Save the Old High Inverness crowdfunding campaign to buy historic A-listed building raises £1100 in first week
A campaign aimed at buying Inverness’s oldest church for community use has raised more than £1100 in its first week.
Members of Save the Old High Inverness (SOHI) hope to raise £100,000 to buy the city’s A-listed Old High Church after it was put up for sale by the Church of Scotland.
It is seeking offers of more than £99,500 for the building which has important links with the Battle of Culloden, Highland regiments and the globally-popular historic drama series Outlander.
• Save the Old High Inverness launches £100k crowdfunding campaign
• Price tag for Old High Church slashed by one-third
• Community buyout plan for historic Inverness building gains support
Following inquiries from people wanting to support a community buyout, SOHI launched a GoFundMe campaign which is already attracting donations.
Various fundraisers are also being planned including an event at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on Saturday August 23.
Further details have yet to be announced but the ticket price of £40 will include a two-course meal and a short ceilidh plus an auction and raffle.
SOHI will also have a stall at the Highland Games in Bught Park, Inverness, on July 12 when it will raise awareness of the campaign.
Campaigner Thomas Prag was delighted with the response so far to the crowdfunder.
“People were asking how they could help and we needed to provide a way to do that,” he said.
“There are people out there who want to give donations this gives them an opportunity.”
He said the fundraising campaign would be stepped up when more details are known about the costs of running the building.
An announcement is expected early next month on which consultants have been appointed to compile a business case on the work required and possible opportunities.
The building dates from 1769/1772 with a late 16th century tower with the lower structure dating from 14th century.
The tower houses the old burgh clock and curfew bell.
The building was first put up for sale in November 2023 after the Church of Scotland concluded it was no longer financially viable to maintain both that building and St Stephen’s in Crown.
Although a sale was agreed with an anonymous bidder, it fell through and the building was placed back on the market about six months ago, with offers of more than £150,000 sought.
Earlier this month, the Church reduced the asking price by one-third.
At a public meeting to gauge support for the idea of pursuing a community buyout, suggestions for its future use included a heritage centre, small music venue, performances and exhibitions, a Highland dance academy and a Highland piping centre.
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.
