The church was founded in 1571 in the village of Faithlie which was soon to be built up into the town of
Fraserburgh by the local landowner, Sir Alexander Fraser. The church itself was the first new structure in the town, after the castle at
Kinnaird Head.
Early troubles From the building of the Kirk in 1571 until 1600, Scotland's official religion was
Presbyterian, as a result of the
Scottish Reformation of 1560. When King
James VI introduced
Episcopacy as the official religion in 1600, Fraserburgh had a devout Presbyterian in the pulpit. The Rev.
Charles Ferm MA (c.1565–1617), was appointed to the Kirk in 1599 and rejected the King's new style of religious government. Instead he allied himself with the Rev.
Andrew Melville (1545–1622), Rector of the
University of St Andrews, who is remembered for calling James VI "God's silly vassal". On 2 July 1605, Ferme was one of the 14 ministers who attended the unauthorised
General Assembly of Aberdeen. For his part in disobeying the King he was imprisoned in
Doune Castle for a year. In 1607 he was summoned before the
Privy Council, and was sentenced to confinement on the
Isle of Bute, where he was imprisoned for nearly three years. He was restored to his parish in 1609, where he died in 1617. In 1843 Fraserburgh Old emerged relatively unscathed from the
Disruption of the Church of Scotland. The minister at the time, Rev. John Cumming, seemed all set to join the schism but, to the surprise to most, stayed within the Established Church. He was an erratic character known to argue with anyone who would give him the opportunity. In 1852 he oversaw the deposition of one assistant, the Rev. John Lockhart, for "misconduct", and frequently bickered with his second assistant, Rev. John Storrie, until Cumming died in 1857 aged 85. In the 1860s, under the ministry of Rev. Peter McLaren, the Parish State in Fraserburgh branched out to extend education in the parish. McLaren is credited with the founding of no less than three new schools in the parish during his ministry. It was during McLaren's ministry that the church peaked in both power and influence within the parish. No minister after McLaren was as influential or (arguably) controversial. His successor, Rev. Michael P. Johnstone, oversaw the renovation of the church to how it basically is today. In 1898 the new pipe organ was installed, and 1906 saw the dedication of the impressive Anderson memorial stained-glass window, designed by
Douglas Strachan. He demitted office in 1919 due to ill health. His successor, Rev. W. Neil Sutherland, tried in his short ministry to boost congregation numbers by encouraging church social and youth groups. He was relatively successful, and in this pursuit purchased the "Penny Schoolie" as the Old Parish's church hall. Things continued relatively quiet under the next two charges with little to note. The church was almost destroyed during the
Second World War. On one occasion a sheet of metal fell through the church roof during a bombing raid, slicing a small chip on the pulpit. To date this mark is referred to as "Hitler's mark" by the congregation.
Recent history During the ministry of the late Rev. Douglas R. Clyne, much was done to expand the youth groups of the church. In his ministry the "Penny Schoolie" was renovated in 1976 for better accommodation, a new church centre built in 1990–92, and a special "Youth Dedication Service" has been held annually. Until its closure, the Old Parish Church hosted many youth groups including: the Badminton Club;
Boys' Brigade (with band); Covenanters;
Girls' Brigade; Junior Choir; as well as Sunday School groups. There were social groups for adults also. The Rev. Clyne demitted office in 2004, and a three-year vacancy (under Rev. George S. Noble) ensued. Rev. Peter B. Park was inducted in November 2007 and oversaw the development of a
hand bell group (The Clangers) which was founded in the last year of the Clyne ministry. Park was also a noted name at the 2009
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland when he openly opposed the appointment of the Rev.
Scott Rennie - an openly gay minister and divorced father of one - stating, “There is a danger that we will make a decision [about homosexuality in the ministry] based on the prevailing culture of our time.’ He was defeated. The Rev. Park retired in June 2014 with no replacement appointed thereafter. As part of the Church of Scotland's Presbytery Mission Planning in 2020's, the Presbytery of the North East and Northern Isles determined that, along with a number of other congregations in the wider Fraserburgh area, the closure of the building of Fraserburgh Old Parish Church should take place. It would involve a union with Fraserburgh West Church, Fraserburgh South Church, Rosehearty Church, Sandhaven Church, Iverallochy Church and Rathen Church to become Fraserburgh and District Church of Scotland. The buildings of Fraserburgh South, Rosehearty and Inverallochy would remain for worship and wider use. By early 2026, it was listed on the Church of Scotland website for offers over £120,000. == References ==