Revealed on 12 June 2025
4 minutes learn
An Inverness church is providing a style of issues to return by holding a collection of summer season companies on the location earmarked for its new house.
However the congregation of St Columba Church, whose parish stretches from the southern suburbs of the Highland capital to the village of Dores on the shores of Loch Ness, are usually not ready for constructing work to start on the location within the Holm space.
As an alternative, the church has invested in a tent which is able to host weekly companies and different occasions over the summer season.
St Columba minister Rev Scott McRoberts and his congregation hope this may assist to extend the visibility of the church within the increasing neighborhood on the outskirts of Inverness.
A successor congregation to town centre church of St Columba’s Excessive, following the closure and sale of the Victorian church constructing overlooking the River Ness the congregation now meets often at Drummond College, however within the long-term they’ll have a everlasting house in a goal designed constructing that will probably be an asset for the entire neighborhood.
Having already hosted quite a lot of neighborhood occasions within the subject, Mr McRoberts and the elders within the congregation had lengthy thought of and prayed about having a tent for companies within the area over the summer season.
“We felt that that is the time to do it as a result of we very a lot hope that, in a few years’ time, there will probably be a constructing going up so we could be way more bodily current and visual,” the minister mentioned.
“Partly it’s about exhibiting the neighborhood that we’re right here, as a result of we’re fairly invisible as a result of we would not have our personal constructing and this can be a means that we could be seen and present that we’re right here.
“I feel the character of the tent itself, being within the open air, with open sides, is making a little bit of curiosity and can enable individuals to test it out a bit.”
For individuals who would not have any direct expertise of church, Mr McRoberts hopes it’ll dispel some preconceptions.
“Generally individuals image church as an older constructing with an organ, however now we have by no means been that,” he defined.
“I do not assume we want to do one thing for the sake of novelty, however there’s something about exhibiting that church is just not essentially what individuals bear in mind church as.
“We’ve had the sector a very long time and having the tent in that area and connecting with households within the space who know us from our colleges work, however have by no means been to the church, simply brings us a bit of bit nearer to these individuals we’re already connecting with.”
A neighborhood useful resource
In addition to common Sunday companies, St Columba will host quite a lot of neighborhood occasions inside the church, together with a ceilidh on Sunday 22 June and a neighborhood barbecue per week in a while Sunday 29, each occasions beginning at 12.30pm.
Mr McRoberts added: “We’ve tried a number of neighborhood occasions there through the years and that is constructing on that, however doing it a bit extra constantly and often.
“We will level to the tagline ‘Right here for Life’ that’s on our signal on the fringe of the sector.
“Our intention with that has at all times been to inform our neighborhood that we’re right here for the lengthy haul, and this appears like a tangible step in the direction of bodily with the ability to try this.”
Different occasions might observe earlier than the tent is pitched for the ultimate time on 31 August.
By that point Mr McRoberts hopes that the expertise is not going to solely have had an affect on the local people, however on the congregation.
“It takes plenty of serving to make one thing like this occur,” he mentioned.
“It takes lots of people to place the tent up and take it down and when the church serves collectively, it actually binds us in a stunning means.
“However we additionally hope extra individuals locally will see our church and are available alongside and test it out, so we hope that by the top of August extra individuals will really feel and be welcome amongst us.”
As soon as accomplished, the minister hopes the purpose-built church constructing may even present a welcoming atmosphere for the neighborhood, reflecting the teachings the congregation has discovered via its time at Drummond College.
“Being in Drummond College for 12 years now has taught us quite a bit in regards to the worth of getting a really open, accessible and versatile area,” he mentioned.
“That may inform the form of constructing that we wish to have.
“Our constructing staff is taking a look at one thing that feels very invitational, very useable, very versatile, and can be utilized by the neighborhood in addition to the church.
“That may be a key purpose for doing the constructing undertaking in any respect as a result of arguably we may worship in a college constructing or a tent or wherever else.
“However the actuality is that this south-west nook of Inverness would not have all of the neighborhood area it wants with all the brand new housing going up and we wish to be a part of the answer to that.
“A part of our mission as a church is to be a blessing to the neighborhood and what we’re providing this summer season, we hope, will probably be that, however it’s the constructing in the long term that we hope will probably be a everlasting blessing to the neighborhood.”
Revealed on 12 June 2025
4 minutes learn
An Inverness church is providing a style of issues to return by holding a collection of summer season companies on the location earmarked for its new house.
However the congregation of St Columba Church, whose parish stretches from the southern suburbs of the Highland capital to the village of Dores on the shores of Loch Ness, are usually not ready for constructing work to start on the location within the Holm space.
As an alternative, the church has invested in a tent which is able to host weekly companies and different occasions over the summer season.
St Columba minister Rev Scott McRoberts and his congregation hope this may assist to extend the visibility of the church within the increasing neighborhood on the outskirts of Inverness.
A successor congregation to town centre church of St Columba’s Excessive, following the closure and sale of the Victorian church constructing overlooking the River Ness the congregation now meets often at Drummond College, however within the long-term they’ll have a everlasting house in a goal designed constructing that will probably be an asset for the entire neighborhood.
Having already hosted quite a lot of neighborhood occasions within the subject, Mr McRoberts and the elders within the congregation had lengthy thought of and prayed about having a tent for companies within the area over the summer season.
“We felt that that is the time to do it as a result of we very a lot hope that, in a few years’ time, there will probably be a constructing going up so we could be way more bodily current and visual,” the minister mentioned.
“Partly it’s about exhibiting the neighborhood that we’re right here, as a result of we’re fairly invisible as a result of we would not have our personal constructing and this can be a means that we could be seen and present that we’re right here.
“I feel the character of the tent itself, being within the open air, with open sides, is making a little bit of curiosity and can enable individuals to test it out a bit.”
For individuals who would not have any direct expertise of church, Mr McRoberts hopes it’ll dispel some preconceptions.
“Generally individuals image church as an older constructing with an organ, however now we have by no means been that,” he defined.
“I do not assume we want to do one thing for the sake of novelty, however there’s something about exhibiting that church is just not essentially what individuals bear in mind church as.
“We’ve had the sector a very long time and having the tent in that area and connecting with households within the space who know us from our colleges work, however have by no means been to the church, simply brings us a bit of bit nearer to these individuals we’re already connecting with.”
A neighborhood useful resource
In addition to common Sunday companies, St Columba will host quite a lot of neighborhood occasions inside the church, together with a ceilidh on Sunday 22 June and a neighborhood barbecue per week in a while Sunday 29, each occasions beginning at 12.30pm.
Mr McRoberts added: “We’ve tried a number of neighborhood occasions there through the years and that is constructing on that, however doing it a bit extra constantly and often.
“We will level to the tagline ‘Right here for Life’ that’s on our signal on the fringe of the sector.
“Our intention with that has at all times been to inform our neighborhood that we’re right here for the lengthy haul, and this appears like a tangible step in the direction of bodily with the ability to try this.”
Different occasions might observe earlier than the tent is pitched for the ultimate time on 31 August.
By that point Mr McRoberts hopes that the expertise is not going to solely have had an affect on the local people, however on the congregation.
“It takes plenty of serving to make one thing like this occur,” he mentioned.
“It takes lots of people to place the tent up and take it down and when the church serves collectively, it actually binds us in a stunning means.
“However we additionally hope extra individuals locally will see our church and are available alongside and test it out, so we hope that by the top of August extra individuals will really feel and be welcome amongst us.”
As soon as accomplished, the minister hopes the purpose-built church constructing may even present a welcoming atmosphere for the neighborhood, reflecting the teachings the congregation has discovered via its time at Drummond College.
“Being in Drummond College for 12 years now has taught us quite a bit in regards to the worth of getting a really open, accessible and versatile area,” he mentioned.
“That may inform the form of constructing that we wish to have.
“Our constructing staff is taking a look at one thing that feels very invitational, very useable, very versatile, and can be utilized by the neighborhood in addition to the church.
“That may be a key purpose for doing the constructing undertaking in any respect as a result of arguably we may worship in a college constructing or a tent or wherever else.
“However the actuality is that this south-west nook of Inverness would not have all of the neighborhood area it wants with all the brand new housing going up and we wish to be a part of the answer to that.
“A part of our mission as a church is to be a blessing to the neighborhood and what we’re providing this summer season, we hope, will probably be that, however it’s the constructing in the long term that we hope will probably be a everlasting blessing to the neighborhood.”
Revealed on 12 June 2025
4 minutes learn
An Inverness church is providing a style of issues to return by holding a collection of summer season companies on the location earmarked for its new house.
However the congregation of St Columba Church, whose parish stretches from the southern suburbs of the Highland capital to the village of Dores on the shores of Loch Ness, are usually not ready for constructing work to start on the location within the Holm space.
As an alternative, the church has invested in a tent which is able to host weekly companies and different occasions over the summer season.
St Columba minister Rev Scott McRoberts and his congregation hope this may assist to extend the visibility of the church within the increasing neighborhood on the outskirts of Inverness.
A successor congregation to town centre church of St Columba’s Excessive, following the closure and sale of the Victorian church constructing overlooking the River Ness the congregation now meets often at Drummond College, however within the long-term they’ll have a everlasting house in a goal designed constructing that will probably be an asset for the entire neighborhood.
Having already hosted quite a lot of neighborhood occasions within the subject, Mr McRoberts and the elders within the congregation had lengthy thought of and prayed about having a tent for companies within the area over the summer season.
“We felt that that is the time to do it as a result of we very a lot hope that, in a few years’ time, there will probably be a constructing going up so we could be way more bodily current and visual,” the minister mentioned.
“Partly it’s about exhibiting the neighborhood that we’re right here, as a result of we’re fairly invisible as a result of we would not have our personal constructing and this can be a means that we could be seen and present that we’re right here.
“I feel the character of the tent itself, being within the open air, with open sides, is making a little bit of curiosity and can enable individuals to test it out a bit.”
For individuals who would not have any direct expertise of church, Mr McRoberts hopes it’ll dispel some preconceptions.
“Generally individuals image church as an older constructing with an organ, however now we have by no means been that,” he defined.
“I do not assume we want to do one thing for the sake of novelty, however there’s something about exhibiting that church is just not essentially what individuals bear in mind church as.
“We’ve had the sector a very long time and having the tent in that area and connecting with households within the space who know us from our colleges work, however have by no means been to the church, simply brings us a bit of bit nearer to these individuals we’re already connecting with.”
A neighborhood useful resource
In addition to common Sunday companies, St Columba will host quite a lot of neighborhood occasions inside the church, together with a ceilidh on Sunday 22 June and a neighborhood barbecue per week in a while Sunday 29, each occasions beginning at 12.30pm.
Mr McRoberts added: “We’ve tried a number of neighborhood occasions there through the years and that is constructing on that, however doing it a bit extra constantly and often.
“We will level to the tagline ‘Right here for Life’ that’s on our signal on the fringe of the sector.
“Our intention with that has at all times been to inform our neighborhood that we’re right here for the lengthy haul, and this appears like a tangible step in the direction of bodily with the ability to try this.”
Different occasions might observe earlier than the tent is pitched for the ultimate time on 31 August.
By that point Mr McRoberts hopes that the expertise is not going to solely have had an affect on the local people, however on the congregation.
“It takes plenty of serving to make one thing like this occur,” he mentioned.
“It takes lots of people to place the tent up and take it down and when the church serves collectively, it actually binds us in a stunning means.
“However we additionally hope extra individuals locally will see our church and are available alongside and test it out, so we hope that by the top of August extra individuals will really feel and be welcome amongst us.”
As soon as accomplished, the minister hopes the purpose-built church constructing may even present a welcoming atmosphere for the neighborhood, reflecting the teachings the congregation has discovered via its time at Drummond College.
“Being in Drummond College for 12 years now has taught us quite a bit in regards to the worth of getting a really open, accessible and versatile area,” he mentioned.
“That may inform the form of constructing that we wish to have.
“Our constructing staff is taking a look at one thing that feels very invitational, very useable, very versatile, and can be utilized by the neighborhood in addition to the church.
“That may be a key purpose for doing the constructing undertaking in any respect as a result of arguably we may worship in a college constructing or a tent or wherever else.
“However the actuality is that this south-west nook of Inverness would not have all of the neighborhood area it wants with all the brand new housing going up and we wish to be a part of the answer to that.
“A part of our mission as a church is to be a blessing to the neighborhood and what we’re providing this summer season, we hope, will probably be that, however it’s the constructing in the long term that we hope will probably be a everlasting blessing to the neighborhood.”
Revealed on 12 June 2025
4 minutes learn
An Inverness church is providing a style of issues to return by holding a collection of summer season companies on the location earmarked for its new house.
However the congregation of St Columba Church, whose parish stretches from the southern suburbs of the Highland capital to the village of Dores on the shores of Loch Ness, are usually not ready for constructing work to start on the location within the Holm space.
As an alternative, the church has invested in a tent which is able to host weekly companies and different occasions over the summer season.
St Columba minister Rev Scott McRoberts and his congregation hope this may assist to extend the visibility of the church within the increasing neighborhood on the outskirts of Inverness.
A successor congregation to town centre church of St Columba’s Excessive, following the closure and sale of the Victorian church constructing overlooking the River Ness the congregation now meets often at Drummond College, however within the long-term they’ll have a everlasting house in a goal designed constructing that will probably be an asset for the entire neighborhood.
Having already hosted quite a lot of neighborhood occasions within the subject, Mr McRoberts and the elders within the congregation had lengthy thought of and prayed about having a tent for companies within the area over the summer season.
“We felt that that is the time to do it as a result of we very a lot hope that, in a few years’ time, there will probably be a constructing going up so we could be way more bodily current and visual,” the minister mentioned.
“Partly it’s about exhibiting the neighborhood that we’re right here, as a result of we’re fairly invisible as a result of we would not have our personal constructing and this can be a means that we could be seen and present that we’re right here.
“I feel the character of the tent itself, being within the open air, with open sides, is making a little bit of curiosity and can enable individuals to test it out a bit.”
For individuals who would not have any direct expertise of church, Mr McRoberts hopes it’ll dispel some preconceptions.
“Generally individuals image church as an older constructing with an organ, however now we have by no means been that,” he defined.
“I do not assume we want to do one thing for the sake of novelty, however there’s something about exhibiting that church is just not essentially what individuals bear in mind church as.
“We’ve had the sector a very long time and having the tent in that area and connecting with households within the space who know us from our colleges work, however have by no means been to the church, simply brings us a bit of bit nearer to these individuals we’re already connecting with.”
A neighborhood useful resource
In addition to common Sunday companies, St Columba will host quite a lot of neighborhood occasions inside the church, together with a ceilidh on Sunday 22 June and a neighborhood barbecue per week in a while Sunday 29, each occasions beginning at 12.30pm.
Mr McRoberts added: “We’ve tried a number of neighborhood occasions there through the years and that is constructing on that, however doing it a bit extra constantly and often.
“We will level to the tagline ‘Right here for Life’ that’s on our signal on the fringe of the sector.
“Our intention with that has at all times been to inform our neighborhood that we’re right here for the lengthy haul, and this appears like a tangible step in the direction of bodily with the ability to try this.”
Different occasions might observe earlier than the tent is pitched for the ultimate time on 31 August.
By that point Mr McRoberts hopes that the expertise is not going to solely have had an affect on the local people, however on the congregation.
“It takes plenty of serving to make one thing like this occur,” he mentioned.
“It takes lots of people to place the tent up and take it down and when the church serves collectively, it actually binds us in a stunning means.
“However we additionally hope extra individuals locally will see our church and are available alongside and test it out, so we hope that by the top of August extra individuals will really feel and be welcome amongst us.”
As soon as accomplished, the minister hopes the purpose-built church constructing may even present a welcoming atmosphere for the neighborhood, reflecting the teachings the congregation has discovered via its time at Drummond College.
“Being in Drummond College for 12 years now has taught us quite a bit in regards to the worth of getting a really open, accessible and versatile area,” he mentioned.
“That may inform the form of constructing that we wish to have.
“Our constructing staff is taking a look at one thing that feels very invitational, very useable, very versatile, and can be utilized by the neighborhood in addition to the church.
“That may be a key purpose for doing the constructing undertaking in any respect as a result of arguably we may worship in a college constructing or a tent or wherever else.
“However the actuality is that this south-west nook of Inverness would not have all of the neighborhood area it wants with all the brand new housing going up and we wish to be a part of the answer to that.
“A part of our mission as a church is to be a blessing to the neighborhood and what we’re providing this summer season, we hope, will probably be that, however it’s the constructing in the long term that we hope will probably be a everlasting blessing to the neighborhood.”
