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 (12)
- Monument (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- GRAVE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- CHURCH (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- ARCH (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- PLAQUE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- WALL (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- RAILINGS (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- GATE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- GATE PIER (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- ENCLOSURE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- CHURCHYARD (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- CHURCHYARD (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 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;
- HES Listed Building Number: 15529;
- NMR Card Number: NJ46NW2;
- 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 (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 (1)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (3)
Record last edited
Jul 27 2026 3:08PM
