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Parish church and graveyard, situated just South of the steep river bank of the South Esk. The church was built in 1828-9 by David Paterson, architect, on the site of its medieval predecessor, with a later vestry and porch added to the North elevation in the late-19th century. This earlier church dates from at last the 13th century, with a church on this site being dedicated to St Columba and granted to Inchaffray Abbey in 1287, and transferred to Brechin Cathedral (NO56SE0012) in 1429. The church on the site that was demolished to make way for the present church in the 1820s is thought to have been 17th century in date, suggesting at least one re-build in the lifetime of the church previous to the present one. There is a part of the previous church re-built into the burial aisle on the East elevation, and there are foundation stones, probably from the previous church, occasionally jutting out from under the present church and aisle. The church is now an oblong Gothic church, constructed in red ashlar and oriented East/West, with a porch and vestry on the North elevation and a semi-octagonal burial aisle on the East gable end. There are stepped buttresses between the three bays on the long North and South elevations and at the corners of the church, with crocketted finials. A string course runs along the North, South and West elevations of the church at first-floor level, broken by the buttresses. The West gable end faces the entrance driveway, and has a large hood-moulded pointed-arch window that is traceried and has lattice glazing. It sits above the string course, and covers much of the rest of the elevation. The gable skews have decorative stone balustrades and an ornate stone finial to the gable apex. The South elevation is divided into three bays by the buttresses, with a hood-moulded pointed-arch window sitting above the string course in each bay. The windows are of a similar style to the one on the West gable end, but smaller, being under a string course surmounted by a crenellated parapet. One of the buttresses on this elevation contains a sundial from 1675. The North elevation is of a similar design to the South elevation, but has an additional single-storey porch and vestry, added in the late-19th century to the West of the elevation. These are also constructed from red ashlar, with the vestry projecting to the North and with small pointed-arch windows and a piended roof. The gabled porch fills the angle between the West elevation of the vestry and the North elevation of the church. It has a small round-arch window on the North elevation and a doorway on the West gable end. The East gable end has a hood-moulded pointed-arch window in the same style of the others, but it is much smaller, being set above a string course that is higher than those on the other elevations. It has a simpler filled skew than the West gable end, and a simple stone cross apex finial surmounting a small opening. The pointed-arch window sits above a semi-octagonal burial aisle constructed from grey ashalr, with hood-moulded pointed-arch windows and doorways. There are smaller versions of the finialled stepped buttresses as seen on the main church building, and a similar crenellated parapet surmounting a string course, with a piended roof within. This aisle was re-built on the site of a previous aumbry or sacrament house. The North elevation of the aisle has an inscribed stone from the previous building, which is dated 1614 and contains various initials and armorials. All the roofs are slated. Inside, there is a pulpit and sanctuary at the West end of the church, and a gallery at the East end, and it is entered through the late-19th century porch on the North elevation. The sanctuary is raised by a single step. The pulpit is approached by a flanking staircase, and has simple panelling, as does the backboard. The sounding board is more elaborately carved, with angle finials and a spire. In front of the pulpit is a carved communion table and lectern. There is also a carved wooden font in the sanctuary. The gallery at the East end is supported by wooden columns, creating three decorated pointed archways. The columns are fashioned in a similar style to the stepped buttresses around the church, including simple finials. There is a decorated panelled front to the gallery. The church and graveyard is enclosed by a rubble wall, on average 6 feet (1.8 metres) high. There is a driveway to the West, with square crenellated gatepiers and cast-iron gates from circa 1828. The graveyard itself is to the South and South-West of the church, and there is a second entrance in the South-West corner. The site is also known as Glenprosen Old Church.
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Angus
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NO35NE0002 - CORTACHY PARISH CHURCH