The Old High Church in Inverness stands on St Michael's Mount, a site where tradition holds that worship has continued for approximately 1,400 years.
From Celtic Monks to St Columba
The mound known as St Michael's Mount, close to the River Ness, is believed to have been used for worship since Celtic times. Tradition holds that a church or monk's cell was established by early Celtic monks around AD 569, and the site is reputedly where St Columba, the Irish missionary who brought Christianity to much of Scotland, preached when he visited Inverness.
According to tradition, St Columba visited King Brude (Bridei) at Inverness in AD 563, with some sources indicating he converted the Pictish king to Christianity around 565 AD. If dated from this period to the present day, the claim of 1,400 years of continuous worship on the site would be supported. However, it is important to note that these dates are based on tradition rather than definitively proven historical records, with sources using phrases such as "thought to have been established" and "believed to be the site."
The Jacobite Connection
The church gained a darker place in Scottish history following the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The oldest part of the Old High Church was used as a prison for captured Jacobites, who were subsequently executed in the church grounds. This connection to the Jacobite rising has made the church a point of interest for historians and tourists alike, with the site featuring on local walking tours and drawing visitors interested in Outlander-related history.
Architectural Heritage
The current Old High Church building primarily dates from the 18th century, though it incorporates parts of an earlier medieval church. It holds Category A listed status, representing the highest level of heritage protection in Scotland. The church houses a Father Willis organ, which was restored in 2010, and retains a curfew bell dating from 1703 that was rung daily for over 300 years.
St Stephen's Church, the other building in the union, is a Gothic structure in Morayshire freestone designed by WL Carruthers and holds Category B listed status.
Recent Changes and Community Preservation
The congregation of Old High St Stephen's was formed on 30 October 2003 through a union of Inverness Old High and Inverness St Stephen's congregations. In an unusual arrangement for Church of Scotland unions, both buildings were initially retained for worship.
In January 2022, regular worship ended at the Old High Church, with Sunday services continuing at St Stephen's Church. The Old High Church was placed on the market with offers sought over ยฃ150,000. In August 2025, the Church of Scotland accepted an offer from the charity "Save Old High Inverness" to take over the building, marking a significant step in community-led heritage preservation.
As of 2026, the congregation has undergone further change, with a union with Crown Church forming "Midmills Church," where worship now continues at the former Crown Church on Kingsmills Road.
St Michael's Mount: Not to Be Confused
It is worth noting that St Michael's Mount in Inverness is entirely separate from the more famous St Michael's Mount in Cornwall. The Inverness location is a mound near the River Ness that has served as a site of Christian worship for over a millennium, distinct from the tidal island in Cornwall that bears the same name.
