St. Ciarán's Kirk Stonehaven, general

Location

Kirktown of Fetteresso - at the western edge of the town
Stonehaven, Kincardine

OS Map Reference

NO 852 856

Description

Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The Old Kirk : The old kirk is situated on a small hill that was once allegedly the site of the 6th - century Chapel of St. Ciaran. St. Ciarán was an Irish monk, missionary to the Picts (if it is was St. Ciarán founder of Clonmacnois who lived from circa 512-544AD it is hard to see how he had the time) there are also many other saints of the same name St. Ciarán [the Elder] of Ossory or of Saighir not to mention Saint Ciarán of Disert-Kieran, Saint Ciarán of Clonsost, Saint Ciarán mac Colga and an often confused St. Piran, in fact there are so many dark-age St Ciaráns it is something of an academic joke.
When Stonehaven became the county town of Kincardineshire in 1600, subsequent population growth necessitated the building of a New Kirk on Bath Street and St. Ciarán's fell derelict, but was rescued by the Duffs of Fetterresso who used it as their burial ground.
The Pictish period chapel was replaced by one built in the 13th – century of which the N.W. doorway and portions of the N. adjoining wall are said to belong. The main body of the present kirk dates from the second half of the 17th - century. Internally this elevation can be seen to have contained a number of window and door openings. The N.W. gable of the kirk is crowned by a bellcote, dated 1737, though the bell is no longer present. Internally the kirk contains a superb white marble tombstone to the memory of Rbt. Wllm. Duff of Fetterresso, dated 1834, and features a finely carved armorial panel in a good pediment. The memorial is in reasonably good condition.
Tombstones : There are approximately 71 recumbent tombstones, of which 12 are significantly decorated. There are many hundreds of upright tombstones of which a high proportion are stylish Victorian tombstones.
Some of the 18th century stones were engraved by a Mr. Cresswell, a farmer "who could not form a single letter with the pen".

Era

Various

Information Source

Information board, and Source The Historic Kirkyards of Aberdeenshire A Survey Report, Aberdeenshire Council 1998, the list of Ciaráns/Kierans is from a variety of sources see:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonmacnoise and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciaran_of_Clonmacnoise for the history of that St Ciarán and his monastery.

Related Artefacts

Photographer

Alan Thomson

Unavailable Data

Date
Related Information
Iconography
Creator
External Links

This content was submitted by external contributors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Aberdeen.