The outline of the mediaeval Saint John’s Hospice can still be seen in Helmsdale Cemetery. It was originally the site of Saint Iain’s cell, one of Saint Donnan’s disciples, but fell into disuse on the departure of Donan and his followers.

Sometime before 1357, the church was restored, re-dedicated to St John and erected as a Hospital and Ferry House for Travellers. The management of the establishment proved unsatisfactory and William de Moravia, the Fourth Earl of Sutherland, put the Hospital and ferry into the possession and care of the Monastery of Kinloss. The Earls originally came from Moray.

The Hospital was called the “Hospital of Saint John the Baptist”, and the monastery at Kinloss always supplied Saint John’s with two monks, sometimes more, and their servants. The Church and Hospital were endowed with lands and fishings, and the church later became a Chapel of Ease under the Church of Loth. Up to the Reformation the church was still supplied by Morayshire clergy, and was in use until about 1820 when the roof gave way.

Saint John’s Well is across the river from the church site. It is the only well in Scotland dedicated to John the Baptist - a unique piece of the Northern Pilgrims’ Way history, as other Saint John’s are named after the Evangelist. The reason is unknown - maybe it was the position of the church, the river and the well - but perhaps the explanation for the dedication is buried in ancient Church records in Moray, still waiting to be discovered.

For all other sites within Caithness, see the leaflet on the Northern Saints Trails or their website at www.wickstferguschurch.org.uk/page16.html