Pattern of Worship

Following the union of the two congregations in 1967, it was considered a major priority to preserve a regular pattern of worship in both churches. This was further amended following the linkage with Avoch, when the present pattern was established. At present, Sunday morning service in Avoch Parish church at 10am is followed by a service in either Fortrose or Rosemarkie at 11.30 am. The usual arrangement is that this service is held in Rosemarkie in the months of January, March, May, July, September and November, and in Fortrose in the alternate months. An evening service is held at 6 pm in the other village, so that all members of the congregation are able to worship in their ‘own' church every Sunday. In practice, the morning service is much better attended, with the majority prepared to travel to the ‘other' church; but it must be conceded that for a percentage of members it remains important that they be able to worship in their ‘home' church. A relatively small number, including one or two from Avoch, continue to value the evening service in addition to the morning. Recently it has been possible to try out some innovative ways of worship in the evening, particularly when the service is in Fortrose, which is the more versatile building. In particular, different approaches to prayer have been well received.

With the acquisition of a new organ, together with a portable keyboard, we look forward to updating and extending the range of praise. Facilities for Powerpoint and overhead projection have permitted the building up of an extensive archive of both modern and traditional praise. On special occasions we can occasionally call on instrumentalists to lead praise, and we are fortunate in having more than one choir in the region who have spoken favourably of the acoustics in Fortrose church and enjoy giving a recital there.

One of the advantages of having two very different buildings is that we have been able to develop the social side of congregational life in Fortrose church without sacrificing the dignity of the building.

When morning service is in Rosemarkie church, there is a monthly soup and sweet lunch in Fortrose following the morning service. Lunches are arranged in turn by teams from elder districts. When morning service is in Fortrose, coffee is served from 11 am, giving parishioners the opportunity to meet and exchange news before the service.

We are further developing the location of church and community events in the Fortrose building, being convinced that we have a responsibility to preserve this church for community as well as church use. Located as it is at the end of the High Street, Fortrose church is the only immediately visible centre of worship in the village, and is the only building with enough seating capacity for large funerals. We make the building available to Brownie Guides and a local Children's Drama Group in addition to our own Saturday coffee mornings and other fundraising activities.