Building record MAB14665 - ST TALORGAN'S CHURCH, FORDYCE
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Summary
Remains of church which dates from before 1272.
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 352
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 5557 6384 (56m by 63m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ56SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Fordyce |
Type and Period (15)
- Graveyard (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- WELL (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- CHURCH (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- TOWER (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- TOMB (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- TOMB (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- EFFIGY (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- TOWER (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- Memorial (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- PLAQUE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- CHURCHYARD (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- GATE PIER (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- GATE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- EFFIGY (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- MURAL (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
Full Description
Remains of church which dates from before 1272. The earliest church established on this site is said to have been dedicated to St Talarican (Talorgan / Tarquin / Tarlogan) in the 6th - 8th Centuries AD, although there is no evidence of this early site. All that now remains is the roofed belltower, in a fair state of preservation, with a richly carved double-arched bellcote dated 1661, part of the former chancel and a handful of burial aisles. Between 1681 and 1684 a loft was built in the tower with a prison below on the first floor. The obvious later steps to the first floor on the east side of the tower bear an inscription and the date 1721. The old church consisted of a nave with aisles on the west and south. The west aisle belonged to the Ogilvies of Durn, the south, now divided into two, belonged to the Abercrombies of Birkenbog (later Glasshaugh) and the Ogilvies of Findlater and Boyne. The west portion contains the mural wall tomb of Ogilvy of Findlater, the east portion a mural tomb of a recumbent effigy in armour dated circa 1509. The Abercrombie of Glassaugh burial aisle is late 17th Century with a small apex bellcote. The church was replaced in 1804 by a new church circa 250 m to the south, now no longer in ecclesiastical use (NJ56SE0084). The graveyard has an interesting collection of tomb stones dating from the early 16th to 20th Centuries.
Period Notes
Dates from before 1272; tower bears the date 1721. Mural tomb of a recumbent effigy in armour c1509; bellcote dated 1661; the Abercrombie of Glassaugh burial aisle is late 17thC; Church replaced in 1804 by present parish church. Mentioned in 1275, 1351, 1538-9; belfry dated 1661; bell dated 1702.
Author unknown, 1799, OLD STATISTICAL ACCOUNT, No3, 63 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1845.
JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 100-7,422-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.
COLES, FR, 1906, PSAS 40(1905-6) 318-20, 320 (Bibliographic reference). SAB315.
CRAMOND, W, 1912, CHURCH OF FORDYCE (Bibliographic reference). SAB325.
KNIGHT, GAF, 1933, ARCHAEOLOGICAL LIGHT ON THE EARLY CHRISTIANIZING OF SCOTLAND, 101 (Bibliographic reference). SAB985.
MOW, 1961, A M'S SCOT, 13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1166.
HISTORIC SCOTLAND, 2005, RESEARCHING YOUR GRAVEYARD, P.12, ILL5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4345.
Apr 9 2018 , AAS-GR-18-04-047 - 055, AAS-GR-18-04-047 - 055 (Ground Photograph). SAB35455.
Apr 24 2019 , AAS-GR-19-05-126 - 134, AAS-GR-19-05-126 - 134 (Ground Photograph). SAB35474.
Aug 17 1978 , AAS/78/06/S8/5-7, AAS/78/06/S8/5-7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13743.
Aug 17 1978 , AAS/78/6/CT14,48, AAS/78/6/CT14,48 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18799.
Jan 1 1976 , AAS/GR/76/CT150, 155, AAS/GR/76/CT150, 155 (Ground Photograph). SAB32452.
Jan 1 1992 , AAS/GR/92/CT69-74,76, AAS/GR/92/CT69-74,76 (Ground Photograph). SAB32857.
Jul 12 2010 , AAS/10/3/DG1990-2, AAS/10/3/DG1990-2 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13116.
Jul 12 2010 , AAS/10/3/DG1995-8, AAS/10/3/DG1995-8 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13117.
ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL, n.d., ABERDEENSHIRE'S HISTORIC KIRKYARDS: FORDYCE OLD KIRK AND KIRKYARD, Leaflet (Bibliographic reference). SAB5529.
Sep 23 1997 , AAS/97/11/CT103-104, AAS/97/11/CT103-104 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB34056.
Sep 23 1997 , AAS/97/11/CT98-101, AAS/97/11/CT98-101 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16791.
Sep 23 1997 , AAS/97/11/G22/3-5, AAS/97/11/G22/3-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16792.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HAMP Asset: HA0206;
- HAMP Asset: HA0207;
- HAMP Asset: HA0209;
- HAMP Asset: HA5507;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 352;
- Local Government Guardianship;
- NMR Card Number: NJ56SE1;
- NRHE Numlink: 17970;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ56SE0001;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM352 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/17970 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (19)
- --- SAB1166 Bibliographic reference: MOW. 1961. A M'S SCOT. 13.
- --- SAB13116 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 12 2010 . AAS/10/3/DG1990-2. Digital. AAS/10/3/DG1990-2.
- --- SAB13117 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 12 2010 . AAS/10/3/DG1995-8. Digital. AAS/10/3/DG1995-8.
- --- SAB13743 Air-oblique Photograph: Aug 17 1978 . AAS/78/06/S8/5-7. Black & White. AAS/78/06/S8/5-7.
- --- SAB16791 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 23 1997 . AAS/97/11/CT98-101. Colour Negative. AAS/97/11/CT98-101.
- --- SAB16792 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 23 1997 . AAS/97/11/G22/3-5. Black & White. AAS/97/11/G22/3-5.
- --- SAB1845 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. 1799. OLD STATISTICAL ACCOUNT. No3, 63.
- --- SAB18799 Air-oblique Photograph: Aug 17 1978 . AAS/78/6/CT14,48. Colour Transparency. AAS/78/6/CT14,48.
- --- SAB315 Bibliographic reference: COLES, FR. 1906. PSAS 40(1905-6) 318-20. 320.
- --- SAB32452 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1976 . AAS/GR/76/CT150, 155. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/76/CT150, 155.
- --- SAB325 Bibliographic reference: CRAMOND, W. 1912. CHURCH OF FORDYCE.
- --- SAB32857 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1992 . AAS/GR/92/CT69-74,76. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/92/CT69-74,76.
- --- SAB34056 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 23 1997 . AAS/97/11/CT103-104. Colour Transparency. AAS/97/11/CT103-104.
- --- SAB35455 Ground Photograph: Apr 9 2018 . AAS-GR-18-04-047 - 055. Digital. AAS-GR-18-04-047 - 055.
- --- SAB35474 Ground Photograph: Apr 24 2019 . AAS-GR-19-05-126 - 134. Digital. AAS-GR-19-05-126 - 134.
- --- SAB4345 Bibliographic reference: HISTORIC SCOTLAND. 2005. RESEARCHING YOUR GRAVEYARD. P.12, ILL5.
- --- SAB5529 Bibliographic reference: ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL. n.d.. ABERDEENSHIRE'S HISTORIC KIRKYARDS: FORDYCE OLD KIRK AND KIRKYARD. Leaflet.
- --- SAB889 Bibliographic reference: JERVISE, A. 1879. EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2. N. 100-7,422-3.
- --- SAB985 Bibliographic reference: KNIGHT, GAF. 1933. ARCHAEOLOGICAL LIGHT ON THE EARLY CHRISTIANIZING OF SCOTLAND. 101.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Jul 24 2025 10:46AM
