Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Archaeology Notes
Event ID 693444
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/693444
NO78SE 15 76701 80434
For Glenbervie West (or Parish) Church (NO 7663 8071), see NO78SE 40 .
(NO 7670 8043) St Michael's Church (NR) (remains of) [NAT]
OS 1:2500 map, 1972.
The old parish church dedicated to St Michael (Scott et al 1915-61) stood in the present burial ground, opposite Glenbervie House. Only a fragment of a tower or pillar, which apparently formed the SW corner, now remains, next to the Douglas Aisle (Name Book 1864).
The Douglas Aisle, originally part of the church (Simpson 1962) is the family vault of the Douglasses, Melvilles, proprietors of Glenbervie. An inscription in contracted Latin gives the history of the Lairds of Glenbervie from 1730.
The church is first mentioned in a grant to Brechin Cathedral about 1222, and was in use till 1826, when the new church was built (at NO 7663 8073).
A Jervise 1885; Name Book 1864; H Scott et al 1915-61; W D Simpson 1962.
The Douglas Aisle, which is in good repair, appears to incorporate the E end of St Michael's Church. It measures 7.5m N-S by 5.4m transversely, with the wall 0.8m thick. Toothing at the W end of the N wall confirms that the aisle is part of an earlier structure, almost certainly the church, but renovations and a growth of ivy have obscured any original details. The pillar desribed in the Name Book (1864) remains on the prolongation of the S wall, but as it is modernised and used as a monument to the Stuarts of Inchbreck, it is uncertain if it was part of the church.
Revised at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (R L) 10 December 1969.
This church was dedicated to St Michael and stood in the present burial-ground opposite Glenbervie House (NO78SE 16.00). Only a fragment of a tower or pillar remains, next to the Douglas Aisle. It was first mentioned in a grant to Brechin Cathedral c. 1222, and was erected a prebend in 1422. It became episcopalian but was converted into the established parish church in 1746 and remained such until 1826 when the new church was built (NO 7663 8073).
The Douglas Aisle (originally part of the church) is the family vault of the Douglasses, Melvilles, propritors of Glenbervie. An inscription in contracted latin gives the history of the lairds of Glenbervie from 1730.
NMRS, NMRS MS/712/19.
