Parishes
150th Anniversary of founding of St John's, Wick
Sunday 20 February 2005

Bishop John Crook and the Rev John Stevenson (back) with the Servers

A special service was held on Sunday 20th February 2005 to mark the 150th Anniversary of founding of the congregation of St. John's Episcopal Church, Wick.

There had been no Episcopal congregation in Caithness since the late 1600s, but an influx of English people looking for the Anglican style of worship, combined with a small band of local people wanting their own episcopal church, led in early 1855 to a group being formed to call for the Bishop of Moray and Ross to visit Wick with a view to forming a congregation.

This he did, arriving on Friday 16th February to consult with local activists, and on the Sunday conducted a formal communion service at which he announced his agreement for the forming of the congregation under his charge.

Lunch in Mackays Hotel

The venue was the Pulteneytown Academy (now the Assembly Rooms), and the congregation worshipped there for many years until they were able to find a site and build their own church in 1870.

Their first clergyman was Rev. Walter Arthy, a Royal Navy chaplain, who served the congregation from 1857 to 1859.
Strong support came from the start of the congregation from the Horne family of Stirkoke, who served on the vestry, financed the purchase of the site, and made contributions to the fabric, including stained glass commemorative windows.

Over the years the congregation remained small in numbers, but with an ever-changing congregation it was continually revitalised and played a good role in local affairs.

Members were involved in many official posts in the community ranging from harbour master to coastguard officer, customs controller, Chief Constable, and local Sheriff.

Lunch in Mackays Hotel: Jane, Rhona and Jeanette

At times of war, when English military men were posted to the area, many attended St. John's, some marrying local girls.
Finance was helped by the patronage of local landowners such as the Duff-Dunbar family and the Hornes (one of whom became an artillery general in the first world war, commanding an entire army for a while, the first artillery man to do so.)

The clergymen who served as rector at St. John's were often English-born, due to a shortage of Scots episcopal priests, but almost all fitted in well with the local Caithness community.

An expansion of demand led to the formation of a sister church in Thurso, but over the years smaller congregations led to the two churches sharing one minister - a common situation everywhere today.
 
The congregation was delighted to welcome Bishop John Crook to lead the anniversary Eucharist.   During the service, Richard Stanley (Lay Representative) and Andrew Wilson were admitted to the Scottish Guild of Servers.   The service also saw the Sunday School commissioned, as it is restarting after a period when the church had no children at all.  Afterwards a goodly company enjoyed lunch at Mackay’s Hotel.