The glass of Croick
Written by John Macpherson
The glass of Croick (image reversed so you may read it) © John MacPherson
Croick Church in Sutherland has, etched into the glass of its windows, several messages.
Scratched by the desperate hands of the tenants of Glencalvie after being evicted from their homes in the infamous Highland Clearances. Cleared to make way for sheep, a more profitable ‘flock’ for the landowner than rent-paying tenants.
James Gillanders, Factor to the Robertsons of Kindeace, after several previous attempts finally managed to evict the tenants from the glen on the 24th May 1845. Eighteen families numbering some ninety people, took refuge in the churchyard.
Facing displacement and destitution, they scratched their words on the outside of the church glass, so that at least the memory of their passage might be recorded.
Today you can stand where they stood, on the unyielding highland soil, run your fingers over the glass they touched and feel the grooves they scratched in their desperation ripple under your skin.
Most glass we look through provides a view, one we may look upon and smile.
The view through these windows is far more unsettling.
It is a glimpse into the interior of the human heart.
Author — John Macpherson
John MacPherson was born and lives in the Scottish Highlands. He trained as a welder in the Glasgow shipyards, before completing an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and then qualified as a Social Worker in Disability Services. Along the way he has cooked on canal barges, trained as an Alpine Ski Leader & worked as an Instructor for Skiers with disabilities, been a canoe instructor, and tutor of night classes in carpentry, stained glass design and manufacture, and archery. He has travelled extensively on various continents, undertaking solo trips by bicycle, or motorcycle. He has had narrow escapes from an ambush by terrorists, been hit by lightning, caught in an erupting volcano, trapped in a mobile home by a tornado, kidnapped by a dog's hairdresser, rammed by a basking shark and was once bitten by a wild otter. He has combined all this with professional photography, which he has practised for over 35 years. He teaches photography and acts as a photography guide & tutor in the UK and abroad. His biggest challenge is keeping his 30 year old Land Rover 110 on the road. He loves telling and hearing stories.
Discussion (3 Comments)
The opacity of memory, scratched into a sharp reminder of human follies.
Thanks for yet another eloquent comment Ed (and retweet)! Its a fascinating building and hugely atmospheric.
I went to visit yesterday for the first time. What a beautiful spot. I hope the east window will get better preservation, it’s one of the only tangible evidence of the clearances, so important to preserve. So glad they’ve been photographed to preserve the people’s testaments. I couldn’t see much so it’s brilliant to see your photos.