Building record MAB9342 - ST MATHULACH'S CHURCH, TARLAND
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Summary
Graveyard and remains of a church.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (B) 16242
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 4818 0437 (52m by 59m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ40SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Tarland |
Type and Period (5)
Full Description
A church has been on this site since at least the 12th Century, when an existing church here was granted to the Priory of St. Andrews by the Earl of Mar in 1165.
The ruined church that survives today was built in 1762 (the belfry of the church is also dated 1762) and was closed when a new church opened in 1870. There is an extensive graveyard surrounding the church, which is roughly square-shaped. The west gable is crowned by a bellcote. The remains of the church are rectangular on plan, measuring circa 20 m by 5 m. Large blocks of granite were used to construct the church, with better quality, tooled stones used on the south elevation.
The graveyard is a large rectangular area of ground also containing the church standing on terraced, raised ground above the village's main square. The churchyard contains predominantly 19th Century gravestones, with some dating to the 18th century. The graveyard contains three Commonwealth war graves. There is a drinking fountain of pink granite with bronze, with a canted water trough at its base, built into the west boundary wall, and dated 1913.
The church has similar scrolled skew putts to the Aberdeen Arms Hotel (MAB9431) and nearby Tillychardoch House (MAB12004), suggesting the work of the same masons.
JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 2, 265 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.
SCOTT, H, 1950, FASTI ECCLES SCOT, 113 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1806.
Dec 6 2015 , PUB-GR-15-12-001 - 007, PUB-GR-15-12-001 - 007 (Ground Photograph). SAB32248.
Jun 4 2000 , ABS-GR-00-06-001 - 031, ABS-GR-00-06-001 - 031 (Ground Photograph). SAB36775.
Sep 28 2001 , colour prints, colour prints (Ground Photograph). SAB17796.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HAMP Asset: HA0242;
- HAMP Asset: HA0243;
- HAMP Asset: HA0244;
- Local Government Guardianship;
- NMR Card Number: NJ40SE14;
- NRHE Numlink: 17011;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ40SE0012;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB16242 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/17011 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (5)
- --- SAB17796 Ground Photograph: Sep 28 2001 . colour prints. Colour Negative. colour prints.
- --- SAB1806 Bibliographic reference: SCOTT, H. 1950. FASTI ECCLES SCOT. Y. 113.
- --- SAB32248 Ground Photograph: Dec 6 2015 . PUB-GR-15-12-001 - 007. Digital. PUB-GR-15-12-001 - 007.
- --- SAB36775 Ground Photograph: Jun 4 2000 . ABS-GR-00-06-001 - 031. Digital. ABS-GR-00-06-001 - 031.
- --- SAB889 Bibliographic reference: JERVISE, A. 1879. EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2. N. 2, 265.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (2)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Jul 26 2026 10:02PM
