Building record MAB29063 - ST TERNAN'S, KIRKTON OF SLAINS, COLLIESTON

Former Parish Church of Slains and associated graveyard, site of a manse, and remains of an earlier chapel dedicated to St.

Former Parish Church of Slains and associated graveyard, site of a manse, and remains of an earlier chapel dedicated to St. Ternan. All that now remains of the earlier chapel is the 'Errol's Aisle', a roofless enclosure bounded on three sides by a wall and on the north side by an iron paling. In the south wall is a double window and on the west side a doorway which, according to Murray was said by W. Kirk of Aberdeen University, to be similar to the doorway to Forvie kirk which is probably 12th Century in date. It is probable that the Errol's Aisle was originally a roofed burial place or private chapel attached to the south wall of a former chapel. The later church was built in 1806. It is a rectangular plan building oriented east-west, built of granite, with a double-pitched roof. West gable features a wide round-arched doorway and birdcage bellcote enclosing a bell of 17th or 18th Century date. Harled with margins. It was renovated in 1882. Inside, the pulpit and sanctuary are at the east end with a small gallery at the west end. Within the church is a memorial to the crew of the Fair Wind, lost at sea 1888. The burial ground is still in use - see NK02NW0055 for war memorial in the churchyard. The graveyard includes the grave of the smuggler Philip Kennedy who died in 1798. The OS 1st edition map shows a T-plan manse, southeast of the church, with garden area to the south, containing at its southeast corner St Ternan's Well (NK02NW0030). The manse had been removed by the time of the 2nd edition map, and the site of the manse and garden is now part of the burial ground. It contains the Commonwealth war grave of Private M. Thompson, Gordon Highlanders, who died 8 February 1920.

Period Notes
Built 1806; interior recast 1882 and 1927; Erroll Aisle c.1559.

Author unknown, 1799, OLD STATISTICAL ACCOUNT, VOL V, 284 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1845.

JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 245-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.

SCOTT, H, 1950, FASTI ECCLES SCOT, 209 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1806.

HAY, G., 1957, THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES, 244 (Bibliographic reference). SAB720.

ANGELA DOW ARCHITECT, 2021, FABRIC CONDITION SURVEY: SLAINS KIRK, COLLIESTON (Bibliographic reference). SAB8731.

Feb 14 2024 , PUB-GR-24-02-010, 011, PUB-GR-24-02-010, 011 (Ground Photograph). SAB36678.

Feb 16 2008 , DG8758, DG8758 (Ground Photograph). SAB19222.

Nov 24 1994 , AAS/94/18/G38/5,16-19, AAS/94/18/G38/5,16-19 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15627.

Record last edited

May 7 2025 2:01PM