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Birse Parish Church
Burial Ground (Medieval), Church (18th Century), Churchyard (Medieval), War Memorial (20th Century)
Site Name Birse Parish Church
Classification Burial Ground (Medieval), Church (18th Century), Churchyard (Medieval), War Memorial (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) War Memorial Plaque
Canmore ID 35250
Site Number NO59NE 18
NGR NO 55446 97291
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/35250
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Birse
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Kincardine And Deeside
- Former County Aberdeenshire
NO59NE 18.00 55446 97291
NO59NE 18.01 55483 97306 Manse with Walled Garden (Birseside)
NO59NE 18.02 c.555 973 Pictish Symbol Stone
Not to be confused with Forest of Birse Church (NO 5329 9054), for which see NO59SW 12.
(NO 5544 9729). The church at Birse, built in 1779 and renovated in 1855 and 1932, is presumably on or near the site of the medieval parish church, mentioned in 1157 and dedicated to St Michael. It was a prebendal church of the Chancellor of the Chapter of Aberdeen Cathedral.
No remains survive, but a 14-15th century (Jervise 1875-9) sculptured slab from the foundation is built into the outside of the south wall of the churchyard, practically in the manse garden. The stone is 5'4" long by 1'6" wide at the top contracting to 8" wide at the base. The decoration, partly incised and partly in relief, represents a sword and two small crosses, one of them inverted.
(See also NO59NE 22: St Michael's Well).
F C Eeles 1912; G Hay 1957; A Jervise 1879.
No further information regarding the site of the earlier church. The modern church is still in use. The sculptured slab, 5ft 9ins long, otherwise as described and illustrated, is now built inside the church, into the N wall.
Visited by OS (R L) 8 June 1972.
NO59NE 18.00 55446 97291
NMRS PLANS
F.A.M. MacDonald Collection - 4 tracings plans showing alterations and additions to church
- 1 sheet plan of church and churchyard
Archaeological Evaluation (16 September 2013)
NO 55356 97247 An archaeological evaluation was carried out prior to an extension to Birse graveyard but no significant archaeological remains were uncovered.
Information from Oasis (camerona1-160389) 9 October 2013
