Just a heavenly home
Former church in Highlands now a modern, welcoming family house
SOME properties would not look out of place on the front of a Christmas card. It is easy to imagine such charming homes with a dusting of snow on the roof, some twinkling lights and a festive wreath on the door. One such divine house is Moyness Kirk, a former United Presbyterian church built back in 1748.
While it once accommodated 300 parishioners, it has not served as a place of worship in 70 years. From 1949 the property, at Auldearn, near Inverness, was used as a store for industrial farm equipment, with a grain store attached to the front.
Later, it lay empty for decades before a brave couple took it on as a renovation project – and transformed it into something you might see on TV’s Grand Designs.
The sheer scale of the property means space is in abundance, offering plenty of height and length to the dramatic living space.
The retention of original features is nowhere more appreciated than the two large Y-tracery, Gothicstyle windows which face south, providing an abundance of natural light. Ceilings are naturally high, stonework is beautifully exposed and the floors are solid oak.
Yet the owners have been able to fashion a contemporary home which marries modern interior design with Georgian provenance.
Creating an upper and lower level can sometimes mean grand windows are chopped in half downstairs, while the top of windows emerge at floor level in bedrooms.
Here, the designer has cleverly exploited the kirk’s dimensions on one side, allowing the large living, dining and kitchen area to soar up to the ceiling, while taking the ‘hit’ on the other side, where you wouldn’t know you are in a church. The bedrooms upstairs betray little of the building’s ecclesiastical roots and could be taken to belong to any stylish modern property.
However, the large downstairs double bedroom offers exposed beams and two windows to the rear. The en suite includes a wonderful Japanese Omi deep-soaking bath, with walk-in shower.
The sleek modern kitchen has a great selection of wall and base storage units, centre island, granite worktops, Falcon range and a freestanding wood burning stove.
The kitchen opens up to the large dining and sitting area, which can lend itself to a big party or intimate space for a family meal.
The original vestry is located off the kitchen and is currently used as a sitting room, with fine wood panelling, doors to the gardens and a Jøtul wood-burning stove. Again, the dimensions have been used to stunning effect on the mezzanine area, which overlooks the dining and living room below.
There are three double bedrooms on this level, a linen cupboard and a large family bathroom which makes a feature of the exposed stone walls.
The top-floor landing is used as a gym, next to the master bedroom with walk-in dressing room and a luxurious en suite bathroom.
Moyness Kirk has lovely, mature, landscaped grounds, with a gated south-facing courtyard.
The coastal town of Nairn is just six miles away, while Inverness Airport is only 15 miles distant.
Then there are the nearby beaches for summer days and the salmon fishing on the Rivers Nairn, Findhorn and Spey.
This property is perfect all year round, but heavenly at Christmas.