On 1 October 2024, all the former parish churches in Orkney united to create a single Orkney Islands Church of Scotland staffed by a team ministry. It is part of the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of the North East and the Northern Isles ("NENI").
The former Presbytery of Orkney was split into the three presbyteries of Cairston, Kirkwall and North Isles in 1725.[1] It is not known when they reunited. Orkney Islands Church of Scotland includes the former parish churches of:
Names of former parish (before October 2024) | Population | Buildings | Founded |
---|---|---|---|
Birsay, Harray & Sandwick | 2,224 | Milestone Community Church, Dounby | 2012 |
Flotta l/w Orphir & Stenness l/w Hoy & Walls | 1,566 | Flotta Church* | |
Orphir Church* | Medieval | ||
St Columba's, Longhope, South Walls* | 1832 | ||
Stromness | 2,286 | St Peter's, Stromness* | |
Graemsay (meetings in hall) | |||
Evie l/w Rendall l/w Rousay l/w Firth | 1,877 | Evie Church, Stenso* | |
Rendall Church* | |||
Firth Church, Finstown* | |||
Rousay Church, Brinian* | |||
Eday | 160 | Eday Church* | |
North Ronaldsay | 72 | North Ronaldsay Church (meets in school) | |
Sanday | 494 | Sanday Church, Broughtown (Burness)* | |
Papa Westray l/w Westray | 678 | St Ann's, Papa Westray* | |
Westray Church* | |||
Stronsay Moncur Memorial | 353 | Moncur Memorial Church, Stronsay* | |
Kirkwall East l/w Shapinsay | 8,575 | North Church, Shapinsay* | |
Kirkwall East Church | 1796 | ||
Kirkwall St Magnus Cathedral | St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall* | Medieval | |
East Mainland | 1,746 | East Mainland Church, Holm* | |
South Ronaldsay & Burray | 1,318 | St Margaret's, St Margaret's Hope, S. Ron.* | |
St Peter's, Eastside (2 services/year)* |