Building record MAB38122 - INVERKEILOR PARISH CHURCH

Church and graveyard, still in ecclesiastical use.

Church and graveyard, still in ecclesiastical use. It was probably built in 1735 and originally dedicated to St Macconoc or Conan. It was remodelled, heightened and extended in 1862, and there may be 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. It 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. 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 (NO65SE0011). 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 (NO64NE0076), the war grave of Private George Orrock, one of those commemorated on the St Vigeans War Memorial (NO64SW0208), and the Commonwealth war graves of Petty Officer Stoker Alexzander Forbes (Royal Navy) and Private James Taylor, Home Guard.

Period Notes
There is variation on the build date given. NSA and Warden (1845 and 1882) give the church a 17th century date and give circa 1735 as the date that the Anniston Aisle was added. The OS record on CANMORE from 1958 say it does not appear to be earlier than the 18th century, and HES give 1735 as the build date. There is a cared loft front dated 1635. The Annistone Aisle was added, probably before it was remodelled, heightened and extended in 1862. The church was listed on 11/06/1971, and the Carnegie and Rait mural monuments were listed on 15/01/1980.

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

Sep 22 2025 3:54PM