The Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness is one of the seven dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. It covers Caithness and Sutherland (the old Diocese of Caithness), mainland Ross and Cromarty (the old Diocese of Ross), and mainland Inverness-shire, Nairnshire, Moray and Banffshire (the old Diocese of Moray). The diocesan centre is St Andrew's Cathedral in Inverness. The see is currently occupied by Mark Strange.
History The three old dioceses united in the modern diocese were all founded during the 12th century. Moray was founded by Gregory in 1114, Ross by Macbeth in 1131 and Caithness by Aindréas of Caithness in 1146. Being more removed from the centre of political power during the Scottish Reformation, each of the dioceses managed to continue an unbroken line of bishops. However, its remoteness also caused problems for the appointment of new bishops under the period of the penal laws. For part of the 17th century, both Ross and Caithness were without a bishop, and, at the beginning of the 18th century, the Diocese of Orkney was united with Caithness. In 1707, Alexander Rose, Bishop of Edinburgh and the first Primus, united Moray with his diocese for reason of practical oversight. John Fullarton, Rose's successor in both roles, continued to oversee Moray until 1725, when it was felt more practical to combine it with the Diocese of Aberdeen, led by James Gadderar. However, in 1727, the new Primus, Andrew Lumsden, appointed William Dunbar as sole Bishop of Moray and Ross, combining the vacant northern see with Moray. In 1777, William Falconar, also Primus, united Orkney, Moray, Ross and Caithness under his rule. In 1819, David Low was appointed Bishop of Ross by itself, but, from 1838 he administered the entire former union and the see officially returned to the union in 1851. In 1857, Orkney was separated to unite with the Diocese of Aberdeen. Mark Strange was elected as the new bishop on 2 June 2007 and was consecrated and installed on 13 October 2007. In 2020, Synod Clerk Rev Canon Michael Last reported an increase in membership and in number of communicants.
Area and population The diocese covers the historic counties of Caithness (population 26,500), Sutherland (population 13,000), mainland Ross and Cromarty (population 57,500), Inverness-shire except the Hebridean parts and Lochaber (population 88,500), Nairnshire (population 12,500), Morayshire (population 68,000), the Dufftown, Keith and Aberchirder areas of Banffshire (population 16,500), and the Huntly area of Aberdeenshire (population 8,000).
This total population of approximately 290,500 gives the diocese a ratio of one priest to every 18,200 inhabitants and one church to every 7,300 inhabitants.
List of churches The diocese currently has 16 stipendiary clergy and 40 church buildings. ParishChurchesFoundedLinkStipendiary clergyAberchirderSt Marnan, Aberchirder1824Michael LastKeithHoly Trinity, Keith1688HuntlyChrist Church, Huntly1719Fochabers Gordon ChapelGordon Chapel of St Elizabeth, Fochabers1834DufftownSt Michael, DufftownAberlourSt Margaret of Scotland, Aberlour1875Vacant since 2012Elgin with LossiemouthHoly Trinity, Elginc. 1700Tembu RongongSt Margaret, Lossiemouth1853Burghead MissionRothiemurchusSt John the Baptist, Rothiemurchus1904Vacant since 2001Grantown-On-SpeySt Columba, Grantown-on-Spey1870Vacant since 2010ForresSt John the Evangelist, Forres1841Hamilton InbadasNairnSt Columba, Nairn1853Alison SimpsonInverness CathedralSt Andrew's Cathedral, Inverness1853Sarah Murray John Cuthbert Laura Symon Ross RoydenInverness (St John the Evangelist)St John the Evangelist, Inverness1691John CuthbertInverness (St Michael & All Angels)St Michael & All Angels, Inverness1881CullodenSt Mary-in-the-Fields, Culloden1973Vacant since 2012StrathnairnSt Paul, Strathnairn1688Alison SimpsonGlenurquhartSt Ninian, Glenurquhart1853Rob HardwickGordonstounSt Christopher's Chapel & Michael KirkFortroseSt Andrew, Fortrose1688Alex LaneArpafeelieSt John the Evangelist, Arpafeelie1688CromartySt Regulus, Cromarty1877PooleweSt Maelrubha, Poolewe1950Vacant since 2013Kishorn ChapelCourthill Chapel, Kishorn1901LochalshSt Donnan, Lochalsh1943StrathpefferSt Anne, StrathpefferJulia BoothbyDingwallSt James the Great, Dingwall1704InvergordonSt Ninian, Invergordon1915LochinverSt Gilbert's Mission, KinlochbervieClare CaleySt Gilbert of Caithness, LochinverUllapoolSt Mary the Virgin, Ullapool1975St Boniface of Ross, AchiltibuieTongueSt Mary-by-the-Cross, Tongue2003Simon ScottDornochSt Finnbarr, Dornoch1903TainSt Andrew, Tain1877LairgSt Maelrubha's Mission, LairgBroraSt Columba of Iona, Brora1909ThursoSt Peter & Holy Rood, Thurso1884WickSt John the Evangelist, Wick1870
See also Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness
References
External links The Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness