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The home of our Society - of the Clan Grant Worldwide - is the old Church at Duthil, close to Grantown-on-Spey.
Your support for the further development of the centre is urgently needed!
History of Duthil Kirk
In its early days the church was in the diocese of Elgin Cathedral. The first Presbyterian minister was Andrew Henderson who was ordained in 1625. The present building was erected in 1826. The last sermon in public worship in the church was made by one of our Past Members, the Rev. G.V.R. (Jim) Grant MA. In the church grounds are two mausolea where some of the Clan Chiefs are buried.
The building is set in the midst of the Clan territories and there is some reason to suppose it may have been founded by our Patriarch Olav Hemingsson himself, probably shortly after 1060. The original dedication is to St Peter and the name Duthil for the area may well refer to St Dubhthac (to whom also the chapel at Rothiemurchus is dedicated).
It was a landmark day in 1986 for the Clan Grant Society when the then owner, Gerald Brandon-Bravo from Whitebridge, gave Duthil Church to the Clan Grant Society.
In 1993 the building was handed over to a Trust which had been established both as a registered charity and as a company limited by guarantee (Scottish Company Number: SC144748). Recent changes in Charity Law in Scotland have made provision for a class of charity called a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, (SCIO), providing the same safeguards as Company status has afforded to us without some of the accounting and other administrative burdens.
The Trust has been successful in being granted SCIO Status, so with effect from 14 February 2014 we are no longer a Company governed by the Companies` Act, but now officially known as: Clan Grant Centre Trust [SCIO] with Scottish Charity number: SC021615
Development of the Centre
Inside, two glass display cabinets dedicated to the Métis and the Cherokees have recently been installed by the Chief and Judy, as well as many paintings, photos and other Clan memorabilia displayed on the walls.
Important and valuable weapons and artefacts of the Clan are held in storage by the National Museums of Scotland, and we have begun to display some of these items in the Centre. Meanwhile we are also able to store material for the Society and to host (with some constraints), meetings of the Clan Grant Society and other events such as drinks parties.
Duthil Update - November 2018
The Trustees of Duthil are revisiting financing options to convert Duthil into a Clan Grant and Strathspey heritage and interpretation centre. Over 20 years ago Sir Patrick put together a financing plan, the bulk of which was based on the UK Lottery. The bid was unsuccessful because it coincided with a similar bid by the Grantown Museum Trust; the Lottery decision was in favour of the latter. Two bids in the same area, at the same time, were unlikely to succeed. However that was over 20 years ago and circumstances have changed. The Grantown Museum is prospering and the Duthil project is being reviewed with the intention of dealing specifically with the subject of the history of the Clan, with an emphasis on relevant social and cultural aspects.
In particular, there is a view that the diaspora of the clan i.e. the descendants of ancestors who have moved away from the area, particularly in the late 18th and 19th century, should have a relevant heritage destination in the heart of the Clan Grant area. There are a number of visitors to the area every year who come specifically with that interest in mind. It is very early days yet, so we don’t know what the prospects of success will be. Information will be provided to members in the newsletter as and when developments arise.
Sir Patrick Grant of Dalvey Bt.
Support Needed!
A stronger Society membership will help to ensure that these pieces of our heritage can be viewed by everybody. But you don’t have to be a member to help! Donations are welcome from anyone sympathetic to our aims.
Donations will be received gratefully and, because we are a charity we are able to take advantage of the Gift Aid Scheme. So when you donate please advise us if we may claim Gift Aid.
If you would like to help or support the development of the Clan Grant Centre at Duthil, please contact the Society in the first instance via our contact form below.
The Clan Grant Centre Trust
