The new church is about a mile from the battlefield where a commemorative service in memory of the dead of both sides is held in Gaelic on 16th April, the anniversary of the battle every year.

It is nearly 30 years since Canon Duncan Stone, then Parish Priest at St Mary's, in Inverness, identified a site and bought the land for a new church to meet the needs of the Catholic people who were moving into new housing developments.

The congregation, dedicated to St Columba, has until now been worshipping at Duncan Forbes Primary School at Culloden where Mass is celebrated by Canon Peter Barry, who is also parish priest of St Ninian's in Inverness.

On 4th January, they will celebrate their 30th anniversary when it is hoped 90-year-old Canon Stone will also participate.

Inverness has one of the fastest growing Catholic populations in the country, with immigrants from India, the Philippines and Eastern Europe, including 5000 from Poland. There are two Polish priests in Inverness and Tain as well as three Polish sisters from the Society of the Sacred Heart based in Inverness.

Over the years, the new parish of St Columba has raised over £250,000 towards the new church. As the total cost of the project will be £750,000, the congregation is faced with finding another £500,000.

The first turf on the new building site on Tower Road will be cut by Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen and Don Williams, chairman of the congregational committee, on Thursday.

The contractors, Uist Building Contractors, will begin work on site on 7th January next year.