Gaelic-speaking Congregations in The Church of Scotland

Gaelic-speaking Congregations In The Church Of Scotland

A few Church of Scotland congregations, mainly in the Western Isles, have regular Sunday services in Gaelic. There are Gaelic-speaking congregations of other denominations too, mainly in the Western Isles. These include the Roman Catholic Church, the Free Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland (continuing), the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Associated Presbyterian Churches.

The list below is of Church of Scotland charges where it is desirable that the minister should be able to speak Gaelic. A few congregations are, however, deemed to be ‘Gaelic essential’. The number of congregations deemed ‘Gaelic desirable’ or ‘Gaelic essential’ has declined in recent decades. The Gaelic for ‘Church of Scotland’ is Eaglais na h-Alba.

There is a shortage of ministers able to speak Gaelic. At Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk in Edinburgh the services in Gaelic are now normally at 12:30 pm and led by an appointed preacher. The preacher's name is in the Saturday Edition of the Scotsman or telephone the office during normal business hours at 0131 225 1900. However, Glasgow still has two weekly Gaelic services at St Columba's Church, Glasgow on St Vincent Street and Gardner Street Church of Scotland in Partick.

Presbytery of Argyll

• Gigha and Cara
• Jura
• Kilchoman linked with Portnahaven
• Kildalton and Oa
• Kilmore
• Tiree
• Tobermory (Isle of Mull)

Presbytery of Edinburgh

• Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk (Gaelic essential)

Presbytery of Glasgow

• St Columba's Church, Glasgow (Gaelic essential)

Presbytery of Inverness

• Dalneigh and Bona

Presbytery of Lewis

• Barvas
• Carloway
• Cross Ness (Gaelic essential)
• Kinloch (Gaelic essential)
• Knock (Gaelic essential)
• Lochs-Crossbost
• Lochs-in-Bernera
• Stornoway: High
• Stornoway: St Columba’s
• Uig (Gaelic essential)

Presbytery of Lochcarron-Skye

• Applecross, Lochcarron and Torridon
• Bracadale and Duirinish
• Kilmuir and Stenscholl
• Portree
• Snizort
• Strath and Sleat

Presbytery of Ross

• Lochbroom and Ullapool

Presbytery of Uist

• Barra
• Benbecula
• Berneray and Lochmaddy (North Uist)
• Carinish (North Uist)
• Kilmuir and Paible (North Uist) (Gaelic essential)
• Manish-Scarista (Harris)
• South Uist
• Tarbert (Harris) (Gaelic essential)

Source: Church of Scotland Yearbook (2005-06 edition), St Andrew Press, Edinburgh