Alternative Names Glenbervie, Old Parish Kirk; Douglas Aisle
Site type BURIAL GROUND, BURIAL VAULT, CHURCH
Canmore ID 36583
Site Number NO78SE 15
NGR NO 76701 80434
Council ABERDEENSHIRE
Parish GLENBERVIE
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District KINCARDINE AND DEESIDE
Former County KINCARDINESHIRE

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Archaeological Notes

NO78SE 15 76701 80434

For Glenbervie West (or Parish) Church (NO 7663 8071), see NO78SE 40 .

(NO 7670 8043) St Michael's Church (NR) (remains of) [NAT]
OS 1:2500 map, 1972.

The old parish church dedicated to St Michael (Scott et al 1915-61) stood in the present burial ground, opposite Glenbervie House. Only a fragment of a tower or pillar, which apparently formed the SW corner, now remains, next to the Douglas Aisle (Name Book 1864).
The Douglas Aisle, originally part of the church (Simpson 1962) is the family vault of the Douglasses, Melvilles, proprietors of Glenbervie. An inscription in contracted Latin gives the history of the Lairds of Glenbervie from 730.
The church is first mentioned in a grant to Brechin Cathedral about 1222, and was in use till 1826, when the new church was built (at NO 7663 8073).
A Jervise 1885; Name Book 1864; H Scott et al 1915-61; W D Simpson 1962.

The Douglas Aisle, which is in good repair, appears to incorporate the E end of St Michael's Church. It measures 7.5m N-S by 5.4m transversely, with the wall 0.8m thick. Toothing at the W end of the N wall confirms that the aisle is part of an earlier structure, almost certainly the church, but renovations and a growth of ivy have obscured any original details. The pillar desribed in the Name Book (1864) remains on the prolongation of the S wall, but as it is modernised and used as a monument to the Stuarts of Inchbreck, it is uncertain if it was part of the church.
Revised at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (R L) 10 December 1969.

All that remains of this church are the E end and a small portion of the S wall; the former has been adapted for use as a burial aisle, and the latter as a family memorial. It was partly rebuilt and enlarged in the late 18th century, before being replaced by the present building in 1826. A church at Glenbervie is first mentioned in 1274.
RCAHMS 1982, visited 1982.

This church was dedicated to St Michael and stood in the present burial-ground opposite Glenbervie House (NO78SE 16.00). Only a fragment of a tower or pillar remains, next to the Douglas Aisle. It was first mentioned in a grant to Brechin Cathedral c. 1222, and was erected a prebend in 1422. It became episcopalian but was converted into the established parish church in 1746 and remained such until 1826 when the new church was built (NO 7663 8073).
The Douglas Aisle (originally part of the church) is the family vault of the Douglasses, Melvilles, propritors of Glenbervie. An inscription in contracted latin gives the history of the lairds of Glenbervie from 1730.
NMRS, NMRS MS/712/19.

Cowan, I B (1967) The parishes of medieval Scotland, Scot Rec Soc, vol.93 Edinburgh
Page(s): 74 Held at RCAHMS C.3.2.COW

Jervise, A (1875-9) Epitaphs and inscriptions from burial grounds and old buildings in the north-east of Scotland with historical, biographical, genealogical and antiquarian notes, 2v Edinburgh
Page(s): Vol. 2, 344-9 Held at RCAHMS G.1.31.JER

Jervise, A (1885) Memorials of Angus and the Mearns: an account historical, antiquarian and traditionary, 2v Edinburgh
Page(s): Vol. 1, 146-7 Held at RCAHMS D.13.1.JER