| Administrative History | Sir William Sinclair was founder of the first Baptist Church in Keiss.
When the Glenorchy family broke up and sold their large holdings in Caithness from 1710 onwards Keiss Castle and estate was purchased by Sir William Sinclair second Baronet of Dunbeath. In 1752 some years after acquiring Keiss Sir William sold his interests in Dunbeath from which the family derive their title and thereafter Keiss became his family seat. Sir William was a man of deep piety and having embraced Baptist views was formally baptised in London and admitted a member of that denomination. He founded the first Baptist church in Scotland at Keiss in1750. Sir William preached regularly to his newly founded congregation often holding the services in the castle. He composed and published a collection of about sixty hymns which were used in praise by his baptist adherents. |