10 Parish Church

Built as a Free Church on land granted by the Marquis of Breadalbane.

In 1843 the Church of Scotland suffered “The Disruption” when 474 ministers of the Church seceded and formed the Free Church of Scotland.

This had the effect that in 1843, 300 local people broke away from the established Church of Scotland parish church at Weem. They were granted land in Taybridge Turnpike Road in Aberfeldy by the Marquis of Breadalbane to build a Free Church; he laid the foundation stone and gave stone from the Boulachan Quarry and wood from Taymouth and the church was built by local people.

The Free Church was totally supported by subscription of its members.

In 1900 it was decided to merge the established Church and the Free Church into the United Free Church. This meant that the main church was the one in Crieff Road while the Breadalbane Church became the Church Hall. The original internal galleries were removed, and the roof lowered.

This was supported by the 200 communicants of St. Andrew’s and 150 of the Free Church, but there was a breakaway group who formed what has become known as the “Wee Free”.

There was considerable wrangling over the use of the Breadalbane Church by the “Wee Free”; this involved counting heads by spies waiting outside the church after services but eventually the “Wee Free” moved out and met in the Town Hall.

The church was comprehensively restored in the early 2000s and reopened in 2005 with worship continuing in the sanctuary area and the rest of the building used for community events.