St Andrews, Old Parish Church

NJ26SW 24 24918 62704

(NJ 2491 6271) St Andrew's Church (NR) (site of)

OS 6" map, Morayshire, 2nd ed., (1906).

For (present) parish church of St Andrews-Lhanbryd (NJ 2560 6210), see NJ26SE 39.

Also known as Kilmalemnock.

H Scott 1915-61.

This was the parish church of St Andrews parish. It is known to have stood in the churchyard at least as early as 1543.

On the combination of St Andrews and Lhanbryd parishes in 1782, it was allowed to fall into ruin. A part of this church still existed in the 'Leuchars Aisle' extant in the churchyard in 1924.

NSA 1845; Name Book 1870; H B Mackintosh 1924; R Douglas 1928.

Grave Yard [NAT]

St Andrew's Church [NR]

(site of ) [NAT]

OS 1:2500 map, 1967.

A walled enclosure, 7.8m square, at NJ 2492 6271 is presumably the 'Leuchars Aisle'. About 2.5m to the W and aligned with the N wall of the enclosure is a piece of walling, about 1.5m long, about 0.7m thick and about 1.5m high, which has inserted in its S side a gravestone stating, "In this church lies interred Mr John Paterson, once Minister of Dipple........... who died April 20th 1778".

There is nothing in the appearance of the N wall of the enclosure or of the fragment of walling to indicate their age, and they may have formed part of the church, but are more likely built on its foundations. Extending for 15.0m W from the enclosure, and the same width as it, is a slight hollow, possibly the outline of the church.

Visited by OS (R L) 21 January 1972.

This, the former parish church of St Andrews parish, is known to have stood in the churchyard at least as early as 1543 but was allowed to fall to ruin after the union of St Andrews and Llanbryde parish in 1782. Part still existed as the 'Leuchars Aisle' that was noted in the churchyard in 1924 and is presumably to be identified with the walled enclosure (measuring 7.8m square) at NJ 2492 6271.

About 2.5m to the W, and aligned with the N wall of the enclosure, there is a piece of walling (measuring 1.5m in length, 0.7m in thickness and about 1.5m in height), into the S side of which has been inserted a gravestone recording the interment 'In this church' of Mr John Paterson, one minister of Dipple, who died 20 April 1778; the enclosure and walling may have formed part of the church but are more probably built on its foundations. A slight hollow (measuring 15m by 7.8m) to the W of the enclosure may represent the outline of the church.

Information from Aberdeenshire Archaeological Service, June 1997.

NMRS, MS/712/19.

INVENTORY OF GRAVEYARD AND CEMETERY SITES IN SCOTLAND REFERENCE:

Address: Kirkhill Burial Ground, Lhanbryde, Elgin, Moray

Postcode: IV30 5NZ

Status: Closed for burials but maintained

Size: 0.17 hectares, 0.41 acres

Polygon: Yes

TOIDs: 1000000172771544, 1000000172771581, 1000000172771648

Number of gravestones: 60 (6 buried)

Earliest gravestone: 1655

Most recent gravestone: 1969

Description: Graveyard associated with a church (church demolished Monday 9 May 1796). Unevenly shaped graveyard, adjacent to River Lossie. Contains burials place of Innes family of Leuchars, known as the 'Leuchars Aisle'. 17th Century gravestones now lost under rubble. This burial enclosure is probably built on the foundations of the pre-1796 church. Some buried stones date from 17th Century, remainder are Victorian or later. Six buried stones have been located, uncovered, recorded and returfed. Some show very good signs of mortality from 17th Century.

Data Sources: Graveyard Recording Form, 4 August 2002; OS MasterMap checked 14 June 2005