ABOUT THE CHURCH BUILDING
Elgin High Chuch is located in a prominent location on the corner of South Street and North Guildry Street, just south of the town centre. It was built as a Free Church in the 1840s but joined with the Church of Scotland in 1929 and is now called Elgin High. It is built on a long, narrow plot, with a large church hall attached to the rear (south) of the main church building.
Description (exterior)
Elgin High is a fairly small building and externally quite plain with no bellcote or tower. It is aligned approximately north-south with the main entrance at the north end. It was built with tooled, coursed sandstone blocks with ashlar sandstone used for surrounds and mouldings. The double-pitched roof is slated.
The north gable forms the principle elevation of the church. It has an advanced, central bay in which are three very large round-arched windows, joined by a thick hood mould and with moulded margins and extended stone sills. The windows have large panes of clear, frosted glass, which would likely be later replacements. Above, in the gable head, is a narrow slit opening with louvers, which ventilates the attic space. There is an eaves course below the wall head and at the corners of the gable are simpe buttresses with tall pinnacles. The top, spire section of each buttress has been lost or removed, with one such spire now placed on the ground against the gable. The narrow flanks of the advanced bay have a fine round-arched doorway, deeply recessed and with moulded margins and a deep hood mould.
The side elevations of the church have five large, round-arched windows with leaded, latticed glass. Below the wall head is an eaves course which matches that on the north gable. The rear (south) gable is largely hidden by the attached hall. There is a tall, narrow aisle or bay to the centre, which was built at a later stage to house an organ. It has a round window in the gable and two round-arched windows in the side faces - all have stained glass. The rest of the gable is featureless, apart from a small, narrow window towards the gable head, which is now partially blocked by the later bay. The central section of the main gable is stepped out slightly by a few inches.
There is a large hall complex attached to the southern end of the church. Linking the two main buildings is a small porch and vestibule area, through which the organ bay rises. It has a recessed, round-arched doorway on the west face, with a gable above. The original hall is a small, gabled building, built with grey ashlar sandstone. Attached on to the south side of this small hall and vestry building is a later, larger hall, built with yellow sandstone. It is larger and Gothic in style, with tall pointed-arch windows with hood moulds and a cross finial on the apex.
Description (interior)
The interior of Elgin High Church is largely unchanged from when it opened, other than the addition of the organ and its bay at the south end.
The organ is now an electronic one. The sanctuary is at the south end, in front of the organ and the nave has a very large U-shaped gallery on three sides with original good quality pews and panelled fronts. The nave itslef has matching dark wooden pews, arranged in rows with two passageways for access.
The sanctuary is raised from the nave by three wide steps and is carpeted with deep blue carpet.
There are chancel rails around, which enclose the sanctuary and clearly define this important area of the church. There is a wide, wooden communion table with detailed traceried panels to the front. Behind are finely-carved minister and elders chairs and the font and lectern flank the table.
To the rear is organ and attached pulpit. The organ's pipes are now only for show are painted a cream colour and there is fairly plain wooden panelling. The pulpit has similar carved panels as found on the communion table and has twin stairs on either side.
The large hall complex includes a galleried space with a stage, which is used by the church and the wider community. Stackable chairs mean the hall space is multi-functional and can be used for performances, dances and coffee mornings, etc.
Elgin High Chuch is located in a prominent location on the corner of South Street and North Guildry Street, just south of the town centre. It was built as a Free Church in the 1840s but joined with the Church of Scotland in 1929 and is now called Elgin High. It is built on a long, narrow plot, with a large church hall attached to the rear (south) of the main church building.
Description (exterior)
Elgin High is a fairly small building and externally quite plain with no bellcote or tower. It is aligned approximately north-south with the main entrance at the north end. It was built with tooled, coursed sandstone blocks with ashlar sandstone used for surrounds and mouldings. The double-pitched roof is slated.
The north gable forms the principle elevation of the church. It has an advanced, central bay in which are three very large round-arched windows, joined by a thick hood mould and with moulded margins and extended stone sills. The windows have large panes of clear, frosted glass, which would likely be later replacements. Above, in the gable head, is a narrow slit opening with louvers, which ventilates the attic space. There is an eaves course below the wall head and at the corners of the gable are simpe buttresses with tall pinnacles. The top, spire section of each buttress has been lost or removed, with one such spire now placed on the ground against the gable. The narrow flanks of the advanced bay have a fine round-arched doorway, deeply recessed and with moulded margins and a deep hood mould.
The side elevations of the church have five large, round-arched windows with leaded, latticed glass. Below the wall head is an eaves course which matches that on the north gable. The rear (south) gable is largely hidden by the attached hall. There is a tall, narrow aisle or bay to the centre, which was built at a later stage to house an organ. It has a round window in the gable and two round-arched windows in the side faces - all have stained glass. The rest of the gable is featureless, apart from a small, narrow window towards the gable head, which is now partially blocked by the later bay. The central section of the main gable is stepped out slightly by a few inches.
There is a large hall complex attached to the southern end of the church. Linking the two main buildings is a small porch and vestibule area, through which the organ bay rises. It has a recessed, round-arched doorway on the west face, with a gable above. The original hall is a small, gabled building, built with grey ashlar sandstone. Attached on to the south side of this small hall and vestry building is a later, larger hall, built with yellow sandstone. It is larger and Gothic in style, with tall pointed-arch windows with hood moulds and a cross finial on the apex.
Description (interior)
The interior of Elgin High Church is largely unchanged from when it opened, other than the addition of the organ and its bay at the south end.
The organ is now an electronic one. The sanctuary is at the south end, in front of the organ and the nave has a very large U-shaped gallery on three sides with original good quality pews and panelled fronts. The nave itslef has matching dark wooden pews, arranged in rows with two passageways for access.
The sanctuary is raised from the nave by three wide steps and is carpeted with deep blue carpet.
There are chancel rails around, which enclose the sanctuary and clearly define this important area of the church. There is a wide, wooden communion table with detailed traceried panels to the front. Behind are finely-carved minister and elders chairs and the font and lectern flank the table.
To the rear is organ and attached pulpit. The organ's pipes are now only for show are painted a cream colour and there is fairly plain wooden panelling. The pulpit has similar carved panels as found on the communion table and has twin stairs on either side.
The large hall complex includes a galleried space with a stage, which is used by the church and the wider community. Stackable chairs mean the hall space is multi-functional and can be used for performances, dances and coffee mornings, etc.