Gaelic Free Church, Wick

**marionq** · 06-May-05, 12:04

Gaelic Free Church, Wick. This is where my grandparents, Mary Morrison and James Fleming were married at the start of the 1900's and I looked for this church unsuccessfully on my last visit to Wick. It was suggested to me that it may just have been a room over a shop.

Does anyone have information or better still a photo of this church?

**fred** · 06-May-05, 15:44

Originally Posted by marionq

Gaelic Free Church, Wick. This is where my grandparents, Mary Morrison and James Fleming were married at the start of the 1900's and I looked for this church unsuccessfully on my last visit to Wick. It was suggested to me that it may just have been a room over a shop.

Does anyone have information or better still a photo of this church?

It isn't mentioned in Calders history published in 1872 though he does mention the
Free Church Bridge Street completed in 1864. It's possible both congregations used
the same building I suppose, the church at Bruan used to have two services, one in
English and one in Gaelic.

There is a grave in Latheron Cemetery with the following inscription which suggests
that the congregation wouldn't be fixed but comprised mostly of fishermen from other parts who came to Wick for the Herrin fishing.

Alexander Gair born at Morangie Tain 1772, removed to Sutherland 1796,
married 1799, came to Caithness 1817, died 18th July 1854 aged 82.
Blessed with a commanding aspect, great mental force and ardour, richness
of imagination, insight into character and readiness of speach in the
Gaelic tongue and having had from his youth much Christian experience
he dedicated his endowerments to Christ and was instant in season and
out of season in teaching, reproving, rebuking and exhaulting in the
service of his saviour, for nearly thirty years he laboured among the
Highlanders at Wick at the herring fishing to whom he was several
seasons appointed as catechrist by the Free Church of Scotland and
by the divine blessing gathered them out and formed them into the
largest and most important Gaelic congregation in the world,
salvation by the free grace of God in Christ Jesus and experience of
soul through the working of the holy spirit formed the subject of his
teaching.

**trinkie** · 09-May-05, 20:36

I think the above is in Breadalbane Terrace - not far from old school.
SD

**Lavenderblue2** · 13-May-05, 09:10

I think you are right Silver Darlings - I have been to a service that Free Church it's actually at the Breadalbane end of Sinclair Terrace.
I certainly can't think of another in Wick.

LB

**fred** · 13-May-05, 20:21

Originally Posted by Lavenderblue2

I think you are right Silver Darlings - I have been to a service that Free Church it's actually at the Breadalbane end of Sinclair Terrace.
I certainly can't think of another in Wick.

LB

The old town plans show that to be a Presbeterian Chapel in the 1870s with a Roman
Catholic Chapel on the other side of Malcolm St.

There was a Free Church round the corner in Dempster St.

I would have thought that it would be known as the Pultney Town Free Church rather than Wick at the time though.

**Lavenderblue2** · 13-May-05, 21:03

Fred wrote: There was a Free Church round the corner in Dempster St.

So that would be the Church now ocupied by the Baptists then?

LB

**fred** · 14-May-05, 10:37

Originally Posted by Lavenderblue2

Fred wrote: There was a Free Church round the corner in Dempster St.

So that would be the Church now ocupied by the Baptists then?
LB

Looks like it, I'll look and see what it says next time I'm passing.

In the 1800s the Baptist Church was in the V formed by river St and Union St.
opposite the back of the newspaper offices.

**Lavenderblue2** · 15-May-05, 10:52

In the 1800s the Baptist Church was in the V formed by river St and Union St.
opposite the back of the newspaper offices.

Yes - I remeber that well Fred, I used to work in the telephone exchange just along the street. Mind you, it's only in recent years that the Baptist's moved to Dempster Street and what a lovely Church they have made there.

LB

**fred** · 15-May-05, 18:52

Originally Posted by Lavenderblue2

In the 1800s the Baptist Church was in the V formed by river St and Union St.
opposite the back of the newspaper offices.

Yes - I remeber that well Fred, I used to work in the telephone exchange just along the street. Mind you, it's only in recent years that the Baptist's moved to Dempster Street and what a lovely Church they have made there.

LB

We are straying from the subject I'm affraid. What denomination is the church in Sinclair
Terrace now? I've found that the Free Presbyterian Church split from the Free Church of Scotland in 1893 after the plans I have were drawn. They had two sections, the Highland
and the Lowland, the main difference being that the Highland Free Presbyterians held their
services in gaelic.

**marionq** · 17-May-05, 14:50

Thanks to all of you who have wracked your memories over this one. I am not at home just now but in faraway London. When I get back I will dig out my grandparents' marriage certificate and see if there are any more clues. Grandpa was certainly a fisherman and Granny came from Scourie so the Church which catered for the fishermen sounds about right.

I am putting together a family history as I too have the genealogy bug. It is a wonderful way of learning more about social history too.