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Rinabaich, St Manire's Chapel
Burial Ground (Early Medieval), Chapel (Early Medieval), Standing Stone (Prehistoric)
Site Name Rinabaich, St Manire's Chapel
Classification Burial Ground (Early Medieval), Chapel (Early Medieval), Standing Stone (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Chapel Mayore; Miacras; Micras
Canmore ID 32462
Site Number NO39NW 1
NGR NO 3011 9620
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/32462
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Glenmuick, Tullich And Glengairn
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Kincardine And Deeside
- Former County Aberdeenshire
NO39NW 1 3011 9620.
(NO 300 962) The church or chapel of St. Manire (or Chapel Mayore, according to Alexander), who flourished in the 6th century, stood on a knoll between Lebhal (Lavell: NO 299 963) and Rhynabaich, surrounded by a burial ground used within living memory for unbaptised children. There is a probably prehistoric standing stone at its west end which McConnachie says was used as a reading desk for the chapel and was said to be the remains of a stone circle. Keith, writing about 1732, mentions, "The Chappel of the Hermites, at Miacras or Micras" as being extant. The Allt Eaglais runs close to its site and the hill behind it called Creag Eaglais.
Spalding Club 1847-69; A I McConnachie 1898; J Stirton 1925; W M Alexander 1952.
At NO 3011 9620 a level has been scooped out of the top of a natural knoll and surrounded by a wall, which is now tumbled and turf covered, to form the burial ground referred to. No trace of a chapel or of gravestones exist within the enclosure. No further information regarding dedication.
Incorporated in the enclosure wall at NO 3010 9619 is a weathered standing stone, c.1.4m high by c.0.7m wide by c.0.3m thick, which possibly forms part of the entrance to the burial ground. There is no evidence of a stone circle.
Visited by OS (R L) 26 October 1967.
Field Visit (7 March 2012)
The lichen-covered granite standing stone is situated on the summit of the grass-grown enclosure bank surrounding the burial ground (NO 30103 96189). It measures 1.45m high, 0.75m broad and 0.25m thick, with its broad axis facing slightly east of south. Its north face is smooth and regular, unlike that on the south, while itsupper surface is asymmetrical. What appears to be the stump of a second stone is situated immediately to its east. This now has a smooth, horizontal top and measures 0.2m high, 0.6m broad and 0.3m thick. Their situation on the summit of the bank indicates that neither is in a prehistoric context.
A depression in the SW corner of the enclosure marks the location of a rectangular building measuring 9m from east to west by 5m transversely within grass-grown stone walls 0.7m thick and0.1m high.
Visited by RCAHMS (ATW), 7 March 2012.
