Friday 7 October 2016

A brief history... - (St Nicholas Kirk, Holm, Orkney)

The St Nicolas Church and burial ground stands near the shore of Holm Sound, the eastern approach to Scapa Flow. An early medieval cross slab discovered here bears witness to the fact that this has been an ecclesiastical site since early medieval times.  This was also an area of high status in the Norse Period, and it was in Paplay  in 1117, following the murder of Earl Magnus by his cousin Earl Hakon, that the Mother of Magnus, Thora, served up a feast for Hakon. A remarkable lady, she managed to negotiate the retrieval of her son’s body for Christian burial in Birsay.

Through the centuries there have been several rebuilds of the St Nicolas Kirk, the present construction being a complete new build in 1818, the site being moved to a raised mound to protect the building from danger of flooding.  It was last used as a place of worship on 1st September 1939 when the Minister broke the news to his congregation that War had been declared.  The armed forces then took over the building for use during World War Two.  


When it was put on the market in 2009, there was a public meeting at which a management committee was formed to take responsibility for raising funds and acquiring the building.  After a public appeal for funds it was bought by The Friends of St Nicolas in December 2009.


Saturday 16 April 2016

Spring Clean - April 2016 (St Nicholas Kirk, Holm, Orkney)

New chairman - (St Nicholas Kirk, Holm, Orkney)


On Saturday 16th April, a group of trustees and Friends of St Nicholas met at the Ould Kirk in Holm to prepare the interior for the start of the visitor season. The group were also welcoming their new chairman, Andrew Drever, who takes the position previously held by the late Alfie Flett.

Alfie Flett was a co-founder in 2009 of the Friends of St Nicholas, a charity dedicated to the preservation of the redundant church of St Nicholas for free public use. It is now a secular building, with space available for displays and exhibitions during the summer months, and there is a small room containing information and photos from Holm’s past.

The interior of the main building is soon to be improved for public use by the repair of the boarded  windows, once more giving light to the interior, and enhancing the appearance of the Kirkyard in this scenic area.

St Nicholas opens again in May, and visitors to Holm Kirkyard can watch for the VESTRY OPEN sign if they wish to see the heritage display. There is a gallery of photos and further information at www.orkneycommunities.co.uk