For over 1,500 years The Old High has stood at the very heart of Inverness, embodying a meeting of cultures, beliefs and worldviews.
The story of The Old High is in many ways the story of Inverness — from St Columba preaching to King Brude of the Picts there in the sixth century, through its development into the parish church of St Mary, to its tragic role as a place of imprisonment and execution after the Battle of Culloden.
Throughout the Victorian era and into the 20th century The Old High evolved in a place of remembrance and civic pride, closely associated with the Cameron Highlanders and the service and sacrifice of local people during global conflicts. Weddings, baptisms, funerals, concerts and civic services filled the building, intertwining The Old High with the lives of countless Highland families.
Today, although regular worship has ended, The Old High remains one of the most resonant places in Inverness. It is the oldest surviving building, a masterpiece of Highland ecclesiastical architecture, and a focal point for shared memory.
Over the years it has been a sacred hill, a parish church, a civic forum, a garrison, a school of song, a regimental shrine, and a place of welcome and quiet contemplation. In every era, it has adapted to meet the needs of the community around it. Our aim is to look after it for generations to come.
