Monimail, Old Parish Church And Burial Ground
Burial Ground (Medieval) - (19th Century), Church (Medieval), Gate Pier (Period Unknown), Grave Slab (16th Century)
Site Name Monimail, Old Parish Church And Burial Ground
Classification Burial Ground (Medieval) - (19th Century), Church (Medieval), Gate Pier (Period Unknown), Grave Slab (16th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Cardan's Well; Burial Vault
Canmore ID 30157
Site Number NO21SE 19
NGR NO 29839 14161
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/30157
- Council Fife
- Parish Monimail
- Former Region Fife
- Former District North East Fife
- Former County Fife
NO21SE 19 29839 14161
(NO 2984 1415) Church (NR) (Remains of).
OS 6" map, Fife, (1921)
See also NO31SW 4.
For present parish church (Monimail Kirk) at NO 3022 1415, see NO31SW 50.
The old parish church of Monimail became disused in 1796, and all that remains is a fragment of the eastern end, repaired and practically rebuilt as a burial enclosure. The aisle of the Melville family, now used as a burial vault, projects from the N wall of the church and is still entire. It is later than 1690, but contains a good recumbent stone dated 1594.
The church of Monimail was a mensal church of the bishop of St Andrews. No record of its foundation is known, the oldest reference to it being in the Patent Rolls and Privy Seal Registers for 1298. (A H Millar 1895) A H Millar 1895; RCAHMS 1933, visited 1925.
Fasti suggests a dedication to St Cardan, an unknown saint, due to the proximity of Cardan's Well, but this must be erroneous, Cardan being a physician's name (see NO31SW 4 ).
H Scott (Fasti Eccles Scot) 1915-61.
As described by RCAHMS.
Visited by OS (D S) 31 October 1956 and (W D J) 12 May 1970.
Scheduled as Monimail Old Parish Church.
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 12 December 2001.
Field Visit (24 June 1925)
The old parish church of Monimail fell out of use in 1796, and all that is now left of it is a mere fragment of the eastern end, repaired and practically rebuilt as a burial enclosure. There is a tomb-recess in the north wall and beside it a sacrament house. The locker has an ogival head, crocketed, and has been fitted with a door or grille. Above are two shields, the dexter bearing: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, three lioncels passant, gardant; 2nd and 3rd, on a passion cross either a mullet and cross-crosslet fitchy or three cross-crosslets in pale. The sinister shield is surmounted by a crown and bears the Royal Arms.
Projecting from the north wall of the church is the aisle of the Melville family, still entire, having been repaired in 1831. It is an oblong building of ashlar with a slated roof, and bears on one gable a panel inscribed in monogram G.E.M., for George, Earl of Melville, with an earl's coronet above. The structure is therefore later than 1690, when George Melville was created first Earl of Melville. In the east wall is a panel containing a shield bearing: Quarterly 1st and 4th, a fess between three mascles; 2nd and 3rd, on a chevron an otter's head erased, for Bethune of Balfour; on a label beneath the shield is inscribed, MISERICORDIA. The Balfour coat appears again, with the initials LB., on a loose fragment of a triangular pediment lying near the south-east angle of the aisle. The aisle, which is now used as a burial vault, contains a good recumbent stone dated 1594 commemorating in a Latin inscription David Melville (? of Newmill). His initials and those of his wife, Margaret Douglas, appear on either side of a shield bearing: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, a mullet between three crescents, for Melville of Raith; 2nd and 3rd, on a label of three points two mullets.
RCAHMS 1933, visited 24 June 1925.
Photographic Survey (1987)
Recording of gravestones in Monimail Old Parish Church by Mrs Betty Willsher in 1987.
