Building record MAB19869 - ST DONAN'S, AUCHTERLESS PARISH CHURCH
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Summary
Parish church, remains of the former parish church, and an associated graveyard.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (B) 3045: Old Parish Church of Auchterless (St. Donan)
- Listed Building (C) 3020: Auchterless churchyard
- Listed Building (C) 3044: Auchterless Parish Church
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 7137 4161 (119m by 113m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ74SW |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Auchterless |
Type and Period (8)
- PARISH CHURCH (16th Century to 19th Century - 1560 AD (post) to 1879 AD)
- COMMEMORATIVE MONUMENT (18th Century - 1735 AD to 1735 AD)
- PARISH CHURCH (19th Century - 1877 AD to 1896 AD)
- CHURCHYARD (17th Century to Modern - 1600 AD to 2050 AD)
- MAUSOLEUM (19th Century - 1877 AD? to 1877 AD?)
- COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVE (World War 2 - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
- COAT OF ARMS (19th Century - 1877 AD? to 1877 AD?)
- COMMEMORATIVE MONUMENT (18th Century - 1763 AD to 1763 AD)
Full Description
Parish church, remains of the former parish church, and an associated graveyard. The old church of Auchterless, dedicated to St. Donan, is located within a large graveyard (at NJ 81397 41631) a short distance to the north of the later and current parish church (at NJ 71368 41581).
The earlier parish church was built after 1560, ruinous by 1780, and repaired and extended in 1832. The aisle was added in 1835. Further alterations occurred in 1864. It is shown on the OS 1st edition map: it was replaced with the large parish church in 1879. An older church stood on the site, as shown by burial monuments/memorial tablets dated to 1735 and 1763. The church was built in granite rubble with ashlar corner stones (quoins). Only the west gable is complete, with a small stretch of the north and east walls. The gable has a wide rectangular doorway with a relieving arch above. Inserted above the door at gallery level is a round-arched window. Mounted on the gable is an elaborate birdcage bellcote with ashlar uprights, small pinnacles, a larger central ball finial, and a Jansen bell dated 1644.
The present parish church was designed by William and John Smith between 1877-1879, the spire was completed by A. H. L. Mackinnon in 1896. It is a large Gothic church of pinned rubble with red sandstone dressings, with a large hall and transepts to the east. The west window has plate tracery. The interior has a west gallery, a hammerbeam roof, and slim iron columns at the transepts. On the tower wall is an early 18th Century tablet to Alex Ross, Minister of Auchterless, a grotesque head, and a heart shaped sundial, presumably from the previous church.
The oldest part of the churchyard is rubble walled, the later part railed with red ashlar piers, probably by Smith 1877. The gravestones are mostly modern but with a considerable number dating from the late-17th Century onward, many are now turfed over. The burial ground contains the Commonwealth war grave of Flying Officer Herbert Stephen, RAF Volunteer Reserve.
To the north of the ruined church stands the Duff of Hatton Mausoleum, built in circa 1877. It is a small rectangular gabled building with pediment gables, urn pinnacles, varied finials (some of earlier date), a marble coat of arms over the door, and a round stained-glass window.
Author unknown, 1799, OLD STATISTICAL ACCOUNT, VOL 12, 307 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1845.
HAY, G., 1957, THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES, 242 (Bibliographic reference). SAB720.
EELES, FC, 1957, THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE PSAS 90 (1956-7) 130-60, p.135 (Bibliographic reference). SAB490.
Aug 19 2022 , ABS-GR-22-08-026 - 039, ABS-GR-22-08-026 - 039 (Ground Photograph). SAB36371.
Feb 27 2017 , ABS-GR-17-02-001, ABS-GR-17-02-001 (Ground Photograph). SAB32408.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, AUCHTERLESS 2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
Author unknown, n.d., NSA, VOL 12, 288 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HAMP Asset: HA0039;
- HAMP Asset: HA0049;
- HAMP Asset: HA0172;
- Local Government Guardianship;
- NMR Card Number: NJ74SW31;
- NRHE Numlink: 19219;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ74SW0032;
External Links (4)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB3020 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB3044 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB3045 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/19219 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (7)
- --- SAB1269 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. NSA. VOL 12, 288.
- --- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. AUCHTERLESS 2.
- --- SAB1845 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. 1799. OLD STATISTICAL ACCOUNT. VOL 12, 307.
- --- SAB32408 Ground Photograph: Feb 27 2017 . ABS-GR-17-02-001. Digital. ABS-GR-17-02-001.
- --- SAB36371 Ground Photograph: Aug 19 2022 . ABS-GR-22-08-026 - 039. Digital. ABS-GR-22-08-026 - 039.
- --- SAB490 Bibliographic reference: EELES, FC. 1957. THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE PSAS 90 (1956-7) 130-60. Y. p.135.
- --- SAB720 Bibliographic reference: HAY, G.. 1957. THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES. N. N. 242.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Jul 28 2026 11:01AM
