William Burn’s large Gothic church forms the visual centre of Thurso’s planned town.
Quick facts
- Date
- Built 1832; later church room
- Architect / designer
- William Burn
- Type
- Gothic parish church with three-stage tower and galleries
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB42011)
- OS grid reference
- ND 11558 68348
Architecture and continuing use
A broad rectangular church is entered through a pinnacled three-stage tower. Buttresses divide the five-bay flanks, while a large traceried window lights the opposite gable and cast-iron columns support the internal gallery.
Its story
Built to replace Old St Peter’s in 1832, the church became the new focus of parish worship and the planned street grid. It remains an active congregation.
Why it is included
Its architecture, town-planning role and continuing worship make it central to Thurso’s nineteenth-century identity.
What to notice
- The tower framed by Sir John’s Square and radiating streets.
- Cusped and intersecting tracery in the tower openings.
- The broad gable window and rhythm of pinnacled buttresses.
Reading the surroundings
Attend advertised worship or arrange a visit with the congregation. Respect services, community activities and private prayer.
Timeline
- Built 1832 Built to replace Old St Peter’s in 1832, the church became the new focus of parish worship and the planned street grid. It remains an active congregation.
- Present Active Church of Scotland parish church.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Opening outside services is by current church arrangement; use the congregation’s information before visiting.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Church, Thurso, LB42011 — Designation status, mapped location, construction phases, fabric, authorship and architectural or historical interest.
- St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Church: official site — Current congregation, worship and contact information.
- Scotland’s Churches Trust: St Peter’s and St Andrew’s — Architectural overview, listing category and visitor context.
Location
OS grid reference ND 11558 68348 · Location confidence: High: the statutory designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference and the current source confirms the Place relationship or present 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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