Church of St Ternan - Arbuthnott
Here in a quiet corner of that farming countryside long known as “The Mearns” stands the Kirk of Saint Ternan Arbuthnott, built of warn red sandstone in medieval times. It is one of the few parish churches in Scotland dating from before the Reformation which remain in use for worship at the present time.
It is believed that St Ternan was born in this area in the 5th Century and lived for a time in Ireland before returning to bring Christianity to his homeland where he established a monastery on the banks of the River Dee at Banchory. There has been a church dedicated to St Ternan on this tranquil site overlooking the Brevie Water since at least the 12th century. The Church was a probend of the Kirkbeugh Church of St Andrews. Records survive from the 12thand early 13th centuries which tell of a long dispute between the Bishops of St Andrew and the Lairds of Arbuthnott regarding the ownership and management of the Kirkton lands. The parish was originally know as Aberbutheneth but by the 14th century the name had become Aberbuthnott and by the mid 15th century Arbuthnott.
Arbuthnott Kirk is one of the most historic and picturesque building in the Mearns. The oldest part is the chancel, built in Early English style and dedicated by David de Bernham Bishop of St Andrews on 3rd of August 1242. Below one of the lancet windows is a piscine, used in past times by the priest when cleansing holy vessels. For many centuries the chancel formed the burial place of the Allardice family, who first settled in the area in the 12th century. The original name was built soon after the chancel, but was rebuilt just before the Reformation and again after being destroyed by fire in 1890. At the western end of the nave is a stonecapped belltower, constructed around 1500 by Sir Robert Arbuthnott of that Ilk.
The south wall of the chancel has a fine Norman archway which once formedpart of an even older building. It now leads into the Arbuthnott Aisle, or Lady Chapel, a beautiful example of late Scottish Ghothic aarchitecture built about 1500 by Sir Robert Arbuthnott as a private chapel for his family. The aisle which has an unusual small bellturret, is supported by four buttresses, each containing a niche with decorated canopy and corbel. In pre-Reforation times each niche would have held a small statue. A narrow twisiting staircase within the small turret leads to the upper room of the aisle which in past times was the Spartan living quarters of the parish priest. It is fitted with stone window seats but has no fireplace.
Within the aisle there is a stoup for holy water and an aumbry, or wall cupboard. A chest-shaped tomb is believed to be the burial place of James Arbuthnott, who died in 1521, he was the son of Sir Robert , builder of the aisle. The tomb is topped by the effigy of a knight in armour with a little dog at his feet. The effigy may perhaps represent Hew le Blood, a 13h century ancestor of the Arbuthotts. An ancient coffin-slab standing near the pulpit in the naïve is thought to be Sir Hew’s tombstone; this stone, which bears a cross, a sword and two blank shields, was at one time used as a doorstep to the Kirk.
It is believed that St Ternan was born in this area in the 5th Century and lived for a time in Ireland before returning to bring Christianity to his homeland where he established a monastery on the banks of the River Dee at Banchory. There has been a church dedicated to St Ternan on this tranquil site overlooking the Brevie Water since at least the 12th century. The Church was a probend of the Kirkbeugh Church of St Andrews. Records survive from the 12thand early 13th centuries which tell of a long dispute between the Bishops of St Andrew and the Lairds of Arbuthnott regarding the ownership and management of the Kirkton lands. The parish was originally know as Aberbutheneth but by the 14th century the name had become Aberbuthnott and by the mid 15th century Arbuthnott.
Arbuthnott Kirk is one of the most historic and picturesque building in the Mearns. The oldest part is the chancel, built in Early English style and dedicated by David de Bernham Bishop of St Andrews on 3rd of August 1242. Below one of the lancet windows is a piscine, used in past times by the priest when cleansing holy vessels. For many centuries the chancel formed the burial place of the Allardice family, who first settled in the area in the 12th century. The original name was built soon after the chancel, but was rebuilt just before the Reformation and again after being destroyed by fire in 1890. At the western end of the nave is a stonecapped belltower, constructed around 1500 by Sir Robert Arbuthnott of that Ilk.
The south wall of the chancel has a fine Norman archway which once formedpart of an even older building. It now leads into the Arbuthnott Aisle, or Lady Chapel, a beautiful example of late Scottish Ghothic aarchitecture built about 1500 by Sir Robert Arbuthnott as a private chapel for his family. The aisle which has an unusual small bellturret, is supported by four buttresses, each containing a niche with decorated canopy and corbel. In pre-Reforation times each niche would have held a small statue. A narrow twisiting staircase within the small turret leads to the upper room of the aisle which in past times was the Spartan living quarters of the parish priest. It is fitted with stone window seats but has no fireplace.
Within the aisle there is a stoup for holy water and an aumbry, or wall cupboard. A chest-shaped tomb is believed to be the burial place of James Arbuthnott, who died in 1521, he was the son of Sir Robert , builder of the aisle. The tomb is topped by the effigy of a knight in armour with a little dog at his feet. The effigy may perhaps represent Hew le Blood, a 13h century ancestor of the Arbuthotts. An ancient coffin-slab standing near the pulpit in the naïve is thought to be Sir Hew’s tombstone; this stone, which bears a cross, a sword and two blank shields, was at one time used as a doorstep to the Kirk.
Further Information
Derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of RCAHMS (www.rcahms.gov.uk)
