Building record MAB17883 - ST NIDAN'S CHURCH, MIDMAR

Remains of the old church of Midmar, called the church of St Nidan or St Nidian's, and is also known as Midmar Old Kirk, lies slightly to the east of the Motte at Cunningar (NJ70NW0009).

Remains of the old church of Midmar, called the church of St Nidan or St Nidian's, and is also known as Midmar Old Kirk, lies slightly to the east of the Motte at Cunningar (NJ70NW0009). It bears the date 1667 on a lintel but incorporates older material. Simpson dates it to the 12th-13th Centuries. It appears that the church may have originally been a pendicle of the Church of Kincardine O'Neil, or was granted to the hospital there between 1233/4 and 1274. Its fortunes were therefore linked to it. An attempt was made in 1501 to unite the 'fruits of the living' from the Kincardine O'Neil church to the Chapel Royal at Stirling, but this appeared to be unsuccessful. The present ruined St Nidan's was in use from the mid 17th century until 1787, when a new church was erected to the north. The walls, of granite rubble with some coarsely squared blocks, are still intact but it is roofless. The southeast wall contains a large four light mullioned and transomed window. There is a plain rectangular bellcote base at the apex of the northwest gable. There is a good collection of gravestones from the 16th Century onwards, including that of George Bell, master mason of Midmar and Craigievar castles. The inscription on his gravestone reads: 'Heir lyis Georg Bel deceisit in Balogy' (thought to be the old name for Midmar Castle).

Period Notes
Built 1677; lintel dated 1667; internal plan changed c.1730; closed 1787.

GR/99/CT318-319, GR/99/CT318-319 (Ground Photograph). SAB37030.

SIMPSON, WD, 1929, PSAS 63(1928-9) 102-37, 111 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1654.

SHEPHERD, IAG, 1988, THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY SUMMER CONFERENCE 1988: ABERDEEN AND NORTH EAST SCOTLAND, 18 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1744.

HISTORIC SCOTLAND, 2002, MIDMAR CHURCH, SETTLEMENT AND (CUNNINGAR) MOTTE: ARCHITECTS REPORT, Architect's report (Bibliographic reference). SAB4409.

HUNTER, L., 2003, CONDITION REPORT, REPAIR PROPOSALS MIDMAR OLD KIRK (Bibliographic reference). SAB2692.

Feb 10 2011 , AAS/2011/1/DG3181, AAS/2011/1/DG3181 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13271.

Jan 28 1997 , AAS/97/02/CT20, 22-3, 33, AAS/97/02/CT20, 22-3, 33 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16606.

Jan 28 1997 , AAS/97/02/G3/21,22, AAS/97/02/G3/21,22 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16605.

Jul 6 2006 , AAS-GR-06-07-081 - 090, AAS-GR-06-07-081 - 090 (Ground Photograph). SAB35739.

Jul 29 1975 , BVI 045/6, BVI 045/6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14028.

Mar 11 1996 , AAS/GR/96/CT08-09,12-15, AAS/GR/96/CT08-09,12-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB32961.

Mar 11 1996 , CNS 0-2,4-5,7, CNS 0-2,4-5,7 (Ground Photograph). SAB16293.

May 11 2005 , GR/05/CT44, GR/05/CT44 (Ground Photograph). SAB18265.

ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL, n.d., ABERDEENSHIRE'S HISTORIC KIRKYARDS: MIDMAR OLD KIRK, MIDMAR, Leaflet (Bibliographic reference). SAB5527.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, MIDMAR 16,17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Record last edited

Mar 13 2025 10:06AM