Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness

The Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness is one of seven dioceses in the Scottish Episcopal Church. It covers the historic counties of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness-shire, Nairnshire, Moray, Banffshire and parts of Aberdeenshire. The diocesan centre is St Andrew’s Cathedral in Inverness, where the bishop’s seat stands. The see is currently held by Bishop Mark Strange, who was elected in 2007. The diocese traces its origins to three medieval dioceses founded in the 12th century. Each diocese maintained an unbroken line of bishops despite the challenges of the Scottish Reformation and the penal laws. The three old dioceses—Moray, Ross and Caithness—were united over centuries through practical necessity. Bishops like Alexander Rose and Andrew Lumsden played key roles in combining sees when distance made oversight difficult. In 1777, William Falconar united Orkney, Moray, Ross and Caithness under a single rule. The union was confirmed in 1851, though Orkney later separated in 1857. By 2020, the diocese reported an increase in membership and communicants under Synod Clerk Rev Canon Michael Last. Today it serves a population of around 290,500 across a vast Highland landscape. The diocese maintains 40 church buildings served by 16 stipendiary clergy. St Andrew’s Cathedral in Inverness serves as the focal point for worship and administration. The historic counties include areas like Dufftown, Keith and Huntly, each with its own church presence. The landscape ranges from coastal Caithness to the inland hills of Sutherland and the valleys of Moray. Services and community events take place across these scattered communities. The diocese continues to adapt while preserving its episcopal tradition.