W C Joass gave the expanding spa settlement a purpose-built Presbyterian church in a restrained Highland Gothic manner.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1888
- Architect / designer
- William Cumming Joass
- Type
- Gothic Revival Church of Scotland parish church
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB7832)
- OS grid reference
- NH 48196 57997
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The rubble-built church uses pointed openings, buttresses and a steep roof to mark its ecclesiastical purpose without elaborate display. Its scale reflects a parish serving both local residents and the enlarged seasonal population.
Its story
Strathpeffer’s growth required new accommodation beyond older Fodderty parish arrangements. Joass, a prolific local architect, designed the church during the village’s most active building decade.
Why it is included
The Category B church links the resort’s physical expansion with everyday parish life and complements Joass’s very different social pavilion.
What to notice
- Simple pointed windows set in rubble walls.
- The clear massing of nave and entrance elements.
- Joass’s restrained handling of Gothic detail.
Reading the surroundings
Check the parish’s current arrangements before visiting. Do not assume the building is open outside worship or community activities.
Timeline
- 1888 W C Joass completed the new parish church for the enlarged Strathpeffer community.
- 1971 The building was added to the national list at Category B.
- 2026 Its ecclesiastical status remains recorded, while visitors are advised to verify the current service pattern.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Online congregational information is limited, so the precise frequency of current services has not been asserted.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Fodderty and Strathpeffer Parish Church, LB7832 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Scotland’s Churches Trust: Fodderty and Strathpeffer Parish Church — Independent architectural summary, denominational identity and current opening guidance.
- Places of Worship in Scotland: Fodderty and Strathpeffer — Independent mapped church record, building dates and architect attribution.
Location
OS grid reference NH 48196 57997 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; the independent source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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