The focus of this portion of our web guide is on belief, faith, religion, and spirituality in Inverness, Scotland.
Belief, faith, religion, and spirituality are interconnected concepts, each with its own nuances. In some contexts, they can be synonymous terms, although they are distinct words with unique definitions.
Both religion and spirituality often involve a belief in a higher power, although this higher power may be defined differently in various religions or spiritual practices, but the common thread is a belief in something greater than oneself.
Both religion and spirituality emphasize having a purpose in life that often guides the individual's actions and decisions, providing a sense of direction and purpose.
Faith represents the innate drive to search for meaning, purpose, and significance.
In another context, belief could be something as simple as an acceptance of the existence of a deity, while faith adds trust to the equation, and religion adds organization and creeds.
Spirituality represents the paths a person's faith travels as it seeks meaning, purpose, and significance. It involves the focus of a person's faith, such as God, and the actions taken to connect with that focus, which might include prayer, meditation, or ritual.
When someone determines that one thing is true, and another is not, they are articulating various beliefs that they hold, often due to experiences they have had while trying to satisfy their innate sense of faith.
Religion is more complex, with several definitions, largely dependent on context.
Religion can be defined as a personal or institutionalized set of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices, but it can also refer to the service and worship of God or the supernatural, the state of a religious person, or a cause or principle of beliefs held with ardor and faith.
Another definition might be a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, particularly when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional or ritual observances, as well as a moral code governing human conduct.
The term religion is also attributed to the various associations connected through common beliefs, such as the Christian religion, or the religions of Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and so on.
For the most part, the resources that may be found here will be websites representing Inverness churches, ministries, or places of worship, regardless of the particular religion, denomination, or sect.
Recommended Resources
Meeting for worship at 9:30 and 11:00 am on Sunday mornings, the Inverness church building is by several other church and community programmes throughout the week, including the church's Parent and Toddler Group for children up to age three on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Its location, schedules, and an introduction to the church discusses what to expect when visiting for the first time, dress codes, and its accommodations for children. Contacts are posted.
https://www.crown-church.co.uk/
Culloden-Balloch Baptist Church
The evangelical Baptist congregation is a member church of the Baptist Union of Scotland, while its pastor is a member of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. The congregation meets at its facilities on Wellside Road, Balloch, Inverness, Scotland. Its leadership team, contacts, and a calendar of events are published on the site. The church also has several rooms (or the entire church) that are available to let.
https://www.cullodenbaptist.com/
Also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, the cathedral is affiliated with the Scottish Episcopal Church, located near the banks of the River Ness, in Inverness, Scotland. Built between 1866 and 1869, it was the first new Protestant cathedral built in Great Britain since the Scottish Reformation. A profile of the structure Is provided here, along with its history, policies for visiting the building, service times, its order of service, and policies for weddings, baptisms, and funerals.
https://invernesscathedral.org/
A member of the Methodist Church in Scotland, the Inverness Methodist Church is the most northerly Methodist Circuit in Scotland and the United Kingdom mainland, as a whole. The history of Methodists in Inverness is outlined, news, current events, and service schedules are published on the website, and the church's leadership team, church organisations, and programs are featured, and a telephone number, email address, and online contact form are provided.
https://www.invernessmethodist.com/
Inverness Reformed Baptist Church
Located on Telford Road in Inverness, Scotland, the congregation formed around 1970, largely consisting of people who were leaving the Inverness Baptist Church over a disagreement related to its association with the Baptist Union. Its history is related here, along with its articles of faith, directions to the church, worship service schedules, an archive of sermons and lectures, and a directory of contacts for church officials, leadership, and others.
https://inverness-rbc.org/
Located on Smithton Industrial Estate, Culloden, Inverness, Scotland, King's is an independent Christian church that came into being in 1989, and became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in 2017. Its meeting place, known as the King's Factory, was originally a fish processing factory that has been converted for use in ministry, worship, and community involvement. Besides worship services, the congregation operates two coffee houses and a variety of community groups.
https://kingsinverness.com/
Affiliated with the Church of Scotland, the congregation was originally formed in 1787, but, for a short time, it ceased to exist, but re-formed in 1817, meeting in various places until 1821, when a cottage served as its sanctuary until 1864, when a new church was constructed. Its current church was built between 1900 and 1901. Its organisational structure, leadership, and history are set forth, along with worship, family, and group programme schedules, outreach services, and contacts.
https://www.nessbankchurch.org.uk/
The Old High Church is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in Inverness. Formed in 2003 through a union of the congregations of Inverness Old High and Inverness St. Stephen's, in which both buildings were retained for worship until 2022, when regular worship ended at Old High, which had been the oldest congregation in Inverness, its site having been used since Celtic times. St. Stephens was founded as a daughter church of Old High in 1897. Schedules are posted on the site.
https://www.oldhighststephens.com/
Saint Mary's is a Roman Catholic Church in Inverness, Scotland, affiliated with the Diocese of Aberdeen. Opened in 1837, the church was expanded and remodeled in 1894, and again in 2014. An introduction to the church building and programs are provided on its site, which includes Mass times, a calendar of events, a church bulletin, and schedules and policies for Sacraments. Other resources include a gallery of photographs, contacts, links to related sites, and archives.
https://www.stmarysinverness.co.uk/
Formed in 1959, the original St. Ninian's sanctuary was built in 1960 as the second Catholic church built in Inverness since the Scottish Reformation, St. Mary's being the first. The current building was built in 1977. The church's history, Mass schedules, Sacrament policies and schedules, a church bulletin, and a calendar of upcoming programmes and events are set forth, along with a gallery of photographs, hall rental policies, contacts, and links.
https://stninian.rcda.scot/
