Thurso, Wilson Lane, Old St Peter's Church And Burial-ground

The church of Thurso is dedicated to Saint Peter. Though unnamed in the charter of Bishop Gilbert, it was one of the six reserved by him to the bishopric. Early in the 16th century, the vicarage of Thorso was held by Sir John Mathesoun chancellor of Caithness, on whose demission or otherwise Queen Mary in 1547 presented Master John Craig to the benefice. Master Walter Innes, who appears in record in 1554, was vicar of Thurso in 1560, and continued to hold the vicarage between 1561 and 1566. About 1567, John Rag was minister, and in 1574, Alexander Urquhart was minister of Olrik and Thurso, and John Davidsoun was reader at Thurso. In 1641, Alexander Monro, minister at Durnoch had from King…

It is cruciform and in the pointed style. A 1726 record states, "Above a vault looking into the east end of the church is a session house, but by the permission of the kirk session, it is used by the sheriff and magistrates of Thurso for a court house and prison; and above a dungeon likewise allowed them is a steeple and common clock".