Church Overview

At first sight, this appears to be a typical 18th century Scottish country kirk, but it has a much longer history. The church was founded in the 13th-century church, dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, and is the burial place of the ‘interior parts’ of Queen Elizabeth de Burgh, second wife of Robert the Bruce, who died at Cullen in 1327. A chaplainry was endowed here by Robert in 1327. The church acquired collegiate status in 1543 and the choir is from this date. Other additions include the St Anne’s Aisle of 1539, and there is a fine example of a laird’s loft of 1602. Other features include a pre-Reformation aumbry or sacrament house, tombs and monuments including one to James, 1st Earl of Seafield, Chancellor of Scotland at the Treaty of Union of 1707. The box pews are of the 17th-century.

The churchyard has many interesting and imposing tombs, monuments and gravestones.

Services

Sunday: 10.30am

Opening Arrangements

Open summer 2.00-4.00pm Tuesday and Friday or by arrangement

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.