Save Inverness Old High campaign steps up drive to acquire A-listed building under a community buyout

A fundraising ceilidh will be held next month as the campaign to acquire a historic Inverness building for community use is stepped up.

The A-listed Old High Church is facing an uncertain future after the Church of Scotland placed it back on the market when a previously-agreed sale with an anonymous bidder fell through in November.

But a group of people, buoyed by growing public support, are leading a campaign under the banner, Save Old High Inverness (SOHI), in an attempt to put together a community bid to retain the building for public use.

An interim board has been formed and a campaign website has also been set up.

• Community buyout plan for Inverness Old High Church

• Future of A-listed Old High Church in Inverness back on the drawing board

• Sale of A-listed Old High Church in Inverness falls through after prospective buyer is unable to produce funds

People wanting to help secure the building’s future, meanwhile, are being urged to join a fundraising Ceilidh for a Cause at An Seòmar in Church Street on Thursday April 18.

Promising to be a lively night of music, dancing and community spirit, It will feature live music by Tartan Paint whose music blends Scottish and Irish folk with modern influences.

Tickets will cost £12 or use the Pay What You Want option at Ceilidh for a Cause.

The Old High dates from 1769/1772 with a late 16th century tower with lower structure dating from 14th century.

After the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the churchyard was used for the execution of Jacobite prisoners.

It also has important links with Highland regiments and the globally-popular historic drama series Outlander as well as housing a Father Willis organ which was installed in 1892.

But the Church of Scotland put the building up for sale in November 2023 after concluding it was no longer financially viable to maintain both the Old High and the B-listed St Stephen’s in Crown.

An offer by the Friends of the Old High Church - which felt the building had potential as a multi-use space for community events, multi-cultural entertainment, educational, social and tourism activity - was outbid.

But the idea of a community buyout has been revived after an offer agreed with an anonymous buyer fell through and the building was placed back on the market for offers of over £150,000.

Chris Lewcock, secretary of the interim board for the campaign group, said they had been encouraged by the feedback from a recent public meeting to gauge support.

“We had some very positive input,” he said.

“The next stage is to make sure we have money to commission consultants going forward.

“They would be looking at the structure of the building and making sure it is sound and also some of the options as to how it could be used and also proof of viability.”

An application has been submitted to the Architectural Heritage Fund and it is also intended to apply to Inverness Common Good Fund.

He was unsure of timescales and also sympathised with the church session which was currently having to meet the ongoing costs of the building including maintenance and electricity.

But he stressed it was important to make sure the right decisions were made for the good of the building as well as getting public support.

“We want to make sure the community is involved and that we come up with a good solution,” Mr Lewcock said.

“This building is so important not just to Inverness but also to the nation.

“We need to get it right this time.”

The interim board is chaired by Jean Slater while the vice chairpeople are Thomas Prag and Maureen Kenyon with Donald Mackenzie taking on the role of treasurer.

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