Building record MAB11616 - ST PETER'S CHURCH, RATHVEN
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Summary
Remains of parish church and graveyard.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (B) 15529
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 4432 6563 (67m by 105m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ46NW |
| Authority | Moray |
| Civil Parish | Rathven |
Type and Period (6)
- WAR MEMORIAL (TRIBUTE) (Built 1921 AD, World War 1 to 20th Century - 1914 AD to 1921 AD)
- COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVE (World War 1 to World War 2 - 1914 AD to 1945 AD)
- CHURCH (Built 1794 AD, 18th Century to 20th Century - 1794 AD to 1932 AD)
- FAMILY VAULT (17th Century - 1612 AD to 1612 AD)
- VESTRY (19th Century - 1874 AD to 1874 AD)
- CHURCHYARD (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
Full Description
Former church, no longer in ecclesiastical use. The church was built in 1794 to replace an earlier church located in the graveyard opposite (MAB11616), with repairs by William Robertson in 1823, additions in 1874, and alterations and re-casting by R. M. Fulton in 1932. Stones from the former church were used in this building, which was partially demolished for this purpose. The Rannas burial aisle, dating to 1612, survives in the old kirkyard and formed the south aisle of the earlier church.
The current church is a simple rectangular structure, with a belfry at the west gable apex, a ball finial at the east gable, and a slate roof. The bell dates to circa 1750. The church is harled, with tooled ashlar margins and dressings. There are four keystone round-headed windows with block imposts on the 4-bay south elevation, and three in the north elevation. There is a similar single gallery window in the east and west gables. The southwest window has a panelled transom at gallery level. The single-storey, 2-bay vestry extending from the west gable, and fronted by a gabled porch with an entrance to the church and vestry, was added in 1874; it has an end stack and a slate roof. There is a memorial window dating to 1909, and a 1921 war memorial placed in the south wall.
The interior, re-cast in 1932, has fluted wooden columns, possibly with a cast-iron core, and a raised and fielded panelled gallery front, re-used from the original 1794 church. There is a 1932 pulpit fronting an organ. The last service was held on 26 May 2024, and the church was sold in August 2024.
JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, VOL I,273 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.
CRAMOND, W, 1885, CHURCH OF RATHVEN, 3,76-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB308.
MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP, 2003, NEWSLETTER, Issue 16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5098.
MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP, 2015, MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS: RATHVEN CHURCHYARD (Bibliographic reference). SAB7657.
Jun 9 2008 , Untitled Source (Ground Photograph). SAB32194.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, RATHVEN 2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: MOR;
- NMR Card Number: NJ46NW 2.00;
- NRHE Numlink: 17411;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ46NW0001;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB15529 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/17411 (Rathven, St Peter's Church and Old Burial-ground - trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (6)
- --- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. RATHVEN 2.
- --- SAB308 Bibliographic reference: CRAMOND, W. 1885. CHURCH OF RATHVEN. 3,76-7.
- --- SAB32194 Ground Photograph: Jun 9 2008 . DG.
- --- SAB5098 Bibliographic reference: MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP. 2003. NEWSLETTER. Issue 16.
- --- SAB7657 Bibliographic reference: MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP. 2015. MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS: RATHVEN CHURCHYARD.
- --- SAB889 Bibliographic reference: JERVISE, A. 1879. EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2. N. VOL I,273.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Oct 3 2026 8:04PM
