Community buyout plan for Inverness Old High Church with links to Battle of Culloden and Outlander TV drama series gains public support

Campaigners keen to acquire a historic Inverness building for the community have been buoyed by a show of support at a public meeting.

The A-listed Old High Church is currently 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 keen on reviving a community-led bid to retain the building for public use are optimistic a package can be put together for its long-term sustainable use.

They now hope to press forward under the banner, Save The Old High (SOHI).

• Public meeting to explore possible community buyout of A-listed 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

The Church of Scotland is seeking offers over £150,000 for the landmark building which has important links with the Battle of Culloden, Highland regiments and the globally-popular TV drama series, Outlander.

The meeting, to gauge support for the idea of pursuing of a community buyout, was held at Inverness Town House and attended by about 70 people.

Ideas ranged from using it as a small music venue to a stop on a pilgrim trail linked to St Columba while there was discussion on how it could generate an income to benefit the building and the local economy.

Chris Lewcock, who has acted as a planning adviser to the Friends of the Old High Church - which previously submitted an unsuccessful bid - said there was renewed optimism for acquiring the building for community use.

“The mood was very positive,” he said.

“There were a number of people there from the former congregation who were obviously interested in making sure the building they love continued to be in use.

“There were people interested in its contribution to the future of Inverness and its future direction for the city.

“Someone came up with the suggestion of a Highland dance academy while someone suggested a Highland piping centre.”

Its Jacobite connections, including its links with the Battle of Culloden, and the drama series, Outlander, were cited as potential draws for visitors.

The possibility was also raised that it could feature on a pilgrim trail linked to St Columba who reputedly banished a creature to Loch Ness from the site known as St Michael’s Mount.

Other suggested uses for the building, which houses a Victorian Willis organ, included a small music venue, performances, exhibitions and meetings.

“There was a lot of optimism that a package could be put together to make the building sustainable for the long term,” Mr Lewcock said.

“A lot of people were very positive about coming forward and giving their help.”

There was some mild criticism of the Church of Scotland over the sale.

“I think there was a sense among some people that a lot of people in Inverness and the Highlands have put money and time and energy into the church over the years - and here was the Church of Scotland flogging it off for financial return,” Mr Lewcock said.

But he also felt there was an understanding that it was important for the Church to have funding for its work - although there was a feeling that given the importance of the building that the Church might have been more engaged in its future use.

Next steps include expanding the small working group with more expertise and holding talks with other organisations about the possibility of securing funding to commission consultants to look into the options and finances.

“We will also be trying to make an approach to the Church of Scotland to see how we can go forward with them,” Mr Lewcock added.

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.

The building dates from 1769/1772 with a late 16th century tower with lower structure dating from 14th century. The tower houses the old burgh clock and curfew bell.

A Church of Scotland spokesman said it welcomed the interest in the Old High and the imaginative ideas being put forward for its future role in the Inverness community.

“The Church of Scotland is open to working with community groups interested in purchasing one of our buildings, and this has led to a number of our church buildings being taken into community ownership to preserve them for future generations,” he said.

“As with all our buildings, the Church of Scotland will work with potential buyers and interested parties to determine the best future for the building.”

The General Trustees, the property holding arm of the Church of Scotland, were legally obliged to act in the best interests of the charity and to obtain proper value for any surplus assets.

“Although we recognise the significance of our historic buildings, the Church’s main mission is to share the Gospel message, but where such buildings cannot be retained indefinitely, they will always seek to deal with them sensitively and appropriately,” the spokesman continued.

“The plan to release the Old High building in Inverness was first considered after the congregation united with St Stephen’s Church in 2020 and the united congregation decided that the St Stephen’s building was better suited to the future needs of their mission.

“The proceeds of the sale and money raised from the sale of the Old High Church, will be reinvested back into the work of the congregation as it continues to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

“There has been some interest in the building since it was re-advertised for sale and the kirk session would welcome offers from interested parties, particularly those sympathetic to the historical and spiritual importance of the Old High.”

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