Cairnie, Cairnie Parish Church
Church (19th Century) (1803), War Memorial(S) (20th Century)
Site Name Cairnie, Cairnie Parish Church
Classification Church (19th Century) (1803), War Memorial(S) (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) St Martin's Church, Cairnie; Botarie Parish Church; War Memorial Plaque: Regimental Colours
Canmore ID 17310
Site Number NJ44SE 1
NGR NJ 48986 44552
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/17310
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Cairnie
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Gordon
- Former County Aberdeenshire
Parish church, 1803, and remains of St Martin's Church, 1591. Simple box with bellcote and session house. An aisle of St Martin's Church survives as the Botary and Pitlurg Aisle in the kirkyard, which the Gordons of that Ilk restored as a burial enclosure in 1868. It contains effigy of Sir John Gordon of Pitlurge, Knycht, (who) 'caust big this ile' 1597. (He was the father of Robert Gordon of Straloch whose atlas of Scotland was published by Blaeu of Amsterdam in 1648.) Altered 1887 and 1902.
Taken from "Aberdeenshire: Donside and Strathbogie - An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Ian Shepherd, 2006. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
NJ44SE 1.00 48986 44552
NJ44SE 1.01 4913 4450 St Martin's Well
NJ44SE 1.02 48999 44538 Churchyard
For adjacent manse, see NJ44SE 55.
(NJ 4899 4453) St Martin's Church (NR)
OS 6" map 1959.
A 16th century aisle is all that remains of the church of the suppressed parish of Botarie which was in existence by 1226 when it was erected into a prebend of Elgin Cathedral (NJ26SW 1). It was dedicated to St Martin.
The remnant, Pitlurg Aisle, burial place of the Gordons of Pitlurg, was added to the north side of the church in 1597 and was restored in 1868. On the inside of the wall above the gated entrance arch is an image of St Martin which is said to have stood in a niche in the old church (Jervise 1879).
There is a tradition that the original church stood about a mile to the west (see NJ44SE 14).
The parish of Botarie was incorporated in the parish of Cairnie in 1713, after having been joined with Ruthven under one minister in 1618. The present parish church was built immediately to the north in c. 1805
(J Pirie 1900).
All that remains of St Martin's Church is the Pitlurg Aisle, generally as described and in good condition. Inside the aisle at the base of the E, S and W walls, is masonry of the pre-1868 restoration showing a wall thickness of 0.8m. The N wall, fully restored, is only 0.4m thick.
A Jervise 1879; J Pirie 1900; Visited by OS (ISS) 7 December 1972.
EXTERNAL REFERENCE:
Scottish Record Office
Repair of the Kirk and provision of a new Bell-house.
Discharged account from John Christie, mason.
1734 GD 44/Sec 51/Bundle 379
Report on the condition of the Church.
The windows are stated to be 'ruinous ' and according to the Minutes of the Presbytery it is agreed to have repairs carried out and then compel the Heritors to pay for them.
1781 GD 44/Sec37/Bundle 25
Condition of the Church of Cairney.
People are aware of the danger 'Every guest of wind paints terror in their countenances'.
Letter from John Findlater to the Duke of Gordon.
1802 GD 44/Sec 37/Bundle 26
Plans, specifications and estimates for a new Church.
Letter from William Lawson. It accompanied plan, specification and estimate.
Letter from John Menzies. It accompanied a plan.
Letter from John McInnes. It accompanied a plan.
Specification for Mercer and Gray's plans and minute of agreement with Thomas Smith for building the Church.
1802 GD 44/Sec 37/Bundle 26
The old Church of Cairney.
A drawing of the church and a note of its dimensions.
It accompanies a letter from John Beveridge.
1802 GD 44/Sec 37/Bundle 26
Building the new Church of Cairney.
Note of expense. It amounts to £90.
Unsigned.
N.D.
Inspection of the completed new Church.
The work is approved by those called in to inspect it.
1804 GD 44/Sec 37/Bundle 26
Field Visit (20 March 1990)
There is no evidence to indicate that the Pitlurg burial-enclosure is the foundation of the aisle added to the church in 1597. A commemorative panel of probably 17th century date to the Gordons of Pitlurg is set into its N wall. In the lighting conditions at the date of visit it was largely illegible. A second slab, probably a gran-stone, is set into the E wall. The burial-ground has been extensively re-organized in relatively recent times, and several table tombs have been set upright in the ground. A few earlier slabs have been set upright at the SE corner of the burial-ground, but these too were illegible at the date of visit.
Visited by RCAHMS (SH) 20 March 1990.
