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Carrbridge Village

From the Third Statistical Account of 1985


In Duthil Parish, the life of the area has moved from Dalnahatnich, Foregin and Slochd to the village of Carrbridge which, after the opening of the Highland Railway in 1898, developed from a tiny hamlet at the close of the 19th century to a favourite holiday resort with all the amenities.

70 years ago, the Burn of Duthil area sent 40 children from the numerous small farms and crofts to Duthil School. Now, all the croft lands are part of Dalbuiack Farm. During the last 30 years or so, mechanisation of farm work has been a further cause of depopulation.

During the Second World War, there was a company of the Canadian Forestry Corps stationed in the Parish of Duthil. Many of the marriageable girls in the district married Newfoundlanders and accompanied their husbands abroad at the end of the war. About 10 Newfoundlanders however settled in the parish. 3 members of the Polish forces also settled here.

Even before the Disruption of 1843, Duthil and Carrbridge came into prominence owing to a religious revival which was started there by some men towards the end of the 18th century. These revivalists who were called the Men of Duthil had great faith and professed to have been brought to a sense of their errors by some miraculous means, and took upon themselves to expound the Scriptures to their friends. At the Disruption, the Men all came out and, for years after, were religious firebrands in the parish.

The former United Free Church in Carrbridge was built in 1909. In 1964 there were 51 communicants, 18 in the Woman's Guild and 19 children in Sunday School.

In 1969, the congregations of Duthil and Boat of Garten united and the minister of the joint charge lives in Boat of Garten. For 7 years after the Disruption, the members of the Free Church in Duthil held divine service in the woods at Carrbridge, both in summer and winter, until a church was built in 1850 in the village.

Duthil Free Church is now united with Tomatin Free Church and the Duthil Church and manse have been sold. The Free Church had also a small hall in Carrbridge and services are still held there on Sunday mornings. There are about 20 communicants and 81 adherents.

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