Building record MAB6121 - CHURCH OF MACALLAN

Remains of a church within a square rubble walled graveyard.

Remains of a church within a square rubble walled graveyard. No architectural features remain of the church to facilitate dating. All that remains is part of the North and West walls, 0.8m thick and 3.0m maximum height, in a graveyard which is still used and has tombstones dating back to the 18th century. To the East, footings of the chapel remain, indicated by a slight swelling in the ground. It is the former parish of Macallan or MacCalen, said to derive from St Colin, bishop and confessor. There is no proof in either church records or Teind Court that the parish was formally annexed to Knockando, but from 1760, when church became ruinous, ministers of Knockando officiated in both parishes. In the South-East corner of the graveyard is a small square mausoleum, built in 1715 for John Grant of Elchies by his son Patrick. There is a symmetrical polished ashlar West frontage, and harl pointed rubble flanks. There is a low doorway in the West face, with a recessed panel above and flanking blocked window openings on both sides, with lintels just below the eaves at cornice level. There are moulded and beaded architraves, a moulded eaves cornice, heavy boulder footings and a graded pyramidal local slate roof. Inside, the centre of the rear (West) wall is filled by a carved sandstone mural monument dated 1715, possibly by John Faid of Elgin. An entablature is supported by engaged columns, with composite capitals carved with flowers. The entablature is decorated with undercut ribbon moulding in fine condition, and modillions with stylised foliage and flowers. There is a long Latin inscription below a carved skull and bones, with a reclining skeleton carved in relief on a dado, flanked by crossed bones. The Latin inscription records the erection of the memorial by Patrick, only son of John Grant, in memory of his father. It records John Grant's 'zealous service in the late civil war', his generosity and his qualities as a family man and neighbour. An empty vault is closed with blocks of ashlar in the centre of the mausoleum floor. It is to the South, and within the grounds, of the nearby Easter Elchies House (NJ24SE0023), built by John Grant. Monumental inscriptions within the churchyard were recorded by the Moray Burial Ground Research Group in 2007-2008.

Period Notes
The remains of the church are not enough to date it. There are tombstones from the 18th century, and it is still in use. The Mausoleum and mural monument are dated to 1715. It was designated on 09/11/1987.

JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 297-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.

MACKINTOSH, HB, 1924, PILGRIMAGES IN MORAY, 10 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1145.

MORAY BURIAL GROUND RESEARCH GROUP, 2008, MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS: DUNDURCAS CHURCHYARD AND MACALLAN CHURCHYARD AND FOCHABERS, MOSSTODLOCH AND MULBEN WAR MEMORIALS (Bibliographic reference). SAB7645.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, 60 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Record last edited

Jan 12 2024 3:46PM