Inchture & Kinnaird Churches
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The present church at Inchture was built in 1891 but there has been an ecclesiastical building in Inchture since the 12th century. Today the church is situated in the heart of the village, its distinctive red sandstone blending in with some of the older cottages along the main street. As well as services on a Sunday, the church provides a meeting place for fellowship and social events and activities, and in 2000 a splendid stained glass window was installed by parishioners - a symbol of faith for the future. |
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Nestling on the southern edge of the Sidlaw Hills, Kinnaird Church forms a focal point with a commanding view across the Carse of Gowrie. The current building dates from 1815 but evidence exists of an earlier church on this site going back to at least 1153. The Threipland Family were early patrons and their memorials dating from 1669 remain in the churchyard today. The church is a plain rectangular edifice of local red sandstone with bell tower and the interior contains comfortable cushioned pews in pine. |
| Inchture History The first mention of a Parish Church in Inchture dates from the 12th century when William the Lion granted a small chapel at Inchture the status of a Parish Church.The earliest recorded date is 1183 when Inchture Church is mentioned in a Papal Bull. The minister then was called Andrew who was at Inchture from 1214 until 1249. The Church at Inchture was later dedicated by Bishop de Bernham on 13 August 1243. Nothing much is recorded of the building until 1799 when a meeting of heritors was called to discuss extensive repairs and alterations which were urgently required. By 1834 things were so bad that a new church was built at a cost of £1,114 and 8s. The work was carried out in 7 months, complete with a new wall and railing around the churchyard. It was at this time the church building and the churchyard were elevated about 2 metres above the surrounding level. A local red sandstone was used. On Sunday 14 December 1890, about 10 a.m., Mr Honey, the minister, was about to conduct his Bible Class. He saw smoke coming from the church roof, which was soon ablaze. By the time the fire brigade arrived, the roof had fallen in and the interior was a mass of flames. The whole church was gutted. In 1891 a new church was erected at a cost of £1,129 and 15s on the site of the old one. Mr Duncan Stewart, factor of the Rossie Estates, was the architect. The old foundations were reused, giving the building its present shape. The only major alteration since then has been the addition of the Session House a few years ago. We can still see the original stone stair at the west door which dates from the old 1834 building. This stair originally went to a gallery which was never replaced. The memorial plaque to Dr Honey on the south wall within the church marks the spot where the pulpit would have been originally in the 18th century building. | |