When the areas of Smithton, Culloden, Cradlehall and Balloch began to expand in the 1970s, the Inverness Presbytery realised that something should be done to develop a Free Church work there. (Earlier services in Balloch, which had been well attended, had been allowed to lapse.) The Home Missions Committee of the Presbytery, spearheaded by the Rev Douglas Milne, Glenurquhart, and Rev Finlay Mackenzie, Croy, decided in 1978 to start services and do outreach work. Services were held in the Culloden Hall on Sunday afternoons.
After some time, it was decided that services needed to be at normal hours of worship and that the venue needed to be relocated, so in 1979 services were started on a Sunday morning in the Duncan Forbes Primary School. In 1981 and 1982 successful Highways and Byways missions were held which enabled a Sunday school to be established, with the majority of the children coming from local homes with no church connection. As a result of visiting homes, perseverance and the support of the Rev William R Mackay, the congregation was strong enough in 1983 to be given Outreach Status at the Free Church General Assembly. This allowed it to call a minister.
In September 1984 the Rev David Meredith was ordained and inducted at a service in the Duncan Forbes School. He initially rented property in Inverness before moving to his first manse, a small house in Culloden Court. Since then he has had two further moves to larger manses in Resaurie. On his arrival, evening services were introduced as well as a weekly prayer meeting in homes. In February 1985, the congregation elected its first indigenous Kirk Session (replacing the previous one made up of 'assessor elders' from elsewhere in the Presbytery). The original elders were Charlie Anderson, James Beaton, Rev William R Mackay, George MacLean and David Sutherland.
The numbers grew steadily. There were 11 communicant members at the first communion service and 19 six months later. By November 1985 the Sunday school had a role of 44. Ladies' prayer meetings were started. The first children's club was established - called the Monday Club because it met on a Monday night - and it is still going strong. Services were taped and tapes were in demand. The first two deacons were elected in 1986. Various outreach activities were held.
The result was that the congregation soon needed its own building to accommodate its activities and also to expand its ministry. In March 1990 the church in Murray Road was opened, with the Rev Ronald Mackay presiding and preaching. (This occasion is marked every year by anniversary services when a guest speaker is invited from outwith the Free Church.) This was followed three years later by the erection of the hall and flat which were opened in November 1993. Wonderful financial provision was made for this project through a legacy and increased facilities now became available.
David Meredith's ministry has been blessed and the work of the congregation has continued to expand: youth fellowship, more children's clubs, door-to-door visiting, congregational newsletter, services in nursing homes, a lunch club for senior citizens, Christianity Explored courses and video-taping of services for people in Achiltibuie, among other activities. In January 2002 a 09:30 service was introduced to alleviate the overcrowding at the 11:00 service. The communion roll now stands at 189. As a result of this growth, the ministerial team expanded. We now have a youth worker and two pastoral workers as well as the minister.
We are grateful to God for his goodness to us over the past three decades and look to him for guidance for the way ahead. 'Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain.' Psalm 127:1
After some time, it was decided that services needed to be at normal hours of worship and that the venue needed to be relocated, so in 1979 services were started on a Sunday morning in the Duncan Forbes Primary School. In 1981 and 1982 successful Highways and Byways missions were held which enabled a Sunday school to be established, with the majority of the children coming from local homes with no church connection. As a result of visiting homes, perseverance and the support of the Rev William R Mackay, the congregation was strong enough in 1983 to be given Outreach Status at the Free Church General Assembly. This allowed it to call a minister.
In September 1984 the Rev David Meredith was ordained and inducted at a service in the Duncan Forbes School. He initially rented property in Inverness before moving to his first manse, a small house in Culloden Court. Since then he has had two further moves to larger manses in Resaurie. On his arrival, evening services were introduced as well as a weekly prayer meeting in homes. In February 1985, the congregation elected its first indigenous Kirk Session (replacing the previous one made up of 'assessor elders' from elsewhere in the Presbytery). The original elders were Charlie Anderson, James Beaton, Rev William R Mackay, George MacLean and David Sutherland.
The numbers grew steadily. There were 11 communicant members at the first communion service and 19 six months later. By November 1985 the Sunday school had a role of 44. Ladies' prayer meetings were started. The first children's club was established - called the Monday Club because it met on a Monday night - and it is still going strong. Services were taped and tapes were in demand. The first two deacons were elected in 1986. Various outreach activities were held.
The result was that the congregation soon needed its own building to accommodate its activities and also to expand its ministry. In March 1990 the church in Murray Road was opened, with the Rev Ronald Mackay presiding and preaching. (This occasion is marked every year by anniversary services when a guest speaker is invited from outwith the Free Church.) This was followed three years later by the erection of the hall and flat which were opened in November 1993. Wonderful financial provision was made for this project through a legacy and increased facilities now became available.
Our church building
David Meredith's ministry has been blessed and the work of the congregation has continued to expand: youth fellowship, more children's clubs, door-to-door visiting, congregational newsletter, services in nursing homes, a lunch club for senior citizens, Christianity Explored courses and video-taping of services for people in Achiltibuie, among other activities. In January 2002 a 09:30 service was introduced to alleviate the overcrowding at the 11:00 service. The communion roll now stands at 189. As a result of this growth, the ministerial team expanded. We now have a youth worker and two pastoral workers as well as the minister.
We are grateful to God for his goodness to us over the past three decades and look to him for guidance for the way ahead. 'Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain.' Psalm 127:1
Last updated: Thursday, 7 September 2006
