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Publication Account
Date 1987
Event ID 1016933
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Publication Account
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1016933
The ruined priory of Restenneth stands in the heart of the ancient kingdom of the Picts and its foundation dates to the Pictish period. In the year 710, Nechtan, King of the Picts, wrote to Ceolfrid, Abbot of Wearmouth, asking for advice on differences that had developed between the Celtic and Roman Church and for masons to build a stone church. This request was granted and the mission of St Boniface founded a series of churches in Pictland, all dedicated to St Peter. One of these churches was Restenneth. It has been suggested that the lower portion of the central tower may embody a remnant of St Boniface's church.
The present tower appears to date from about the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries. Later in the 12th century Restenneth is recorded as a small priory of Augustinian canons. The priory continued to prosper and King Robert Bruce was a generous patron and chose this as the burial place for his young son, Prince John.
After the Reformation, Restenneth had a number of owners-one of them, George Dempster of Dunnichen (nos 6 and 9), made part of the choir into a family burial place. In 1919 the ruins were placed in the custody of the State.
The most outstanding feature of the priory is the tower which rises to a height of about 14 m excluding the spire. It has a number of similarities to the tower of St Rule's Church, St Andrews (no. 64) and appears to date from about the same period. However the lowest 3 m appears to be much older and its character indicates that it is likely to have served as a porch prior to being heightened into a tower. The octagonal broach spire probably dates from the 15th century. The walls of the choir are reasonably intact and are a good example of early 13th century ecclesiastical architecture.
The old font of Restenneth Priory is preserved in the Episcopal Mission Church at Carsebarracks near Forfar (NO 476522).
Information from ‘Exploring Scotland’s Heritage: Fife and Tayside’, (1987).
