Building record MAB12721 - CLATT PARISH CHURCH

Church, built on site of earlier church (original foundation 612 AD) and associated graveyard.

Church, built on site of earlier church (original foundation 612 AD) and associated graveyard. Original church was dedicated to St Moluag. The present church, rebuilt in 1799 is long, narrow and tall and incorporates many of the medieval fragments. The medieval font, previously in the kirkyard, is possibly the one in present use in the church. The belfry bears the date 1640. The church was substantially repaired in 1828. A granite war memorial tablet in the east gable records those lost in the Second World War. Two stones were found here. One has rectangular figure cut in it, the other is shaped to receive the terminal of a reredos. A watching brief was undertaken here between August 2002 and May 2003 during building works. Works included the removal of part of the exterior harl, demolition of the east steps and the removal and replacement of below ground drainage pipes. Reused stone was revealed under the harl, with much incised graffiti. A photographic record was taken. Three trenches were excavated, but no in situ burials were revealed. The steps had many re-used and graffitied stones. Some metal pins and fragments of bone were discovered in trenches 2 and 3. Rubble and masonry was also discovered in trenches, the most significant possibly being at northeast corner and southwest corner. The date of 1778 inscribed on the lintel suggests that the rebuilding of the church in the 1790s was not a complete reconstruction. See NJ52NW0007 for Pictish stones found in the churchyard and NJ52NW0062 for the Clatt war memorial, which stands in the graveyard.

Period Notes
Listed 24/11/1972. Confirmed to bishop of Aberdeen 1157; erected into prebend 1256; mentioned in 1574; belfry dated 1640; rebuilt 1799; repairs and reseated in 1828, 1866. Refurbished as community facility in 2004.

GR/04/CCT84, GR/04/CCT84 (Ground Photograph). SAB37004.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL IX(1931) 53-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL VI(1928) 56-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL X(1932) 25-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

FORBES, AP, 1872, KALENDAR OF SCOTTISH SAINTS, 409 (Bibliographic reference). SAB510.

JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 86 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.

RITCHIE, J, 1910, THE SCULPTURED STONES OF CLATT, ABERDEENSHIRE. PSAS 44(1909-10) 203-9, 203-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1499.

SCOTT, H., 1915-2000, FASTI ECCLESIAE SCOTICANAE, 123 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1621.

SCOTT, A. B., 1918, THE PICTISH NATION, ITS PEOPLE & ITS CHURCH, 237 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1619.

HAY, G., 1957, THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES, 186, 242 (Bibliographic reference). SAB720.

EELES, FC, 1957, THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE PSAS 90 (1956-7) 130-60, p.141 (Bibliographic reference). SAB490.

THE MORRISON PARTNERSHIP, 1997, INSPECTION REPORT AND REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS: CALTT AULD KIRK, CLATT (Bibliographic reference). SAB4695.

Macfadyen, K, 2003, Clatt Parish Church, Archaeological Watching Brief (Bibliographic reference). SAB2908.

WATCHING BRIEF

Jan 1 1971 , AB 2986/7, AB 2986/7 (Ground Photograph). SAB13092.

Jul 2 1996 , AAS/96/06/CT2, AAS/96/06/CT2 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19625.

Jul 2 1996 , AAS/96/06/G17/13-4, AAS/96/06/G17/13-4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16402.

Mar 3 2003 , E 12945 CN, E 12945 CN (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13091.

Nov 9 2014 , AAS-GR-14-11-143 - 195, AAS-GR-14-11-143 - 195 (Ground Photograph). SAB35373.

Record last edited

Mar 3 2025 3:14PM