Building record MAB30031 - ST ETHERNAN'S CHURCH, RATHEN
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Summary
Remains of a church and graveyard, and the site of earlier churches.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (C) 16140
- Scheduled Monument 5810
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NK 0011 6095 (42m by 45m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NK06SW |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Rathen |
Type and Period (7)
- CHURCH (Early Medieval to 19th Century - 400 AD to 1899 AD)
- WELL (Early Medieval to 19th Century - 400 AD to 1899 AD)
- CHURCH (Early Medieval to 19th Century - 400 AD to 1899 AD)
- SUNDIAL (Early Medieval to 19th Century - 400 AD to 1899 AD)
- PISCINA (Early Medieval to 19th Century - 400 AD to 1899 AD)
- CHURCHYARD (Early Medieval to 19th Century - 400 AD to 1899 AD)
- Graveyard (Early Medieval to 19th Century - 400 AD to 1899 AD)
Full Description
Remains of a church and graveyard, and the site of earlier churches. The earliest church is said to have been consecrated by St Ethernan or Eddran in the 6th Century AD and was subsequently dedicated to him. Another church was built on the site in the 12-13th Century AD, but nothing now remains of this church. Today, the remains of a church probably dating to the 17th Century can seen within the graveyard. The now roofless church is no longer in use, but the graveyard continues to be used. The entrance to the graveyard dates to the 18th Century entrance. The 17th Century church was built on a T-plan. The south wall of the nave and the west gable with aisle on the south are all that now survive. The south gable, which is crow-stepped, has a well-moulded window with a straight lintel and a lozenge-shaped sundial dated 1625 above it. In the east wall is an aumbry with an ogee arch, and alongside it what was probably a piscina. On the west gable of the church is a bellcote dated 1782 and inscribed 'L.A.S' for the Saltoun family. The upper upper part of the church was probably largely rebuilt at this time. On the south aisle is a 1646 datestone along with three other carved stone panels over the doorway which may all be later additions to an earlier part of the building. The great great-grandparents of Edvard Grieg, the composer, are buried here (John Greig and Anne Mine). It is said that a well dedicated St Ethernan once stood near the church, but the exact location is now lost.
Period Notes
Said to have been consecrated in the 6thC. Recorded in 1207, 1228; mentioned in 1328, 1520; datestone of 1643 and 1782. Wall sundial dates 1625. 18thC red stone gate piers. Abandoned for new parish church in 1868.
JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, pp. 57-63 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.
MACGIBBON, T, 1896, ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND 1, 604-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1141.
SCOTT, H., 1915-2000, FASTI ECCLESIAE SCOTICANAE, 238 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1621.
HAY, G., 1957, THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES, 169 (Bibliographic reference). SAB720.
EELES, F. C., 1958, THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE, PSAS 91(1957-8) 84-111, 100 (Bibliographic reference). SAB443.
Aug 30 1993 , LO 16-18, LO 16-18 (Ground Photograph). SAB33899.
Jan 1 1997 , AAS/GR/97/CT181-194, AAS/GR/97/CT181-194 (Ground Photograph). SAB33036.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, RATHEN 2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HAMP Asset: HA0346;
- HAMP Asset: HA0347;
- HES Listed Building Number: 16140;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 5810;
- Local Government Guardianship;
- NMR Card Number: NK06SW5;
- NRHE Numlink: 21144;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NK06SW0031;
External Links (3)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB16140 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM5810 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/21144 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (8)
- --- SAB1141 Bibliographic reference: MACGIBBON, T. 1896. ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND 1. N. Y. 604-6.
- --- SAB1621 Bibliographic reference: SCOTT, H.. 1915-2000. FASTI ECCLESIAE SCOTICANAE. Y. 238.
- --- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. RATHEN 2.
- --- SAB33036 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1997 . AAS/GR/97/CT181-194. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/97/CT181-194.
- --- SAB33899 Ground Photograph: Aug 30 1993 . LO 16-18. Black & White. LO 16-18.
- --- SAB443 Bibliographic reference: EELES, F. C.. 1958. THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE, PSAS 91(1957-8) 84-111. Y. 100.
- --- SAB720 Bibliographic reference: HAY, G.. 1957. THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES. N. N. 169.
- --- SAB889 Bibliographic reference: JERVISE, A. 1879. EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2. N. pp. 57-63.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Aug 30 2024 3:40PM
