Archaeological work carried out in advance of the construction of a new church hall in 2004 found the remains of the front of Balmerino House. That house was built in 1631 by John Stewart, Earl of Carrick, and sold to Lord Balmerino in 1643. It remained in the Balmerio family until 1746 when the fifth Lord Balmerino did and then the Sixth Lord was executed for hist part in the failed Jacobite rebellion. The house then changed hands several time until the Church purchased it in 1848. St Mary's Star of the Sea was built in 1853 and Balmerino House was finally demolished in the 1970s. There is some conflict over the date it was built - the church website says it was designed in 1854 but the historical records in Canmore state that it was opened in 1854.