Archaeology Notes

Event ID 666935

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/666935

NJ40NW 2.00 43668 06839 to 4365 0682

(NJ 4366 0682) Church (NR) (Site of) (NJ 4365 0682) Standing Stone (NR) (Sculptured)

OS 6" map, Aberdeenshire, 2nd ed., (1902)

NJ40NW 2.01 NJ 43670 06831 St Finan's Church

NJ40NW 2.02 NJ 43652 06822 symbol stone

NJ40NW 2.03 NJ 43670 06831 Cross incised stone

For nearby cup-marked stone (NJ 4373 0675), see NJ40NW 3.

Not to be confused with Kirk Hill, St Neachtan's Church (NJ 43235 05651), for which see NJ40NW 5.00.

The ancient church of Migvie, dedicated to St. Finan (spelt variously St. Finian, St. Finnian), was granted to the priory of St. Andrew's in the late 12th century. The Name Book (1866) records that 'part of a wall and the track of the foundations of the former church were visible in front of the present church' in 1866.

The symbol stone in the churchyard (6ft high by 2ft 5ins maximum width) is inscribed on the front with a cross and symbols, including a man on horseback. On the back of the stone is inscribed another man or horseback. Jervise notes that in 1864 the equestrian figures had recently been rechiselled and defaced. According to the Name Book (1866) the symbol stone was found 'a few feet below ground level at the spot where it now stands.'

A Jervise 1865; Name Book 1866; H Scott (Fasti Eccles Scot) 1915-61; J R Allen and J Anderson 1903; J M MacKinlay 1914; W D Simpson 1935.

(Name cited as St Finnan's Church). The churchyard is situated on a S-facing slope at an altitude of 260m OD. Newspaper reference: Press and Journal 4 October 1984.

NMRS, MS/712/44.