History
The congregation which today worships in Pitlochry can trace its history back to at least the 7th century when it seems that a church dedicated to St Colm or St Colman was founded. [2] Further evidence of early Christian activity in the area is the Dunfallandy Stone, an 8th-century Pictish stone depicting a Celtic Christian Cross, which was found near Killiecrankie, 4 miles (6.4 km) to the north. [3] but was moved to Dunfallandy farm close to Pitlochry.
The original parish church was at Moulin, just north of Pitlochry, from the Middle Ages. A charter for the church at Moulin together with "three carucates of land" was granted to the monks of Dunfermline Abbey by William the Lion, King of the Scots(1165 to 1214). In 1231, Pope Gregory IX granted the monks of Dunfermline Abbey patronage of Moulin, thus augmenting their income.
A disastrous fire gutted Moulin Kirk in 1873 and, in addition to restoring this building, a new church was erected on a site in Pitlochry offered by Mr Archibald Butter of Faskally. The new church, designed by Dundee Architects Charles & Leslie Ower was complete by 1884, comprising a mixture of Romanesque Architecture and Victorian Gothic and Byzantine features, inspired by the work of F T Pilkington. [1] A monument commemorating Alexander Duff (1806–1878), the first Church of Scotland missionary to India, is situated in the church grounds. A church hall was constructed in 1910. [2]
In 1929, when the majority of United Free Church of Scotland congregations rejoined the Church of Scotland, the Pitlochry United Free Church (which had been consecrated in 1863 as a Free Church and was from 1900 a United Free Church) became known as the East Church and the building currently in use became the West Church. The West Church, because of its prominent position overlooking the village, became affectionately known as "Mount Zion". It was designated as the second parish church of the Parish of Moulin in 1934.
In 1989, Moulin Kirk was closed for worship and in 1992 the congregations of the East and West Churches united to form "Pitlochry Church of Scotland". [2]
The church today
Today Pitlochry Church of Scotland is a thriving congregation with a wide range of activities for all ages. The Mission of the church is "To know Christ and to make Him Known" — "Our aim as God's people in this place, is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, make his name and love known as widely as possible, and to seek to serve the community in which God has placed us".
In 2024 the congregation was linked with Blair Atholl and Struan Church of Scotland. The most recent minister is the Reverend Mark Foster, who was called to the new charge of Blair Atholl and Struan l/w Pitlochry Church of Scotland in October 2024.
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