Thank you for your interest in the Old Kirk of Glenbuchat. We appreciate the support of Friends far and near.

Both the Friends of the Old Kirk of Glenbuchat and the Upper Donside congregation are glad to welcome people to this community and its church building.

Registered as a Charity in Scotland SC031771

THE WORK OF THE SOCIETY

The Friends were formed on 26th May 2001. The aims are:
[a] the care of the Old Kirk of Glenbuchat its furnishings and war memorials and their preservation for posterity [where not the responsibility of Aberdeenshire Council]
[b] the encouragement of research into the history of the church and the community and the publication of suitable literature
[c] the collection of money for the foregoing

Working in close co-operation with Aberdeenshire Council, and with the local Church of Scotland congregation, the Friends completed the restoration of the church in the summer of 2001 by carrying out redecoration, re-covering of the pulpit and returning the Glenbuchat war memorials to the church. In the period 1999-2000 the Aberdeenshire Council had undertaken work on the roof and external harling along with extensive re-plastering of the interior.

YOU CAN HELP

You can support the work of the Friends by making a donation or becoming one of the Friends by subscription. If you are interested in becoming a friend of the Old Kirk of Glenbuchat, please contact our Honorary Secretary:-

Mrs Jean Thomson
Easter Buchat Farm
Glenbuchat.
AB36 8TQ

THE STORY OF THE OLD KIRK OF GLENBUCHAT

Glenbuchat as a parish dates from 1473 previous to which the Glen formed part of the huge mediaeval parish of Logie in Mar. At that time the parishioners had to cross the Don to worship at Logie Kirk and one Easter some were drowned attempting to cross the river. In response the Bishop of Aberdeen erected Glenbuchat into a parish with the church being dedicated to St. Peter.

The oldest part of the building, the masonry on the lower part of the walls is all that remains of the earlier church. It has twice been rebuilt, first in 1629and then around 1792. It is this combination of styles and the lack of subsequent major alteration that makes the church unique and typical of a Scottish Kirk of the 17th and 18th centuries. It is the north side and some of the gables that remains from the 1629 rebuild with the south wall being mostly 18th century. At the apex of the west gable there is a stone bearing date 1629 and the initials of Andrew Kerr the minister at that time. The two gable windows belong to the late 18th century while those on the south side are older and have been recycled from another building.

The two doors on the south side represent a traditional arrangement, the western door being for the general congregation and the eastern one being mainly for the minister's use. Common with other Scottish churches there is no opening to the north.

The belfry is in Kildrummy stone and was originally on the west gable but removed to the east end by Kildrummy mason, David Wood, around 1857. The bell is dated 1643 and has the name of the Dutch bell-founder Peter Jansen. At the south west corner of the church is a ledge for a sundial.

The importance of the church is that it preserves internal arrangements of the 18th century. The walls are plastered as is the coved ceiling. Between the pews the floor is cobbled and the alleys are laid in Correen stone. The pine pews are arranged on three sides of the pulpit which, with its sounding board, is mid-way in the south wall and is lit by two skylight panes in the roof.

In front of the pulpit is the precentor's desk with a double fork for the precentor to display the card announcing the tune. Most of these cards are still preserved in the church. The pews on the north side and the manse pew east of the pulpit are of the box type. Those on the north side each contain small narrow tables, and the partitions between these can be lifted out allowing the tables to be set together for Holy Communion. Holy Communion was cerebrated in Glenbuchat once per year around the end of August or the beginning of September. The annual service on third Sunday in August keeps to this tradition.

At the east end is the Laird's loft which was erected in 1828 and displays the heraldic arms of the Earl Fife. This is the work of Ebenezer Ramsay and is of Mar Lodge pine wood.