The Scottish Episcopal presence in Tain began in 1877, when local Episcopalians first gathered for worship in the Town Hall.

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The following year, a temporary iron church—often affectionately known as the "Tin Tabernacle"—was erected at a cost of £179 18s 0d and provided seating for around seventy people. It was dedicated on 17 September 1878 and served the congregation until the present church was built.

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Completed in 1887, St Andrew's was constructed by local craftsmen using locally quarried stone to a design by the Inverness architects Ross and Macbeth. The adjoining Rectory followed in 1898 and was designed by the distinguished Highland architect Alexander Ross.

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For almost 150 years, St Andrew's has been a place of worship, prayer and community, serving not only the people of Tain but also those from across Easter Ross and East Sutherland. Today, the church is part of a wider family of Scottish Episcopal churches working together to share the love of Christ throughout North Ross-shire and East Sutherland.

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Building and Contents

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St Andrew's is home to a number of significant artistic and historical treasures.

One of its most notable features is the 1914 C. & F. Hamilton of Edinburgh pipe organ. It is one of the few surviving instruments of its kind to remain substantially unaltered and celebrated its centenary at St Andrew's in 2014. It continues to lead and enrich the church's worship today.

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Many of the church's wooden furnishings were crafted by Robert "Mouseman" Thompson of Kilburn, Yorkshire. His workshop became famous for its signature carved mouse, and visitors can enjoy searching for the seven mice hidden around the church. They can be found on the lectern, the pulpit, the altar rail and the woodwork behind the high altar. Similar carvings can also be seen at Pluscarden Abbey near Elgin.

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On the north side of the church are two beautiful stained-glass windows by William Wilson RSA (1905–1972), one of Scotland's most distinguished stained-glass artists. After training at Edinburgh College of Art and establishing his own studio in 1937, Wilson went on to create more than 300 windows for churches, cathedrals and public buildings across Scotland.

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One of these is the Musicians' Window in the sanctuary. It depicts Miriam, who praised God with song after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20–21), King David, the shepherd king and psalmist, and St Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, who according to Christian tradition sang to God in her heart even as the music played during her wedding.