Whalsay Parish Church

Whalsay Parish Church is a stone church with a T-shaped layout positioned on a northern promontory of Whalsay island. The interior features arched doorways, tall windows, a gallery space, and traditional wooden pews arranged throughout the nave.

The current building was constructed in 1867 on the site of an earlier 1733 church, representing a 19th century replacement of the original structure. It received category B listed building status in 1974 from Historic Environment Scotland.

The church remains a gathering place for Whalsay's residents, where regular services continue the Scottish Protestant way of worship that has shaped the island's community. Its role as the main religious center reflects how faith has anchored daily life here for generations.

The grounds are accessible through wrought-iron gates supported by concrete pillars, making entry straightforward. The kirkyard contains war memorials and historical gravestones that visitors can explore while walking around the church.

The interior preserves 19th-century wooden pews arranged horizontally, wainscoting, and a distinctive pulpit reached by its own staircase, features rarely seen in modern churches. These details reveal how worship spaces were furnished when the building was constructed.

Location: Shetland Islands

Location: Nesting

GPS coordinates: 60.36960,-0.99536

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:43