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Fochabers, The Square, Bellie Parish Church

Church (18th Century)

Site Name Fochabers, The Square, Bellie Parish Church

Classification Church (18th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Bellie Kirk; Church Of Scotland; United With Pringle Church

Canmore ID 111574

Site Number NJ35NW 74

NGR NJ 34505 58743

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/111574

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2025. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Digital Images

General view from NW of Town House, Parish Church and Manse.
General view from NW of Town House, Parish Church and Manse.Oblique aerial view of the town centred on the church, chapel and parsonage, taken from the SW.General view from ENE showing town square with town house and manseDetail of railingsView of E town house from ENEInterior. Ground floor. Pulpit, font and communion table.Interior. Elevated view from NInterior. Session room showing fireplace with inset safePhotographic copy of drawing showing ground and first floor plans of existing building (Drawing no 1).General view from N  showing town square with town house and manseDetail of porticoDetail of porticoAxial view of Gordon Chapel from SW (portico)View from SWInterior. Ground floor showing gallery, pews and pulpitInterior. Ground floor showing organ, pews and galleryInterior. NW Gallery.Interior. SE Gallery.Interior. View from WInterior. Stained glass window. DetailInterior. Stained glass window. DetailInterior. Entrance Lobby and gallery stairView from NE with fountainGeneral view from N  showing town square with town house and manseView from EView from EDetail of porticoAxial view of Gordon Chapel from SW (portico)Interior. Ground floor showing gallery, pews and pulpitInterior. Session room detail of engraving of Baxter plansInterior. Tower room. Staircase. DetailPhotographic copy of drawing showing sections of existing building (Drawing no 2).General view from ENE showing town square with town house and manseView from EView from EView from NE with fountainDetail of main entrance doorAxial view of Gordon Chapel from SWInterior. Ground floor showing gallery, pews and pulpitInterior. Pews. DetailInterior. Elevated view from NInterior. Elevated view from WInterior. Stained glass window. DetailInterior. Lobby. Memorial plaque to Rev R VentersInterior. Session roomInterior. Session room drawing of pulpit and organ in the apse signed Andrew J Cana ?Interior. Ground floor showing organ, pews and galleryInterior. NW Gallery.Interior. Pews. DetailInterior. Stained glass window. DetailAerial view.Aerial view.Aerial view.View from NE.Photographic copy of drawing showing ground and first floor plans of existing building (Drawing no 1).View from EDetail of porticoView from WSWInterior. Ground floor. Pulpit, font and communion table.Interior. NW GalleryInterior. Stained glass window. DetailInterior. Session room showing fireplace with inset safePlan & elevation
Measured & drawn by George Hay NDView from NE with fountainView from WSWInterior. SE GalleryInterior. NW GalleryInterior. Lobby. Memorial plaque to Rev R VentersPhotographic copy of drawing showing ground and first floor plans of existing building (Drawing no 1).General view from ENE showing town square with town house and manseView from NE with fountainView from SWView of E town house from ENEView of E town house from ENEInterior. Ground floor. Pulpit, font and communion table.Interior. SE GalleryInterior. Pews. DetailInterior. View from WInterior. NW GalleryInterior. Stained glass window. DetailOblique aerial view of the town centred on the church, school, chapel and parsonage, taken from the S.View from SWAerial view.General view from ENE showing town square with town house and manseView from NEAxial view of Gordon Chapel from SWInterior. Ground floor. Organ and stained glassInterior. Ground floor. Organ and stained glassInterior. NW Gallery.Interior. Stained glass window. DetailInterior. Entrance Lobby and gallery stairInterior. Session roomInterior. Tower room. Staircase. DetailGeneral view from ENE showing town square with town house and manseAxial view of Gordon Chapel from SWInterior. Ground floor. Organ and stained glassInterior. View from WInterior. Stained glass window. DetailInterior. Session roomInterior. Session room drawing of pulpit and organ in the apse signed Andrew J Cana ?

First 100 images shown. See the Collections panel (below) for a link to all digital images.

Administrative Areas

  • Council Moray
  • Parish Bellie
  • Former Region Grampian
  • Former District Moray
  • Former County Morayshire

Archaeology Notes

NJ35NW 74 34505 58743

Incorporates information from cancelled site NJ35SW 25

See also - NJ35NW 54 NJ 3450 5871 Fochabers, Bellie Burial-Ground

NJ35NW 24 NJ 344 587 Fochabers, Bellie Manse

Architecture Notes

NMRS REFERENCE:

ARCHITECT:

John Baxter, 1797

Interior recast 1840

Renovation 1954

NMRS Printroom

W Schomberg Scott Photograph Collection Acc no 1997/39

View of the portico with detail of the fountain in the square in the foreground - 2 prints

EXTERNAL REFERENCE:

SCOTTISH RECORD OFFICE:

RHP 9043/4 (Seafield Plans) John Baxter 1797 - plan & elevation

Building the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

State of payments made by [John] Menzies.

They amount to ?2,554.13.0.

1797-98

GD 44/Sec 52/Bundle 10/13

Building the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

The following sums are noted by John Menzies.

Architect: John Baxter ?21. Mason: William Logie ?1042.

Carpenter: George Henderson ?225. Slater: [-] Gordon ?37.

Total sum paid to or for Mr Baxter is ?2,463.1.7.

Clock for the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

The sum of ?90.17.6 is noted by John Menzies as payment for the steeple clock and its errection.

Cashbok

1795-99

GD 44/Sec 52/177

Clock for the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

Account for supplying a dial plate for the steeple clock.

1798-1801

GD 44/Sec 51/Bundle 389

Gordon family vault in churchyard.

Note of payment of ?21 to Alexander Macdonald, stone cutter for carving the Gordon Coat of Arms, as ordered by William Robertson, architect.

Cashbook.

1826

GD 44/Sec 52/216

Request for a plan [? for the new Bellie Parish Church].

Letter from James Ross, cashier, to John Baxter, architect.

'You promised to give me a sketch for a Kirk. It is not that anything fine or elegant is wished but on the contrary very plain.'

1771

GD 44/Sec/52/37/page 277

Receipt of a plan [? for the new Bellie Parish Church.

Letter from James Ross, cashier, to John Baxter, architect.

He acknowledges receipt of the paln sent by John Baxter.

1772

GD 44/Sec/52/37/2

Building the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

Architect: John Baxter [ - d.1798]

Tradesmen's clains.

Statements of account. Cashbooks. Letters concerning the financial affairs and debts of architect.

1795-1801

GD 44/Sec 32/Bundle 10.

GD 44/Sec 52

GD 44/Sec 37/Bundle 39.

Building the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

Estimate, accounts, statements and letters.

Architect: John Baxter.

1795-98

GD 44/Sec 32/Bundle 10 and Sec 37/Bundle 39.

[some details follow]

Building the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

Estimate ?2,370.18.4.

Architect: John Baxter

1795

GD 44/Sec 32/Bundle 10/1

Building the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

Detailed estimates for mason, wright, slater, plumber, plaster and glazier work. They have been supplied by John Baxter, architect, and are compared with those added by David Hay, architect.

1798

GD 44/Sec 32/Bundle 10/2

Building the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

Letter from David Hay, architect in Edinburgh.

He has examined John Baxter's estimates and added his own.

1798

GD 44/Sec 32/Bundle 10/3

Building the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

Inspection of the work.

Letter from John Baxter, architect. He believes that no fault will be found either with the execution or prices.

1798

GD 44/Sec 32/Bundle 10/4

Building the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

Accounts from mason, smith, plumber and glazier.

1795-98

GD 44/Sec 32/Bundle 10/5

Building the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

Statement of account. It amounts to ?2,450.10.1.

1798

GD 44/Sec 32/Bundle 10/8 and 16.

Building the new Bellie Parish Church at Fochabers.

Discharged accounts of masons, wrights and glaziers and of suppliers of slates, stones amd lime.

1730-36

GD 44/Sec 51/Bundle 379

Building lofts in the Parish Church of Bellie at Fochabers.

Payment of ?44.4.0. to John Walls for the work.

Cashbook.

GD 44/Sec 52/147

The making of pews for the Parish Church of Bellie at Fochabers.

Payment of ?5.0.7 to John Walls for the work.

Cashbook.

GD 44.Sec 52.154

Building lofts in the Parish Church of Bellie at Fochabers.

The balance amounting to ?7.17.6 is paid to John Walls for the work. Total cost was ?52.1.11.

Cashbook

1773

GD 44/Sec 52/154

References

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