Orkney Islands Church of Scotland


On 1 October 2024, almost all of the former parish churches in Orkney united to create a single Orkney Islands Church of Scotland staffed by a team ministry. It is part of the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of the North East and the Northern Isles. As of January 2025, the parish churches of Evie & Rendall linked with Firth are not yet part of this new structure, but all other formerly separate parishes in Orkney have joined.
The former Presbytery of Orkney was split into the three presbyteries of Cairston, Kirkwall and North Isles in 1725. It is not known when they reunited. Orkney Islands Church of Scotland includes the former parish churches of:
Names of former parish PopulationBuildingsFounded
Birsay, Harray & Sandwick2,224Milestone Community Church, Dounby2012
Flotta l/w Orphir & Stenness l/w Hoy & Walls1,566Flotta Church*
Flotta l/w Orphir & Stenness l/w Hoy & Walls1,566Orphir Church*Medieval
Flotta l/w Orphir & Stenness l/w Hoy & Walls1,566St Columba's, Longhope, South Walls*1832
Stromness2,286St Peter's, Stromness*
Stromness2,286Graemsay
Evie l/w Rendall l/w Rousay l/w Firth
'		1,877Evie Church, Stenso*
Evie l/w Rendall l/w Rousay l/w Firth
'		1,877Rendall Church*
Evie l/w Rendall l/w Rousay l/w Firth
'		1,877Firth Church, Finstown*
Evie l/w Rendall l/w Rousay l/w Firth
'		1,877Rousay Church, Brinian*
Eday160Eday Church*
North Ronaldsay72North Ronaldsay Church
Sanday494Sanday Church, Broughtown *
Papa Westray l/w Westray678St Ann's, Papa Westray*
Papa Westray l/w Westray678Westray Church*
Stronsay Moncur Memorial353Moncur Memorial Church, Stronsay*
Kirkwall East l/w Shapinsay8,575North Church, Shapinsay*
Kirkwall East l/w Shapinsay8,575Kirkwall East Church1796
Kirkwall St Magnus Cathedral8,575St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall*Medieval
East Mainland1,746East Mainland Church, Holm*
South Ronaldsay & Burray1,318St Margaret's, St Margaret's Hope, S. Ron.*
South Ronaldsay & Burray1,318St Peter's, Eastside *