Scots bride gets disused Inverness-shire church to re-open so she can tie the knot in same place as mum and gran did in dream wedding
Michelle and new husband Michael Strachan got special permission to be married at the church, which has been closed to the public for two years
BRIDE Michelle Macdonald had a disused church especially re-opened, so she could tie the knot in the same place as her mum and her gran.
She walked down the same aisle as grandmother Sadie, in 1953, and mum Catherine in 1983.
And in all those years theirs were the only three weddings to take place at Errogie Free Church, Inverness-shire.
The church is now closed and up for sale, but Michelle and new husband Michael Strachan got special permission to be married there last Saturday.
Michelle, 31, a pharmacy technician at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, lives in Porthlethen, near Aberdeen - but always knew she wanted to get married in the same church as her mum, Catherine and gran Sadie.
Sadie married Alexander Chisholm on June 10, 1953, and Catherine married Ewen Macdonald on November 12, 1983.
In her turn, Michelle married electronics engineer Michael Strachan, 32, on January 5, 2019.
Her wedding looks set to be the last ever in the church, which closed two years ago.
Errogie Free Church is part of the Greyfriars Stratherrick Free Church Congregation, which decided to put the church up for sale last February.
Michelle and Michael’s wedding was conducted by Greyfriars minister Reverend Malcolm Maclean.
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Michelle said: “I’d always wanted to get married in the same church as my mum and gran, so although the church was for sale, we got in touch with Greyfriars to find out if it would be possible to re-open it.
“They checked if it was safe to use, and came back to say it was.
“We just had to clean it up a bit and tidy up outside.”
She added: “My mum and gran are happy and pleased I was able to get married in the same church as them.
“I’ve wanted to get married here since I was young, so it has definitely added to the day.
"I was a bit upset when the church closed, but we got engaged in the summer and we’ve sped things along a bit so we can use the church in case it does get sold in the next few months.”
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Michael said: “It’s quite good to know that we’re the last wedding here.
"It was always special to Michelle, and what’s important to her is important to me.”
Michelle and Michael’s reception was in Stratherrick Hall, Inverness, attended by some 70 family and friends.
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