The remote churchyard where families evicted from Glencalvie sheltered in 1845, leaving a disputed but powerful record on the east window.
Shelter after eviction
In May 1845, around eighty people forcibly removed from Glencalvie sheltered in the churchyard at Croick. A correspondent from The Times witnessed their makeshift camp, carrying the dispossession of Highland tenants to a wider public.
Names on the glass
Names and short messages scratched into panes of the east window have long been connected to the displaced families. Current interpretation preserves an important uncertainty: it is not known whether every mark was made by those sheltering here in 1845 or added later in remembrance.
A church in transition
Built in 1827 as a Parliamentary Church, Croick passed into the care of Historic Churches Scotland in 2025. It remains open to visitors while conservation work and occasional services continue.
What to look for while you're here
- The scratched names and messages on the east window, read with the interpretation's uncertainty in mind.
- The churchyard where displaced families sheltered.
- The simple T-plan interior and surviving long communion table.
Before you go
- Currently open daily, 09:00–18:00 April to October and 10:00–15:00 November to March. The church is reached by a remote single-track road; allow extra travel time. It remains a church and burial ground, so visit respectfully.