Sunday 26 November 2023, the Feast of Christ the King, marked the closing of Pluscarden Kirk; a landmark building that is noted by everyone who approaches the Abbey from the Elgin side. So ends official Presbyterean worship in our valley. This began not with the Scottish Reformation in 1560, but only in about 1736, when the first Kirk Minister was appointed.

Birnie Kirk, 2 or 3 miles up the road towards Elgin, has been linked with Pluscarden Kirk under one Minister since 1973. In recent years there has been no resident Minister for either. Birnie had its final closing service on Sunday 19 November. Birnie Kirk was reputed to be the oldest Church building still in use in Scotland. In the 12th century for some 60 years it served as the Seat of the Bishops of Moray.

As for Pluscarden: from some time in the early 19th century, the Earl of Fife had allowed the local Church of Scotland Congregation to use what is now our Refectory as their place of Sunday worship. After the Disruption of 1843, they became a Free Church Congregation.

But then in 1898 the Catholic Marquis of Bute bought the Priory ruins and grounds, intending to restore them to their former use. Of course this project came to an immediate end, following his untimely death. But his purchase meant that the Presbytereans had to move. So from that time, helped by a generous donation from Bute, they set about building the present Pluscarden Kirk. Although on a smaller scale, it incorporates some architectural features of the old Priory.

The Pluscarden monks have a long tradition of maintaining good relations with our Protestant neighbours in the valley. The primary sign of this has been an annual joint Carol service, usually held on the Second Sunday of Advent, with venues alternating between Kirk and Abbey.

Some of our brethren attended Farewell functions at the Kirk. The atmosphere was certainly most friendly, and even somewhat festive, by way of thanksgiving and remembrance: but the occasion was surely quite a melancholy sign of the times, and of the sad retreat of Christianity in our land.