On 1 October 2024, almost all of the former parish churches in Orkney united to create a single Orkney Islands Church of Scotland staffed by a team ministry. It is part of the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of the North East and the Northern Isles ("NENI"). As of September 2026, the parish churches of Evie & Rendall are not yet part of this new structure, but all other formerly separate parishes in Orkney have joined.
The former Presbytery of Orkney was split into the three presbyteries of Cairston, Kirkwall and North Isles in 1725. They merged back into the Presbytery of Orkney in 1929-30, with the union of the Church of Scotland and the majority of the United Free Church of Scotland.The Fasti Eccleasiae records show separate Presbyteries of Kirkwall, North Isles and Cairston in 1929. e.g. a minister was licensed by the Presbytery of Cairston on 12th June 1929. The 8th volume of Fasti records George Frederick Cox as the Clerk as the Presbytery of Orkney at March 1930. It would seem that the Presbyteries united in tandem with the Union of the Churches.
The parish has a congregation of approximately 1800, and is allocated 7 FTE staff.
Orkney Islands Church of Scotland includes the former parish churches of: Names of former parish (before October 2024)PopulationBuildingsFoundedBirsay, Harray & Sandwick2,224Milestone Community Church, Dounby2012Flotta l/w Orphir & Stenness l/w Hoy & Walls1,566Orphir ChurchMedievalSt Columba's, Longhope, South Walls1832 Stromness 2,286Evie l/w Rendall l/w Rousay l/w Firth (as of June 2026 Evie & Rendall are not yet part of the recently-united Orkney Islands Church of Scotland, but Rousay and Firth have joined)1,877Rendall ChurchFirth Church, FinstownEday160Eday ChurchNorth Ronaldsay72North Ronaldsay Church (meets in school)Sanday494Papa Westray l/w Westray678St Ann's, Papa WestrayWestray ChurchStronsay Moncur Memorial353Moncur Memorial Church, StronsayKirkwall East l/w Shapinsay8,575North Church, ShapinsayKirkwall East Church1796Kirkwall St Magnus CathedralSt Magnus Cathedral, KirkwallMedievalEast Mainland1,746East Mainland Church, HolmSouth Ronaldsay & Burray1,318St Margaret's, St Margaret's Hope, S. Ronaldsay
Closed churches ChurchFoundedClosedSt Magnus, EgilsayMedievalSt Olaf's, KirkwallMedievalC17thSt Nicholas, Stronsay*MedievalC18thSt Peter's, Stronsay*MedievalC18thBurray Church*Medievalc. 1800Cross Parish Church, Sanday*MedievalC19thHoy Parish Church*MedievalC20thLady Parish Church, Sanday*MedievalC20thGraemsay ChurchMedievalC20thDeerness Parish Church*Medieval1974St Peter's, Sandwick*Medieval1984St Andrews Parish Church, Tankerness*Medievalc. 1990Stenness Parish Church*Medievalc. 2000St John's Kirk, North Walls18832001Birsay Church, Twatt*Medieval2008Sandwick Church, QuoylooC19th2008St Michael's, Harray*Medieval2012Flotta ChurchStromness Church2026Evie ChurchRousay Church2022North Ronaldsay ChurchSanday ChurchBroughtown (Burness)
See also List of churches in Orkney
References