Building record MAB20281 - ST JOHN'S CHURCH, GARDENSTOWN (GAMRIE)

Remains of the former parish church and associated graveyard.

Remains of the former parish church and associated graveyard. The church was dedicated to St John the Evangelist, and is said to have been founded in the 11th century. The present church has been built in two periods at least, the east end probably early 16th century and the rest 17th century. It measures 28.75 m long (longer than most churches of the time) by 4.72 m wide and rubble built. The wall and gable remain to roof height. There is an ambry in east wall and a 16th century memorial tablet to Barclay of Tolly. There are 17th century onwards monuments in churchyard and fell in to ruin in the mid 19th century when the new parish church built in 1830. It was repointed in 1961. In 1832 a visitor recorded 'I have seen the Norsemen's skulls grinning horrid and hollow in the wall where they have been fixed directly east of the pulpit.'. These skulls are thought to have belonged to Danes killed in the Battle of Bloody Pits in 1004 AD, which was thought to have been fought at nearby Longmanhill and Bloodymire Farm. A geophysical survey was carried out by Rose Geophysical Consultants in June 2017 within the church and graveyard. While no clear features were identified, discrete responses were identified within the church. Some rectilinear responses suggesting possible structural remains were also noted. A Standing Building Survey was carried out in May-July 2017 by Murray Archaeological Services. Local tradition dates the church to 1004, but there is no documentary evidence of its existence until the late 12th century. A recess at the east end of the north wall is tentatively identified as a piscina, and a recess beside the door in the south wall may have held a water stoup. The building was later extended to its current length, comparable to other churches in the region that were extended in the late medieval or post-medieval period. After the Reformation, it is probable that new doorways were made in the gables and a belfy added. Site visit in 2022 as part of the SCAPE Coastal Zone Assessment Survey noted impact of slope instability.

Period Notes
Said to have first been built in 1004; used till another parish church built in 1830; repointed 1961.

AAS/GR/XX/CT12-14, AAS/GR/XX/CT12-14 (Ground Photograph). SAB33157.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL VI(1928) 219-20 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

Author unknown, 1799, OLD STATISTICAL ACCOUNT, (1791) 469 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1845.

JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 85 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.

MACGIBBON, T, 1896, ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND 1, VOL 3(1897) 567-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1141.

HAY, G., 1957, THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES, 14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB720.

MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP, 2003, NEWSLETTER, Issue 3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5098.

ROSE GEOPHYSICAL CONSULTANTS, 2017, GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY REPORT: ST JOHN'S CHURCH, GAMRIE, GARDENSTOWN, Survey (Bibliographic reference). SAB3128.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2017, ST JOHN'S CHURCH, GAMRIE, GARDENSTOWN, ABERDEENSHIRE: STANDING BUILDING RECORDING, SBS (Bibliographic reference). SAB7415.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2018, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, VOLUME 18, 2017, pp.17-18 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6463.

SCAPE, 2023, COASTAL ZONE ASSESSMENT SURVEY ABERDEENSHIRE AND CITY OF ABERDEEN: CULLEN TO MILTON NESS, ID 14562 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4866.

Feb 28 2016 , AAS-GR-16-02-005 - 014, AAS-GR-16-02-005 - 014 (Ground Photograph). SAB35467.

Jan 1 1998 , AAS/GR/98/CT358-361, AAS/GR/98/CT358-361 (Ground Photograph). SAB33095.

Jul 28 2015 , HAMP-GR-15-07-200 -317, HAMP-GR-15-07-200 -317 (Ground Photograph). SAB34507.

Jul 29 2015 , HAMP-GR-15-07-318 - 352, HAMP-GR-15-07-318 - 352 (Ground Photograph). SAB34508.

Jul 30 2010 , DG2125,2128, DG2125,2128 (Ground Photograph). SAB20720.

Jul 30 2010 , DG2130-57, DG2130-57 (Ground Photograph). SAB20721.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, GAMRIE 5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Record last edited

Sep 4 2025 3:31PM