East Church, Lochluichart

East Church, Lochluichart

ID: QZP40_CARD_1144 DESCRIPTION: The East Church at Lochluichart, one of several 'Telford' or 'Parliamentary' churches built in sparsely populated parts of the Highlands following an Act of Parliament passed in 1823. In the original Act, up to 40 additional churches with manses were to be provided at a cost of no more than £1500 each. A stipend of £100 a year was to be paid to the minister of each church; the precentor (lead singer) was to receive £5 and the beadle (church officer) £3. An amended Act was passed in 1824 which ensured the 40 stipends but directed that only 30 churches with manses should be built, and looked for a further 10 sites where places of worship already existed and only a manse was needed. The minister's stipend was raised to £120 and those of the precentor and beadle abolished. Commissioners were appointed to choose the 40 sites but they were dependent on sites being offered by landed proprietors. After many deliberations they chose sites for 32 churches and 43 manses, among them Kinlochluichart in the parish of Contin. Thomas Telford, engineer of many Highland roads and bridges, was appointed to superintend the building of the new churches and manses. Along with others, he designed a Standard Church capable of seating 312 people. The buildings were intended to be functional and resistant to the effects of stormy weather. The land for the Kinlochluichart church was given by Sir James Wemyss Mackenzie of Scatwell. The contractor was James Smith and the church, with single-storey manse, was completed in 1827 at a cost of just over £1489. PLACENAME: Lochluichart DISTRICT: Muir of Ord OLD COUNTY/PARISH: ROSS: Contin SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Highland Libraries' Postcard Collection Asset ID: 33067 KEYWORDS: