A red-sandstone church, raised above the street, continues a worshipping tradition on the site begun in 1806.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1862; hall circa 1897
- Architect / designer
- Richard Spence; local masonry work
- Type
- Gable-fronted sandstone church with bellcote, hall and boundary railings
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB45424)
- OS grid reference
- HY 25323 08993
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
A broad gabled front is centred on Tudor-arched doors, a tall traceried window and a birdcage bellcote with a short stone spire. Buttresses, octagonal angle piers, boundary railings and the later hall strengthen its composed street presence.
Its story
A Secessionist church first occupied the site in 1806. Richard Spence designed the present building in 1862, and a hall followed around 1897. Union with St Peter’s in 1951 brought a new name, redecoration by Stanley Cursiter and transferred memorial fittings.
Why it is included
Category B listing recognises a well-detailed Victorian church with an important interior and a continuing place in Stromness’s religious life.
What to notice
- The birdcage bellcote and short stone spire.
- Tudor-arched entrance beneath the large traceried window.
- The rise from street railings to the elevated church front.
Reading the surroundings
The church is active. Attend public worship or advertised events, respect services and private pastoral activity, and check current accessibility arrangements with the congregation.
Timeline
- 1806 A Secessionist congregation erected the first church on the site.
- 1862 Richard Spence’s larger sandstone building opened.
- Circa 1897 A dedicated church hall was added behind the sanctuary.
- 2026 Orkney Islands Church advertises regular Sunday worship at Stromness Kirk.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Denominational names and parish structures have changed repeatedly, so current identity should be checked against the congregation’s own notices.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Stromness Parish Church, LB45424 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Orkney Islands Church: Stromness Kirk — Current congregation, address and worship arrangements.
Location
OS grid reference HY 25323 08993 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional 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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