Highland Council HER - by exeGesIS SDM

Record details

ID:	MHG7173
Type of record:	Building
Name:	Ardclach Old Parish Church
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Images

Old Council listed building record (for up to date description see link to Historic Scotland's website) © Highland Council

Slide 332 - Church interior © Please contact Highland Council for details

© Please contact Highland Council for details

Site Visit Photo (photo by A Puls) © Highland Council

Reports

Colour photograph © Please contact Highland Council for details (File size: 155 KB)

Fieldwork report © Stuart Farrell (File size: 49 KB)

Grid Reference:	NH 9547 4502
Map Sheet:	NH94NE
Civil Parish:	ARDCLACH
Geographical Area:	NAIRN

Monument Types

CHURCH (Early Medieval to 19th Century - 561 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status:	Listed Building (B) 554: Ardclach Old Parish Church And Burial Ground

Scores

Survival: ROOFED BUILDING (undated)

Other References/Statuses

Building at Risk: 1498 Ardclach Old Parish Church
Historic Environment Record: MHG7173
NMRS NUMLINK Reference: 15484
NMRS Record Details: NH94NE3.0 ARDCLACH OLD PARISH CHURCH
Non-Statutory Register (V)
Old SMR Reference Number: NH94NE0003

Full description

NH94NE 3 9548 4503.
Church (NAT) OS 6"map, Nairnshire, 2nd ed., (1906)

Ardclach Parish Church is said to have been built 1626; records showing rebuilding in 1762 and 1839 and renovation 1892. It is said to have been dedicated to St Luag, who died 592, but this is unlikely as Ardclach is a post-Reformation parish, the area having been served previously by two chapels - at Ferness (NH94SE 2) and Lethen (NH95NW ). Possible that local association with St Luag belongs to chapel at Ferness.
G Bain 1893; H Scott et al 1915-61; W J Watson 1926; NSA 1845. <1>-<4>

There is little or no evidence of 17th century building in present structure. The church is no longer in use, last service being held on 24th January 1956 (Info from Rev D W D Johnston, Auldearn).
No info regarding the alleged dedication. The burial ground is still in use. The present parish church, formerly Free Church, is at NH 9485 4599.
Visited by OS (R L) 19 January 1971.

A survey of 225 graveyard monuments of Ardclach churchyard was carried out by S Farrell in October 1997.

The present church at Ardclach was built in 1765 (by AndrewMcAndrew) replacing an earlier church of 1626. Reconstructed in 1839 at a cost of£500 (by George Dunbar and John Wilson) and renovated in 1892 (by Alexander Reid). The church of 1839 had seating for 686. The furnishings of the church have been transferred to the present parish church, which was formerly Ardclach Free Church. At present the church is disused and its future uncertain. The church is T-shaped in plan, built of yellow sandstone rubble with a slate roof. <5>

Memorial survey also mentioned in Discovery and Excavation Scotland. <6>

There is a photo of site in 1900 in Thomson diaries. This may have been part of a series commissioned before they left the parish in 1900. <7>

A watching brief was undertaken prior to the construction of a car park adjacent to the church and churchyard of Ardclach. No archaeological features were revealed during the work. The only finds were some white-glazed pottery, and a charcoal spread. <8>

Ardclach Church (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG15488.

Ardclach Church. (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG13308.

Ardclach Church. (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG13309.

Ardclach Church. (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG13310.

Ardclack Church (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG13917.

Highland Council Archaeology Unit, HCAU Slide Collection Sheet 17, 332 (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG24430.

Highland Council Archaeology Unit, HCAU Slide Collection Sheet 17, 338 (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG24430.

Highland Council Archaeology Unit, HCAU Slide Collection Sheet 18, 349 (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG24431.

Ardclach Old Parish Church, 1994, [Ardclach Old Parish Church, newscutting] (Text/Publication/Article/Newspaper Article). SHG2999.

Love J, McMullen E (ed), 1994, A Salmon for the Schoolhouse, A Nairnshire Parish in the C19 (Text/Publication/Volume). SHG2425.

Leonella Longmore, 2000, Land of Churches (Text/Publication/Volume). SHG2414.

<1> NSA, 1845, The new statistical account of Scotland by the ministers of the respective parishes under the superintendence of a committee of the society for the benefit of the sons and daughters of the clergy, Vol. 13, Nairn, 39 (Text/Publication/Volume). SHG2597.

<2> Bain, G, 1893, History of Nairnshire, 506 (Text/Publication/Volume). SHG1938.

<3> Scott, H et al (eds.), 1915-61, Fasti ecclesiae Scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation, Vol. 6, 430 (Text/Publication/Volume). SHG2773.

<4> Watson, W J, 1926, The history of the Celtic place-names of Scotland: being the Rhind lectures on archaeology (expanded) delivered in 1916, 338 (Text/Publication/Volume). SHG2918.

<5> Farrell, S, 10/1997, Ardclach Churchyard: A Survey of its Memorials (Text/Report). SHG21888.

<6> Farrell, S, 1997, 'Inverness and Nairn Graveyard Survey (Ardclach; Croy & Dalcross; Daviot & Dunlichity; Moy & Dalarossie; Nairn; Urquhart & Glenmoriston parishes), survey', Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1997, p.43, 43 (Text/Publication/Article). SHG934.

<7> White, H, Comment by Hilary White, HC Archaeologist, 10/2004 (Verbal Communication). SHG23635.

<8> Farrell, S, 09/1999, Ardclach Church: Report of Archaeological Watching Brief (Text/Report). SHG21252.