Undiscovered Scotland

 

Turriff Auld Kirkyard is accessed through an iron gateway set in a red stone wall at the western end of the High Street in Turriff’s old town, nor far from the mercat cross. Beyond the gate, you find yourself in a world far removed from the hustle and bustle of Turriff itself.

Not a great deal remains of the kirk, just an eastern gable topped off with clock (that wasn’t telling the correct time when we visited) and a double bellcote, together with parts of the north and south walls adjoining it, also made of red stone.

The surrounding kirkyard is home to a number of fascinating old gravestones and an information board on site leads you to the graves of a number of the more notable people buried here. (Continues below images...)

 

The Auld Kirk, also known as St Congan’s Church after Turriff’s patron saint, was founded in around 1090 by King Malcolm III, apparently on the site of a chapel built by St Congan in around 750.

Once the tallest building in Turriff, it was 120 feet long by only 18 wide and was said to hold up to 250 people for worship.

The belfry was built in 1635, though the surviving bell is said to be dated 1556 and was cast in Turriff. The clock was added in 1828, though the church itself was replaced by a new parish church on a different site in 1795.