CHurch Overview

This thoroughly charming little Gothic church was built 1846-47 by the noted Edinburgh-based architect John Henderson as a private Episcopal chapel for the nearby Fasque House. It was commissioned by the then estate owner Sir John Gladstone, the father of future four time prime minister William Ewart Gladstone, who instructed the architect to include a crypt beneath the building to be used as a family burial vault and also paid for the construction of a nearby parsonage.

The chapel was formally consecrated and dedicated to St Andrew on the 28th August 1847 by the Rt Rev William Skinner, then Bishop of Aberdeen and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, and the Rt Rev Samuel Wilberforce, then Bishop of Oxford and a personal friend of Sir John’s. A handsome chancel was added in 1867 and further changes were made to the building between 1907 and 1927 by the celebrated church architect Alexander Ross and then by his son John Alistair Ross. The most famous member of the Gladstone family was a regular visitor to Fasque, when he was not holding one of the highest civic offices in the land.

The magnificent interior still possesses many elements of its original decorative scheme, with some of its fine fittings and furnishings replaced during the 1925 renovations. Its oak panelling, pulpit and other furniture, richly decorated windows and comfortable fixed pews all sit resplendent beneath a fine hammer-beam raftered timber ceiling. A pipe organ is located within a side arch in the north east, behind which sits the vestry. Memorials to various members of the Gladstone family, in a variety of forms, can be found throughout the church, most notable a near life-size carved marble relief depiction of the church’s benefactor Sir Robert Gladstone and his second wife, Ann Robertson.

The little private chapel, originally intended only for the use of family, friends and estate workers, was eventually gifted to the Diocese of Brechin and has been used for public services ever since. A small graveyard sits outside, the burial place of family members, estate workers and former clergy. Queen Elizabeth II visited the church in 1961 and 1975 to attend the Christening and later confirmation of one of her god-daughters.

Today, this historic place of worship is one of four beautiful Episcopal churches united into a single charge in the Howe of Mearns, the others being St John the Baptist, in Drumlithie, St Palladius’ Church, in Drumtochty and St Laurence’s, in Laurencekirk.

Service times

Alternates with St Laurence in Laurencekirk, check church’s Facebook page for service times.

Opening arrangements

Contact church directly to arrange access.

Image Gallery

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Disclaimer

The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.