Location
High Street, Insch
Insch, Inverurie
OS Map Reference
NJ 634 282
Date
1613
Description
All that remains of the old kirk of Insch, said to be gifted to the Abbey of Lindores before 1195, is the W. gable complete with a stunning example of a 17th - century pedimented bellcote, in ornately carved red sandstone. The elaborate carving includes the letters M I L , The minister John Logie and the date 1613
The remains of the former parish church of Insch stand in its burial-ground on the E side of the town of Insch (NJ62NW 42). The visible portion of the church has been reduced to the WNW gable and the stumps of the NNE and SSW sides; it measures 6.2m in internal breadth and the random rubble walls are 1.05m in thickness. The gable incorporates a rectangular-headed doorway, and, above it, an arch-headed window, both of which splay internally. A scarcement at a height of 2.2m on the internal face of the gable indicates the former existence of a loft in the WNW end of the church. The apex of the gable is surmounted by the ashlar plinth of an elaborately decorated bellcote, which is dated 1613 and bears the initials M I L around a shield on its S side.
Related Information
Stabilised and repaired as part of Aberdeenshire's Historic Kirkyards project 2004.
The old church of Insch, dedicated to St Drostan (Scott 1915-61), and gifted to the Abbey of Lindores before 1195 by David, Earl of Garioch. Stephen Mason was minister in 1567 (Simpson 1949). It was repaired in 1793, but declared unsafe about 1830, and the present church built in 1886. Only the W gable remains, with a bellcote dated 1613, (SDD 1960-) the latter giving rise to the local belief that the church was built then (NSA 1845).
In the graveyard, together with a 1600 gravestone, is the Radulfus stone, a medieval tombstone. It was found some years before 1866 whilst demolishing a house on the N side of the church and probably commemorates Radulfus, chaplain of the Bishop of Aberdeen between 1172 and 1194. It is the earliest surviving medieval monument "in our area" (Simpson 1943).
H Scott et al 1915-61; W D Simpson 1943; 1949; New Statistial Account (NSA) 1845; SDD 1960-; A Jervise 1875-9; Name Book 1867.
Era
1600s
Information Source
RCAHMS
Related Artefacts
Categories
Iconography
- heraldic motifs
- vase or urn
Photographer
- Michael Watt
Unavailable Data
- Creator
- External Links
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