Mr Yule, in a thought-provoking sermon, made the point that though it was a sad occasion in some ways, yet "the church is bigger than any denomination, and building, or minister… the church is people, surrounded and upheld by the love of God, and not cocooned behind stained glass and stone…Rathen may close, but the church will never be extinguished by the loss of mortar or stone."
Ministers
Alex Cobban: 1843 -1880
J.S Carroll: 1881 - 1883
J.S. Stewart: 1883 - 1893
J.C. Lawson: 1894 - 1915
Rathen East Church
Excerpt from "The Kirks of Buchan Presbytery"
The minister and the majority of the congregation of the Inverallochy quoad sacra church "came out" in 1843. They were joined by members and adherents from the parishes of Lonmay and Rathen. They had broken away from the moderate church, choosing to set up their own building for worship and supply their own manse for their minister. They saw themselves as the new missionary movement in Scotland. Its membership was 206 in 1848 and 194 in 1900. Rathen East Church was thriving at the beginning of the century, under the Rev Mr Lawson so much that they rebuilt the church and manse. Union took place under the Rev Mr Turner in 1929 and the charge of Inverallochy and Rathen East was formed. Sadly the changes in society brought changes here too and the last act of public worship in Rathen East Church took place in August 1987.
