Building record MAB28826 - OLD PITSLIGO CHURCH / PEATHILL KIRK

Remains of old church of Pitsligo, also known as Peathill, and associated graveyard.

Remains of old church of Pitsligo, also known as Peathill, and associated graveyard. The church was built in the first half of the 17th Century, and is a simple harled rubble building with red stone dressings and sculptured work in grey freestone. The South aisle has a basement burial vault of the Forbes of Pitsligo and a segmental arch opening to church which formerly contained the Pitsligo Pew. Now housed in the present Pitsligo church (NJ96NW0027), the pew is considered to be one of the finest surviving examples of 17th Century woodcarving. A gothic window survives in the south gable, but the north and east walls of the church have been reduced to sill level. Bellcote on west wall is of outstanding interest, with cusped segmental openings flanked by Corinthian columns, a pyramid top with semi-circular pediments and angle pinnacles. The stonework for the belfry is said to have been imported from Holland, but this seems unlikely. In the interior of the church, the stone stairs to the east and west lofts survive, but it is otherwise gutted. The Parish of Pitsligo became disjoined from Aberdour in 1632. The churchyard walls are rubble built with an old coped wall. There are a number of interesting burial monuments from as early as 1636, including the burial place of Rev. John Mercer, the father of the founder of Princeton University.

Period Notes
Built 1632; replaced by present church in 1890; unroofed c1959.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 06/07/1934 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 28/04/2001, P 13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

THE SCOTSMAN, 0000, THE SCOTSMAN, 04/06/2001 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1819.

PRATT, J. B., 1858, BUCHAN: A TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION, 296 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1410.

JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 396-404 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.

MACGIBBON, T, 1896, ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND 1, No5(1892) 178-80 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1141.

MOIR, J, 1897, A NEW HISTORY OF BUCHAN FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES, 454 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1179.

HAY, G., 1957, THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES, 54,168,191,193,198 (Bibliographic reference). SAB720.

EELES, F. C., 1958, THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE, PSAS 91(1957-8) 84-111, P.99 (Bibliographic reference). SAB443.

MOW, 1961, A M'S SCOT, 8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1166.

McLEMAN, J.M., 1997, PEATHILL KIRKS. THE PARISH OF PITSLIGO, 5-34 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2831.

HISTORIC SCOTLAND, 2001, HISTORIC SCOTLAND CONSERVATION CENTRE SURVEY OF PITSLIGO CHURCH BELLCOTE, Condition report (Bibliographic reference). SAB4410.

Aug 31 1999 , GR/99/CT198, 314, GR/99/CT198, 314 (Ground Photograph). SAB37019.

Feb 15 2000 , AAS/00/04/CT77-81, AAS/00/04/CT77-81 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12644.

Feb 15 2000 , AAS/00/04/G14/3,4, AAS/00/04/G14/3,4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12643.

Jan 1 1988 , AAS/GR/88/CT380-385, AAS/GR/88/CT380-385 (Ground Photograph). SAB32724.

Jan 1 1996 , AAS/GR/96/CT248-249, AAS/GR/96/CT248-249 (Ground Photograph). SAB32993.

Mar 2 2004 , AAS-GR-04-03-004 - 007, AAS-GR-04-03-004 - 007 (Ground Photograph). SAB35697.

ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL, n.d., ABERDEENSHIRE'S HISTORIC KIRKYARDS: PITSLIGO PARISH KIRKYARD, PEATHILL, ROSEHEARTY, Leaflet (Bibliographic reference). SAB5525.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, PITSLIGO 1,2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Sep 15 1988 , HU 1-3, 17-36, HU 1-3, 17-36 (Ground Photograph). SAB14876.

Sep 15 1988 , HV 1-14, HV 1-14 (Ground Photograph). SAB33561.

Record last edited

Aug 6 2025 3:37PM