SAVE OLD the
The culture and history of Scotland are bled into the stones of the Old High — a landmark standing above the River Ness. The Friends of the Old High hope to make it one of the ‘must visit’ places in Inverness. Local residents and the business community would be involved to safeguard the building and ensure that it has a living future. It would have performance, exhibition, memorial and community spaces where the vibrancy of the Highlands can be celebrated.
“This is one of the most historically significant buildings in Inverness. It must not be lost to the public.”
Margaret Meek
“Please help us preserve this church which has been at the centre of the life of Inverness over the centuries.”
Joyclyn Cossar
“Was aghast to think the church was for sale and who might get it and use it improperly. All the best, hope you succeed in its preservation.”
Sherry Byrd“Surely this building belongs to the people of Inverness and should be gifted to an organisation, trust or similar who would protect and care for it.”
“We need to ensure that our heritage is preserved for the generations to come.”
Katrina Woods Maureen T KenyonWe would create a sanctuary in the existing vestry. This would welcome pilgrims on the St Columba trail and expatriate Highlanders. It would contain memorials to past parishioners and the Old High’s central role in the civic life of Inverness, including its link with the Cameron Highlanders.
We hope to develop an interactive family history facility centred on the internationally important Andrew Paterson photographic archive and the documentation and other material held by the Inverness Local History Forum to record new memories from visitors and residents.
The Friends hope to work with Inverness BID and others to provide display and small meeting spaces for promotional activities related to aspects of the commerce, history and arts of Inverness and the Highlands. These will complement the Castle project.
There would be a café and shop, toilets and a management office, a community meeting room and income-generating floor space.
We are reaching out to local communities as much as we can — they will be central to everything that happens at the Old High. There should be volunteering and training opportunities for young and old in the café and shop, through historical and archaeological work, tourism guiding, music and the arts and in the refurbishment and ongoing maintenance of the building.
The Old High has a galleried and highroofed interior, centred on the historic Father Willis Organ and beautifully lit by stained glass windows. We hope to work with local artists to turn this into a 400-seat auditorium and rehearsal space to showcase the many musicians, poets and writers from across the Highlands.
The Friends will work with Highland Council, Historic Scotland, archaeologists and historians to conserve the building, to conduct archaeological and historical investigation and to continuously present to visitors discoveries in and under the building and the graveyard.
Inside this leaflet are proposals we are working up to buy, refurbish and re-use the Old High. Funds are vital but your ideas and memories will be equally helpful as will any time and skills you can offer.
Please drop us a line at: oldhighfriends@gmail.com
You can also help our cause by completing questions in our survey form here:
https://forms.gle/WZ8EqyJ4KVHR9cs1A
Or if you wish to donate direct towards the preservation and future use of the Old High you can access our Crowdfunding page here: https://bit.ly/3KRH0QO
Email: oldhighfriends@gmail.com
www.lostinverness.co.uk/oldhigh • www.invernesshistory.co.uk/oldhigh
www.cookcollection.co.uk/oldhigh
© 2023 Friends of the Old High Church. Scottish Charity No: SC047240
