Inverness Cathedral

Inverness Cathedral is in the centre of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, across the River Ness from Inverness Castle.

Inverness Cathedral was built between 1866 and 1869, dedicated to Saint Andrew, free to visit.

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History

Bishop Robert Eden wanted the Cathedral for Moray, Ross and Caithness in Inverness, capital city of the Highlands.

1866 - the foundation stone was laid by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Longley. The Cathedral was built to designs of the architect Alexander Ross who lived in Inverness.

1869 - the Cathedral was completed without the two tall spires of the original design, as a Scottish Episcopal Church.

Scottish Episcopal Churches have Bishops, so can be Cathedrals.

The Cathedrals 10 Bells are claimed to be the most northerly peal of change ringing church bells in the world.

Dornoch Cathedral 44 miles north was the earlier Cathedral for the area, built from the 1220s as a Roman Catholic Cathedral, burned down in 1570 during a local feud, then rebuilt from the 1830s.

Dornoch Cathedral now serves as a Church of Scotland, so now not a true Cathedral as the Church of Scotland does not have Bishops.

An even earlier Cathedral for the area was at Halkirk 105 miles north of Inverness, destroyed by farmers in 1222, killing the Bishop who had raised their taxes.

Dornoch Cathedral was built to replace Halkirk Cathedral.

Many early Bishops were accused of being ruthless, executing locals accused of crimes and forcing people to pay high taxes.