Building record MAB41117 - ST LAWRENCE'S CHURCH, LAURENCEKIRK

Please read our guidance about the use of Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Record data.

Summary

Church, built on site of earlier church, surrounded by associated graveyard.

Protected Status/Designation

Listed Building (B) 37229

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Map layers

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Location

Grid reference	Centred NO 7180 7161 (68m by 78m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent
Map sheet	NO77SW
Authority	Aberdeenshire
Civil Parish	Laurencekirk

Type and Period (6)

Full Description

Church, built on site of earlier church, surrounded by associated graveyard. In the 7th Century AD, a church dedicated to St Lawrence was said to have stood about a mile to the east of the village. Queen Margaret made a pilgrimage to it between 1073-93. In the 13th Century, it was a Rectory belonging to St Andrews and was dedicated to Bishop David in 1244. No trace of this earlier church has been found. It is said that when the present church was erected in 1804, it took the place of an earlier one built in 1626 and that, when the older one was being taken down, a stone was found on which 'the figure of a man lying on a grid-iron was carved, representing, it was supposed, the martyrdom of St Lawrence'. This stone, which has been lost, may have been a Pictish monument. Some of the stones from the earlier church were inserted in the walls of the new church. The present church, still in use, was restored in 1895. In the northwest corner of the church, adjacent to the pulpit is a stained glass window, dedicated 17 May 1922, commemorating members of the congregation, and adherents, who died in World War 1.

Period Notes
Present church built 1804 on site of an early medieval church; enlarged in 1819, alterations and repairs 4 February 1863; restored in 1895 when bell tower was erected.

JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 304 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.

FRASER, G. M., 1880, A HISTORY OF THE PARISH AND BURGH OF LAURENCEKIRK, 211-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB519.

CHRISTISON, D, 1902, THE CARVINGS AND INSCRIPTIONS ON THE KIRKYARD MONUMENTS OF THE SCOTTISH LOWLANDS; IN PSAS 36 (1901-2), 280-463, pp.317-323 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6696.

COWAN, IB, 1967, THE PARISHES OF MED SCOT, 35 (Bibliographic reference). SAB242.

Author unknown, n.d., KINCARDINESHIRE OBSERVER, 27/02/2015 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1027.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, (1843) 128 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

RCAHMS, n.d., S KINC LIST, No218 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1512.

Other Statuses/References

Authority: ASH;
HAMP Asset: HA0111;
HES Listed Building Number: 37229;
Local Government Guardianship;
NMR Card Number: NO77SW16;
NRHE Numlink: 36525;
Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO77SW0012;

External Links (2)

https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB37229 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
https://www.trove.scot/place/36525 (trove.scot link)

Sources/Archives (7)

--- SAB1027 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. KINCARDINESHIRE OBSERVER. 27/02/2015.
--- SAB1269 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. NSA. (1843) 128.
--- SAB1512 Bibliographic reference: RCAHMS. n.d.. S KINC LIST. No218.
--- SAB242 Bibliographic reference: COWAN, IB. 1967. THE PARISHES OF MED SCOT. 35.
--- SAB519 Bibliographic reference: FRASER, G. M.. 1880. A HISTORY OF THE PARISH AND BURGH OF LAURENCEKIRK. 211-4.
--- SAB6696 Bibliographic reference: CHRISTISON, D. 1902. THE CARVINGS AND INSCRIPTIONS ON THE KIRKYARD MONUMENTS OF THE SCOTTISH LOWLANDS; IN PSAS 36 (1901-2), 280-463. pp.317-323.
--- SAB889 Bibliographic reference: JERVISE, A. 1879. EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2. N. 304.