Gaelic Chapel Cromarty

This building is another one which is 'at Risk'.
'A symmetrical rectangular church roofless, with long and south elevations'.
A plaque at the entrance says ' ERECTED BY GEORGE ROSS ESQ ANNO DOMNI 1783. It was totally paid for by  George Ross for the Gaelic speaking residence of Cromarty. Cromarty had been English speaking but after the Highland Clearances a lot of the families moved to Cromarty and worked for George. He was a wealthy man who bought Cromarty in 1772. He made a big difference to Cromarty and what we see today is largely due to George who, with William Forsyth a local merchant, built a Hemp factory, the Courthouse, Brewery, the harbour and Cromarty House.
The chapel is rapidly declining with the roof collapsing in around 1950 in a bad storm. The ivy has really taken over in the last few years with one side completely covered. Inside young sycamores have taken root and some have recently been taken down.
The tower is still in good condition and still holds a bell, a long time since it has been rung and it seems amazing to think that 500 people use to attend the services here. Even in WW2 it was used by Polish Soldiers as a place to worship.
There is hope that a local group will be formed to help restore it and make it into a Cultural Centre with the 'installation of stained glass windows and a polymer retractable roof.' Last year we attended a 'moveable' play which took place throughout Cromarty finishing with songs and music within the walls of the chapel.
I'm not sure how the settee got there and there were other bits of debris around.
Several birds were singing in the trees and we saw a nest in one of the windows.