Building record MAB9567 - ST BRIDE'S CHAPEL, KILDRUMMY

Remains of chapel, built on the site of an earlier chapel, and associated graveyard.

Remains of chapel, built on the site of an earlier chapel, and associated graveyard. The earliest chapel on this site was dedicated to St. Bennet, and was first established in the 6th Century by King Brude. It probably stood where St Bride's Chapel now stands. The present ruin is believed to be 14th Century or earlier and dedicated to St Bride. It appears to have been established as a parish church before 1300. The south porch forms the Elphinstone aisle dating to 17th Century and still remains entire. It is a rectangular crow-stepped structure 'restored' in 1862, though it still exhibits a skewputt initialled with 'I L'. The aisle, which measures 5.79 m by 5.18 m, is lit by a small window above the entrance door. The Old Statistical Account (1796) recorded that this south aisle (which contained the seats of the Earls of Marr and their attendants) was built over the family's burial vault, accessed from a hatchway entrance on the floor of the aisle. The majority of the chapel was demolished by 1805, and a new Parish Church built to the North which opened in 1805 (NJ41NE0130). The original chapel was 22.86 m by 7.62 m. The North wall contains a Gothic arched recess, the remains of an Easter Sepulchre which is very rare in Scotland. Inside is a very fine relief effigy slab to the 3rd Laird of Brux and his wife. There are well over 100 recumbent tombstones in the kirkyard, and over 100 upright tombstones dating to the late 19th Century. The mound that the church stands on may have been the site of a motte and bailey castle. A World War I Commonwealth war grave stands against the western side of the ruin. It is in memory of Private C. Lumsden, Gordon Highlanders, who died 31 March 1921. Repair works in October 2024 uncovered the steps down to the burial vault under the aisle.

Period Notes
Chapel first established 581 AD. Present ruins believe to date to 1335 AD; aisle 1605; majority of building removed in 1805; bell dated 1724.

LAING, A, 1828, DONEAN TOURIST, 473 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1049.

WHYTE, JF, 1936, T SCOT ECC SOC(1935-6)163-72, 163-72 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2029.

SIMPSON, WD, 1943, PROVINCE OF MAR, 144 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1676.

SIMPSON, WD, 1949, EARLDOM OF MAR, 47-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1681.

SCOTT, H, 1950, FASTI ECCLES SCOT, 132 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1806.

BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.

Aug 8 1985 , EW 1-5, EW 1-5 (Ground Photograph). SAB12699.

Aug 12 2003 , AAS/03/03/G1/9-10, AAS/03/03/G1/9-10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB33981.

Aug 13 1987 , AAS/87/01/S1/17-8, AAS/87/01/S1/17-8 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12698.

Aug 23 1986 , FY 1-8, FY 1-8 (Ground Photograph). SAB12701.

Aug 26 2003 , GR/03/CT345-357, GR/03/CT345-357 (Ground Photograph). SAB18005.

Jan 28 1997 , AAS/97/02/CT21, 28-9, AAS/97/02/CT21, 28-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16610.

Jan 28 1997 , AAS/97/02/G3/26-28, AAS/97/02/G3/26-28 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16609.

Mar 18 1997 , D 49214, D 49214 (Ground Photograph). SAB20714.

May 23 1986 , FX 10-15, FX 10-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB12700.

May 25 2022 , AAS-GR-22-05-013 - 074, AAS-GR-22-05-013 - 074 (Ground Photograph). SAB35964.

Oct 26 1998 , D 36312 CN, D 36312 CN (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB20715.

Record last edited

Jun 26 2025 3:46PM