Churches

The Church yard at Fodderty, still used for burials, contains the site of the old church, which was in use up until the end of the 18th century. In 1807 a new church was built, on the site now known as Kilvannie, and closer to the old manse, at Beechwood.

From this time on, the Victorian Spa resort at Strathpeffer was being developed, and the “centre” of the parish was moving from the old rural heart at Fodderty, to the western extremity of what was then known as Fodderty parish.

Consequently, by 1901, the congregation were making overtures to the Church of Scotland, to build a new church in Strathpeffer. In March 1902 the congregation “transported” to the new church at the west end of Strathpeffer. The old church at Kilvannie has been a dwelling house since about 1904.

The Disruption

In 1843 the Church of Scotland split almost equally in two, over several issues, the main one being “Patronage” (where the local Laird “presented” a minister to the congregation) Many felt that congregations should be free to “call” their own minister. The resultant breakaway Church became the Free Church. Some congregations together with their minister “came out”, while elsewhere there was division.

Fodderty Parish Church was clearly divided, since sufficient members stayed with the “Old Kirk” to make a viable congregation for a new minister, but Mr Noble “came out”.

The minister from Contin did not “come out” but many members did, and so Mr Noble became the first minister of Fodderty & Contin Free Church, and a church and manse was built on the boundary of the parishes, at Jamestown.

Around 1896 discussions began between the Free Church and the United Presbyterian Church (predominantly a Lowland denomination) to form a union to challenge the power of the established church (the Old Kirk). Despite initial difficulties, this marriage took place in 1900 to form the United Free Church. Most Free Church members went with this Union , but some remained opposed to union and continued in severely diminished numbers as the Free Church Continuing. Strathpeffer Free Church had 362 members in 1891 and by 1900 only 95 remained.

The Church of Scotland

Although the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church formed a union in 1929 in many places they co-existed until vacancies paved the way for local unions.

Mr Nicolson demitted his charge on 1st October 1947 to make way for the union between Fodderty Parish Church and Strathpeffer United Free Church, on 2nd October 1947. Walter Milne Reid came from the UF Church to become the first minister of Fodderty and Strathpeffer Parish Church , In June 1948.

After the union of 1947, the old parish manse at Beechwood was sold, and the UF manse in Strathpeffer retained. Similarly the UF church was sold and has become a dwelling house, (now Glendale ) and the former Fodderty Parish Church retained, now as Fodderty & Strathpeffer Parish Church