Archaeology Notes

Event ID 667144

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/667144

NJ33NW 10 32374 39285

(NJ 3238 3928) Church (NR)

Cathedral (NR) (Remains of)

OS 6" map, (1938)

See also Priest's Well, NJ33NW 3.

Traditionally a See was founded at Mortlach in 1011 or 1063 and transferred to Aberdeen in 1125. The evidence for this is spurious or suspect, but there may well have been at Mortlach a monastic bishopric of Celtic type, and a Monastery of 'Murthillac' is mentioned among the possessions of the Church of Aberdeen in a Papal Bull of 1157, though its existence is unsupported by definite evidence.

The present Church, of St Moloc or Moluag, was modernised in the 19th century, but incorporates some possibly 13th century work.

D MacGibbon and T Ross 1896-7; G Donaldson 1955; D E Easson 1957.

Mortlach parish church, restored in 1876 and 1931, parts of which probably date back to 1010 AD. St Moluag founded a monastery on this site about 566 AD. (Information from J S Stephen 1952 'Mortlach Church notes') The church and associated graveyard are still in regular use.

Visited by OS (N K B) 26 January 1967.