ELGIN HIGH HISTORY
THE DISRUPTION OF 1843
The long standing grievance was the patronage by land owners or the crown to present ministerial candidates to the vacant parish churches. This meant that their agenda was controlled and presented to the congregation. The call of the congregation was ignored.
The leader of the disruption was Thomas Chalmers, Moderator, and it all came to a head at the May 1843 General Assembly. Nearly one third of the clergy and about half of the lay membership walked out of the proceedings.
Within five years 730 churches had been built in Scotland including Elgin High Church and over five hundred schools were established with the assistance of the church.
REV ALEXANDER TOPP
In Elgin, Following the disruption in 1843, the Rev Alexander Topp, the son of a miller, left his teaching charge of St Giles. He took about 1,200 members and the decision was taken to form the Free Church of Scotland.
At first they had the use of City Hall on the corner of Batchen Lane and South Street. This was demolished in 1989. This hall was too small for the congregation so there were services at 11am, 3pm and 6pm.
This was not very satisfactory and an area of land, the site of two crofts, was feud at a charge of 3/6 a year. This area, at the corner of North Guildry Street and South Street was deemed suitable and our church was built at a cost of £1,398. The building was begun in June and the first service was held in October before the glass had even been fitted to the windows.
The intention had been to have a moderately sized spire on the norther gable above the steps but because of the slender walls and triple windowed gable end, this was thought to be impracticable. The main walls were also a bit weak so strengthening work was done in 1861.
The stones were purchased from John Innes, builder for £10. They were from the Old Tollbooth and Council House. Before that they had been used on the dykes around the old Kirk yard.
Rev Topp’s salary was to be £40.The original Communion Flagons, cups and salvers were purchased and we still have some.
By 1851 there were 795 on the Roll plus Adherents.
The decision was made to build a new South Church for the overspill. Because of pressure of work, Rev Topp transferred himself to the South Church taking many of the congregation. He remained there for a short time before moving to Roxburgh and then to Canada.
REV ROBERT WATT
In December 1852 we welcomed Rev Robert Watt and changed our name to High Church of the Free Church.
The area where the hall is now, although it belonged to our church, was a bit neglected and was fenced in with grass and shrubs.
After a recuperating holiday in Ireland, sadly, Rev Watt died on 30 September 1862 after 10 years in office.
REV ARCHIBALD SMELLIE
In September 1863, the Rev Archibald Smellie from Banff was called and the next 5 years were a time of consolidation. He was later called to Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh.
REV ROBERT COWAN
Rev Robert Cowan preached his first service in 1879 and he was to remain with us for the rest of his ministerial life till 1914. He ministered to us longer than anyone before of since.
NAME CHANGE
With the coming of 1901 the name of our church was changed from ‘Elgin Free High Church’ to ‘Elgin United free High Church’
LADY ELDERS
On 6th October 1983 the Session approved that ladies could be admitted as Elders and Anita Chapman and Norma Strachan were the first.
MANSE
Even although we had spent £14,000 on the manse next to the police station, it was exchanged with Daisy Bank in Forteath Avenue and Rev Charles McMillan lived there.
COVID-19
Unfortunately, in March 2020 we had to close the church due to The COVID-19 Virus
The long standing grievance was the patronage by land owners or the crown to present ministerial candidates to the vacant parish churches. This meant that their agenda was controlled and presented to the congregation. The call of the congregation was ignored.
The leader of the disruption was Thomas Chalmers, Moderator, and it all came to a head at the May 1843 General Assembly. Nearly one third of the clergy and about half of the lay membership walked out of the proceedings.
Within five years 730 churches had been built in Scotland including Elgin High Church and over five hundred schools were established with the assistance of the church.
REV ALEXANDER TOPP
In Elgin, Following the disruption in 1843, the Rev Alexander Topp, the son of a miller, left his teaching charge of St Giles. He took about 1,200 members and the decision was taken to form the Free Church of Scotland.
At first they had the use of City Hall on the corner of Batchen Lane and South Street. This was demolished in 1989. This hall was too small for the congregation so there were services at 11am, 3pm and 6pm.
This was not very satisfactory and an area of land, the site of two crofts, was feud at a charge of 3/6 a year. This area, at the corner of North Guildry Street and South Street was deemed suitable and our church was built at a cost of £1,398. The building was begun in June and the first service was held in October before the glass had even been fitted to the windows.
The intention had been to have a moderately sized spire on the norther gable above the steps but because of the slender walls and triple windowed gable end, this was thought to be impracticable. The main walls were also a bit weak so strengthening work was done in 1861.
The stones were purchased from John Innes, builder for £10. They were from the Old Tollbooth and Council House. Before that they had been used on the dykes around the old Kirk yard.
Rev Topp’s salary was to be £40.The original Communion Flagons, cups and salvers were purchased and we still have some.
By 1851 there were 795 on the Roll plus Adherents.
The decision was made to build a new South Church for the overspill. Because of pressure of work, Rev Topp transferred himself to the South Church taking many of the congregation. He remained there for a short time before moving to Roxburgh and then to Canada.
REV ROBERT WATT
In December 1852 we welcomed Rev Robert Watt and changed our name to High Church of the Free Church.
The area where the hall is now, although it belonged to our church, was a bit neglected and was fenced in with grass and shrubs.
After a recuperating holiday in Ireland, sadly, Rev Watt died on 30 September 1862 after 10 years in office.
REV ARCHIBALD SMELLIE
In September 1863, the Rev Archibald Smellie from Banff was called and the next 5 years were a time of consolidation. He was later called to Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh.
REV ROBERT COWAN
Rev Robert Cowan preached his first service in 1879 and he was to remain with us for the rest of his ministerial life till 1914. He ministered to us longer than anyone before of since.
NAME CHANGE
With the coming of 1901 the name of our church was changed from ‘Elgin Free High Church’ to ‘Elgin United free High Church’
LADY ELDERS
On 6th October 1983 the Session approved that ladies could be admitted as Elders and Anita Chapman and Norma Strachan were the first.
MANSE
Even although we had spent £14,000 on the manse next to the police station, it was exchanged with Daisy Bank in Forteath Avenue and Rev Charles McMillan lived there.
COVID-19
Unfortunately, in March 2020 we had to close the church due to The COVID-19 Virus