Building record MAB41515 - EAST CHURCH, BANCHORY

Parish church, built 1825, replacing earlier churches on the site.

Parish church, built 1825, replacing earlier churches on the site. It was the original parish church in Banchory before West Church was built on the High Street in the 19th century. A church was built on the site in 1664 but was replaced when it became too small for the growing community. The bell from this original church now hangs in the former watch house in the burial ground (NO79NW0016) which lies across the road and down the embankment to the south of the church. A replacement church opened in 1775, but also became too small. The present church was built in 1824-5 reusing much of the stonework from the 18th century building. There were further alterations and additions 1930, and insertion of stained glass in 1971. It is of Gothic style, built of coursed granite blocks with a slate roof. The principal, south, elevation has an attached square battlemented belltower and pinnacled gable. The St Ternan bell, ascribed to St Ternan who came from Brechin and settled at Banchory in the 5th century AD now hangs in the East Church. The bell was discovered in the mid 19th century during excavations at Banchory's railway station. Within the churchyard is the octagonal shaft of the Banchory market cross (NO79NW0095), which probably dates from the 17th century.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 29/09/80 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Record last edited

Nov 6 2019 1:09PM