Building record MAB4965 - MICHAEL KIRK, GORDONSTOUN
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Summary
Church and graveyard, dedicated to St Michael, built on the site of an earlier church which was the ancient church of Ogstown.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (A) 2242
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 1927 6893 (175m by 91m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ16NE |
| Authority | Moray |
| Civil Parish | Drainie |
Type and Period (9)
- CHURCH (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- CHURCHYARD (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- Graveyard (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- Memorial (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- GATE PIER (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- GRAVESTONE (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- CHAPEL (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- MAUSOLEUM (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- CHAPEL (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
Full Description
Church and graveyard, dedicated to St Michael, built on the site of an earlier church which was the ancient church of Ogstown. The name was applied to a church falling into decay and re-erected as a mausoleum in 1705. The mausoleum was built entirely new in 1705 by Dame Elizabeth Dunbar in memory of her husband, Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun, on the site of the original church, re-using material from it. There is no sign of any former building now visible. It was restored, and the interior refurbished, by architect John Kinross in 1900-01 for Lady (Florence) Gordon Cumming. It is a small Gothic ashlar 3-bay church, with large mounted windows that have elaborate Y-tracery in the east and west gables. The central south door has flanking windows with Y-tracery and deeply moulded architraves. The reveals have half-round and fillet moulding that is decorated with stars and roses. There is a continuous string course dropped under the cills. There are square clear glass quarries, flat moulded skews and a steeply pitched West Highland slate roof with a stone ridge and apex urns. The interior is panelled throughout, dating to the 1900-01 refurbishment. There are various mural memorials, including one to Sir Robert Gordon, who died 1704, which was possibly carved by John Faid, Elgin, and also memorials to previous and subsequent Gordons and Gordon Cummings. The floor is chequered black and white marble. The altar was moved to the west end of the church to increase the seating accommodation. The graveyard is surrounded by simple stone walls with low, coped, square dressed rubble gatepiers to the east and west entrances. Western gatepiers have inset re-used 17th century carved detailing. The present church is used as the chapel for Gordonstoun School (NJ16NE0006). The Ogston Market Cross (NJ16NE0011) also stands within the churchyard. A survey of gravestones and monumental inscriptions in the graveyard was carried out by the Moray Burial Ground Research Group.
Period Notes
The mausoleum was built in 1705, and the interior refurbished in 1900-1. It was designated on 26/01/1971.
BILLINGS, RW, 1852, BAR & ECC ANT OF SCOT IV (Bibliographic reference). SAB89.
ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, (1870) 53 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.
MACGIBBON, T, 1896, ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND 1, 554-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1141.
MACDONALD, WR, 1900, PSAS 34(1899-90) 344-429, 407-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1181.
HOWAT, AJ, 1901, CHURCHES IN MORAY (Bibliographic reference). SAB729.
MACKINTOSH, HB, 1924, PILGRIMAGES IN MORAY, 72-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1145.
HAY, G., 1957, THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES (Bibliographic reference). SAB720.
MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP, 2003, NEWSLETTER, Issue 19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5098.
MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP, 2003, NEWSLETTER, Issue 20, p.8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5098.
MITCHELL, K, 2014, MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS (INCLUDING BURIED TOMBSTONES): THE MICHAEL KIRK, GORDONSTOUN. MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP (Bibliographic reference). SAB5186.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, DRAINIE 1,5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: MOR;
- HES Listed Building Number: 2242;
- NMR Card Number: NJ16NE16;
- NRHE Numlink: 16119;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ16NE0012;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB2242 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/16119 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (11)
- --- SAB1141 Bibliographic reference: MACGIBBON, T. 1896. ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND 1. N. Y. 554-5.
- --- SAB1145 Bibliographic reference: MACKINTOSH, HB. 1924. PILGRIMAGES IN MORAY. Y. 72-3.
- --- SAB1181 Bibliographic reference: MACDONALD, WR. 1900. PSAS 34(1899-90) 344-429. 407-8.
- --- SAB1360 Bibliographic reference: ORDNANCE SURVEY. 1871. Ordnance Name Book. (1870) 53.
- --- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. DRAINIE 1,5.
- --- SAB5098 Bibliographic reference: MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP. 2003. NEWSLETTER. Issue 20, p.8.
- --- SAB5098 Bibliographic reference: MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP. 2003. NEWSLETTER. Issue 19.
- --- SAB5186 Bibliographic reference: MITCHELL, K. 2014. MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS (INCLUDING BURIED TOMBSTONES): THE MICHAEL KIRK, GORDONSTOUN. MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP. Y.
- --- SAB720 Bibliographic reference: HAY, G.. 1957. THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES. N. N.
- --- SAB729 Bibliographic reference: HOWAT, AJ. 1901. CHURCHES IN MORAY. Y.
- --- SAB89 Bibliographic reference: BILLINGS, RW. 1852. BAR & ECC ANT OF SCOT IV.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Sep 5 2025 12:40PM
