Tibbermore Parish Kirk
Church (17th Century)
Site Name Tibbermore Parish Kirk
Classification Church (17th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Tibbermore Parish Church
Canmore ID 26861
Site Number NO02SE 13
NGR NO 05201 23397
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/26861
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Tibbermore
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Perthshire
NO02SE 13.00 05201 23397
See also NO02SE 40.
The parish church of Tibbermore was dedicated to St Mary, and there was here a Well of St Mary. Tibbermore was a mensal parish of the Bishop of Dunkeld.
H Scott 1915-61.
Built 1632, enlarged 1810 and refurnished c. 1880.
OSA 1796; NSA 1845; G Hay 1957.
Tibbermore (Dunkeld, Fife and Strathearn) - St Mary. In origin, an oratory of the bishops of Dunkeld who possessed an episcopal residence in this parish by the time of Bishop Geoffrey (1236-49), this church became the church of the parish when that of St Serf (alias Pitcairn) fell into disuse. The church was a mensal church of the bishopric of Dunkeld in the early 16th century, and as it was already a vicarage by 1274, it is apparent that the appropriation dates from at least the early 13th century, when the episcopal residence was established. With the restoration of St Serf's by Bishop George Brown, a seperate vicarage was established for that church, the parsonage revenues of the whole continuing with the bishops, while Tibbermore continued to be served by a vicar perpetual.
I B Cowan 1967.
The parish church of Tibbermore stands on a shallow N-facing slope overlooking the valley of the Pow Water. The building is a simple rectangle on plan with an aisle on the N side and some later accretions. The W gable, the S skew of which is crow-stepped, is surmounted by a pinnacled birdcage bellcote; the bell has been removed. A fragment of re-used moulding is visible at the foot of an external stair on the E wall of the N aisle, A second fragment is built into the N wall of the stair. The church is disused, but, although neglected, it still retains its wooden furnishings. The kirkyard contains numerous 18th-century stones, and also a slab dated 1699. The E gateway, which is equipped with substantial masonry piers, bears the date 1731.
Visited by RCAHMS (JRS, IF), 24 October 1995.
NO02SE 13.00 05201 23397
NO02SE 13.01 05157 23376 Kirkyard
NO02SE 13.02 05215 23349 Manse
NMRS REFERENCE:
Tibbermore Parish Church.
Drawing - J. Drummond SAS 386.
Remodelled 1789 (evidently to designs by James Stobie, E. aisle and middle gable removed, church lengthened 10 feet, refenestrated, galleries E.&W. and pulpit moved to central position on S. wall and W. porch added); north T-plan aisle added 1808 by Ruthven Printfield Coy for their servants, purchased by heritors 1835 following extensive repairs 1834. Refurnished 1874 to designs by William Maclaren of Sir George Condie Conning & Co. Harled with margins, fine bellcote dated 1632 renovated 1808, S.W. skew crowstepped, 2 large and 2 small windows S. wall, N. aisle rubble with droved dressings and 3 good monuments on W. wall.
James Stobie was the factor of the 4th Duke of Atholl and practised as an architect and land-surveyor. The 1789 work was carried out by James Miller, Wright, Auchterarder, and Andrew Paterson, mason, Dunning. (Historic Scotland)
Excavation (8 August 2019)
NO 05201 23397 An excavation took place at Tibbermore Church, on 8 August 2019, following the discovery of human remains under the church floorboards.
The site is within a 19th-century extension to the 17th century church, which is a Category B Listed Building (LB18297, Canmore ID: 26861). The trench measured approximately 3.5 x 3.5m and was excavated 0.2m below the joist for replacement. No further human remains were uncovered during the excavation, but the foundations of the original N wall of the church were found, along with a spread of the demolition of the latter. This demolition overlay the original graveyard soil which was not excavated. The human remains consisted of a disarticulated skull, possibly from a 20-30 year-old female, and a left tibia diaphysis. All human remains were reburied within a ‘cist’ in the SW corner of the trench.
Archive: NRHE (intended)
Funder: Historic Churches Scotland
Antoine Ruchonnet - Addyman Archaeology
(Source: DES Vol 20)
OASIS ID: addymana1-363802
