Other ministers of the Parish

Alexander Macrae in Kinlochbervie, Being the story and traditions of a remote Highland parish and its people, wrote concerning the first minister of the parish:

For a long period the parish was singularly unfortunate in its ministers. The first settled in the newly erected church was Mr. David MacKenzie. He had been a schoolmaster in the parish of Reay, and was licensed by the Presbytery of Caithness. He was ordained and inducted to his parish on the 20th day of August, 1829. The Rev. Hugh MacKay MacKenzie, of Tongue, preached and presided at the ordination. His texts were, Rev, iii. 2 in Gaelic, and 2 Cor. v. 14, 15 in English.

The people were greatly uplifted, for hitherto they had been served somewhat irregularly by ministers and probationers. The minister of the parish was careless and addicted to drink. By timely resignation he saved himself from deposition, but not from his vice. Great expectations were entertained for a useful and successful pastorate under the new minister. Those expectations were not realised. He had a servant maid, named Annie Dodds, whom he was reported to have dismissed. Next summer he went from home and came back with her as his wife. Tongues at once began to wag. A wild flame blazed through the parish and a special meeting of Presbytery was held at Rhiconich to inquire into the facts of the case.

As witnesses were put on oath, it may be of interest to note the names of the members of the presbytery and of the witnesses present. The members of Presbytery were, the Rev. George Tulloch, Scourie; Mr. Hugh MacKay MacKenzie; Tongue; Mr. William Findlater, Durness; Mr. David Mackenzie, Farr; with Mr. Hugh MacLeod, Divinity Student, clerk. The representatives of the congregation and witnesses were, Murdo Ross, Achlyness; Margaret MacKay, wife of Donald MacKay, Sheigra; Donald MacKay, Sheigra; Robert MacKay, Sandwood; Donald Morrison, junior, Kinlochbervie; George Morrison, Kinlochbervie; Angus Calder, Achrisgill; John MacKenzie, Achrisgill; George Campbell, Kinlochbervie; Hugh MacKay, merchant, Kinlochbervie.