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MHG7043 - St. Barevan's Church - Kirkton of Barevan

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NH84NW 6 8368 4725.
St Barevan's Church (NR) (In Ruins) Holy Water Fonts (NAT) (NH 8368 4726) Stone Coffin (NAT)
OS 6"map, Nairnshire, 2nd ed., (1906)

Parish church of Barevan or Cawdor until it was superseded 1619. (See NH84NW 4 for later church)

The ruin is EC14. In 1937 the side walls stood to a height of 11 to 12ft, but the gables were reduced to the foundations. The piscina niche near the east end still contained its double bowl (i.e. the published 'Holy Water Fonts'). Simpson (1937) makes no mention of the annexe on the SW corner, which is shown on the OS 6"map, Nairnshire, 1st ed., (1869) and is noted by the OS Reviser in 1955. Watson (1926) derives the name 'Barr Eibhinn' from Aibind, who was active between 500 and 550 AD. This Celtic origin is apparently confirmed by a Celtic bell, said to have belonged to the church, which is preserved at Cawdor Castle. The churchyard contains, south and south-west of the church, some late mediaeval grave-slabs, and, to the north of the church, a mediaeval stone coffin. There are also at least a dozen cup-marked grave-slabs in the churchyard.
W D Simpson 1937; W J Watson 1926; W Jolly 1882; OS reviser D Wainwright 15 September 1955.

St Barevan's Church, measuring 21.6m E to W by 6.2m transversely internally, with walls 0.8m thick, the graveyard and its contents, are as described above, except that no trace remains of the cup-marked grave-slabs, nor could their present whereabouts be ascertained. The annexe on the SW corner of the church is a fairly modern burial place. Visited by OS (N K B) 22 November 1965.

Of special interest as the architectural detail associates it with the hall-house at Rait (NH85SE 10).
J G Dunbar 1966.

The old church and churchyard were listed at Category B in 1971.

The old church and churchyard were Scheduled in 1971.

Awaiting DES entry 98/036.

A gravestone survey was completed by S Farrell in 2003. <1>

It was proposed that the old church and burial ground be removed from the statutory list in September 2016 as part of a Historic Environment Scotland project looking at dual designations of sites in the Highlands, though they would remain a scheduled monument. <2>

The old church and burial ground were removed from the statutory list by Historic Environment Scotland on 22/09/2016. <3>

A gold coin of Charles VII of France from Cawdor was submitted to Treasure Trove (TT 33/08) and allocated to Nairn Museum. A record card for this coin from Nairn Museum bears a note which may read 'Found Kirkton of Barevan'. The coin may therefore be from this site. It is on display in the museum. <4> <5>

See also:
NH84NW0110 Graveyard

Sources/Archives (23)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 8368 4725 (25m by 16m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH84NW
Civil Parish	CAWDOR
Geographical Area	NAIRN

Finds (2)

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