Medieval Monday: Old High St. Stephen's Church, Inverness

Lachlann walked through the night. Vaguely, in his pain, images flashed before him that he didn’t understand, but he’d ceased being afraid of them. His breath was coming in shallow puffs. His head hurt so much that he couldn’t think clearly. And he was thirsty, so thirsty.

He lost count of how many times he threw up, fainted, slept. But he was in too much pain to be still. He’d either find help or die trying. He didn’t care which.

Stars were just fading as he reached the kirk. It looked different, but it had to be the kirk at St. Michael’s mount in Inbhir Nis. He was going to pass out again. Focusing on the kirk, he dragged himself through the graveyard. He’d never make it to the building. Fighting darkness, he made it to a gravestone before collapsing. At least they wouldn’t have to carry his body far to bury him.

He hadn’t found Rònan to tell him he was alive, to thank him for going after him. He hadn’t been able to save Allasan and their son. He should have been there to help them, at least to be with them when they died.      
​ 
“I’m sorry. . .” he whispered as darkness swallowed him. 

Happy Medieval Monday! 

You won't find that scene in Tremors Through Time. During editing, I had to make some ruthless decisions -- as writers so often have to do. It was simply taking too long for Lachlann to meet Deidre. But I like the scene, so naturally, I stashed it away for possible future use.

I chose the Old High St. Stephen’s Church of Inverness to be the location of Lachlann’s modern-day collapse because it’s the oldest church in Inverness. It is believed that as early as 565 A.D., St. Columba converted a Pictish king on St. Michael’s mount, where the church now stands. In the centuries that followed, many wooden churches were erected and burned down. Even once a stone structure was in place, some parts eventually fell into ruin. We're talking centuries, after all. The oldest part of the current structure is the tower base, which dates back to the fourteenth century.

The earliest document that mentions the church is a charter granted by William the Lion between 1164 and 1171. 

The Black Friars founded a monastery just north of the church in 1233. It continued until the Reformation (1525-1560), then fell into disuse.

The Church went from ruins to repairs several times throughout the centuries. 

In 1746, after the Battle of Culloden, Jacobite soldiers were executed on the church grounds.

When we were there last fall (2022), of course I had to visit it. I found the site to possess a haunting dignity and the location is stunning -- right on the River Ness. Sadly, while the historic building still stands and visitors are allowed on the grounds, services are no longer held there.

The building is up for sale. 

Up for sale?

For more medieval fun, be sure to visit Lady Mary Morgan. Our other medieval lady, Barbara Bettis, is having a time with her website right now. We hope she'll be back soon!

May your week be a happy one with bright skies and smiles aplenty!