Now Few in a Pew

On the exposed coast of Skiall Bay is St Peter's Kirk, Sandwick, Orkney. It is in the vicinity of Skara Brae and provides insights into its own era of history. It was built in 1836 to serve a more densely-populated area. In 1998 it was taken over by the Scottish Redundant Churches Trust and within five years was restored to its original. The pulpit, of gallery height, towers over the pews. These, in the kirk's heyday, could accommodate a congregation of 500, but this provided only 18" of space per person. Perhaps it's as well that numbers have declined.

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