A History Timeline of Balintore UF Church (1738 - Present)
The journey of the Balintore United Free Congregation begins in 1738, when a Praying Society in Ross was formally acknowledged by the Associate Presbytery. Six years later, in 1744, this Society was recognised as part of the larger Congregation of Ross, Moray, and Buchan. The Society’s status grew further in 1747, as it was recognised by the Anti-burghers as a fully-fledged vacant congregation in its own right.
In 1754, the minister of Nigg Parish, John Balfour, died. This event led to a significant dispute the following year. In 1755, the General Assembly ordered the Presbytery of Tain to induct Patrick Grant into the Parish of Nigg, despite strong objections from both the presbytery and congregation. The presbytery resisted by appealing three times to the General Assembly, yet by 1756, under threat of being deposed, they were forced to ordain Grant. In protest, the Nigg congregation left the Established Church, forming an independent congregation.
The following year, in 1757, Rev. Roderick Mackenzie, a Highland minister who had been ministering in England, was called to Nigg. As he travelled north, he stopped to ordain Rev. Boston at Jedburgh Relief Church before arriving in Nigg. By 1758, Rev. Mackenzie had formally begun his ministry in Nigg, where the first church was built at Ankerville. Around 1761, during his ministry, the Society was absorbed into the independent congregation, marking a definitive break with the Secession Church.
Rev. Mackenzie returned to England in 1764, and the independent congregation was re-admitted as a mission station of the Secession Church (Anti-Burgher section). By 1765, the congregation was once again elevated to full status, and Rev. Patrick Buchanan was called and ordained. The first communion as an official congregation took place in 1766, and in 1770, the congregation formally took the Covenant, a historic religious pledge that dated back nearly 90 years to the time of Richard Cameron.
However, the congregation faced new challenges in 1799, when their church was forcibly demolished by a local laird. Despite this setback, the congregation persevered, and Rev. John Munro, a native of Nigg, was inducted as assistant and successor to Rev. Buchanan that same year. The church was rebuilt at Chapelhill between 1803 and 1806, and the congregation celebrated the end of the war with France in 1814. Around 1815, the congregation also constituted a Sunday School, helping to educate and engage the younger generation.
In 1842, the church building was repaired, and a Youth Fellowship was formed, adding another layer to the congregation's community activities. The congregation experienced a great loss in 1845 when Rev. John Munro died. Just two years later, in 1847, a national union with the Relief Church led to a split within the congregation. This rift was only healed in 1849 when Rev. John Bennet Munro, the son of the late Rev. John Munro, was inducted, and the congregation became known as the Nigg United Presbyterian Church.
As the years progressed, the congregation continued to evolve. The first recorded Sunday School party took place in 1854, an event that became a cherished tradition. In 1865, Rev. J.B. Munro wrote a history of the congregation, which was published in the United Presbyterian (UP) magazine. In 1867, Rev. Archibald McMartin, a licensee of the Free Church, was inducted as assistant and successor to Rev. J.B. Munro.
Between 1865 and 1870, John Ross from Balintore attended the theological hall of the United Presbyterian Church. After serving in various UP churches across Scotland, he answered the call to missions and departed for China in February 1872. In addition to his missionary work, he would go on to translate the New Testament into Korean.
When Rev. J.B. Munro died in 1871, the foundation stone for a new church was laid. This new building, located on the same site as the earlier church at Chapelhill, was officially opened in 1872. In 1881, a Tin Hall was built at Balintore Park, the future site of the present-day United Free Church building.
The turn of the century brought significant changes. In 1900, a national union with the Free Church resulted in the congregation being renamed Chapelhill United Free Church. Rev. Archibald McMartin retired in 1907, and Rev. Kenneth MacLean was inducted the following year in 1908.
Like many communities, the congregation was deeply affected by the First World War (1914-1918), as many young members enlisted to serve. Memorials were built in the parishes to honour their contributions and sacrifices. In 1922, the congregation was formally united with the West UF Church (formerly Free Church). However, despite the union, each church retained its separate identity, finances, services, and even communion services.
During the early 1920s, a series of revivals swept through Balintore, led by the Faith Mission. Rev. Kenneth Maclean’s ministry ended when he was called to Carloway UF in 1925, and Rev. Malcolm MacLeod was inducted in 1926. However, Rev. MacLeod died in 1929, just as the congregation faced another momentous decision. That same year, the National Union with the Established Church sparked a major split. The Chapelhill congregation voted against union, while the West Church voted for it. Despite the Chapelhill majority’s opposition, the combined vote resulted in union. A prolonged legal battle ensued between 1929 and 1931, with the moderators of both General Assemblies intervening. In the end, the continuing church kept only the Park Meeting House at Balintore, while the Church of Scotland retained three manses, three churches, and two halls.
The following year, in 1930-31, Mr. Duncan Campbell was inducted. During this time, the church wall and manse were built. In 1932, the Park Meeting House was replaced with a stone church, the same building that still stands today. The new church was opened by Dr. Forrester, the Moderator of the Assembly. By 1934, the congregation dropped the term “Continuing” from its name.
The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 had a profound impact on the congregation, with over seventy young people joining the armed forces. Tragically, the congregation lost eleven of its members during the conflict. In 1940, Mr. Duncan Campbell left for Falkirk, and Rev. Eakins was inducted as the new minister. During his tenure, the congregation was promoted to full status, and its name was changed to Balintore: Fearn. By 1942, the congregation had cleared its debt from the church building, and the end of the war was marked with both relief and sorrow.
Rev. Eakins retired in 1948 and was succeeded by Rev. Archie Cowie, whose ministry lasted from 1949 to 1952. He was followed by Rev. Ian Matheson, who served from 1953 to 1959. In 1955, the congregation travelled to Inverness to hear evangelist Billy Graham, and several members experienced conversions. That same year, the vestry was built.
In 1960, Rev. John Cossar Walker was inducted, but his ministry was tragically cut short when he died the following year due to a heart condition. From 1962 to 1970, Rev. William Johnston served as the minister, followed by the induction of Rev. Thomas Patterson in 1971. The following year, a new hall was opened by Mrs. Patterson in 1972. The congregation continued to grow and flourish, receiving various gifts over the years. In 1980, Mrs. Cowie donated a pulpit fall in memory of her mother and aunt. In 1982, a celebration was held to mark the building's 50th anniversary, and in 1985, Mrs. M. Thomson gifted communion cloths in memory of her mother.
Rev. Patterson took on additional responsibilities, serving as moderator of the UF Church in 1987-88. In 1992, the congregation celebrated the building's 60th anniversary. After the longest ministry since Rev. McMartin, Rev. Patterson retired in 1998.
In 2001, Rev. Donald MacKenzie was inducted as the new minister, and he later served as moderator of the UF Church in 2003-04. Due to health issues, Rev. MacKenzie retired in 2006, and the ministry of Rev. Raymond Smart spanned from 2007 to 2010. In 2012, the congregation celebrated the building's 80th anniversary.
Rev. Andy Downie took over in 2014, continuing the congregation's long history of service. In 2023-24, Rev. Downie served as moderator of the United Free Church General Assembly. The most recent chapter in this long history was marked by the induction of Rev. Scott Cameron on August 31, 2024.
Through wars, legal battles, revivals, and generations of faithful ministry, the Balintore United Free Congregation continues its mission, inspired by the words of Zechariah 4:6: "Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord Almighty."
This "Timeline" follows Calum Ross's very helpful blog.
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