Building record MAB38122 - INVERKEILOR PARISH CHURCH

Church and graveyard, still in ecclesiastical use.

The church was probably built in 1735, and originally dedicated to St. Macconoc or St. Conan. It was remodelled, heightened, and extended in 1862, and there may have been an aisle added to the rear prior to this. The church bears the dates 1799 and 1862.

It is shown on the 1st edition OS map as a T-plan building with a vault on the east end. It is set within an irregular enclosed graveyard, and there is a rectangular building to the north-west. On the 2nd edition OS map the rectangular building is no longer depicted, and the graveyard has been extended to the north-east. Current maps depict a rectangular building to the north-west, on the site of the one shown on the 1st edition OS map.

The church was originally a long narrow building circa 79 feet by 20 feet (24 metres by 6 metres). The T-plan was created by the Anniston Aisle, measuring 26 feet (8 metres) each way. It is constructed from rubble and has a slate roof. The burial vault on the east end of the church is the Northesk Aisle. It is roofless, and measures 23 feet by 20 feet (7 meters by 6 metres), and is 10 feet (3 metres) high. It has two moulded windows to the south front with armorial stones over, one dated 1635. It has a slated entry from the church.

Historical sources give differing construction dates for the church. The New Statistical Account (1845) and Warden (1882) place its origins in the 17th Century, noting that the Anniston Aisle was added in circa 1735. The 1958 Ordnance Survey record on Trove suggests the building is unlikely to pre‑date the 18th Century, while Historic Environment Scotland also records 1735 as the build date. A carved loft front dated 1635 provides earlier physical evidence. The Anniston Aisle was likely added before the church was remodelled, heightened, and extended in 1862.

Within the church is a World War II memorial board and memorial stone tablet, and a First World War Roll of Honour, which was originally in Lunan Parish Church (MAB38901). There are two mural monuments on the rectangular building to the north-west. There is the Rait mural monument, which is a classic V-jointed ashlar Mid-19th Century monument with a recession containing a marble sculpture. The other is the Carnegie mural monument, which is also a classic V-jointed Mid-19th Century monument, containing elliptical-headed recessions.

Beside a burial aisle in the south-west corner of the graveyard is a socket stone. The graveyard also includes a war memorial (MAB38141), the war grave of Private George Orrock, one of those commemorated on the St. Vigeans War Memorial (MAB38404), and the Commonwealth war graves of Petty Officer Stoker Alexzander Forbes (Royal Navy) and Private James Taylor (Home Guard). The grave of Private Orrock had been unmarked, but a new gravestone was erected in February 2016 following a request to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Private Orrock's name was also added to the Scottish National War Memorial in 2016 (SAB4000).

NSA, 1845, [Untitled], Vol.11 (Forfar), 243 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6297.

Warden, A J, 1880-5, [Untitled], Vol.3, 425-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10181.

Hay, G, 1957, [Untitled], 20, 191, 245 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11885.

Cowan, I B, 1967, Scot Rec Soc 93, 88-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11665.

RCAHMS, 1978, [Untitled], 28, No.226 (Bibliographic reference). SAB7652.

BORELAND, FRASER AND SHERRIFF, J, I, J, 2007, EIGHT SOCKET STONES FROM EASTERN SCOTLAND., pp.103-104 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3796.

Author unknown, n.d., THE COURIER, 06/04/16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4000.

Record last edited

Jun 18 2026 2:31PM