Holy Trinity can trace its continuous existence since the Revolution of 1688 when the priest was the Reverend James Thornton, and known to be “a strong Episcopalian”. On 7 November 1689 he was ‘deprived of his benefice’. Ministry to the faithful continued in a number of locations by many faithful priests over the ensuing years.
It was in 1779 that Episcopalians again found a home in Keith, when a simple two roomed cottage in Bridge Street, New Keith, was used as a meeting house. In 1807 a small chapel was opened in Keith, although it was not consecrated until 1832.
In 1878 a Church Fund was opened and by 1882 the foundation stone of the present church was laid on the site next to the Parsonage in Seafield Road. This church has a unique link with the American Episcopal Church in that, in the Sanctuary is the actual chair, the “Seabury Chair”, on which Bishop Robert KiIgour (Bishop of Aberdeen, 1768-86) sat when consecrating Bishop Samuel Seabury as the first Bishop of the American Episcopal Church.
“The Seabury Chair”
The above is a photograph of the chair from which Bishop Seabury the first Bishop of the The Episcopal Church (TEC) in the U.S. was consecrated by the Bishop of Aberdeen in 1784. The chair formed part of the furniture in the Long Acre Room, Aberdeen, the place of the Consecration of Bishop Seabury and was used as the throne of the Consecrating Bishop.
It was bought in 1816 by a member of this congregation (Holy Trinity, Keith) and sold by him to the then Rector, the Rev. John Murdoch. The Seabury Chair is now the property of the Vestry of this Church.
Clergy of Holy Trinity Church Keith
1607 – Rev’d Patrick Guthie (His orders were probably non-Episcopal)
1610 – Rev’d John Chalmers (First Episcopal Incumbent of Keith)
1612 – Rev’d Patrick Forbes
1619 – Rev’d Robert Baron
1625 – Rev’d John Guthrie
1631 – Rev’d Joseph Brodie (Until 1646)
1665 – Rev’d Sir James Strachan (Holy Trinity can trace its history to 1688 when the priest was ‘deprived of his benefice’; Ministry continued in a number of locations over the ensuing years.)
1692 – Rev’d Lachlan Rose (Until 1694)1700 – 1704 Rev’d John Gilchrist
Rev’d Sir James Strachan (denounced as “Her Majesties Rebel”)
1704 – 1708 Rev’d George Strachan (son of James), Rev’d Alex Johnstone, Rev’d George Strachan
1715 – 1745 Rev’d James Sibbald (Penal Period)
1770 – 1780 Right Rev’d Andrew Macfarlane (Bishop of Moray) (In 1779 a simple two-roomed cottage in Keith was used a meeting house, although it was not consecrated until 1832.)
1780 – 1800 The Very Rev’d Alexander Christie (Dean of Moray)
1800 – 1850 Rev’d John Murdoch (He brought the Seabury Chair to Keith)
1850 – 1876 Rev’d H. B. Moffatt
1876 Rev’d H. D’Arcy Simpson
1876 – 1912 The Very Rev’d John Archibald (Dean of Moray from 1902) (The present church was begun in 1882, architect Alexander Ross.)
1912 – 1917 Rev’d W. W. Cruickshank
1917 – 1923 Rev’d E. M. Bland
1923 – 1928 Rev’d T. L. Gomersall
1928 – 1935 Rev’d A. E. Appleton
1935 – 1938 Rev’d R. Jefferson
1938 – 1944 Rev’d E. J. Hollands
1945 – 1950 Rev’d C. M. Simms
1950 – 1952 Rev’d W. H. Donnan
1952 – 1960 Rev’d W. C. M. Lind
1960 – 1974 Rev’d J. T. J. Gooding
1974 – 1983 The Very Rev’d Cyril Barnes (1971 Canon of Inverness Cathedral, 1977-1980 Synod Clerk, 1980-1983 Dean of Moray, Ross & Caithness)
1984 – 1988 Rev’d Ian David Zass-Ogilve
1988 – 1997 Rev’d Humphrey M. Lupdell-Bradshaw
1998 – 2002 Rev’d Stuart Adrian Fellows (Priest in Charge)
2002 – 2009 Rev’d Alison Simpson
2009 – 2012 Rev’d David I B Balfour & Rev’d Loloma Balfour (Interim Priests 2009-10, House for Duty Priests 2010 – 2012)
2013 – 2016 Rev’d Sarah Murray (Assistant Curate 2013-2016) (Priest in Charge – Right Rev’d Mark Strange (Bishop of Moray Ross and Caithness)
2017- current Rev’d Canon Michael L E Last (Priest in Charge) (Canon of Inverness Cathedral & Syond Clerk 3rd February 2019)