Location
Saint Talorgan's Church Fordyce
Fordyce, Banff, Banffshire
OS Map Reference
NJ 556 639
Date
C1509
Description
Magnificantly carved ogee-arched altar tomb of the Ogilvies of Findlater.
Remains of church; dates from before 1272; ruinous Medieval church; all that remains now is the roofed bell-tower in a fair state of preservation; the obvious later steps to the first floor on the E side of the tower bears an inscription and the date 1721. The old church consisted of a nave with aisles on the W & S; the former aisle belonged to the Ogilvies of Durn, and the latter, now divided into two, belonged one to Birkenbog and the other to Findlater & Boyne. W portion contains mural wall tomb of Ogilvy of Findlater; E portion a mural tomb of a recumbent effigy in armour c1509. A Post-Reformation tower stands with a richly carved double-arched bellcote dated 1661; the Abercrombie of Glassaugh burial aisle is late 17thC with small apex bellcote; burial ground has an interesting range of tomb stones. Church replaced in 1804 by present parish church.
Related Information
Talorgan is a Pictish form of the name Tarquin.
The church of Fordyce is said to be dedicated to St Tarlarican who was bishop of the diocese in the 6th century. It is believed that the present remains date from before 1272 when a church is first mentioned here. Between 1681 and 1684 a loft was built in the steeple house with a prison below on the first floor (Cramond 1912).
This saint is variously ascribed Tarlogan (Scott 1906), Tallerican or Tarkin (OSA 1791-9), Tarloga (Knight 1933).
Tarlogan's Well is at Fordyce (Scott 1906).
Statistical Account (OSA) 1791-9; A B Scott 1906; W Cramond 1912; G A F Knight 1933.
All that remains of this church is the roofed bell-tower, 3.7m square and c.13.7m high, and in a fair state of preservation.
The obviously later steps to the first fl oor, on the E side of the tower, bear an inscription with the date '1721'.
Some 20m NE of the bell-tower are two contiguous burial enclosures of the Ogilvie family, each containing a medieval tomb. The more easterly has a sculptured full-size figure of a knight in armour with a dog at his feet. The more westerly has a similar figure incised on the tombstone.
The gravedigger at Fordyce indicated the well, previously known as St Tarquin's Well at NJ 5536 6364; but it now has a modern surround, and is inscribed 'Coronation Well 1953'.
The original name of the saint cannot be ascertained locally.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 22 September 1961.
Era
1500s
Information Source
RCAHMS
Abdns SMR
Categories
Iconography
- dog or hound
- recumbent human figure
External Links
Photographer
- David Watson Hood
Unavailable Data
- Related Artefacts
- Creator
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