The beginnings of our church and how we became what we are today.
OUR CHURCH
Our church was founded in 1843 when the Church of Scotland divided over the authority of the Church and its secular powers.
The long standing grievance was the patronage by land owners of the crown to present ministerial candidates to the vacant parish churches, while the call of the members of the church was ignored.
Within five years, seven hundred and thirty churches had been built in Scotland including Elgin High Church and something like five hundred schools were established with the assistance of the church.
The church building is rectangular with projecting bays to both gables. The west entrance is Romanesque. Three round-headed windows face north.
Today Elgin High Church is one of two Church of Scotland congregations currently in the city of Elgin and has a membership of about eight hundred. Bus and rail transport are near.
Our longest serving minister was Rev Robert Cowan who was minister of our church for 35 years. He died in March 1914.
We linked with Birnie and Pluscarden churches in January 2004.
OUR MINISTERS
At the end of 2003, our previous minister Rev Charles McMillan, was set the task of working to create our linkage with the neighbouring parish of Birnie & Pluscarden. When Rev McMillan retired in May 2004 the nominating committee was set the job of finding a minister for the newly linked charge, who would then be able to create a ministry team to serve the greatly increased charge.
Rev Julie Woods was ordained and inducted to the charge on 30 September 2005. It was not until a year later in October 2006 that we were able to appoint the Rev Anne Attenburrow on a temporary basis to assist part time with the work of the charge. In the spring of 2007 Miss Margaret King DCS joined us, again on a temporary basis, leaving to take up a permanent position as the pastoral assistant at Bellie Church in Fochabers.
In July 2007 we were delighted to appoint Mrs Paula Baker to be our permanent Pastoral Assistant. Around this time the final job description for the Associate Minister was decided and we advertised our vacancy. In the spring of 2008 Rev Douglas Stevenson was offered the position and he accepted the call. His service of introduction took place on 25 April at Pluscarden church. This marked the beginning of a new era for our charge as our full ministry team was finally in place.
On the same evening we bid a fond farewell to Rev Attenburrow after 18 months, who moved to St Giles & St Columba's South in Elgin to head up a project to reach out to young and vulnerable mothers and their children.
Rev Julie Woods was ordained and inducted to the charge on 30 September 2005. It was not until a year later in October 2006 that we were able to appoint the Rev Anne Attenburrow on a temporary basis to assist part time with the work of the charge. In the spring of 2007 Miss Margaret King DCS joined us, again on a temporary basis, leaving to take up a permanent position as the pastoral assistant at Bellie Church in Fochabers.
In July 2007 we were delighted to appoint Mrs Paula Baker to be our permanent Pastoral Assistant. Around this time the final job description for the Associate Minister was decided and we advertised our vacancy. In the spring of 2008 Rev Douglas Stevenson was offered the position and he accepted the call. His service of introduction took place on 25 April at Pluscarden church. This marked the beginning of a new era for our charge as our full ministry team was finally in place.
On the same evening we bid a fond farewell to Rev Attenburrow after 18 months, who moved to St Giles & St Columba's South in Elgin to head up a project to reach out to young and vulnerable mothers and their children.