkwallMedievalC17th [3]
St Nicholas, Stronsay*MedievalC18th [4]
St Peter's, Stronsay*MedievalC18th [5]
Burray Church*Medievalc. 1800 [6]
Cross Parish Church, Sanday*MedievalC19th [7]
Hoy Parish Church*MedievalC20th [8]
Lady Parish Church, Sanday*MedievalC20th [9]
Graemsay ChurchMedievalC20th [10]
Deerness Parish Church*Medieval1974 [11]
St Peter's, Sandwick*Medieval1984 [12]
St Andrews Parish Church, Tankerness*Medievalc. 1990 [13]
Stenness Parish Church*Medievalc. 2000 [14]
St John's Kirk, North Walls18832001 [15]
Birsay Church, Twatt*Medieval2008 [16]
Sandwick Church, QuoylooC19th2008 [16]
St Michael's, Harray*Medieval2012 [16]

See also

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References

  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. 1 2 3 "Milestone Community Church | Parish Profile". orkneycommunities.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
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