An additional special service was held at Croick Church on Sunday, April 22.
Because not only was the service taken by Church of Scotland luminaries, but a historic communion set was used in the church for the first time in 179 years.
Lord Wallace of Tankerness, moderator of the General Assembly, who was on a five-day visit to Sutherland with his wife, Rosemary, preached the sermon.
And the Very Reverend Professor Iain Torrance led worship and presided over communion, using a pewter communion set, dated 1842, which has not been used at Croick since 1843.
It is believed that the then Reverend Gustavus Aird took it with him when he left Croick Church to join the new Free Church.
The communion set returned to the possession of the congregation thanks to generous donations to purchase it after it was discovered at an auction in England last year.
The story of how it came into the hands of a private collector is not known.
The church will be open for worship as usual on the second Sundays in May through September with Communion in August when this set will be in use again. All are welcome at the services.
Lord Wallace said of his trip to Sutherland: “Rosie and I very much enjoyed our visit to Sutherland Rectory.
“It was very special to join in worship with the joint Brora and Helmsdale congregations on Sunday mornings and afternoons to share worship and Holy Communion at Croick Church.
“From the retirement homes in Dornoch to the fish market in Kinlochbervie and a sheep farm near Durness, we gain insight into community life in this vast parsonage.”