CANNICH MISSION CHURCH HISTORY
In the Kirk Session minutes of Erchless Parish dated 13th January 1897, there is a record of a Bond of Agreement between Mr. Robertson, Farmer of Comar, and the Rev. James Fraser, Minister of Erchless, in which Mr. Robertson agreed to give the sum of £500 in aid of the further endowment of Erchless under certain conditions. The conditions are not recorded in the minute of that meeting other than that the agreement was to be in duplicate, one copy to be retained by the Minister and the other by Mr. Robertson's Trustees. The money was deposited by Mr. Robertson in a Bank Deposit Receipt in the names of Messrs. Macdonald, Solicitor and Mr.& Mrs. Macdonald, Beauly who presumably were the Trustees.
The Kirk Session gave its approval to this agreement and it was resolved to submit details to Presbytery for their consideration and approval.
Some two years later on 15th February 1899 the Session minutes again refer to the money provided by Mr. Robertson and this time it becomes apparent that the condition was that a place of worship be provided in the upper district of the Parish. The building of the Mission Church in Cannich had by this time been completed and the £500 handed over by the Trustees. Further sums of £400 had been received from the 'Small Livings Association of the Church' and £200 from the Baird Trustees. The £1100 was invested by Alex. Sloan Esq C.A. of Glasgow who was Secretary and Treasurer of the Small Livings Association to yield 3% interest payable half yearly from Martinmas 1898.
It speaks volumes for the faith and energies of the congregation of 100 years ago when, with an Annual Income for the 'Schemes of the Church' of under £20 they were able to make a decision to build, obtain a site, produce plans, employ Contractors and have the building completed in the space of only two years.
An extract from the Feu Disposition reads 'Register dated 25th March 1899 – All and whole that piece of ground at Cannich extending to 880 Sq. Yds or thereby beginning at a point 128 yds from the South end of the new Cannich Iron Bridge along the road leading to Glen Cannich and measuring on North Side 127 ft. on West 75 ft. on South 83 ft. and East along the Cannich Road 80 ft. as said piece of ground is delineated and coloured pink on the Sketch in plan annexed. Trustees to be bound to fence the same and keep in repair.'
Copy of Feu Disposition by Mrs. Chisholm of Chisholm in favour of The Trustees of Erchless Church. Ground for Mission Hall at Cannich.
The Church or Mission Hall as it was originally called was formally opened on 20 th July 1899 by the Rev. Dr. MacLean who was accompanied by Rev. Dr. Rankine, Kilmorack, Rev. R. MacKenzie, Ferintosh, Rev. Dr. D. Bentinck, Kirkhill, and the minister of the Quod Sacra Parish of Erchless itself the Rev. James Fraser. The opportunity was not lost to have a collection for the building fund, this raised £21! As far as I can make out from barely legible pencilled records the 'Brethren along with a number of friends were afterwards entertained in the Glen Hotel at the expense of Miss Campbell of Comar'. In the company was another Robertson – the Mr. John Robertson of Inverness who was the Architect of the building and who had provided 1 dozen copies of the Church Hymnary for use of the congregation. Mr. Robertson of Comar had also ordered 1 dozen bibles, also for the congregation.
Cannich at the turn of the Century was of course a much smaller hamlet than it now is. The neighbouring Estates of Guiseachan, Fasnakyle, Erchless and Lovat would have been in their heyday, with the staff at each of the large houses fluctuating with the shooting and fishing seasons. The Communion roll of Erchless, a small Parish which was originally part of Kilmorack, had only 22 names. There were two names only which I can trace as having been elders. Mr. James Fraser, (same name as the minister) of Mauld and Mr. James Mackintosh who was Head Gardener at Erchless. Mr. Mackintosh was ordained at Erchless in 1885 and died in 1897.
The building of the Hydro Electric Schemes after the second World War saw the population of Cannich explode for the duration of the construction period and then settle down to more or less its present size as the work was completed. This would have led to Cannich Mission Church taking on a greater significance in the Parish compared to its former position of and 'outpost for mission' as it apparently was to begin with.
The congregation of Erchless and the congregation of Kilmorack were united on 21 st June 1979. At this time the charge of Erchless was vacant and the minister of Kilmorack Rev. T.D. Lind became the first minister of the united charge of Kilmorack and Erchless with the Manse being in Beauly and the places of worship in Beauly, Struy and Cannich.
Derry MacKenzie
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