Brettabister, St Ola's Kirk Including Memorial Enclosure
Church (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Brettabister, St Ola's Kirk Including Memorial Enclosure
Classification Church (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Nesting Parish Church
Canmore ID 181685
Site Number HU45NE 35
NGR HU 48744 57829
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/181685
- Council Shetland Islands
- Parish Nesting
- Former Region Shetland Islands Area
- Former District Shetland
- Former County Shetland
The church of Nesting ST Ola was recorded by the Threatened Buildings Survey on 4th October 2022. The church was proposed for closure as part o the reorganisation of the Shetland Parishes and the General Trustees put it up for sale in February 2020 for £10,000. The church is now in private ownership.
The church was built in 1794 and unusually for this date does not sit within a graveyard. The rectangular harled and hipped slate roofed building has a small vestry to the rear south. Above the east entrance a square ashlar plinth breaks the eaves with an open-work birdcage bellcote with stepped pyramidal cap above. Two small burial enclosures are set against the north wall. The east one is for the Rev William Levie and his family and the west one for is Rev John Inches with a Greek Revival headstone.
Although inaccessible at the time of the survey the interior retains its u-plan gallery supported on timber columns and its pulpit with sounding board on the north wall.
EXTERNAL REFERENCE:
Scottish Records Office
GD 150/1893
Nesting. Building of a Manse.
Petition to the Earl of Morton from Robert Gray.
He asks the Earl to contribute to the cost.
1731
Construction (1794)
The church was built in 1794.
Information from Historic Scotland Listed Building description.