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Home Page | Moray Attractions | Ancient Monuments and Castles in Moray | Birnie Church

Birnie Church

Address: Around 2 miles south of Elgin between the A941 Elgin to Rothes road and the B9010 Elgin to Kellas road
Town: Birnie
County: Moray
Postcode: IV30 8SU
Website: http://www.pluscardenchurch.org
Opening Times: Daily - Admission Free
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Description
Birnie Church was built around 1140 and occupies a site with an even more ancient history.   An earlier 6th century Celtic church once stood here which was dedicated to St Brendan the Navigator, who was an Irish Saint, famed for his navigation via Iceland to Newfoundland.

Of the ancient Celtic foundation, there is now no trace.   It's Church, presumably wattle built became the seat of the Diocese of Moray when the Bishopric was founded by King Alexander I in 1107-15.   Later, when the seat was transferred to Kinnedar, Birnie became what was termed a "common kirk", that is  a church the Cathedral Chapter possessed the patronage of, its free income going in to the common purse of the Chapter and being yearly divided among the members. 

In 1184, Simon de Tonei, fourth Bishop of Moray, was buried in this church, although no trace of his tomb remains.

The present church which was built around 1140 is, without doubt, one of the most superb examples of Norman architecture preserved in Scotland and is built in the form of a parallelogram with a small chancel at the east end, separated from the nave by a beautiful and characteristic Norman arch supported on pillars.   The west gable was rebuilt about 1734 (the date on the belfry), the church being shortened by two feet.   Further repairs were undertaken in 1891.

Birnie Church is home to the a very rare and interesting specimen of an ancient square shaped bell, known as the Ronnel bell, which is supposed to have been cast in Rome from copper and silver and blessed by the Pope, although there is no record to show which Pope.   The ancient baptismal font is of interest and is of Norman design, probably pre-dating the present church.  Within the church, you can also find the "Hairy Bible", dated 1773, so called because of its binding of natural hairy calfskin.

In the churchyard there is a carved stone of Pictish origin.   The stone is around one metre high and is badly weathered, but you can still see carvings of an eagle and z rod symbols.

The venerable Kirk of Birnie is the more interesting in that it is one of the oldest buildings in Scotland in which continuous worship has taken place.
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