Building record MAB14785 - ST JOHN'S CHURCH, DESKFORD

Remains of a church, sacrament house and tower.

Remains of a church, sacrament house and tower. St John's Church was first mentioned in 1541 as a chapel at which time it was partly rebuilt, and it was described as a church in 1545. It was unroofed in 1872 when a new parish church was built. The church is rectangular in plan, measuring 20 m by 7.7 m and is oriented to the east with the entrance in the centre of the west gable. There are further entrances and windows in the south elevation, some from the 17th or early 18th century. The walls are surviving to their full height and the west gable is topped by a crude open bellcote at the west gable. It used to have an outside stair at each end leading to the gallery, of which there is now no trace. It possesses a rich and finely carved late Gothic sacrament house at the east end of the north wall added in 1551, presented by Alexander Ogilvie and his wife. It is considered one of the best examples of its kind in Scotland. It bears the arms of Alexander Ogilvie and Elizabeth Gordon with the inscription 'This pnt (present) lovable vark (work) of sacrement hous maid to honor and loving of God be ane noble man Alexander Ogilvie of that IIk and Elizabeth Gordon his spovs the year of God 1551'. Immediately below the aumbry the text, in Latin, from St John vi 'I am the living bread which came from heaven; whoever eateth of this bread shall live for ever'. This small aumbry or recess, used for the reservation of the consecrated elements of the mass, is decorated with two angels holding a monstrance, a running vine and side pinnacles. It is unusual in the northeast in that the inscription is in English rather than Latin. A well dedicated to St John was near the church, but there no trace of it now. The Defence of Britain Project has also recorded one commonwealth war grave in the old Deskford Churchyard, for Flying Officer John Cruickshank (d.1944). To the north of the church are the remains of the Tower of Deskford. In 1790 the 'Tower of Deskford' was reported to have been 'a pretty spacious sort of building' and to have been constructed by the Sinclair family who preceded the Ogilvies as the Lords of Deskford. It seems to have been attached to the north wall of the church but the part abutting the church has been cut away, probably in 1872. All that remains are two fragments of walling constructed of coursed rubble, in which can be seen a doorway, traces of barrel vaulting of a basement, and a newel stair in southwest corner. They may be the remains of an angle turret of a more substantial structure, possibly the courtyard mentioned in the 1790s. The Tower of Deskford is in the garden of Muckle Hoose (NJ56SW0002), and the house may have been a portion of a later edition to the tower.

Period Notes
Medieval ruins first mentioned 1541 and partially rebuilt at that time. The Sacrament House was built in 1551. The church was unroofed in 1872 when a new parish church was built. Designated on 22/02/1972.

ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No11(1866) 59 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.

MITCHELL, A, 1872, PSAS 9(1870-72) 568-87, 423-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1182.

JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 153-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.

MACPHERSON, A, 1891, PSAS 26(1890-1) 89-117, 109-13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1183.

MACGIBBON, T, 1896, ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND 1, 406 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1141.

HOWAT, AJ, 1901, CHURCHES IN MORAY, 15 (Bibliographic reference). SAB729.

CLARKE, JGD, 1928, PPS (1927-8), 49, 59-60, 73-92 (Bibliographic reference). SAB333.

MOW, 1961, A M'S SCOT, 82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1166.

MOW, 1962, A.M'S SCOT., 13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1204.

CFA ARCHAEOLOGY, 2024, MORAY WESY OFFSHORE WINDFARM ONSHORE CABLE ROUTE, MORAY AND ABERDEENSHIRE: ARCHIVE REPORT, p.123 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8948.

Jul 2 2015 , AAS-GR-15-07-121, 122, AAS-GR-15-07-121, 122 (Ground Photograph). SAB35900.

Jul 2 2015 , AAS-GR-15-07-321 - 539, AAS-GR-15-07-321 - 539 (Ground Photograph). SAB35899.

Jul 2 2015 , AAS-GR-15-07-688 - 696, AAS-GR-15-07-688 - 696 (Ground Photograph). SAB35936.

Jun 9 2008 , Untitled Source (Ground Photograph). SAB32196.

May 20 1986 , FT 15-8, FT 15-8 (Ground Photograph). SAB31055.

Record last edited

Mar 1 2024 10:28AM