St Fergus Parish Church
“Through the Ages” by Harry Gray and John Cormack
With acknowledgments to Lawson Rosie
With acknowledgments to Lawson Rosie
The early history of our church has fascinated many people over the years and a great deal of research has been carried out by people such as Rev Donald Beaton. Much information on the subject can be found in his "Ecclesiastical History of Caithness," Pastor John Horne has also recorded much of interest and it is from these sources that most of the information on the early church in this article has been obtained.
Some years ago, a member of the congregation, the late Mrs. Sheila More gathered together a good deal of information on the early church from the above and other sources and her invaluable research is incorporated in this article. No hard evidence has ever come to light regarding the site of the first church in Wick although there has been a deal of speculation regarding the coming of Christianity to our shores. First in the coming of St Ninian who it is suggested landed at “the head of Wick” it is held by some that this would be the North Head while others argue for the Camps area as the head of Wick and certainly in the Burgh Records for 9th September 1663 there is an entry referring to proposed combat between Alexander Pruntoch, merchant and William Beib, junior, tailor, who, both being drunk in the house of John Nactie, merchant, the said persons undertook a party combat, to have met with their seconds at St Ninian’s Head “below the said Burgh.” This would seem to favour the camps area. The cell or chapel said to have existed at Mount Hooly has been attributed to Saint Fergus but again no real evidence has been discovered. A possible site of a priest’s cell has been discovered in recent times at Papigoe but so far, no work has been carried out on this interesting site.
The third site for the church proper as opposed to a chapel or cell is again in the camps area, the open green area at the east end of High Street on the south side is reputed to be the site of an ancient graveyard. A local lady, herself an octogenarian relates that her grandmother told her that when that part of High Street was being developed in the early 1880s some human remains were uncovered and interestingly nothing has ever been built on the site. It certainly meets the criteria for the classic Scottish graveyard; on a south facing slope above water. From the Records of the Bishopric of Scotland we glean the following. In 1549 Bishop Stewart brought a series of charges against George 4th Earl of Caithness for various excesses and breaches of sanctuary (original documents preserved in the Charter Room in Dunrobin Castle) the paper is full of “violent handling” acts of oppression to priests, servants and others under the protection of the Bishop. The Earl is even charged that” his man Arche Keyth laid violent hands on Schir Alexander Mernes his own curat withyn the sanctuary of the Kirk of Wyk, the Kirk and Kirk yard being therby suspendit.”
Sanctuary in those days was defined as the area of ground within a circle of thirty paces of the font and the font was the first article of consecrated furniture inside the Kirk. All sorts of penances were handed out when sanctuary was breached. The church door was locked and barred sometimes even nailed shut, the windows usually unglazed, were filled with gorse and nettles. No one could enter until the church had been cleansed and re-consecrated. It is possible that this building was pulled down and the church site moved from the east to the west end of High Street shortly after this incident.
A remnant only remains of the original church on the present site, a small chapel or transept, known on the survey maps as Saint Fergus Chapel but known locally as The Sinclair Aisle. The oldest memorial in the Sinclair vault is dated 1576 and the oldest burial stone in the surrounding graveyard appears to be 1639 so it might be that the old graveyard at the east end of the town was still used for some time after the church was moved, it is possible that earlier gravestones may yet be found.
Wick was sacked and burned in 1588 by the Earl of Sutherland’s while on a mission to get hold of the Earl of Caithness who had prudently locked himself into his castle at Girnigoe. Sutherland’s men burned and looted Wick and carried away considerable quantity of goods. The church however was spared destruction, but a highlander by the name of John Mac-gilli-calum entered the church intent on treasure and found the leaden casket containing the old Earl’s heart (the Earl had died in Edinburgh and had been buried in Roslyn Abbey and his heart had been removed and placed in a lead casket). In fury, the looters threw the heart to the winds.
From this we might surmise that this new church known as the Kirk of St Fergus had been built about the time of the Reformation, 1560. The first minister on record was Andrew Philip 1567 – 1576 who then translated to Thurso. We then have
1576 Thomas Keir Afterwards translated to Olrig
1580 John Prunto or Pronthoch
1606 John Innes
1614 Thomas Annand
1638 John Smart (Mr Smart was a member of the famous Glasgow Assembly of 1638.)
1654 Harry Forbes A.M Afterwards became minister of Auldearn, Nairnshire.
1659 William Geddes A.M (accepted Episcopacy and was rebuked, became minister at Urquhart, Restored to Wick, 1692 (see below).
1682 Patrick Clunies, A.M. Died 1691.
1692 William Geddes, A.M. Died 1694. Wrote several learned works, but the only one known to be published was entitled "Saints Recreation," with a long and quaint sub-title. It was mostly poetical, but the poetry was not on a high level.
1698 Alexander Stedman Sent to Wick by General Assembly's Commission, but for some reason was not settled in the charge.
1701 Charles Keith, Died 1705. In 1702 he represented to the Presbytery that "he had several insuperable difficulties and crushing grievances in the said paroch" (Wick)
1707 James Oliphant Died 1726. (Wrote an account of the parish for Macfarlane's "Geographical Collections,"
1727 James Ferme Died 1760, in the 33rd year of his ministry
1761 Rev David Dunbar of Olrig was presented this year, but died before the date of admission.
1762 James Scobie, A.M. Died 1764, aged 30.
1765 William Sutherland A.M. Died 1816, in his 79th year and the 52nd year of his ministry. This was the minister who in his public prayers used to intercede "for the magistrates of Wick, such as they are!" He wrote the account of the parish for the Statistical Account (Volume X.).
1813 Robert Phin
The move to Presbyterianism after 1560, did not happen overnight and old habits and superstitions clung on for many years
Matters were quite confused between Episcopalian and Presbyterian forms and John Horne described the situation when he wrote;
"Episcopacy and Presbyterianism fought and flirted with each other; and sometimes Presbyterians stole Episcopalian guns, and occasionally Episcopalians went on parade in Presbyterian tunics."
Back in 1613 the incumbent in Bower, Dr. Richard Merchiston also described as Archdeacon, a noted iconoclast, took to visiting the Parishes in Caithness and seeking out graven images on which to vent his wrath. He visited Wick in that year and came upon the image of St Fergus in the old Kirk which he duly attacked and defaced. The townspeople were incensed at the treatment meted out to their saint and would have dealt with Merchiston quite severely on the spot but the magistrates intervened and gave him safe passage out of the town. However, the people were not to be denied and a party of them ambushed Merchiston as he rode out along Wick River, dragged him into the water and drowned him. At the subsequent enquiry, witnesses swore on oath that they had seen St Fergus astride the unfortunate minister holding him down in the river.
In 1701 Charles Keith arrived in Wick he was not long here and Died 1705. In 1702 he represented to the Presbytery that "he had several insuperable difficulties and crushing grievances in the said paroch" he had little support from either the elders or heritor’s and Presbytery reacted by sending a deputation to rebuke the elders some of whom they reported they had found to be “ignorant of God.”
In 1726 we have a short description of the church written by the minister Mr. Oliphant. In it he states, “The church stands at the west end of the town of Wick, the head burgh of the shire. It is called St Fergus Church and there is at the east end of it on the north side under a little pend, a hewn stone with a man at full length on it which is said to be his effigy engraven on stone. The steeple on the west end seems to be a very ancient work; but there are neither letters nor figures to know its antiquity. On the north side of the church stands the Sinclair’s Aisle, the ancient burial place of the Earls of Caithness where many of them lie interred in a vault. To the east of that on the same side of the church stands the Dunbar’s aisle, the burial places of the family of Hempriggs and in it a handsome monument in hewn stone.”
He goes on to tell us that in 1701 the Parish Church fabric was in a bad state of repair and workmen were employed for “minding ye roof and glassing ye windows.” It seems that the Kirk of that time was a quite wretched place with a thatched roof and seats or chairs that were brought by the people. On August5th 1704 the Heritors met to get an opinion as to the state of the roof and after deliberation Donald Sutherland, “sclater of Papingoe” was employed to re thatch the roof, the Heritors agreed, (condescended is the word used) to meet the cost of repairs. More repairs were carried out in 1728 and 1752. In 1719 the son of John Campbell of Glenorchy (of Altimarlach fame) had sold his share of the church patronages to Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster.
The Kirk beadle, a position of distinction in 1711 was one Willie Abernethy, in November of that year Willie resolved on a “burst” and when well and truly in his cups he visited the minister Mr. Oliphant and favoured him with overpowering frankness and abusing him in choice and colourful language, he then set off for the Kirk and opened it without keys (one of Willie’s tricks) took a chair belonging to one Helen Henderson and brought it to “triumphal desolation!” the Kirk folk were less than impressed and the session “after long and mature deliberation did discharge him from his post forever.”
The Power of the Kirk Session
Sabbath breach greatly occupied the minds of the Minister and Session in times gone by.
In the early 1700s one gentleman from Noss appears to have been influenced by the exploits of Samson when he tied a firebrand to the tail of a fox and loosed the poor animal into the standing corn of the Philistines, as foxes were not easily obtained in Noss in the 1720s a substitute had to be found. Wick 7th October 1722. The Session was this day informed that ane, David Petrie; Noss had raised wilful fire last Lord’s Day by tying fire to the tail of a cat and had sent her among the corn where she had burned some and endangered others. The Minister, having ordered him to be summoned to this diet, and he, being called, compearing, was interrogat (sic) as above confessed that he had done it and that some corn was burnt yrby. (Thereby.) The Session appoints him to stand in sackcloth at ye Church door next Lord’s Day from ye ringing of ye second bell till ye congregation be convened yrafter to appear in ye ordinary place of repentance and be rebuked publicly after divine service.
It seems that the good people of Noss were either free spirits or had little regard for the rules of the day for in April the following year there was a case which the Session looked upon as a “horrid prophanation (sic) of the Lord’s day!”
Wick 25th April 1723. The Minister informed the Session that on Sabbath day last Janet Cunninghame in Smallquies, with a child in company had been at the shore of Noss gathering dulse and tangles all the Lord’s Day. He had ordered her to be summoned to that diet and she appearing, was interrogat as above and acknowledged that she was, but went on the Saturday night and could not return till the Sabbath afternoon. (Why this was, is a mystery) the Session found her guilty and sentenced her in the same manner as David Petrie.
A heinous crime dealt with by the Session was that of “scolding.” This was a crime mostly committed by the women of our parish, serious enough on ordinary days but if a woman let lose her tongue on the Sabbath, even within her own home and upon her own husband, then she had better beware lest it come to the ears of the Kirk Session who would not be slow to administer a powerful punishment. The virago who dared disturb the peace of her husband and / or her neighbours, on being found guilty was obliged to make a public confession and a profession of her repentance before the whole congregation, a salutary humiliation and one not easily forgotten by all, as well as being a source of great delight to a hen-pecked spouse. One such lady, Elspeth Calder, in August 1708 was brought before the Session accused of fighting with and scolding her husband and servant. In the event the Session could not find enough evidence against her. All the witnesses either claimed to have been elsewhere or saw nothing. (Did she have them all terrified?) Nonetheless the Session was convinced in their consciences of her “turbulent humour” and thought it fit that the minister should rebuke her before them with certification that if she ever should be guilty of “ye like hereafter” she would be punished severely.
Mr. Oliphant died in 1726 and his successor was Rev James Ferme and he is credited with being the first minister in Caithness to preach what was known as Arminian Doctrine or the doctrine of salvation. Until this time the preaching was of the severe Calvanistic doctrine of predestination. Suddenly here was Mr. Ferme preaching forgiveness, hope and life eternal. In 1746 he read an act of the general Assembly appointing a day of public thanksgiving for the defeat of the rebels at Culloden by His Royal Highness William Duke of Cumberland and our deliverance from Popery and arbitrary power. He remained in Wick until he died in 176. There then followed David Dunbar, one of the Olrig Dunbar’s who unfortunately died before his admission and he was followed by James Scobie a graduate from Marischal College Aberdeen but he died before his thirtieth birthday.
Then, in 1765 our church welcomed Rev William Sutherland who was a graduate of Kings College Aberdeen. In his time in Wick Mr. Sutherland made a huge contribution towards Sir John Sinclair’s great work, The Statistical Account of Caithness 1794. Mr. Sutherland wrote the section dealing with the Parish of Wick and it is truly a great study with wonderful insights to the way it was in the social and commercial life of our community. He speaks of the three men credited with beginning the herring fishing, Messrs Miller, Anderson and Sutherland and how 363 barrels were cured in 1782 rising to 10,000 in 1790 before Pulteneytown was even planned. He spoke in detail of local government, agriculture, shops, businesses and trades, the building of the new village of Louisburgh and of course comments on the ways of the people; all in all, a quite remarkable social commentary. On the other hand, he had some very great trials, not least his difficulties with heritors and magistrates, some of this he brought upon his own head by praying in public for the magistrates of Wick “such as they are.” He had already stated that the old Kirk was falling to pieces and described it as “very old a long, dark ill constructed building, perhaps the worst in Caithness; a new fabric will be soon necessary” and as if to reinforce this, one Sabbath morning the steeple of the ancient church gave way and crashed into the Kirk yard. The Caithness Presbytery decided that this new church would be built at a cost of £1250. 15. 11d sterling and the heritors were duly assessed, with Sir Benjamin Dunbar to provide the bulk of the cash. Shortly after this Sir Benjamin departed the county on military service as did several of his heritor colleagues who were involved in Fencibles duty, Sir Benjamin also resigned his role of undertaker of the project.
This left Mr. Sutherland in a quandary and finally he applied to Presbytery to be allowed to take over the job himself. He had no experience or knowledge of building work but amazingly Presbytery agreed and Robert Corner and Captain Harry Bain both local merchants and burgesses stood as cautioners to the tune of £250 to have the church completed by 1798. Sutherland rejected architects plans nearly all advice and proceeded to have the Kirk built as he saw fit. There were little or no foundations and from the start the building was doomed. As the poorly prepared foundations were being excavated a discovery was made of “people slain in battle and which had been buried without the usual attention.” The remains could possibly have been from the battle of Altnimarlach fought up river in 1680; there is no further reference of this or where they were re-buried. Rev Sutherland obviously had ties with the local Lodge of Freemasons as can be seen in the following extract from Alexander Miller’s booklet “Early days of Freemasonry in Wick.”
“Wick, 14th June 1797. This day the Master Warden and other members walked in procession from the Town Hall, Wick, to the churchyard thereof and there Major McLeay, Master of the said Lodge, with the assistance of the Warden, laid the foundation stone of a new church to be built for the said town and parish and after a short but suitable address from the Master the Rev Mr. William Sutherland minister of the Gospel at Wick, consecrated the said work by prayer and the lodge ordain a copy of this minute to be put in a Phial to be sealed up and thereafter to be built into the wall as close to the foundation stone as possible, which stone was laid between the hours of 12 noon and 1pm and annexed to the copy of the minute they directed the following lines addressed to Almighty God to be added: -
“These walls we to thy honour raise,
Long may they echo to thy praise
And thou descending fill the place
With choicest tokens of thy grace
Thereafter the lodge returned to the Town Hall where they drank a glass to the success of the work, with several loyal and suitable toasts on the occasion.”
The work was completed in June 1799 and there then followed a bitter and protracted wrangle over the inspection of the property, and the heritors led by Sir Benjamin, now returned from duty, eventually carried the case to the Court of Session in 1808. A resolution was never reached and Mr. Sutherland died on June 23rd 1816, that same year Presbytery had the church condemned, Beaton in his writing in 1906 stated that despite the sub structural weakness the building never collapsed and it stood for a long time after the present building was in use. To get an idea of how bad the building was, Donald Sage in his Memorabilia Domestica relates that while he was on a visit to Thurso in 1818 he received a request for help from Mr Phin in Wick in administering the sacrament. He rode over on the Sabbath morning and after breakfast assisted Mr Phin in serving the tables and then preached on Monday forenoon and afternoon. He tells us;
“The services of the Sabbath and week day on that occasion at Wick were conducted in the open air, as the Parish Church was then in a ruinous state, the foundation giving way and rents appearing in the back wall.”
Rev Robert Phin who had studied theology at Aberdeen University and had been licensed on 7th February 1808 had been appointed as Mr Sutherland’s assistant and successor on 12th March 1813 and when Mr Sutherland died in 1816 he became minister, a post which he held until his death in 1840. Mr Phin appears to have been a hard working and popular minister and under his ministry the present church building was erected. The Church was built in 1820-30 to designs drawn up by John Henry of Edinburgh with assistance from James Crock, builder, and approved by John Chalmers
In 1822 when the walls were hardly above ground, building operations ceased. The contractor found the operation too much for him. Digging for the foundations of the western gable he had come upon running sand and to avoid the mistakes of the previous church he had to bore through to a depth of 30 feet to find a sure foundation. This proved to be his undoing and he failed. For several years, the walls stood just above ground until a contractor from Watten, Mr Davidson undertook the work bringing it to a successful conclusion. The new church was opened in 1830
Most of the stone used to build the church came from the north head of Wick and Louisburgh quarries and the woodwork was carried out by Mr. Donald Dunbar of Wick. The roof timbers are huge, 66’ in length 10” wide and 15” deep in red pine brought from Scandinavia by Captain Munro in his ship “Bittern” these were floated up river to the side of the Kirkyard and then manoeuvred to the wall heads, giving the church the reputation of having the widest unsupported roof of any church in Scotland.
There is not a single mention of the church being built in either the Kirk Session minutes or in the Wick Town Council Minute book except for a brief mention in the Council Book on July 10th 1830 that the Town Council had decided to present Mr Phin with a Bible and Psalm Book, it appears that this was done to commemorate the opening of the church and the silence was one of embarrassment for the previous wrangling endured by Mr. Sutherland. The John O Groat Journal did not appear until 1836 or we might have had a better insight to the events of that time. Mr. Phin married a daughter of Provost McLeay but she died early in their marriage and their only son became the well-known preacher and church leader Dr Kenneth McLeay Phin of Galashiels. Mr Phin died on 22nd March 1840 and at his funeral hundreds of people crowded the Kirkhill and vicinity to show the respect and affection that the community felt for this kind-hearted minister.
As for the Old Kirk, the following advert appeared in the Inverness Journal in October 1829.
MEMORANDUM
Robert Thompson Esq
Sir,
As I have formerly mentioned to you in person and as you desire it I now communicate in writing my method of carrying on the building operation of the stonework of the new church. In the first place what stones has been qiarried at the rocks in the bay and brought to the shore should be wothout any loss of time carted to the building as in the present situation they exposed to being covered with sand and otherwise and what of them remains at the quarry should be conveyed from it to the shore and carted as mentioned. By this being done the mason work on the building could commence on being provided with from twenty to thirty traces on ponies together with scaffolding. This timber and joiner work would be required to be in operation of being provided if possible as soon if not before the carting of the stones. Secondly the lime for mortar is far run and a cargo would need to be ordered as soon as possible as by it being on the spot the labourers at the works could be employed in preparing it when they might not be found nescessary in assisting the carting of the stones or at the quarry or otherwise.
Thiedly there is a good quantity of quarry and prepared at the rocks which with considerably less expense can now be quarryed then what has been occasioned formerly and by getting the matter in action as I have stated a good part of the building would be erected by the time the Louisburgh quarry would be ready for working or a supply of materials got from it.
Fourtlyas soon as the Louisburgh quarry can be wrought it must be prosecuted with the utmost vigour in order to provoid as much materials as possible in the season to keep the building going forward by the masons. Fiftly since the commencement of the working of the quarry at the rocks in the bay which was the 12th of Nov. last has cost by quarrying boating and the quary now prepares nearly one hundred ten pounds stelg. Sixtly the masons that has been employed in this work would require to be instantly settled with and engaged upon the most easy terms for a whole season and five or six eqial good hands on the same terms if they possibly can be got and I mention that it would be improper not to fix with them without securing for them the season as by a chance of them getting employment otherwise they might leave the work where they were of most value and most dependance put upon them.
If these measures are attended to I am satisfied that something can be done to satisfaction and you may depend any endeavour on my part will not be wanting.
And I am Respectfully
Sir
Your most obt. Snt.
Alex Miller
April 1824
The Rev. Charles Thomson who was admitted to this charge on the 17th September 1840 was of the Evangelical Party of the church and arrived in turbulent times in the national church, which ended in the Disruption of 1843. In its simplest form, the Heritors of the Kirk, the landed gentry, had the say on who should or should not be the minister and could pick a minister without reference to the people, and install him into the charge. The people regarded this as intrusion, and rebelled, saying, no more, we will choose our own ministers, we want out of the established Kirk we want a Free Kirk. The culmination of this was a huge meeting or Convocation in Edinburgh in November of 1842, where all in favour of “going out” would sign the resolution, they would then return to their Kirks and lead their people out. In the case of Wick, it was a wee bit different. The Rev Thomas Brown D.D. in his book, Annals of the Disruption, which was published in 1890, writes;
“There were cases indeed, in which the people went beyond their ministers in their zeal for the cause. Mr Thomson of Wick, belonged to the evangelical party of the church, but, as the crisis approached, he felt considerable perplexity, and, on returning from the Convocation, he gathered his people together on the 28th November to explain, which he did at some length, the reasons why he had NOT seen it his duty to sign the resolutions. (To leave the established Church) During his address the congregation sat looking at each other, much astonished, and after the meeting had been dismissed, the people, on the motion of Mr Davidson, Banker, sat still, elected a chairman, and asked Mr Thompson to listen to the proceedings. They went on to express their views, with much personal respect to their pastor, but in direct opposition to the sentiments of his address. It was then proposed that solemn thanks should be offered up to God, for the grace which had been vouchsafed to the 350 members of the convocation who had bound themselves to “go out” and this was done in a most impressive manner by Mr Donald George. At a second meeting held shortly after, they formally adopted the Convocation resolutions, and the result was that Mr Thomson saw it to be his duty to go along with his people, a resolution that was received with much satisfaction,” So it was, that in the case of Wick Parish Church, it was the people, who led the minister out.”
The story is told that at the first meeting after the exit Mr. Thompson said to his church officer “well I’m glad to see that you have come out with us,” to which the beadle replied “’deed aye sir an’ if ye go back, I’ll go wi’ ye!”
Rev William Lillie was inducted to this charge on 14th February 1844, a very short vacancy indeed. He came to us from Ellon where he was a licensed preacher, teacher of the parish school and actuary for the Ellon Bank which in his time was the bank with the highest deposits of any rural bank. While there he married a Miss Milne, daughter of a prominent local family. When Wick became vacant there was a large list of applicants but Mr. Lillie was chosen and approved by the patron Sir George Dunbar. The call was signed by only 80 people showing how far the disruption had eroded the congregation. Mr. Lillie immersed himself in the affairs of the town gradually winning people back to the Kirk. He had brought his own precentor with him to Wick, a Mr. Shepherd who worked as courthouse keeper but was a weaver to trade. The pulpit of the Kirk in those days was a large octagonal affair reached by a set of steep steps, immediately in front of this sat Mr. Shepherd, with the choir in front of him in a square box or Lateran. This gentleman was responsible for introducing the first trained choir into our Kirk. The building itself was unheated, the pews were all straight backed and the light was provided by the windows and oil lamps. During the early years of his ministry he had many fiery debates with his predecessor but as the years went on they became friendly and often working together. In April of 1875 Mr. Lillie was over on the west side of the county in his capacity of school examiner and he received a severe soaking and he caught pneumonia, later that year he felt well enough to move to his daughter’s house in Lybster with the intention of going on to Strathpeffer to convalesce but it was not to be and he passed away on Friday 1st October 1875 and now he and Mr. Thompson lie side by side in the Kirkyard.
After a vacancy lasting less than six months Rev. Alexander Clark came to Wick, eh had been a missionary in Madras but came to Wick from Strathbungo near Glasgow and was inducted into Wick Parish on March 9th 1876 and afterwards there was an induction social held in the Temperance Hall. This took the form of an evening of speeches with the choir singing anthems and hymns between the speakers. When Mr Clark spoke, he remarked that the evening was ideal for him as he had always believed that there was too much of a gap between Christianity and social life, he hoped that there would be many more social evenings to come so that we can connect with folk. Mr. Clark proved to be a thoughtful preacher and a capable administrator who achieved a great deal in his twenty-four years in Wick. During that time the straight-backed pews were reconstructed the whole church re decorated gas lighting introduced and our organ installed in 1883, (see separate story of the Organ) the last precentor was Mr. Ptolemy and the first organist Miss Mary Leith.
In February of 1899 Mr Clark received a petition from the folk in Thrumster signed by 253 people it read:
Sir, - We the undersigned residents of Thrumster and neighbourhood, being far from any church, desire to have a place of worship where we and our families may be able to attend divine service on Sabbath days, seeing that you now have an assistant minister in this parish, we earnestly hope that you will consider favourably the wants of this district. If you can see your way to build a small chapel for our use, we shall do all in our power to aid its erection and maintenance.
Mr. Clark certainly seemed to “connect” with people for the Thrumster Church was up and running in under a year. Mrs Clark was his real helpmate and was reported to be “indefatigable in her work with the poor and took a keen interest in the work of the Sunday school.”
Mr. Clark left Wick in late 1900 and was succeeded by Rev John M’Ausland Dickie MA BD. He had had a brilliant university career matriculating MA at the age of 20 and BD three years later and was prizeman in most of his classes. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Irvine in September 1896 and after being assistant minister at Old Monklands was ordained to Wick Parish on May 3rd 1901 ministering here for almost exactly ten years leaving for new Parish Rothesay on 18th May 1911.
Mr. Dickie took a keen interest in community affairs especially in education and served on the Wick School Board for most of his time in town and was chairman from 1909 – 1911. During his ministry, he saw the manse built at Thrumster then, despite carrying a debt on the Thrumster Manse the Minister and congregation pressed ahead and built a church Hall with Church Officers House in the High Street. Prior to this a church Officer’s house stood on the roadside opposite the church at the west side of Church Street. A huge Bazaar was organised to help clear the debt on Thrumster and begin building our hall, this was held in the Rifle Hall in Dempster Street on Thursday and Friday 6th and 7th September 1906. This was full of novelty items such as nail driving for ladies and hat trimming for men and two short concerts of 4/5 items were given on both evenings. The hall and house were built by 1908 and the first occupant was church officer Mr William Banks whose daughter Katie served this congregation well for many years.
A mere four months later Wick Parish welcomed Rev Guy Steele Peebles MA BD who incidentally was the same age as his predecessor and had graduated a year before Mr. Dickie. Mr. Peebles was licensed by the presbytery of Lanark on May 1st 1895 and like Mr. Dickie served as assistant at Old Monklands and two other churches before being ordained at Kinloss in 1900 transferring to Aberdeen South Parish in 1907 then Wick on 8th September 1911. He was a first-class preacher and of course was here when World War 1 broke out in 1914. He volunteered for service and had two three month spells at Stobhall Hospital and a third spell at the Scottish Military Hospital which at that time had 1000 patients. Provost Harper of Wick died in 1915 and at the same time several Wick boys were killed serving with the 5/6th Seaforths in France. At a special service for the Provost and the soldiers it was reported that Mr. Peebles spoke with great passion and compassion and his descriptive eloquence on that day showed his inner mind and finally in the autumn of 1916 he left for service as Chaplain to the Seaforths in France. He returned to Wick in 1918 but received a call from Uddingston and left on July 14th that same year. During his time, in 1912 the Kirk received the gift of the communion table and a chair from the Misses Henderson of Rosebank house and the centre aisle was opened through the pews.
On December 11th 1918 we received Rev John MacDougall from Cross and Burness, Orkney. He appears to have had a great gift as a motivator and during his twelve years a great deal was achieved. The commemorative tablets to the fallen of WW1 were installed, the whole church was redecorated and the organ overhauled. Two additional communion chairs were gifted by Miss Adeline Henderson; two vestries were erected one for the choir and the other for the minister and session. The choir box was enlarged and the screen and banisters installed, the west gable was re lathed and plastered and the exterior walls and steeple re pointed. If that were not enough Mr MacDougall took part in the community serving on the education committee and strongly supporting the Temperance movement, in 1922 he published “The Modern Conflict; Light from the Epistle of St James,” which got very favourable reviews. The Sunday school flourished and at one point boasted 300 members, he introduced a Bible Class for 15 – 18 year olds and achieved a membership of 150 with an average attendance of 130. It must have been a bitter blow when he accepted a call from St Michael’s Church in Edinburgh in 1929.
1930 was the Centenary year of the present building and Rev Richard Callen MA. LL.B. was inducted to this charge in April of 1930. Whereas the Kirk of 1830 was lit by oil lamps the Kirk of 1930 was dedicating the installation of electricity not only for light but the organ, which had been powered by water for the last forty-seven years, would now be driven by this new modern miracle. Mr Callen would only remain in Wick for two years and was succeeded by Rev Gordon Moore in 1932.
Mr and Mrs Moore very quickly settled into life and work in Wick and built on the firm foundations laid down by his predecessors. The Sunday School continued to flourish with the infant class in the smaller or lesser hall, primary children in the main hall and the senior Sunday school in the church, boys on the left side and the girls on the right. When WW2 broke out, Wick underwent a dramatic change with large numbers of service personnel especially RAF arriving in the town. Our church hall was taken over by the ministry of food and after trying to hold the children’s parties in the church building with little success, the local Salvation Army offered the use of their hall for the war years. The church became involved with the troops and built good and lasting friendships with many of the servicemen. The Sunday evening services were very well attended with a cup of tea served afterwards. At this time the gallery was closed for public worship and after the evening service, servicemen were entertained to tea in that area. A biscuit tin was used to hold sugar (then on strict ration) and it became known as the “Magic Tin” for it was never empty. The ladies would bring small quantities of sugar to keep it topped up.
Schools were closed during the war because of the fear of the many casualties if a bomb should strike a school and the classes were split up into many places throughout the town with our church being used from late 1940
The war made its presence felt very quickly when on 1st July 1940 the Luftwaffe made its first daylight bombing raid on Britain. Aiming to bomb Wick harbour the bombs fell short and hit Bank Row, on that day, seven men, three women and five children were killed and another twenty-two sustained injuries, Mr Moore had the unenviable task of conducting the memorial service on August 3rd 1940. More was to follow, for the town was attacked another five times over the following year. Casualties from the battlefields were many and Mr Moore had much to attend to in our community becoming a very well known and loved figure in our community.
More of the war time activities are noted on page 27
since then the ministers have been
1948 Dr Menzies, Locum tenens
1949 Rev PFC Black
1955 Rev Marshall Locum tenens
1956 Rev W Nethercote Scott
1971 Rev TGM Robertson
1985 Rev I Stiven Locum tenens
1986 Rev J Watson
1988 Rev R Stewart Frizzel
2001 Rev Steven Thomson
2004 Vacant
The Church Officers
In 1701 there were two church officers, one for each side of Wick River and their responsibilities were many and varied. As well as their usual Church bound duties, they attended upon the Kirk Session, saw to the grave digging and went out to summons people who were to appear before the Session for discipline. Their area of responsibility covered the entire parish from Keiss to Ulbster and in as far as Bilbster.
In 1770 one of the church officers was dismissed for being unable to carry out his duties because of drink. His colleague John Harrold carried on; he died in 1836 and William Miller was appointed in his place.
John Cormack and George Steven were appointed as officers and in 1853 George Steven was asked to resign due to a misdemeanour; there is no record of a successor to his post. John Cormack died in 1871 and Donald Shearer was appointed. We find that in 1874 he was to receive a salary of £10 yearly and a collection on the first Sunday in January, by 1877 his salary was still £10 but this was augmented by £6 from the heritors for sexton’s duties plus £2 from the Kirk Session and the collection in January which was around £5 so his annual earnings were about £23, and by 1879 his salary was £20 + unfortunately in 1887 the church found itself in debt so his basic salary was reduced to £15.
Extract from Kirk Session minute book in 1889:
“The Session considered the applications for the Church Officership and unanimously resolved to appoint Mr Alexander Matheson as church officer on condition of his resignation of the office of elder. Mr. Matheson, being present, accepted the appointment on the proposed condition, and intimated his resignation of the eldership which was accepted by the Session.”
Mr Matheson was a local builder and kept some cattle in a field in Willowbank where Bayview is today. He had the habit of referring to his beasts as being safe in their den, his nickname was Mosser, and for generations that part of Willowbank was known as Mosser’s Den. In 1892 it was decreed that on the Sabbath the Kirk Bell be rung at 9am, 10am, 11am and 2pm.
In 1887 the church officer distributed Life and Work magazine.
11th August 1899 Mr. William Banks was appointed as Church Officer and Sexton with a salary of £20 and served for 39 years resigning in 1938 and he died in 1939. He was the father of Miss Katie Banks who served as hall keeper for many years. In 1926 the Session instructed him to keep the church aired between services on Sundays and on suitable days during the week by having sufficient windows open. Mr Banks was succeeded by his son James Banks in 1938. In more modern times the Officers were John Paterson 1946 - 1965 John Munro 1966 – 1968 and the last church officer was Mr Alexander Miller 1968 – 1974. The Session found it impossible to recruit anyone for the post and it was decided that the duty elders would perform the duty.
The Churchyard
The earliest writing about the churchyard appears in 1766 when the Session “resolved to apply to the Magistrates to discharge all swine from feeding on the Kirkyard as they have already done damage in it.”
In 1769 it was reported that the mortcloth, a cloth used for covering coffins at the funeral ceremony, was old and worn out, it seems that new mortcloths were obtained and by 1774 the elders wanted the benefit of the bell and “best” mortcloth when they were buried without charge to their heirs.
In 1791 the burial of David Bain’s wife cost 7/6 (37½p) including the King’s duty plus the charge for mortcloth and bell. It was noted that fewer people were making use of the bell and mortcloth so the income from this was reduced but the numbers of the poor were increasing. It was decided that all burials should cost the same with the money going to the poor fund. We cannot tell if this happened as information gleaned from old records presents a confusing list of charges for burials.
In 1817 it records the burial of a woman’s body “found in the moss” as costing £1:6:8 and in 1830 the burial of a “poor man” was 2/6 (12½p) while the burial of a stranger in the same year cost 1/6 (7½p) with a coffin costing 5/- (25p) in 1816, 10/- (50p) in 1823 and 7/- (35p) in 1842.
When the New Wick Cemetery opened in 1872 the Kirk graveyard was closed for burials except for those whose partners had predeceased them and were buried there. The last burial did not in fact take place until May 1934 when Mrs. Annie Malcolm née Petrie of Grant Street passed away at the age of 102. In 1899 there was great complaint about the state of the graveyard which had suffered badly with much subsidence and fallen stones. At a public meeting in the Town Hall it was stated that the heritors were the legal guardians but were irresponsible and cannot be compelled to do anything, they contribute £6 per year for upkeep so the caretaker gives £6 per year of work. The meeting was long and “windy” and for reasons known only to himself it was well into the meeting when Mr. Shepherd, solicitor suddenly announced that the heritors had given their consent and work was beginning right away. By 1901 a new wall had been built all around the Graveyard at a cost of £102. All the notable people from the Parish of Wick before 1872 are buried in the Kirk yard the earliest date being 1576 in the Sinclair Aisle and the oldest in the graveyard is 1639.
Over the years there was much discussion between the Kirk, heritors and magistrates over who was ultimately responsible for the upkeep of the Kirkyard, eventually it fell to the local council who, in 1932 asked the Kirk Session if they would like to take over maintenance and upkeep of the area; the session wisely declined. New gates and railings were installed in 1935 at a cost of £38.10/-
The Poor
The earliest record of distribution of money comes in 1701 when a dumb person received 3/- (15p) and a crippled child 7/- (35p) in the district there were cases of great poverty and this showed little improvement even with the development of a great fishing industry. In 1839 we find the capital of the poor fund reduced by £30 and the Parish was in very hard times, the Kirk Session minutes’ mentions, a dying child, a destitute old woman, a very poor family, five orphans boarded out to five different families, probably no family could afford to take on more than one child; so, despite the fishing not all were prospering. When the Rev Thomson wrote the Parish report for the Scottish Statistical Account he noted that there were no fewer than 229 “utterly destitute” in the Parish, 52 males and 157 females plus all the children.
In 1838 an appeal was made to the heritors for help and “some” it was stated, responded, by 1839 Mr Horne of Stirkoke held £310 capital of the poor fund and paid 5% interest to the fund, the bank rate now was 4%. By 1846, three years after the disruption our Kirk could no longer bear the burden alone and a Parochial Board was set up and Mr Lillie and two elders were appointed as members, this board though less than perfect at least spread the burden wider. The last recorded envelope collection taken in our church for the poor was at Christmas 1923.
Finance
In the first half of the 18th Century our Kirk Session was responsible for the spread of education establishing side, or charity schools in different parts of the parish and paying the salary of the master. At times, and per the Kirks income these payments fell behind, especially toward the middle of the century when the session’s powers of fining and punishment were waning and being administered by the town authorities. The income of the Kirk fell to almost nothing and drastic measures were taken to pay the poor schoolmasters as we see in August of 1765: -
The session, taking into consideration that the schoolmasters in the different districts have not been paid their salaries for some time past which has reduced them and their families to great straits, unanimously resolved that for their immediate relief the treasurer be ordered to divide the £36.9.6 remaining amongst them and that they all be paid to Whitsun of 1765. The treasurer made the following entry
Paid James Dunnett in Thrumster ------------ £6
Paid James Craig in Noss ------------£12
‘’ Robert Harrold in Harland -------------£18 . 9 . 6
£36 .9 . 6
‘’ Benjamin Greenfield out of Bell
and Mort Cloth ----------- £9
Which pays off all the Masters, but left the Kirk flat broke.
The financial situation never seemed to improve but in 1868 we had a balance of £13.17.9d which today (2008) would be worth £634. In 1886 the Kirk was once more in debt; of course, this was after installing the organ and renovating the whole building. The herring fishing had a poor season and in 1887 the situation was grim and the salaries of the Organist, Session Clerk, Church Officer and Precentor were all reduced, each year was a struggle and the Kirk was in continual debt until 1920. In 1932 the Kirk Session had a real hard look at finances and suggested seven approaches;
1 There should be a treasurer, apart from the session clerk, both unpaid.
2 A finance committee should be set up
3 Collectors districts to be rearranged, extended and more attention paid to the roll.
4 The amount collected in the country would improve if the minister visited twice yearly.
5 An annual sale of work should be held.
6 There is definite opposition to a Free Will Offering scheme
7 Seat rents would be charged as a last resort
In 1938 there was a credit balance of £2.11.2d equating to around £94 today and within a year we were once again in debt
Although in early times Kirk income depended on seat rents, donations etc by the 20th century fund raising became part of congregational life. When Thrumster Church and manse were built a sale of work raised £230 while in 1906 as the Kirk was raising money for the building of the new hall a two-day Bazaar in the Rifle Hall raised the enormous sum of £840 which would have a spending worth today (2009) of £48,174.
During WW2 when the Kirk Hall was taken over by the Ministry of Food, Garden Fetes in the Manse grounds raised in 1942/43/44/45 £55, £104, £152, £128 respectively. For many years after WW2 the annual Gift Day was used as a fund raiser with the biggest amount ever raised at a Sale of Work was £3376 in the Assembly Rooms in 1980, giving a spending worth today of £6785.76 it is fair to comment however, that on the day the total was £1990 with another £1386 raised during the year. Our fund raisers today continue to work wonders in helping us to meet budgetary requirements.
The Sinclair Aisle
It has been a long-held belief that the Sinclair Aisle is a remnant or northern transept of the ancient St Fergus church which existed on the site at the time of the Reformation of 1560 it is still something of an enigma with no conclusive proof as to its ancient beginnings.
We are indebted to Ian Sinclair of Noss Head Hon. Archivist and Historian to Clan Sinclair Study Centre for the following informative article on the Aisle and its Sinclair connections.
Reputedly built in 1449 by Sir George Sinclair 4th Sinclair Earl of Caithness, which is strange because George died in 1582 and that would have made him 133 years old, not a bad age even for a Sinclair.
A great deal of paperwork has been produced over the years about the history and mystery of the Sinclair Aisle and in attempting to unravel some of the many stories we have come across from several written documents by individuals who were in one way or another involved or connected in the
Preservation of the Aisle. Let us look firstly at the Sinclair Aisle itself; as you will see from the photograph the Aisle is built from Caithness stone quarried locally, the true date of its construction remains a mystery but who knows, one day all may be
revealed. The crenulations on top of the walls were added in 1853 by the will of Miss Christine Sinclair of Stirkoke who for some reason took an interest in the Aisle around 1833. Also, included in the will was enough money to roof the building, but for one reason or another that never happened. On Tuesday 27 May 1975 with permission from the Town Council, a group from the 1st Ranger Guides under the supervision of Mrs Katie Burns, the guide leader and wife of Dr Burns of Wick, took on the task of clearing the rubbish and shrubs from inside the Aisle, the growth of the small trees covered most of the floor area some with a trunk thickness of 3 inches and were firmly rooted to the floor. After many hours’ work, one of the Guides found several old pennies dating from 1907 to 1914 up against the East wall. Professor Eric Talbot a lecturer in medieval archaeology informed the group that
the Aisle had been used as a temporary mortuary during the 1914-18 war for the bodies of sailors washed up on our beaches and the coins could well have belonged to them. Various bits of human bones were found confirmed as such by Dr. Burns.
Following many hard days of work the 12 inches of earth, trees and rubble were removed and the flagstone and red sandstone floor of the building, which had not been seen since 1865, was at last revealed. Mr. David Miller, a founder member of the Caithness Field Club assisted by members of the Wick Society and the Town Council, decided to raise the large red sandstone cover of the crypt to inspect the foundations of the Aisle and the crypt itself. This was undertaken on 10 July 1975. It took five men to lift the cover and when it was removed a ladder was lowered down into the crypt. Below was a dry burial chamber with a vaulted roof, the side walls being 4’ 6” high, sandstone fixed with mortar and the North wall having an air vent 8”x 10”. A large number of 4 inch stalactites hung down from a barrel-vaulted roof and in the centre of the crypt, a large lead casket stands on a small base of red sandstone.
Many history books tell the story of John Master of Caithness and the way he is alleged to have died. One of the many stories told by Sir Robert Gordon was that John Garrow, Master of Caithness, was imprisoned by his father, George the 4th Earl, and that his confinement had dragged out for seven years in a wretched existence. When his keepers, David and Ingram Sinclair, his own relatives, set out to end his life, having kept him for some time without food, they gave him a large amount of salt beef and then refused him any water, leaving him to die of a raging thirst. One must remember that Sir Robert Gordon was an avowed enemy of the Sinclair’s especially the Earl. Two very eminent Caithness antiquaries, the late John Nicolson, and D.G. Henderson have both stated that the master did not die in prison but in his bed peacefully at Knockinnon Castle. It is quite possible that the Master served time in the dungeon for not carrying out his father’s wishes. Again, history books tell us the reason John Garrow, the Master of Caithness, had incurred the displeasure of his father, the 4th Earl - it being that he had disobeyed his orders.
The Earl of Caithness sent his son who was known by the name of John Garrow, because of his great strength, {from the Gaelic word ' GARBH' meaning rough or strong}, to attack Hugh Murray, of Aberscors, and others of that name, residing in and about the town of Dornoch, and who were firmly attached to the family of Sutherland and had taken refuge in the town and castle of Dornoch. The castle was
besieged by John Garrow and his men, and for a while bravely defended, but in the end the Murray’s capitulated and having undertaken to depart out of Sutherland within three months, they delivered three hostages for fulfilment of the conditions. The Earl refused to ratify the treaty concluded by his son, and basely beheaded all three hostages. This took place in 1570 and in 1576 the castle of Girnigoe, which was at that period the baronial residence of the Earl of Caithness, is alleged to have become the scene of one of the most fearful atrocities on Scottish records. While conversing with his father, John Garrow was arrested by a party of armed men,
who upon a secret signal given by the Earl, had rushed in and fettered him in irons and carried him off to a dark dungeon below the castle. The reason for his arrest could have been that John had incurred the suspicion and the displeasure of his
father, the Earl, because of the treaty he concluded with the Murray’s and because he did not kill all the inhabitants of Dornoch when he had the opportunity. Will we ever know the true happenings of the castle? Well yes, one day we may when the vast assortment of documents found by the archaeologists are transcribed.
The body of John Garrow, Master of Caithness, is said to lay at rest in the vault below his fathers recently built Aisle at Wick. The sealed lead coffin still sits in the vault. The inscription on the slab that once sealed the tomb read as follows.
“HERE LIES ENTOMBED ONE NOBLE AND WORTHIE
MAN,
JOHN MASTER OF CAITHNESS, WHO DEPARTED
THIS LIFE,
THE 15th DAY OF MARCH 1576”
However, Scots Peerage states that he died by famine and vermin in September of 1575 It was thought at one time that the body of Miss Sinclair could have been inside the lead casket, but that has now been dismissed because it has been proved that she was buried at Ulbster.
One story which could hold water and be true is that about 1870 the Aisle was broken into by vandals and the owner who was then Sir John R. G. Sinclair, Bart, of
Dunbeath who resided at Barrock House, Lyth and was the owner of that estate, decided to tidy up the desecrated vault and the remains of bones found in the vault. The bones were placed in the stone sarcophagus which was encased in a lead
Casket.
There is not enough room in the vault to house more than one casket so if the story is true; it is quite probable that the stone sarcophagus inside the lead casket houses the body of John Master of Caithness.
Professor Eric Talbot, a lecturer in medieval archaeology, stated that the roof lining of the vault is 19th century and this might be one of the repairs carried out by
Miss Sinclair, of Stirkoke. On the base of the lead casket at the West end, the name SINCLAIR can be made out stamped out in the lead. This must have been done by Sir John R. G. Sinclair, Bart of Dunbeath when he had the lead casket made and reinterred into the vault. John (Garrow) Sinclair had married Lady Jean Hepburn
in January of 1566, she, being the widow of John Stewart {Lord Darnley}, the only daughter of Patrick, the 3rd Earl of Bothwell, and his wife Agnes who was daughter of Henry, Lord Sinclair. Lady Jean gave issue to four sons, and one daughter, who married Sir John Home of Coldingknows. The eldest son George became the 5th Earl of Caithness. The 4th Earl’s, second son, William of Mey, who died an unmarried
young man, left two illegitimate sons by different mothers, the eldest of whom, Patrick, was the first laird of Ulbster. He also died unmarried and was succeeded by his brother John Sinclair of Ulbster who thus became the ancestor of the
Sinclair's of Ulbster.
The 4th Earl's third son, George, was given the lands of Mey on the death of his elder brother William. He became the ancestor of the Sinclair's Baronets of Mey, who in 1789 inherited the Earldom on the extinction of the senior line descended from the Master.
Ian Sinclair of Noss Head
Hon. Archivist and Historian to Clan Sinclair Study Centre
The difficulty with history is knowing when to stop, perhaps in the future someone will build a more detailed report on the last sixty years but in the meantime here are some highlights gathered by the late Mr T L (Tommy) Rosie and transcribed by his son Lawson
6th October 1930. Proposal to introduce electric lighting to commemorate the Centenary Year of the Church. Thrumster Church granted permission to Reverend. Martin of Bruan to hold evening services.
20th October 1930. Lighting of Church £123. Power for organ £13.11.6.
2nd February 1931. Name of Church changed from Wick North Parish Church to Wick Old Parish Church.
8th May 1934. The Church heating in question.
23rd July 1934. Enquiries made regarding heating appliances for the Church
17th September 1934. Garden Fete realises £75. £30 allocated to Sunday School. Remainder put towards Church gates, and graveyard restoration fund. Installation of heating approved. Suppliers Messrs Simpson, Hunter, and Company, Edinburgh.
7th January 1935. The gift of the Font from the Sunday School acknowledged
22nd December 1936. An appeal to be made to the Town Council Department for a reduction in the lighting costs. The treasurer reports a fall in Revenue Door £27. Hall lets £2. Monthly envelopes £2. The Moderator intimates that he has a sum of £14, a balance from the Church Social and it is to be used to wipe of last year’s deficit. A motion is made that a meeting be held to discuss the fall in monthly collections.
28th April 1939. Flagstones removed from the aisles, and used as frontage to the Hall and path to the Vestry.
9th March 1938. Mr W Banks resigns because of ill-health. He served for 38 years. The Kirk Session agreed to appoint Miss C Banks as cleaner of the Church, and caretaker of the Hall.
The Kirk Session agreed to dispose of the Church and Manse at Thrumster to the General Trustees.
11th August 1939. Former Church Officer’s death noted (Mr W Banks).
3rd October 1939. Reference is made to the congregation, of the grave hour the Country faces. Safety measures are taken, including the darkening of windows.
3rd August 1940. Memorial service held for those who lost their lives in the Air Raid on 1st July 1940.
22nd September 1940. Request for use of the Church for school children’s classes
14th January 1941. ‘Comforts’ for men on active service, 140 were despatched by the Women’s Guild. Recognition of the Moderator’s Semi Jubilee. The question arises of obtaining the services of a Church Sister was discussed.
22nd August 1941. Miss Nina Coghill is appointed Church Sister
30th December 1943. 225 P O’s of 5 shillings, and 11 pairs of socks, were sent to Service personnel.
5th December 1944. Service on the occasion of “Stand Down” of the Home Guard
15th May 1945. Report of special Services of Thanksgiving for the end of the War with Germany
6th September 1945. Termination of Hostilities and Special Services noted.
8th March 1946. Church Officer and Caretaker Mr Paterson senior and his son John were invited to the posts.
5th August 1946. Gallery opened for Worship again.
27th December 1948. The Organist, Miss Manson is thanked for her work with the Choir for Christmas Sunday.
1st February 1949. Miss Bank’s request for an increase in Salary was discussed.
8th March 1949. Miss Banks is granted a sum of £40 with conditions attached. The Church Officer’s salary fixed at £25. The Committee appointed to investigate roof repairs asked to consider the matter.
28th September 1951. Gift of £30 received from the family of the late Mr George Rosie.
18th December 1951. It was agreed to purchase a Lectern with the donation from the late George Rosie’s family.
30th January 1952. Memorial Tablets of the 1914-18 War sent for refurbishment.
15th February 1952. Memorial Service to the late King George V1 recorded.
2nd April 1952. The Women’s Guild agrees to renovate the staircases in the Church and put lino on the steps.
16th May 1952. Dedication of the Lectern in memory of the late Mr George Rosie. Estimate tendered for painting the vestibule doors, and for the vestibule flooring. Presbytery projector booked for the 12th and 19th October. The placing of the Lectern decided upon.
13th June 1954. Broadcast service arranged for 27th June at 8.30 pm.
17th January 1956. Reverend Mr Scott willing to accept the vacancy.
24th February 1956. Mr Scott’s induction date provisionally fixed for 11th April.
26th March 1956. The Kirk Session agreed to purchase a Ford Popular for £410 plus delivery charges. The Kirk Session to insure the car and allow £25 running expenses. Also, if the special collection did not cover the presentations and removal expenses the Kirk Session agreed to make good any shortfall. The Sunday school agrees to donate £40 for the redecoration of the Church Hall.
10th March 1957. Nickel silver plated clips quoted at £3 a dozen. A cabinet to hold the trays costing £27 approved. These were to hold the individual communion glasses recently acquired
25th March 1958. Comprehensive heating plans discussed. Hot water system, coal fired, manual stoking £3200, Oil £3550, Electric £2100, Parkinson, Inverness, GEC £1693, and Reid and Henderson, £2003.
15th September 1958. Quotation from the Gas Board of £1300 discussed.
26th September 1958. The Kirk Session agreed to install Gas Heating.
12th November 1959. The offer from Messrs Roland, Thurso accepted for the redecoration of the Church. The cost being £795. The Kirk Session responsible for the scaffolding.
5th June 1960. Renovation of the Church nearing completion. Redecoration arranged for the 25th June.
1st July 1960. Finalised account for the Church renovation £2285.0.10. Money in hand, £950 with a promise of £200 from the Baird Trust. After installation of new lighting and window panels it was considered that very careful consideration is given to applicants for same.
1st August 1960. Stained glass panels to cost £10 extra, office bearer offers to pay the extra. Matter is referred to Maile & Son.
16th September 1960. Two further stained glass panels offered. The Kirk Session decided on the two gable windows upstairs and that no further windows downstairs are considered until the effect of stained glass panels is observed.
1st June 1961 The Moderator stated that the Choir had raised £82 for a piano. They required a further £18. The Kirk Session agreed to meet the deficit.
9th July 1962. Mr W Mowat agrees to obtain floor polisher at cost price. Notice board and Cradle Roll case erected and dedicated. The Kirk Session is asked by the Town Council to be responsible for repairs in Kirkstyle Lane. The Moderator intimates a visit by the Moderator of the General Assembly. The Clerk spoke of a visit to the Youth Club and was impressed by the work done there. Mr & Mrs J Milne, Mrs Lough, and Miss E McDonald were the ladies.
25th June 1964. The running of a bus to uplift members of the congregation was discussed.
5th July 1964. It was decided to accept the offer of a £1 a Sunday for the bus on a recognised route
31st August 1965. A new look for the Supplement (now known as the News Letter) was discussed as satisfactory cost was questioned. Constitution of the Church considered it was decided to adhere to the present form. Church bell mechanised. Names of all who helped entered in Minute.
16th November 1965. Congregational meeting held to decide Constitution. It was agreed to have no change, remaining a Quod Omnia.
3rd February 1966 The Presbytery regretted the decision regarding the decision to remain Quod Omnia.
4th September 1967. Use of the Sinclair Aisle considered for Sunday and Evening worship.
22nd February 1971. In Constituting the Moderator in his prayers referred to the passing of the Reverend M N Scott. Mr Scott’s Robes, Psalter and Hymn Book to be left in the Church. It was agreed that a photograph of Mr Scott be hung in the Vestry.
12th July 1971. On the Election of the Reverend G T M Robertson the Ordination and Induction to take place on 3rd September. Gift of £100 set aside towards Robes if Mr Robertson did not have them already. Number of Congregation who voted 196. 194 for, 1spoilt, 1 against, Total members 308. Adherents 478
4th May 1972. Suggested Union and readjustment for Wick discussed. Bridge Street and Central a possible Union. The Church building classified as a Historical Building
12th August 1973. Mr H Rosie’s report on the Organ
17th October 1973. A decision was taken to proceed with the Organ repair The Interim Clerk Mr T L Rosie was appointed Clerk by the unanimous decision of the Kirk Session. The cornice above the Organ repaired at a cost of £190 + VAT y £1000, and on completion of the work and the remainder to be paid in September 1974
4th August 1974. As there were no applications for the post of Church Officer, Mr R Sutherland moved that the members of the Kirk Session attend to the duties.
23rd October 1974. Work on the ground approaching the Church reported on. Contact was made about the trees in the Church yard and wall. It was agreed to run a bus on Christmas Eve, the allocation of the Offering to be left to the Moderator.
3rd December 1975. Salaries, the work done on the flower border by Mr Anderson and Mr Philips was commented on. Discussion regarding the provision of Hymn books at the door was debated, the Christmas Eve Service offering to be shared between, Shelter and Mission and Service.
8th September 1976. The Treasurer reported that there was a 17% increase in offerings on the same period last year.
8th June 1977. 25% increase in Free Will Offering mentioned. 8 Covenants secured.
9th November 1977. Evening Sale realised £1133, prior to the Sale £687 was raised. Hall heating account £283. 3 months Hall bill £115.
The Proclamation of Banns to cease officially on 1st January 1978.
Some years ago, a member of the congregation, the late Mrs. Sheila More gathered together a good deal of information on the early church from the above and other sources and her invaluable research is incorporated in this article. No hard evidence has ever come to light regarding the site of the first church in Wick although there has been a deal of speculation regarding the coming of Christianity to our shores. First in the coming of St Ninian who it is suggested landed at “the head of Wick” it is held by some that this would be the North Head while others argue for the Camps area as the head of Wick and certainly in the Burgh Records for 9th September 1663 there is an entry referring to proposed combat between Alexander Pruntoch, merchant and William Beib, junior, tailor, who, both being drunk in the house of John Nactie, merchant, the said persons undertook a party combat, to have met with their seconds at St Ninian’s Head “below the said Burgh.” This would seem to favour the camps area. The cell or chapel said to have existed at Mount Hooly has been attributed to Saint Fergus but again no real evidence has been discovered. A possible site of a priest’s cell has been discovered in recent times at Papigoe but so far, no work has been carried out on this interesting site.
The third site for the church proper as opposed to a chapel or cell is again in the camps area, the open green area at the east end of High Street on the south side is reputed to be the site of an ancient graveyard. A local lady, herself an octogenarian relates that her grandmother told her that when that part of High Street was being developed in the early 1880s some human remains were uncovered and interestingly nothing has ever been built on the site. It certainly meets the criteria for the classic Scottish graveyard; on a south facing slope above water. From the Records of the Bishopric of Scotland we glean the following. In 1549 Bishop Stewart brought a series of charges against George 4th Earl of Caithness for various excesses and breaches of sanctuary (original documents preserved in the Charter Room in Dunrobin Castle) the paper is full of “violent handling” acts of oppression to priests, servants and others under the protection of the Bishop. The Earl is even charged that” his man Arche Keyth laid violent hands on Schir Alexander Mernes his own curat withyn the sanctuary of the Kirk of Wyk, the Kirk and Kirk yard being therby suspendit.”
Sanctuary in those days was defined as the area of ground within a circle of thirty paces of the font and the font was the first article of consecrated furniture inside the Kirk. All sorts of penances were handed out when sanctuary was breached. The church door was locked and barred sometimes even nailed shut, the windows usually unglazed, were filled with gorse and nettles. No one could enter until the church had been cleansed and re-consecrated. It is possible that this building was pulled down and the church site moved from the east to the west end of High Street shortly after this incident.
A remnant only remains of the original church on the present site, a small chapel or transept, known on the survey maps as Saint Fergus Chapel but known locally as The Sinclair Aisle. The oldest memorial in the Sinclair vault is dated 1576 and the oldest burial stone in the surrounding graveyard appears to be 1639 so it might be that the old graveyard at the east end of the town was still used for some time after the church was moved, it is possible that earlier gravestones may yet be found.
Wick was sacked and burned in 1588 by the Earl of Sutherland’s while on a mission to get hold of the Earl of Caithness who had prudently locked himself into his castle at Girnigoe. Sutherland’s men burned and looted Wick and carried away considerable quantity of goods. The church however was spared destruction, but a highlander by the name of John Mac-gilli-calum entered the church intent on treasure and found the leaden casket containing the old Earl’s heart (the Earl had died in Edinburgh and had been buried in Roslyn Abbey and his heart had been removed and placed in a lead casket). In fury, the looters threw the heart to the winds.
From this we might surmise that this new church known as the Kirk of St Fergus had been built about the time of the Reformation, 1560. The first minister on record was Andrew Philip 1567 – 1576 who then translated to Thurso. We then have
1576 Thomas Keir Afterwards translated to Olrig
1580 John Prunto or Pronthoch
1606 John Innes
1614 Thomas Annand
1638 John Smart (Mr Smart was a member of the famous Glasgow Assembly of 1638.)
1654 Harry Forbes A.M Afterwards became minister of Auldearn, Nairnshire.
1659 William Geddes A.M (accepted Episcopacy and was rebuked, became minister at Urquhart, Restored to Wick, 1692 (see below).
1682 Patrick Clunies, A.M. Died 1691.
1692 William Geddes, A.M. Died 1694. Wrote several learned works, but the only one known to be published was entitled "Saints Recreation," with a long and quaint sub-title. It was mostly poetical, but the poetry was not on a high level.
1698 Alexander Stedman Sent to Wick by General Assembly's Commission, but for some reason was not settled in the charge.
1701 Charles Keith, Died 1705. In 1702 he represented to the Presbytery that "he had several insuperable difficulties and crushing grievances in the said paroch" (Wick)
1707 James Oliphant Died 1726. (Wrote an account of the parish for Macfarlane's "Geographical Collections,"
1727 James Ferme Died 1760, in the 33rd year of his ministry
1761 Rev David Dunbar of Olrig was presented this year, but died before the date of admission.
1762 James Scobie, A.M. Died 1764, aged 30.
1765 William Sutherland A.M. Died 1816, in his 79th year and the 52nd year of his ministry. This was the minister who in his public prayers used to intercede "for the magistrates of Wick, such as they are!" He wrote the account of the parish for the Statistical Account (Volume X.).
1813 Robert Phin
The move to Presbyterianism after 1560, did not happen overnight and old habits and superstitions clung on for many years
Matters were quite confused between Episcopalian and Presbyterian forms and John Horne described the situation when he wrote;
"Episcopacy and Presbyterianism fought and flirted with each other; and sometimes Presbyterians stole Episcopalian guns, and occasionally Episcopalians went on parade in Presbyterian tunics."
Back in 1613 the incumbent in Bower, Dr. Richard Merchiston also described as Archdeacon, a noted iconoclast, took to visiting the Parishes in Caithness and seeking out graven images on which to vent his wrath. He visited Wick in that year and came upon the image of St Fergus in the old Kirk which he duly attacked and defaced. The townspeople were incensed at the treatment meted out to their saint and would have dealt with Merchiston quite severely on the spot but the magistrates intervened and gave him safe passage out of the town. However, the people were not to be denied and a party of them ambushed Merchiston as he rode out along Wick River, dragged him into the water and drowned him. At the subsequent enquiry, witnesses swore on oath that they had seen St Fergus astride the unfortunate minister holding him down in the river.
In 1701 Charles Keith arrived in Wick he was not long here and Died 1705. In 1702 he represented to the Presbytery that "he had several insuperable difficulties and crushing grievances in the said paroch" he had little support from either the elders or heritor’s and Presbytery reacted by sending a deputation to rebuke the elders some of whom they reported they had found to be “ignorant of God.”
In 1726 we have a short description of the church written by the minister Mr. Oliphant. In it he states, “The church stands at the west end of the town of Wick, the head burgh of the shire. It is called St Fergus Church and there is at the east end of it on the north side under a little pend, a hewn stone with a man at full length on it which is said to be his effigy engraven on stone. The steeple on the west end seems to be a very ancient work; but there are neither letters nor figures to know its antiquity. On the north side of the church stands the Sinclair’s Aisle, the ancient burial place of the Earls of Caithness where many of them lie interred in a vault. To the east of that on the same side of the church stands the Dunbar’s aisle, the burial places of the family of Hempriggs and in it a handsome monument in hewn stone.”
He goes on to tell us that in 1701 the Parish Church fabric was in a bad state of repair and workmen were employed for “minding ye roof and glassing ye windows.” It seems that the Kirk of that time was a quite wretched place with a thatched roof and seats or chairs that were brought by the people. On August5th 1704 the Heritors met to get an opinion as to the state of the roof and after deliberation Donald Sutherland, “sclater of Papingoe” was employed to re thatch the roof, the Heritors agreed, (condescended is the word used) to meet the cost of repairs. More repairs were carried out in 1728 and 1752. In 1719 the son of John Campbell of Glenorchy (of Altimarlach fame) had sold his share of the church patronages to Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster.
The Kirk beadle, a position of distinction in 1711 was one Willie Abernethy, in November of that year Willie resolved on a “burst” and when well and truly in his cups he visited the minister Mr. Oliphant and favoured him with overpowering frankness and abusing him in choice and colourful language, he then set off for the Kirk and opened it without keys (one of Willie’s tricks) took a chair belonging to one Helen Henderson and brought it to “triumphal desolation!” the Kirk folk were less than impressed and the session “after long and mature deliberation did discharge him from his post forever.”
The Power of the Kirk Session
Sabbath breach greatly occupied the minds of the Minister and Session in times gone by.
In the early 1700s one gentleman from Noss appears to have been influenced by the exploits of Samson when he tied a firebrand to the tail of a fox and loosed the poor animal into the standing corn of the Philistines, as foxes were not easily obtained in Noss in the 1720s a substitute had to be found. Wick 7th October 1722. The Session was this day informed that ane, David Petrie; Noss had raised wilful fire last Lord’s Day by tying fire to the tail of a cat and had sent her among the corn where she had burned some and endangered others. The Minister, having ordered him to be summoned to this diet, and he, being called, compearing, was interrogat (sic) as above confessed that he had done it and that some corn was burnt yrby. (Thereby.) The Session appoints him to stand in sackcloth at ye Church door next Lord’s Day from ye ringing of ye second bell till ye congregation be convened yrafter to appear in ye ordinary place of repentance and be rebuked publicly after divine service.
It seems that the good people of Noss were either free spirits or had little regard for the rules of the day for in April the following year there was a case which the Session looked upon as a “horrid prophanation (sic) of the Lord’s day!”
Wick 25th April 1723. The Minister informed the Session that on Sabbath day last Janet Cunninghame in Smallquies, with a child in company had been at the shore of Noss gathering dulse and tangles all the Lord’s Day. He had ordered her to be summoned to that diet and she appearing, was interrogat as above and acknowledged that she was, but went on the Saturday night and could not return till the Sabbath afternoon. (Why this was, is a mystery) the Session found her guilty and sentenced her in the same manner as David Petrie.
A heinous crime dealt with by the Session was that of “scolding.” This was a crime mostly committed by the women of our parish, serious enough on ordinary days but if a woman let lose her tongue on the Sabbath, even within her own home and upon her own husband, then she had better beware lest it come to the ears of the Kirk Session who would not be slow to administer a powerful punishment. The virago who dared disturb the peace of her husband and / or her neighbours, on being found guilty was obliged to make a public confession and a profession of her repentance before the whole congregation, a salutary humiliation and one not easily forgotten by all, as well as being a source of great delight to a hen-pecked spouse. One such lady, Elspeth Calder, in August 1708 was brought before the Session accused of fighting with and scolding her husband and servant. In the event the Session could not find enough evidence against her. All the witnesses either claimed to have been elsewhere or saw nothing. (Did she have them all terrified?) Nonetheless the Session was convinced in their consciences of her “turbulent humour” and thought it fit that the minister should rebuke her before them with certification that if she ever should be guilty of “ye like hereafter” she would be punished severely.
Mr. Oliphant died in 1726 and his successor was Rev James Ferme and he is credited with being the first minister in Caithness to preach what was known as Arminian Doctrine or the doctrine of salvation. Until this time the preaching was of the severe Calvanistic doctrine of predestination. Suddenly here was Mr. Ferme preaching forgiveness, hope and life eternal. In 1746 he read an act of the general Assembly appointing a day of public thanksgiving for the defeat of the rebels at Culloden by His Royal Highness William Duke of Cumberland and our deliverance from Popery and arbitrary power. He remained in Wick until he died in 176. There then followed David Dunbar, one of the Olrig Dunbar’s who unfortunately died before his admission and he was followed by James Scobie a graduate from Marischal College Aberdeen but he died before his thirtieth birthday.
Then, in 1765 our church welcomed Rev William Sutherland who was a graduate of Kings College Aberdeen. In his time in Wick Mr. Sutherland made a huge contribution towards Sir John Sinclair’s great work, The Statistical Account of Caithness 1794. Mr. Sutherland wrote the section dealing with the Parish of Wick and it is truly a great study with wonderful insights to the way it was in the social and commercial life of our community. He speaks of the three men credited with beginning the herring fishing, Messrs Miller, Anderson and Sutherland and how 363 barrels were cured in 1782 rising to 10,000 in 1790 before Pulteneytown was even planned. He spoke in detail of local government, agriculture, shops, businesses and trades, the building of the new village of Louisburgh and of course comments on the ways of the people; all in all, a quite remarkable social commentary. On the other hand, he had some very great trials, not least his difficulties with heritors and magistrates, some of this he brought upon his own head by praying in public for the magistrates of Wick “such as they are.” He had already stated that the old Kirk was falling to pieces and described it as “very old a long, dark ill constructed building, perhaps the worst in Caithness; a new fabric will be soon necessary” and as if to reinforce this, one Sabbath morning the steeple of the ancient church gave way and crashed into the Kirk yard. The Caithness Presbytery decided that this new church would be built at a cost of £1250. 15. 11d sterling and the heritors were duly assessed, with Sir Benjamin Dunbar to provide the bulk of the cash. Shortly after this Sir Benjamin departed the county on military service as did several of his heritor colleagues who were involved in Fencibles duty, Sir Benjamin also resigned his role of undertaker of the project.
This left Mr. Sutherland in a quandary and finally he applied to Presbytery to be allowed to take over the job himself. He had no experience or knowledge of building work but amazingly Presbytery agreed and Robert Corner and Captain Harry Bain both local merchants and burgesses stood as cautioners to the tune of £250 to have the church completed by 1798. Sutherland rejected architects plans nearly all advice and proceeded to have the Kirk built as he saw fit. There were little or no foundations and from the start the building was doomed. As the poorly prepared foundations were being excavated a discovery was made of “people slain in battle and which had been buried without the usual attention.” The remains could possibly have been from the battle of Altnimarlach fought up river in 1680; there is no further reference of this or where they were re-buried. Rev Sutherland obviously had ties with the local Lodge of Freemasons as can be seen in the following extract from Alexander Miller’s booklet “Early days of Freemasonry in Wick.”
“Wick, 14th June 1797. This day the Master Warden and other members walked in procession from the Town Hall, Wick, to the churchyard thereof and there Major McLeay, Master of the said Lodge, with the assistance of the Warden, laid the foundation stone of a new church to be built for the said town and parish and after a short but suitable address from the Master the Rev Mr. William Sutherland minister of the Gospel at Wick, consecrated the said work by prayer and the lodge ordain a copy of this minute to be put in a Phial to be sealed up and thereafter to be built into the wall as close to the foundation stone as possible, which stone was laid between the hours of 12 noon and 1pm and annexed to the copy of the minute they directed the following lines addressed to Almighty God to be added: -
“These walls we to thy honour raise,
Long may they echo to thy praise
And thou descending fill the place
With choicest tokens of thy grace
Thereafter the lodge returned to the Town Hall where they drank a glass to the success of the work, with several loyal and suitable toasts on the occasion.”
The work was completed in June 1799 and there then followed a bitter and protracted wrangle over the inspection of the property, and the heritors led by Sir Benjamin, now returned from duty, eventually carried the case to the Court of Session in 1808. A resolution was never reached and Mr. Sutherland died on June 23rd 1816, that same year Presbytery had the church condemned, Beaton in his writing in 1906 stated that despite the sub structural weakness the building never collapsed and it stood for a long time after the present building was in use. To get an idea of how bad the building was, Donald Sage in his Memorabilia Domestica relates that while he was on a visit to Thurso in 1818 he received a request for help from Mr Phin in Wick in administering the sacrament. He rode over on the Sabbath morning and after breakfast assisted Mr Phin in serving the tables and then preached on Monday forenoon and afternoon. He tells us;
“The services of the Sabbath and week day on that occasion at Wick were conducted in the open air, as the Parish Church was then in a ruinous state, the foundation giving way and rents appearing in the back wall.”
Rev Robert Phin who had studied theology at Aberdeen University and had been licensed on 7th February 1808 had been appointed as Mr Sutherland’s assistant and successor on 12th March 1813 and when Mr Sutherland died in 1816 he became minister, a post which he held until his death in 1840. Mr Phin appears to have been a hard working and popular minister and under his ministry the present church building was erected. The Church was built in 1820-30 to designs drawn up by John Henry of Edinburgh with assistance from James Crock, builder, and approved by John Chalmers
In 1822 when the walls were hardly above ground, building operations ceased. The contractor found the operation too much for him. Digging for the foundations of the western gable he had come upon running sand and to avoid the mistakes of the previous church he had to bore through to a depth of 30 feet to find a sure foundation. This proved to be his undoing and he failed. For several years, the walls stood just above ground until a contractor from Watten, Mr Davidson undertook the work bringing it to a successful conclusion. The new church was opened in 1830
Most of the stone used to build the church came from the north head of Wick and Louisburgh quarries and the woodwork was carried out by Mr. Donald Dunbar of Wick. The roof timbers are huge, 66’ in length 10” wide and 15” deep in red pine brought from Scandinavia by Captain Munro in his ship “Bittern” these were floated up river to the side of the Kirkyard and then manoeuvred to the wall heads, giving the church the reputation of having the widest unsupported roof of any church in Scotland.
There is not a single mention of the church being built in either the Kirk Session minutes or in the Wick Town Council Minute book except for a brief mention in the Council Book on July 10th 1830 that the Town Council had decided to present Mr Phin with a Bible and Psalm Book, it appears that this was done to commemorate the opening of the church and the silence was one of embarrassment for the previous wrangling endured by Mr. Sutherland. The John O Groat Journal did not appear until 1836 or we might have had a better insight to the events of that time. Mr. Phin married a daughter of Provost McLeay but she died early in their marriage and their only son became the well-known preacher and church leader Dr Kenneth McLeay Phin of Galashiels. Mr Phin died on 22nd March 1840 and at his funeral hundreds of people crowded the Kirkhill and vicinity to show the respect and affection that the community felt for this kind-hearted minister.
As for the Old Kirk, the following advert appeared in the Inverness Journal in October 1829.
MEMORANDUM
Robert Thompson Esq
Sir,
As I have formerly mentioned to you in person and as you desire it I now communicate in writing my method of carrying on the building operation of the stonework of the new church. In the first place what stones has been qiarried at the rocks in the bay and brought to the shore should be wothout any loss of time carted to the building as in the present situation they exposed to being covered with sand and otherwise and what of them remains at the quarry should be conveyed from it to the shore and carted as mentioned. By this being done the mason work on the building could commence on being provided with from twenty to thirty traces on ponies together with scaffolding. This timber and joiner work would be required to be in operation of being provided if possible as soon if not before the carting of the stones. Secondly the lime for mortar is far run and a cargo would need to be ordered as soon as possible as by it being on the spot the labourers at the works could be employed in preparing it when they might not be found nescessary in assisting the carting of the stones or at the quarry or otherwise.
Thiedly there is a good quantity of quarry and prepared at the rocks which with considerably less expense can now be quarryed then what has been occasioned formerly and by getting the matter in action as I have stated a good part of the building would be erected by the time the Louisburgh quarry would be ready for working or a supply of materials got from it.
Fourtlyas soon as the Louisburgh quarry can be wrought it must be prosecuted with the utmost vigour in order to provoid as much materials as possible in the season to keep the building going forward by the masons. Fiftly since the commencement of the working of the quarry at the rocks in the bay which was the 12th of Nov. last has cost by quarrying boating and the quary now prepares nearly one hundred ten pounds stelg. Sixtly the masons that has been employed in this work would require to be instantly settled with and engaged upon the most easy terms for a whole season and five or six eqial good hands on the same terms if they possibly can be got and I mention that it would be improper not to fix with them without securing for them the season as by a chance of them getting employment otherwise they might leave the work where they were of most value and most dependance put upon them.
If these measures are attended to I am satisfied that something can be done to satisfaction and you may depend any endeavour on my part will not be wanting.
And I am Respectfully
Sir
Your most obt. Snt.
Alex Miller
April 1824
The Rev. Charles Thomson who was admitted to this charge on the 17th September 1840 was of the Evangelical Party of the church and arrived in turbulent times in the national church, which ended in the Disruption of 1843. In its simplest form, the Heritors of the Kirk, the landed gentry, had the say on who should or should not be the minister and could pick a minister without reference to the people, and install him into the charge. The people regarded this as intrusion, and rebelled, saying, no more, we will choose our own ministers, we want out of the established Kirk we want a Free Kirk. The culmination of this was a huge meeting or Convocation in Edinburgh in November of 1842, where all in favour of “going out” would sign the resolution, they would then return to their Kirks and lead their people out. In the case of Wick, it was a wee bit different. The Rev Thomas Brown D.D. in his book, Annals of the Disruption, which was published in 1890, writes;
“There were cases indeed, in which the people went beyond their ministers in their zeal for the cause. Mr Thomson of Wick, belonged to the evangelical party of the church, but, as the crisis approached, he felt considerable perplexity, and, on returning from the Convocation, he gathered his people together on the 28th November to explain, which he did at some length, the reasons why he had NOT seen it his duty to sign the resolutions. (To leave the established Church) During his address the congregation sat looking at each other, much astonished, and after the meeting had been dismissed, the people, on the motion of Mr Davidson, Banker, sat still, elected a chairman, and asked Mr Thompson to listen to the proceedings. They went on to express their views, with much personal respect to their pastor, but in direct opposition to the sentiments of his address. It was then proposed that solemn thanks should be offered up to God, for the grace which had been vouchsafed to the 350 members of the convocation who had bound themselves to “go out” and this was done in a most impressive manner by Mr Donald George. At a second meeting held shortly after, they formally adopted the Convocation resolutions, and the result was that Mr Thomson saw it to be his duty to go along with his people, a resolution that was received with much satisfaction,” So it was, that in the case of Wick Parish Church, it was the people, who led the minister out.”
The story is told that at the first meeting after the exit Mr. Thompson said to his church officer “well I’m glad to see that you have come out with us,” to which the beadle replied “’deed aye sir an’ if ye go back, I’ll go wi’ ye!”
Rev William Lillie was inducted to this charge on 14th February 1844, a very short vacancy indeed. He came to us from Ellon where he was a licensed preacher, teacher of the parish school and actuary for the Ellon Bank which in his time was the bank with the highest deposits of any rural bank. While there he married a Miss Milne, daughter of a prominent local family. When Wick became vacant there was a large list of applicants but Mr. Lillie was chosen and approved by the patron Sir George Dunbar. The call was signed by only 80 people showing how far the disruption had eroded the congregation. Mr. Lillie immersed himself in the affairs of the town gradually winning people back to the Kirk. He had brought his own precentor with him to Wick, a Mr. Shepherd who worked as courthouse keeper but was a weaver to trade. The pulpit of the Kirk in those days was a large octagonal affair reached by a set of steep steps, immediately in front of this sat Mr. Shepherd, with the choir in front of him in a square box or Lateran. This gentleman was responsible for introducing the first trained choir into our Kirk. The building itself was unheated, the pews were all straight backed and the light was provided by the windows and oil lamps. During the early years of his ministry he had many fiery debates with his predecessor but as the years went on they became friendly and often working together. In April of 1875 Mr. Lillie was over on the west side of the county in his capacity of school examiner and he received a severe soaking and he caught pneumonia, later that year he felt well enough to move to his daughter’s house in Lybster with the intention of going on to Strathpeffer to convalesce but it was not to be and he passed away on Friday 1st October 1875 and now he and Mr. Thompson lie side by side in the Kirkyard.
After a vacancy lasting less than six months Rev. Alexander Clark came to Wick, eh had been a missionary in Madras but came to Wick from Strathbungo near Glasgow and was inducted into Wick Parish on March 9th 1876 and afterwards there was an induction social held in the Temperance Hall. This took the form of an evening of speeches with the choir singing anthems and hymns between the speakers. When Mr Clark spoke, he remarked that the evening was ideal for him as he had always believed that there was too much of a gap between Christianity and social life, he hoped that there would be many more social evenings to come so that we can connect with folk. Mr. Clark proved to be a thoughtful preacher and a capable administrator who achieved a great deal in his twenty-four years in Wick. During that time the straight-backed pews were reconstructed the whole church re decorated gas lighting introduced and our organ installed in 1883, (see separate story of the Organ) the last precentor was Mr. Ptolemy and the first organist Miss Mary Leith.
In February of 1899 Mr Clark received a petition from the folk in Thrumster signed by 253 people it read:
Sir, - We the undersigned residents of Thrumster and neighbourhood, being far from any church, desire to have a place of worship where we and our families may be able to attend divine service on Sabbath days, seeing that you now have an assistant minister in this parish, we earnestly hope that you will consider favourably the wants of this district. If you can see your way to build a small chapel for our use, we shall do all in our power to aid its erection and maintenance.
Mr. Clark certainly seemed to “connect” with people for the Thrumster Church was up and running in under a year. Mrs Clark was his real helpmate and was reported to be “indefatigable in her work with the poor and took a keen interest in the work of the Sunday school.”
Mr. Clark left Wick in late 1900 and was succeeded by Rev John M’Ausland Dickie MA BD. He had had a brilliant university career matriculating MA at the age of 20 and BD three years later and was prizeman in most of his classes. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Irvine in September 1896 and after being assistant minister at Old Monklands was ordained to Wick Parish on May 3rd 1901 ministering here for almost exactly ten years leaving for new Parish Rothesay on 18th May 1911.
Mr. Dickie took a keen interest in community affairs especially in education and served on the Wick School Board for most of his time in town and was chairman from 1909 – 1911. During his ministry, he saw the manse built at Thrumster then, despite carrying a debt on the Thrumster Manse the Minister and congregation pressed ahead and built a church Hall with Church Officers House in the High Street. Prior to this a church Officer’s house stood on the roadside opposite the church at the west side of Church Street. A huge Bazaar was organised to help clear the debt on Thrumster and begin building our hall, this was held in the Rifle Hall in Dempster Street on Thursday and Friday 6th and 7th September 1906. This was full of novelty items such as nail driving for ladies and hat trimming for men and two short concerts of 4/5 items were given on both evenings. The hall and house were built by 1908 and the first occupant was church officer Mr William Banks whose daughter Katie served this congregation well for many years.
A mere four months later Wick Parish welcomed Rev Guy Steele Peebles MA BD who incidentally was the same age as his predecessor and had graduated a year before Mr. Dickie. Mr. Peebles was licensed by the presbytery of Lanark on May 1st 1895 and like Mr. Dickie served as assistant at Old Monklands and two other churches before being ordained at Kinloss in 1900 transferring to Aberdeen South Parish in 1907 then Wick on 8th September 1911. He was a first-class preacher and of course was here when World War 1 broke out in 1914. He volunteered for service and had two three month spells at Stobhall Hospital and a third spell at the Scottish Military Hospital which at that time had 1000 patients. Provost Harper of Wick died in 1915 and at the same time several Wick boys were killed serving with the 5/6th Seaforths in France. At a special service for the Provost and the soldiers it was reported that Mr. Peebles spoke with great passion and compassion and his descriptive eloquence on that day showed his inner mind and finally in the autumn of 1916 he left for service as Chaplain to the Seaforths in France. He returned to Wick in 1918 but received a call from Uddingston and left on July 14th that same year. During his time, in 1912 the Kirk received the gift of the communion table and a chair from the Misses Henderson of Rosebank house and the centre aisle was opened through the pews.
On December 11th 1918 we received Rev John MacDougall from Cross and Burness, Orkney. He appears to have had a great gift as a motivator and during his twelve years a great deal was achieved. The commemorative tablets to the fallen of WW1 were installed, the whole church was redecorated and the organ overhauled. Two additional communion chairs were gifted by Miss Adeline Henderson; two vestries were erected one for the choir and the other for the minister and session. The choir box was enlarged and the screen and banisters installed, the west gable was re lathed and plastered and the exterior walls and steeple re pointed. If that were not enough Mr MacDougall took part in the community serving on the education committee and strongly supporting the Temperance movement, in 1922 he published “The Modern Conflict; Light from the Epistle of St James,” which got very favourable reviews. The Sunday school flourished and at one point boasted 300 members, he introduced a Bible Class for 15 – 18 year olds and achieved a membership of 150 with an average attendance of 130. It must have been a bitter blow when he accepted a call from St Michael’s Church in Edinburgh in 1929.
1930 was the Centenary year of the present building and Rev Richard Callen MA. LL.B. was inducted to this charge in April of 1930. Whereas the Kirk of 1830 was lit by oil lamps the Kirk of 1930 was dedicating the installation of electricity not only for light but the organ, which had been powered by water for the last forty-seven years, would now be driven by this new modern miracle. Mr Callen would only remain in Wick for two years and was succeeded by Rev Gordon Moore in 1932.
Mr and Mrs Moore very quickly settled into life and work in Wick and built on the firm foundations laid down by his predecessors. The Sunday School continued to flourish with the infant class in the smaller or lesser hall, primary children in the main hall and the senior Sunday school in the church, boys on the left side and the girls on the right. When WW2 broke out, Wick underwent a dramatic change with large numbers of service personnel especially RAF arriving in the town. Our church hall was taken over by the ministry of food and after trying to hold the children’s parties in the church building with little success, the local Salvation Army offered the use of their hall for the war years. The church became involved with the troops and built good and lasting friendships with many of the servicemen. The Sunday evening services were very well attended with a cup of tea served afterwards. At this time the gallery was closed for public worship and after the evening service, servicemen were entertained to tea in that area. A biscuit tin was used to hold sugar (then on strict ration) and it became known as the “Magic Tin” for it was never empty. The ladies would bring small quantities of sugar to keep it topped up.
Schools were closed during the war because of the fear of the many casualties if a bomb should strike a school and the classes were split up into many places throughout the town with our church being used from late 1940
The war made its presence felt very quickly when on 1st July 1940 the Luftwaffe made its first daylight bombing raid on Britain. Aiming to bomb Wick harbour the bombs fell short and hit Bank Row, on that day, seven men, three women and five children were killed and another twenty-two sustained injuries, Mr Moore had the unenviable task of conducting the memorial service on August 3rd 1940. More was to follow, for the town was attacked another five times over the following year. Casualties from the battlefields were many and Mr Moore had much to attend to in our community becoming a very well known and loved figure in our community.
More of the war time activities are noted on page 27
since then the ministers have been
1948 Dr Menzies, Locum tenens
1949 Rev PFC Black
1955 Rev Marshall Locum tenens
1956 Rev W Nethercote Scott
1971 Rev TGM Robertson
1985 Rev I Stiven Locum tenens
1986 Rev J Watson
1988 Rev R Stewart Frizzel
2001 Rev Steven Thomson
2004 Vacant
The Church Officers
In 1701 there were two church officers, one for each side of Wick River and their responsibilities were many and varied. As well as their usual Church bound duties, they attended upon the Kirk Session, saw to the grave digging and went out to summons people who were to appear before the Session for discipline. Their area of responsibility covered the entire parish from Keiss to Ulbster and in as far as Bilbster.
In 1770 one of the church officers was dismissed for being unable to carry out his duties because of drink. His colleague John Harrold carried on; he died in 1836 and William Miller was appointed in his place.
John Cormack and George Steven were appointed as officers and in 1853 George Steven was asked to resign due to a misdemeanour; there is no record of a successor to his post. John Cormack died in 1871 and Donald Shearer was appointed. We find that in 1874 he was to receive a salary of £10 yearly and a collection on the first Sunday in January, by 1877 his salary was still £10 but this was augmented by £6 from the heritors for sexton’s duties plus £2 from the Kirk Session and the collection in January which was around £5 so his annual earnings were about £23, and by 1879 his salary was £20 + unfortunately in 1887 the church found itself in debt so his basic salary was reduced to £15.
Extract from Kirk Session minute book in 1889:
“The Session considered the applications for the Church Officership and unanimously resolved to appoint Mr Alexander Matheson as church officer on condition of his resignation of the office of elder. Mr. Matheson, being present, accepted the appointment on the proposed condition, and intimated his resignation of the eldership which was accepted by the Session.”
Mr Matheson was a local builder and kept some cattle in a field in Willowbank where Bayview is today. He had the habit of referring to his beasts as being safe in their den, his nickname was Mosser, and for generations that part of Willowbank was known as Mosser’s Den. In 1892 it was decreed that on the Sabbath the Kirk Bell be rung at 9am, 10am, 11am and 2pm.
In 1887 the church officer distributed Life and Work magazine.
11th August 1899 Mr. William Banks was appointed as Church Officer and Sexton with a salary of £20 and served for 39 years resigning in 1938 and he died in 1939. He was the father of Miss Katie Banks who served as hall keeper for many years. In 1926 the Session instructed him to keep the church aired between services on Sundays and on suitable days during the week by having sufficient windows open. Mr Banks was succeeded by his son James Banks in 1938. In more modern times the Officers were John Paterson 1946 - 1965 John Munro 1966 – 1968 and the last church officer was Mr Alexander Miller 1968 – 1974. The Session found it impossible to recruit anyone for the post and it was decided that the duty elders would perform the duty.
The Churchyard
The earliest writing about the churchyard appears in 1766 when the Session “resolved to apply to the Magistrates to discharge all swine from feeding on the Kirkyard as they have already done damage in it.”
In 1769 it was reported that the mortcloth, a cloth used for covering coffins at the funeral ceremony, was old and worn out, it seems that new mortcloths were obtained and by 1774 the elders wanted the benefit of the bell and “best” mortcloth when they were buried without charge to their heirs.
In 1791 the burial of David Bain’s wife cost 7/6 (37½p) including the King’s duty plus the charge for mortcloth and bell. It was noted that fewer people were making use of the bell and mortcloth so the income from this was reduced but the numbers of the poor were increasing. It was decided that all burials should cost the same with the money going to the poor fund. We cannot tell if this happened as information gleaned from old records presents a confusing list of charges for burials.
In 1817 it records the burial of a woman’s body “found in the moss” as costing £1:6:8 and in 1830 the burial of a “poor man” was 2/6 (12½p) while the burial of a stranger in the same year cost 1/6 (7½p) with a coffin costing 5/- (25p) in 1816, 10/- (50p) in 1823 and 7/- (35p) in 1842.
When the New Wick Cemetery opened in 1872 the Kirk graveyard was closed for burials except for those whose partners had predeceased them and were buried there. The last burial did not in fact take place until May 1934 when Mrs. Annie Malcolm née Petrie of Grant Street passed away at the age of 102. In 1899 there was great complaint about the state of the graveyard which had suffered badly with much subsidence and fallen stones. At a public meeting in the Town Hall it was stated that the heritors were the legal guardians but were irresponsible and cannot be compelled to do anything, they contribute £6 per year for upkeep so the caretaker gives £6 per year of work. The meeting was long and “windy” and for reasons known only to himself it was well into the meeting when Mr. Shepherd, solicitor suddenly announced that the heritors had given their consent and work was beginning right away. By 1901 a new wall had been built all around the Graveyard at a cost of £102. All the notable people from the Parish of Wick before 1872 are buried in the Kirk yard the earliest date being 1576 in the Sinclair Aisle and the oldest in the graveyard is 1639.
Over the years there was much discussion between the Kirk, heritors and magistrates over who was ultimately responsible for the upkeep of the Kirkyard, eventually it fell to the local council who, in 1932 asked the Kirk Session if they would like to take over maintenance and upkeep of the area; the session wisely declined. New gates and railings were installed in 1935 at a cost of £38.10/-
The Poor
The earliest record of distribution of money comes in 1701 when a dumb person received 3/- (15p) and a crippled child 7/- (35p) in the district there were cases of great poverty and this showed little improvement even with the development of a great fishing industry. In 1839 we find the capital of the poor fund reduced by £30 and the Parish was in very hard times, the Kirk Session minutes’ mentions, a dying child, a destitute old woman, a very poor family, five orphans boarded out to five different families, probably no family could afford to take on more than one child; so, despite the fishing not all were prospering. When the Rev Thomson wrote the Parish report for the Scottish Statistical Account he noted that there were no fewer than 229 “utterly destitute” in the Parish, 52 males and 157 females plus all the children.
In 1838 an appeal was made to the heritors for help and “some” it was stated, responded, by 1839 Mr Horne of Stirkoke held £310 capital of the poor fund and paid 5% interest to the fund, the bank rate now was 4%. By 1846, three years after the disruption our Kirk could no longer bear the burden alone and a Parochial Board was set up and Mr Lillie and two elders were appointed as members, this board though less than perfect at least spread the burden wider. The last recorded envelope collection taken in our church for the poor was at Christmas 1923.
Finance
In the first half of the 18th Century our Kirk Session was responsible for the spread of education establishing side, or charity schools in different parts of the parish and paying the salary of the master. At times, and per the Kirks income these payments fell behind, especially toward the middle of the century when the session’s powers of fining and punishment were waning and being administered by the town authorities. The income of the Kirk fell to almost nothing and drastic measures were taken to pay the poor schoolmasters as we see in August of 1765: -
The session, taking into consideration that the schoolmasters in the different districts have not been paid their salaries for some time past which has reduced them and their families to great straits, unanimously resolved that for their immediate relief the treasurer be ordered to divide the £36.9.6 remaining amongst them and that they all be paid to Whitsun of 1765. The treasurer made the following entry
Paid James Dunnett in Thrumster ------------ £6
Paid James Craig in Noss ------------£12
‘’ Robert Harrold in Harland -------------£18 . 9 . 6
£36 .9 . 6
‘’ Benjamin Greenfield out of Bell
and Mort Cloth ----------- £9
Which pays off all the Masters, but left the Kirk flat broke.
The financial situation never seemed to improve but in 1868 we had a balance of £13.17.9d which today (2008) would be worth £634. In 1886 the Kirk was once more in debt; of course, this was after installing the organ and renovating the whole building. The herring fishing had a poor season and in 1887 the situation was grim and the salaries of the Organist, Session Clerk, Church Officer and Precentor were all reduced, each year was a struggle and the Kirk was in continual debt until 1920. In 1932 the Kirk Session had a real hard look at finances and suggested seven approaches;
1 There should be a treasurer, apart from the session clerk, both unpaid.
2 A finance committee should be set up
3 Collectors districts to be rearranged, extended and more attention paid to the roll.
4 The amount collected in the country would improve if the minister visited twice yearly.
5 An annual sale of work should be held.
6 There is definite opposition to a Free Will Offering scheme
7 Seat rents would be charged as a last resort
In 1938 there was a credit balance of £2.11.2d equating to around £94 today and within a year we were once again in debt
Although in early times Kirk income depended on seat rents, donations etc by the 20th century fund raising became part of congregational life. When Thrumster Church and manse were built a sale of work raised £230 while in 1906 as the Kirk was raising money for the building of the new hall a two-day Bazaar in the Rifle Hall raised the enormous sum of £840 which would have a spending worth today (2009) of £48,174.
During WW2 when the Kirk Hall was taken over by the Ministry of Food, Garden Fetes in the Manse grounds raised in 1942/43/44/45 £55, £104, £152, £128 respectively. For many years after WW2 the annual Gift Day was used as a fund raiser with the biggest amount ever raised at a Sale of Work was £3376 in the Assembly Rooms in 1980, giving a spending worth today of £6785.76 it is fair to comment however, that on the day the total was £1990 with another £1386 raised during the year. Our fund raisers today continue to work wonders in helping us to meet budgetary requirements.
The Sinclair Aisle
It has been a long-held belief that the Sinclair Aisle is a remnant or northern transept of the ancient St Fergus church which existed on the site at the time of the Reformation of 1560 it is still something of an enigma with no conclusive proof as to its ancient beginnings.
We are indebted to Ian Sinclair of Noss Head Hon. Archivist and Historian to Clan Sinclair Study Centre for the following informative article on the Aisle and its Sinclair connections.
Reputedly built in 1449 by Sir George Sinclair 4th Sinclair Earl of Caithness, which is strange because George died in 1582 and that would have made him 133 years old, not a bad age even for a Sinclair.
A great deal of paperwork has been produced over the years about the history and mystery of the Sinclair Aisle and in attempting to unravel some of the many stories we have come across from several written documents by individuals who were in one way or another involved or connected in the
Preservation of the Aisle. Let us look firstly at the Sinclair Aisle itself; as you will see from the photograph the Aisle is built from Caithness stone quarried locally, the true date of its construction remains a mystery but who knows, one day all may be
revealed. The crenulations on top of the walls were added in 1853 by the will of Miss Christine Sinclair of Stirkoke who for some reason took an interest in the Aisle around 1833. Also, included in the will was enough money to roof the building, but for one reason or another that never happened. On Tuesday 27 May 1975 with permission from the Town Council, a group from the 1st Ranger Guides under the supervision of Mrs Katie Burns, the guide leader and wife of Dr Burns of Wick, took on the task of clearing the rubbish and shrubs from inside the Aisle, the growth of the small trees covered most of the floor area some with a trunk thickness of 3 inches and were firmly rooted to the floor. After many hours’ work, one of the Guides found several old pennies dating from 1907 to 1914 up against the East wall. Professor Eric Talbot a lecturer in medieval archaeology informed the group that
the Aisle had been used as a temporary mortuary during the 1914-18 war for the bodies of sailors washed up on our beaches and the coins could well have belonged to them. Various bits of human bones were found confirmed as such by Dr. Burns.
Following many hard days of work the 12 inches of earth, trees and rubble were removed and the flagstone and red sandstone floor of the building, which had not been seen since 1865, was at last revealed. Mr. David Miller, a founder member of the Caithness Field Club assisted by members of the Wick Society and the Town Council, decided to raise the large red sandstone cover of the crypt to inspect the foundations of the Aisle and the crypt itself. This was undertaken on 10 July 1975. It took five men to lift the cover and when it was removed a ladder was lowered down into the crypt. Below was a dry burial chamber with a vaulted roof, the side walls being 4’ 6” high, sandstone fixed with mortar and the North wall having an air vent 8”x 10”. A large number of 4 inch stalactites hung down from a barrel-vaulted roof and in the centre of the crypt, a large lead casket stands on a small base of red sandstone.
Many history books tell the story of John Master of Caithness and the way he is alleged to have died. One of the many stories told by Sir Robert Gordon was that John Garrow, Master of Caithness, was imprisoned by his father, George the 4th Earl, and that his confinement had dragged out for seven years in a wretched existence. When his keepers, David and Ingram Sinclair, his own relatives, set out to end his life, having kept him for some time without food, they gave him a large amount of salt beef and then refused him any water, leaving him to die of a raging thirst. One must remember that Sir Robert Gordon was an avowed enemy of the Sinclair’s especially the Earl. Two very eminent Caithness antiquaries, the late John Nicolson, and D.G. Henderson have both stated that the master did not die in prison but in his bed peacefully at Knockinnon Castle. It is quite possible that the Master served time in the dungeon for not carrying out his father’s wishes. Again, history books tell us the reason John Garrow, the Master of Caithness, had incurred the displeasure of his father, the 4th Earl - it being that he had disobeyed his orders.
The Earl of Caithness sent his son who was known by the name of John Garrow, because of his great strength, {from the Gaelic word ' GARBH' meaning rough or strong}, to attack Hugh Murray, of Aberscors, and others of that name, residing in and about the town of Dornoch, and who were firmly attached to the family of Sutherland and had taken refuge in the town and castle of Dornoch. The castle was
besieged by John Garrow and his men, and for a while bravely defended, but in the end the Murray’s capitulated and having undertaken to depart out of Sutherland within three months, they delivered three hostages for fulfilment of the conditions. The Earl refused to ratify the treaty concluded by his son, and basely beheaded all three hostages. This took place in 1570 and in 1576 the castle of Girnigoe, which was at that period the baronial residence of the Earl of Caithness, is alleged to have become the scene of one of the most fearful atrocities on Scottish records. While conversing with his father, John Garrow was arrested by a party of armed men,
who upon a secret signal given by the Earl, had rushed in and fettered him in irons and carried him off to a dark dungeon below the castle. The reason for his arrest could have been that John had incurred the suspicion and the displeasure of his
father, the Earl, because of the treaty he concluded with the Murray’s and because he did not kill all the inhabitants of Dornoch when he had the opportunity. Will we ever know the true happenings of the castle? Well yes, one day we may when the vast assortment of documents found by the archaeologists are transcribed.
The body of John Garrow, Master of Caithness, is said to lay at rest in the vault below his fathers recently built Aisle at Wick. The sealed lead coffin still sits in the vault. The inscription on the slab that once sealed the tomb read as follows.
“HERE LIES ENTOMBED ONE NOBLE AND WORTHIE
MAN,
JOHN MASTER OF CAITHNESS, WHO DEPARTED
THIS LIFE,
THE 15th DAY OF MARCH 1576”
However, Scots Peerage states that he died by famine and vermin in September of 1575 It was thought at one time that the body of Miss Sinclair could have been inside the lead casket, but that has now been dismissed because it has been proved that she was buried at Ulbster.
One story which could hold water and be true is that about 1870 the Aisle was broken into by vandals and the owner who was then Sir John R. G. Sinclair, Bart, of
Dunbeath who resided at Barrock House, Lyth and was the owner of that estate, decided to tidy up the desecrated vault and the remains of bones found in the vault. The bones were placed in the stone sarcophagus which was encased in a lead
Casket.
There is not enough room in the vault to house more than one casket so if the story is true; it is quite probable that the stone sarcophagus inside the lead casket houses the body of John Master of Caithness.
Professor Eric Talbot, a lecturer in medieval archaeology, stated that the roof lining of the vault is 19th century and this might be one of the repairs carried out by
Miss Sinclair, of Stirkoke. On the base of the lead casket at the West end, the name SINCLAIR can be made out stamped out in the lead. This must have been done by Sir John R. G. Sinclair, Bart of Dunbeath when he had the lead casket made and reinterred into the vault. John (Garrow) Sinclair had married Lady Jean Hepburn
in January of 1566, she, being the widow of John Stewart {Lord Darnley}, the only daughter of Patrick, the 3rd Earl of Bothwell, and his wife Agnes who was daughter of Henry, Lord Sinclair. Lady Jean gave issue to four sons, and one daughter, who married Sir John Home of Coldingknows. The eldest son George became the 5th Earl of Caithness. The 4th Earl’s, second son, William of Mey, who died an unmarried
young man, left two illegitimate sons by different mothers, the eldest of whom, Patrick, was the first laird of Ulbster. He also died unmarried and was succeeded by his brother John Sinclair of Ulbster who thus became the ancestor of the
Sinclair's of Ulbster.
The 4th Earl's third son, George, was given the lands of Mey on the death of his elder brother William. He became the ancestor of the Sinclair's Baronets of Mey, who in 1789 inherited the Earldom on the extinction of the senior line descended from the Master.
Ian Sinclair of Noss Head
Hon. Archivist and Historian to Clan Sinclair Study Centre
The difficulty with history is knowing when to stop, perhaps in the future someone will build a more detailed report on the last sixty years but in the meantime here are some highlights gathered by the late Mr T L (Tommy) Rosie and transcribed by his son Lawson
6th October 1930. Proposal to introduce electric lighting to commemorate the Centenary Year of the Church. Thrumster Church granted permission to Reverend. Martin of Bruan to hold evening services.
20th October 1930. Lighting of Church £123. Power for organ £13.11.6.
2nd February 1931. Name of Church changed from Wick North Parish Church to Wick Old Parish Church.
8th May 1934. The Church heating in question.
23rd July 1934. Enquiries made regarding heating appliances for the Church
17th September 1934. Garden Fete realises £75. £30 allocated to Sunday School. Remainder put towards Church gates, and graveyard restoration fund. Installation of heating approved. Suppliers Messrs Simpson, Hunter, and Company, Edinburgh.
7th January 1935. The gift of the Font from the Sunday School acknowledged
22nd December 1936. An appeal to be made to the Town Council Department for a reduction in the lighting costs. The treasurer reports a fall in Revenue Door £27. Hall lets £2. Monthly envelopes £2. The Moderator intimates that he has a sum of £14, a balance from the Church Social and it is to be used to wipe of last year’s deficit. A motion is made that a meeting be held to discuss the fall in monthly collections.
28th April 1939. Flagstones removed from the aisles, and used as frontage to the Hall and path to the Vestry.
9th March 1938. Mr W Banks resigns because of ill-health. He served for 38 years. The Kirk Session agreed to appoint Miss C Banks as cleaner of the Church, and caretaker of the Hall.
The Kirk Session agreed to dispose of the Church and Manse at Thrumster to the General Trustees.
11th August 1939. Former Church Officer’s death noted (Mr W Banks).
3rd October 1939. Reference is made to the congregation, of the grave hour the Country faces. Safety measures are taken, including the darkening of windows.
3rd August 1940. Memorial service held for those who lost their lives in the Air Raid on 1st July 1940.
22nd September 1940. Request for use of the Church for school children’s classes
14th January 1941. ‘Comforts’ for men on active service, 140 were despatched by the Women’s Guild. Recognition of the Moderator’s Semi Jubilee. The question arises of obtaining the services of a Church Sister was discussed.
22nd August 1941. Miss Nina Coghill is appointed Church Sister
30th December 1943. 225 P O’s of 5 shillings, and 11 pairs of socks, were sent to Service personnel.
5th December 1944. Service on the occasion of “Stand Down” of the Home Guard
15th May 1945. Report of special Services of Thanksgiving for the end of the War with Germany
6th September 1945. Termination of Hostilities and Special Services noted.
8th March 1946. Church Officer and Caretaker Mr Paterson senior and his son John were invited to the posts.
5th August 1946. Gallery opened for Worship again.
27th December 1948. The Organist, Miss Manson is thanked for her work with the Choir for Christmas Sunday.
1st February 1949. Miss Bank’s request for an increase in Salary was discussed.
8th March 1949. Miss Banks is granted a sum of £40 with conditions attached. The Church Officer’s salary fixed at £25. The Committee appointed to investigate roof repairs asked to consider the matter.
28th September 1951. Gift of £30 received from the family of the late Mr George Rosie.
18th December 1951. It was agreed to purchase a Lectern with the donation from the late George Rosie’s family.
30th January 1952. Memorial Tablets of the 1914-18 War sent for refurbishment.
15th February 1952. Memorial Service to the late King George V1 recorded.
2nd April 1952. The Women’s Guild agrees to renovate the staircases in the Church and put lino on the steps.
16th May 1952. Dedication of the Lectern in memory of the late Mr George Rosie. Estimate tendered for painting the vestibule doors, and for the vestibule flooring. Presbytery projector booked for the 12th and 19th October. The placing of the Lectern decided upon.
13th June 1954. Broadcast service arranged for 27th June at 8.30 pm.
17th January 1956. Reverend Mr Scott willing to accept the vacancy.
24th February 1956. Mr Scott’s induction date provisionally fixed for 11th April.
26th March 1956. The Kirk Session agreed to purchase a Ford Popular for £410 plus delivery charges. The Kirk Session to insure the car and allow £25 running expenses. Also, if the special collection did not cover the presentations and removal expenses the Kirk Session agreed to make good any shortfall. The Sunday school agrees to donate £40 for the redecoration of the Church Hall.
10th March 1957. Nickel silver plated clips quoted at £3 a dozen. A cabinet to hold the trays costing £27 approved. These were to hold the individual communion glasses recently acquired
25th March 1958. Comprehensive heating plans discussed. Hot water system, coal fired, manual stoking £3200, Oil £3550, Electric £2100, Parkinson, Inverness, GEC £1693, and Reid and Henderson, £2003.
15th September 1958. Quotation from the Gas Board of £1300 discussed.
26th September 1958. The Kirk Session agreed to install Gas Heating.
12th November 1959. The offer from Messrs Roland, Thurso accepted for the redecoration of the Church. The cost being £795. The Kirk Session responsible for the scaffolding.
5th June 1960. Renovation of the Church nearing completion. Redecoration arranged for the 25th June.
1st July 1960. Finalised account for the Church renovation £2285.0.10. Money in hand, £950 with a promise of £200 from the Baird Trust. After installation of new lighting and window panels it was considered that very careful consideration is given to applicants for same.
1st August 1960. Stained glass panels to cost £10 extra, office bearer offers to pay the extra. Matter is referred to Maile & Son.
16th September 1960. Two further stained glass panels offered. The Kirk Session decided on the two gable windows upstairs and that no further windows downstairs are considered until the effect of stained glass panels is observed.
1st June 1961 The Moderator stated that the Choir had raised £82 for a piano. They required a further £18. The Kirk Session agreed to meet the deficit.
9th July 1962. Mr W Mowat agrees to obtain floor polisher at cost price. Notice board and Cradle Roll case erected and dedicated. The Kirk Session is asked by the Town Council to be responsible for repairs in Kirkstyle Lane. The Moderator intimates a visit by the Moderator of the General Assembly. The Clerk spoke of a visit to the Youth Club and was impressed by the work done there. Mr & Mrs J Milne, Mrs Lough, and Miss E McDonald were the ladies.
25th June 1964. The running of a bus to uplift members of the congregation was discussed.
5th July 1964. It was decided to accept the offer of a £1 a Sunday for the bus on a recognised route
31st August 1965. A new look for the Supplement (now known as the News Letter) was discussed as satisfactory cost was questioned. Constitution of the Church considered it was decided to adhere to the present form. Church bell mechanised. Names of all who helped entered in Minute.
16th November 1965. Congregational meeting held to decide Constitution. It was agreed to have no change, remaining a Quod Omnia.
3rd February 1966 The Presbytery regretted the decision regarding the decision to remain Quod Omnia.
4th September 1967. Use of the Sinclair Aisle considered for Sunday and Evening worship.
22nd February 1971. In Constituting the Moderator in his prayers referred to the passing of the Reverend M N Scott. Mr Scott’s Robes, Psalter and Hymn Book to be left in the Church. It was agreed that a photograph of Mr Scott be hung in the Vestry.
12th July 1971. On the Election of the Reverend G T M Robertson the Ordination and Induction to take place on 3rd September. Gift of £100 set aside towards Robes if Mr Robertson did not have them already. Number of Congregation who voted 196. 194 for, 1spoilt, 1 against, Total members 308. Adherents 478
4th May 1972. Suggested Union and readjustment for Wick discussed. Bridge Street and Central a possible Union. The Church building classified as a Historical Building
12th August 1973. Mr H Rosie’s report on the Organ
17th October 1973. A decision was taken to proceed with the Organ repair The Interim Clerk Mr T L Rosie was appointed Clerk by the unanimous decision of the Kirk Session. The cornice above the Organ repaired at a cost of £190 + VAT y £1000, and on completion of the work and the remainder to be paid in September 1974
4th August 1974. As there were no applications for the post of Church Officer, Mr R Sutherland moved that the members of the Kirk Session attend to the duties.
23rd October 1974. Work on the ground approaching the Church reported on. Contact was made about the trees in the Church yard and wall. It was agreed to run a bus on Christmas Eve, the allocation of the Offering to be left to the Moderator.
3rd December 1975. Salaries, the work done on the flower border by Mr Anderson and Mr Philips was commented on. Discussion regarding the provision of Hymn books at the door was debated, the Christmas Eve Service offering to be shared between, Shelter and Mission and Service.
8th September 1976. The Treasurer reported that there was a 17% increase in offerings on the same period last year.
8th June 1977. 25% increase in Free Will Offering mentioned. 8 Covenants secured.
9th November 1977. Evening Sale realised £1133, prior to the Sale £687 was raised. Hall heating account £283. 3 months Hall bill £115.
The Proclamation of Banns to cease officially on 1st January 1978.