Parish Profile

Where we are

Who we are

Welcome to East Caithness

Nestled along one of Scotland’s most stunning coastal stretches, the newly formed united parish of East Caithness Church of Scotland is a blend of heritage, resilience, and hope. Newly formed in early 2025 through the union of two rural and two town parishes, we are building a vibrant worshipping community rooted in love, service, and spiritual growth.

The Kirk Session has voted to uphold the Church of Scotland’s traditional position in respect to the ordination of ministers in civil partnerships and same-sex marriages.

Our congregation is wholeheartedly committed to sharing the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ. We believe in the authority of Scripture by living out our faith through love, service, and action. We are a broad church family, comprising the fullest possible age range, with a wealth of skills, gifts, and spiritual energy.

Now, we are prayerfully seeking a minister, who will journey with us, lead us with biblical conviction, and inspire us to grow in faith and impact. Might you be the person God is calling to serve and grow with us in East Caithness?

What We Offer

• Weekly morning worship in Latheron and Wick
• Shared evening services in Wick with our Baptist neighbours
• A rich programme of more than a dozen active groups, including:
  • Growing Together and The Guild (faith enrichment)
  • Biscuit & Blether, Walking Group, and The Forge (well-being and fellowship)
  • Superclub and Friday Club (children’s outreach)
  • Café Church (community-focused worship and fellowship)
• A committed and prayerful congregation (with circa 80 attending at Wick and 20 at Latheron) from 256 members and 173 adherents
• A fully engaged Kirk Session with a unitary constitution
• A well-established outreach worker (3 days/week, 6 years’ experience)
• Qualified readers, elders, and worship teams who actively lead services
• Strong links with schools, care homes, undertakers, and community groups
• Pastoral visits in the community

Who We're Looking For

We are praying for a minister who:

• Leads with gentle strength, compassion, and vision
• Inspires through preaching that is biblical, relevant, and Spirit-led
• Values both traditional and contemporary worship
• Invests in discipleship, youth engagement, and community outreach
• Empowers lay leadership, nurtures spiritual gifts, and fosters teamwork
• Will journey with us in faith, encouraging unity and shared purpose

Worship and Spiritual Life

We are committed to engaging, accessible worship that nurtures faith and welcomes all. Services are led by a combination of our minister, OLM, readers, and elders. Communion is celebrated at joint services in April and September and at other times throughout the year.

We believe in the power of prayer. Whether it’s through our pre-service prayer meetings, children’s prayers at clubs, or weekday gatherings, prayer is central to everything we do—including praying for you, our future minister.

Children, Youth, and Families

Our ministry to young people is thriving and essential. We offer:

• Weekly children’s clubs during school terms (Friday Club and Superclub)
• Teen fellowship group and support for Bible camps
• Holiday Club (running for nearly 40 years with 80+ children attending)
• School partnerships for assemblies, football coaching, and support

We are passionate about growing a multigenerational church and nurturing faith from the youngest to the oldest.

Buildings and Facilities

• Argyle Square Church in Wick: modernised with chairs, AV system, café-style foyer, live-streaming, three halls, vestry, breakout rooms, and community usage (yoga, Zumbini, quilting)
• Lybster Church: ongoing development to increase community access
• Our modern manse is situated in Wick (recently renovated) comprising of:
  • Ground floor: living room; dining room; study (wall to wall windows facing the river); kitchen; utility room; bedroom; shower room
  • Upper floor: 3 bedrooms; bathroom
• Minibus service: 16-seater with lift access, used widely by schools, care homes, and local groups

Community and Context

• Coastal beauty and close-knit villages with strong agricultural roots
• Areas of real deprivation in Wick and Lybster, offering meaningful ministry opportunities
• A congregation active in the local foodbank, with year-round donations and referrals
• A rich ecumenical environment with multiple denominations and active cooperation

Living in Caithness

Life here is full of adventure, beauty, and belonging. Caithness offers:

• Affordable living and welcoming communities
• Stunning scenery and wildlife on the North Coast 500
• A vibrant culture of music, art, sport, outdoor pursuits, and local history

Local amenities in Wick (population ~7,000), include:

• Six primary schools and one high school
• North Highland College (UHI), offering diverse courses
• Caithness General Hospital, GP surgeries, and dental practices
• Strong transport links and access to Inverness for specialist services

Wider Church, Presbytery and World Church

We are part of Cleir Eilean I Presbytery, one of the largest geographic areas in Scotland, covering from Kintyre to Caithness and the Hebridean Islands. Presbytery meetings are held in hybrid format and the central team provides proactive support and guidance. Each month, we support a range of charities both locally and globally. These include India Village Ministries (IVM), which provides education and support in rural India; Barnabas Aid, supplying food packages in countries such as Pakistan and Nigeria; and the Bible Society, distributing Bibles around the world. We also contribute to Blythswood Care, known for its Christmas box appeal for Eastern Europe; Omega Task, which supports a coffee project in Costa Rica; Christian Aid; the local Food Bank; and local initiatives such as Encompass Caithness, which supports families in our region living with learning disabilities and additional needs.

Stewardship and Finances

ECCOS is on financial sound footing and our accounts are available on request.

Our Invitation to You

East Caithness is more than a parish—it’s a calling. We are ready to move forward together in faith, with hearts open and hands ready to serve Jesus and the church.

As our minister, you will find:

• A congregation that prays with you and for you
• A team ready to support and share the load
• A place to grow, lead, and make a real difference

Come and shape the future with us. Come and be part of something new. Come and serve where beauty can inspire, where history meets hope, and where people are ready to be led by faith.

Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.