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Monifieth Parish Church
- Dedication: Our Lady?
- Diocese of St Andrews
- Deanery of Angus
- NO 49525 32355
Summary description
The medieval church, which was possibly of two-compartment plan, was replaced by a new building in 1812-13, which was remodelled in 1873 and 1954.
Historical outline
A rich collection of Pictish sculpture from Monifieth and records of Céli Dé there in the late twelfth and into possibly the second quarter of the thirteenth century reveal the former presence of an important monastic community here from at least the eighth century.(2) That community may have been largely secularised if not entirely defunct by c.1220 when Earl Malcolm of Angus gave its abthain lands to one of his men, Nicholas son of Brice the priest of Kirriemuir, who subsequently witnessed charters of Malcolm’s daughter Countess Matilda, datable 1242-3, as ‘abbot’ of Monifieth.(3) By that date, however, the parish church had long been detached from any former link with the monastery, being granted by Earl Gille Chriosd of Angus in1201x1204 to Arbroath Abbey along with its lands, chapels, teinds and offerings etc.(4) The earl’s grant was confirmed by King William probably in 1204 or 1205.(5) There was a second grant by Gille Chriosd and a confirmation by King William in 1213 as part of a general confirmation of the abbey’s possessions.(6) Royal confirmation was again given by William’s son, Alexander II, in 1214x1218.(7) Further confirmations were made by Gille Chriosd’s son Duncan, grandson Malcolm and great-granddaughter Matilda.(8)
The royal and comital confirmations of Arbroath’s possession of Monifieth were reinforced by episcopal and papal acts. It was named in the general confirmation by Pope Honorius III in 1219 as a church granted by the earls of Angus.(9) Between 1202 and 1204, however, Bishop William Malveisin of St Andrews had granted the church to the abbey in two charters, one specific and one general, in proprios usus but reserving his episcopal rights.(10) In a third charter he confirmed his original appropriation but required that the monks present Monifieth with a perpetual vicar.(11) It was then confirmed by Malveisin’s successor, Bishop David de Bernham, who in 1249 also instituted a formal vicarage settlement with the parsonage of Monifieth annexed to the abbey and the cure served by a vicar perpetual.(12)
Bishop David’s settlement lasted for a century until in 1350 Bishop William Landallis also annexed Monifieth’s vicarage to Arbroath. It was claimed in his grant that the abbey, which was situated close to the sea and subject to English raids, was in a ruinous condition. To enable its recovery, all fruits of the parish church were thereafter annexed to the abbey, the vicarage to be united to the monastery upon the death of perpetual vicar, William. It was ordained that a perpetual chaplain would in future serve the cure with an annual fee of 10 merks. Although the curate of Monifieth was one of the incumbents of appropriated churches who appealed to Bishop Landallis in 1352 over the inadequacy of their portions, the union was confirmed by him again in 1378, by Bishop Henry Wardlaw in1422, and again by Bishop James Kennedy in1458.(13) Despite the union, perpetual vicars are recorded in 1378, 1379 and 1404, indicating that Bishop Landallis’s grant had been ineffective.(14)
A second union was attempted in 1418 following a fire at Arbroath Abbey, which had happened sixteen years years before in 1402. The convent sought to annex the perpetual vicarage of Monifieth and two further churches that they possessed in St Andrews diocese to provide them with additional revenue to fund rebuilding efforts. The union was to be eased by the resignation of the vicar and his exchange of Monifieth for another benefice.(15) The period 1419-1421, however, saw a run of problems arising from the annexation and the associated exchange which had given rise to a lawsuit between Henry Ogilvy, who had exchanged his church of Tibbermore for Monifieth in a deal with its then vicar, John Thomas. Henry was provided to the church but eventually resigned in favour of the abbey.(16) In 1426 further confirmations of their control of the vicarage were sought by the monks and final possession appears to have been achieved at this time.(17)
Vicars pensionary are recorded in the 1430s but in 1451 the abbey granted the church for life to Bishop James Kennedy for the protection that he had extended to them and their possessions during recent political disturbances.(18) In 1486 the abbey set the vicarage for thirteen years for an annual payment of £20 and two barrels of ‘red and sweet’ salmon, the lessee, Master Thomas Durham, vicar of Meathie, paying also all episcopal burdens and the annual pension of the vicar of Monifieth.(19) The union of the church with the abbey was maintained, with vicars pensionary serving the cure, for the remainder of the pre-Reformation period. At the Reformation it was noted that the parsonage and vicarage were held by the abbey but were assigned to Alexander Beaton of Melgund, valued at £26 13s 4d, with Alecander paying the vicar an annual pension of 20 merks.(20)
Notes
1. J M Mackinlay, Ancient Church Dedications in Scotland: Scriptural Dedication (Edinburgh, 1910), 101.
2. I B Cowan and D E Easson, Medieval Religious Houses: Scotland, 2nd edition (London, 1976), 50.
3. Liber S Thome de Aberbrothoc, i (Bannatyne Club, 1848), no.115, Cartae Originales, nos IV, V.
5. Arbroath Liber, i, no.40; Regesta Regum Scottorum, ii, The Acts of William I, ed G W S Barrow (Edinburgh, 1971), no.455 [hereafter RRS, ii].
6. Arbroath Liber, i, nos 1, 46; RRS, ii, no.513.
8. Arbroath Liber, i, nos 47-49.
10. Arbroath Liber, i, nos 161, 165.
11. Arbroath Liber, i, no.167.
12. Arbroath Liber, i, nos 172, 236.
13. Liber S Thome de Aberbrothoc, ii (Bannatyne Club, 1856), nos 23, 36, 57, 88 [hereafter Arbroath Liber, ii]; Calendar of Entries in the Papal Registers Relating to Great Britain and Ireland: Petitions to the Pope, ed W H Bliss (London, 1896), 235 [hereafter CPP].
14. CPP, 540; Calendar of Papal Letters to Scotland of Clement VII of Avignon 1378-1394, ed C Burns (Scottish History Society, 1976), 21; Calendar of Papal Letters to Scotland of Benedict XIII of Avignon 1394-1419, ed F McGurk (Scottish History Society, 1976), 124 [hereafter CPL Benedict XIII].
16. Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome, i, 1418-1422, eds E R Lindsay and A I Cameron (Scottish History Society, 1934), 40, 270, 279.
17. Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome, ii, 1423-1428, ed A I Dunlop (Scottish History Society, 1956), 2, 152.
18. Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome, iv, 1433-1447, eds A I Dunlop and D MacLauchlan (Glasgow, 1983), no.70; Calendar of Entries in the Papal Registers Relating to Great Britain and Ireland: Letters to the Pope, x, 1447-1455, ed J A Twemlow (London, 1915), 167-8.
19. Arbroath Liber, ii, no.298.
20. J Kirk (ed), The Books of Assumption of the Thirds of Benefices (Oxford, 1995), 363, 363, 393.
Summary of relevant documentation
Medieval
Synopsis of Cowan’s Parishes: The church was granted to Arbroath by Gilchrist, earl of Angus 1201x04. A vicar perpetual was established in a settlement in 1249, but the vicarage was also annexed in 1350, the cure thereafter served by a vicar pensioner.(1)
According to Mackinley the church was dedicated to Mary.(2)
1201x07 Gift of the church by Gilchrist, earl of Angus to the abbey with chapels, lands, teinds etc. Confirmed by William I.(3)
1202x04 Possession of church by Arbroath confirmed by William, bishop of St Andrews, in two charters, the first specifically related to the church, the second including all the churches held by Arbroath in the diocese of St Andrews.(4)
1204x11 Church included in confirmation of gifts to abbey of his father by Duncan, earl of Angus and in 1214x26 by Malcolm, earl of Angus.(5)
1213 Church included in confirmation by William I of the possessions of Arbroath.(6)
1214x18 Church included in confirmation by Alexander II of all the lands and churches belonging to Arbroath.(7)
1219 Church included in papal bull by Honorius III of possessions of Arbroath given by earls of Angus.(8)
c.1233 Church included in a confirmation by David de Bernham, bishop of St Andrews, all the churches held by Arbroath in the diocese of St Andrews.
1249 Vicarage settlement by the bishop, parsonage with abbey, perpetual vicarage set up.(9)
1350 William Landallis, bishop of St Andrews annexes the vicarage of Monifieth to the abbey because Arbroath is situated close to the sea and is subject to English raids and is therefore in a ruinous state. All fruits o church annexed to the abbey, church vacant following death of last perpetual vicar William, perpetual chaplain to serve the cure with a fee of 10 marks pa. 1378, 1422, 1458 confirmations of union by William again, Henry Wardlaw and James Kennedy.(10)
1352 Suit brought before the bishop of St Andrews between abbey of Arbroath and the vicars of Inverlunan, St Vigean, Barry, Arbirlot, Monifieth, Muirhouse, Newtyle, Glamis and Kirriemuir. ‘The vicars asserted that they had insufficient portions, whereupon the bishop made an ordinance, which the Pope is asked to confirm’.(11)
1378 Walter Trail (MA and future bishop of St Andrews?) described as perpetual vicar of Monifieth.(12)
1404 John Thomas in possession of church, value 25 marks.(13)
1418 Following fire at Arbroath (that happened 16 years before in 1402) convent allowed to annex the perpetual vicarage of Monifieth (x2 further churches in St Andrews diocese); vicar resigns and exchanges for another benefice.(14)
1419-1421 Problems arising from annexation by Arbroath suit between Henry Ogilvy (illegitimate son of Alexander Ogilvy of Auchterhouse) who swapped his church of Tibbermore for Monifieth with John Thomas. Henry provided to church but eventually resigns and abbey wins (fire at abbey the result of lightning strike).(15) In 1426 further confirmations sought by Arbroath of their control of the vicarage.(16)
1433 Patrick Sandilands provided to the church (by the Pope) on the resignation of Ingeram de Lindsay.(17)
1451 Church granted to James Kennedy, bishop of St Andrews, for life by Richard Guthrie and Walter Paniter, abbots of Arbroath, in thanks for looking after the monks and their property in his episcopal castle during war time.(18)
1486 Vicarage set for 13, 20 marks for first 2 years and two barrels of red salmon (also to pay chaplain’s pension).(19)
1525 David Crichton presented to vicar pensionary on resignation of John Yallower.(20)
1525 Teinds and sheaves of the parsonage of the church with the vicarage, glebe and kirklands set to Isobel Barry, spouse of the late Andrew Abercorn, burgess of Dundee, for various victuals and 40 marks, 4 barrels of salmon and the fishing of the crag from which 10 barrels of salmon. 1531; the same terms set to Peter Ramsay and his wife Isobel Barry.(21)
Post-medieval
Books of assumption of thirds of benefices and Accounts of the collectors of thirds of benefices: The Parish church parsonage and vicarage with Arbroath but described as assigned to Alexander Betoun of Melgund, value £26 13s 4d. Vicar pensioner paid 20 marks by Alexander.(22)
Account of Collectors of Thirds of Benefices (G. Donaldson): Third of vicarage £8 17s pd.(23)
#1565 A bell in the church tower had an inscription ‘Henry I am all for Truth, Jacob Sur made me in 1565’.(24)
1613 (5 Sept) A visitation of the church finds the fabric to be in good estate.(25)
1662 (1 April) Church along with rector and vicar teinds recorded as in the control of Patrick, earl of Panmure, inherited from his father, George (d.1661).(26)
#Pre-1812 plan of the old church of Monifieth by Mrs Jamess C Lyell, shows a aisle in the north east corner and a large west door.(27) Mr James Lyell (Owner of a Jute Mill) described the pre-1812 church. The ‘main door was in the wall wall of the tower; but either the subsidence of the buildings or from having the soil accumulated round the tower, the entrance was several feet below the surface of the surrounding kirkyard. The pulpit was at the south wall opposite the aisle…a monument to the Durham (of Grange) family occupied nearly the whole of the north wall of the choir. It was erected about the year 1600’.(28)
Statistical Account of Scotland (James Roger, Preacher of the Gospel, 1794): ‘The church, which is situated in the village of Monifieth, is and ancient building. But the period of construction is unknown. It must have been built before the era of the Reformation, as on the east end of it is a quire’.(29)
New Statistical Account of Scotland (Rev Samuel Miller, 1842): ‘The parish church stands on the brink of the Tay, at the southern extremity of the parish and is consequently rather inconveniently situated. It was built in 1813’.(30) [no reference to older building mentioned in Statistical Account]
Architecture of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches (George Hay): 1812; renovated 1873 and 1908, 1565 Jacob Ser Bell.(31)
Notes
1. Cowan, The parishes of medieval Scotland, 149.
2. Mackinley, Scriptural Dedications, p 101.
3. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, nos. 39 & 40, RRS, ii, no. 455.
4. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, nos. 161 & 165.
5. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, nos. 47 & 48.
6. RRS, ii, no. 513, Liber Aberbrothoc, i, no. 1.
7. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, no. 100.
8. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, no. 222.
9. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, nos 172 & 236.
10. Liber Aberbrothoc, ii, nos. 23, 36, 57 & 88.
19. Liber Aberbrothoc, ii, no. 298.
20. Liber Aberbrothoc, ii, no. 599.
21. Liber Aberbrothoc, ii, nos. 606 & 754.
22. Kirk, The books of assumption of the thirds of benefices, 363, 364 & 393.
23. Donaldson, Accounts of the collectors of thirds of benefices, 10.
24. Malcolm, Parish of Monifieth, p. 84.
25. NRS Records of the Synod of Fife, 1610-1636, CH2/154/1, fol. 152-153.
26. Registrum de Panmure, p. 337.
27. Malcolm, Parish of Monifieth, p. xv & 82.
28. Malcolm, Parish of Monifieth, pp. 81-84.
29. Statistical Account of Scotland, (1794), xiii, 496.
30. New Statistical Account of Scotland, (1842), xi, 554.
31. Hay, The Architecture of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches, p. 246.
Bibliography
NRS Records of the Synod of Fife, 1610-1636, CH2/154/1.
Calendar of entries in the Papal registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland; Papal letters, 1893-, ed. W.H. Bliss, London.
Calendar of entries in the Papal registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland; Papal Petitions, 1893-, ed. W.H. Bliss, London.
Calendar of Papal letters to Scotland of Benedict XIII of Avignon, 1976, ed. F. McGurk, (Scottish History Society) Edinburgh.
Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome 1418-22, 1934, ed. E.R. Lindsay and A.I. Cameron, (Scottish History Society) Edinburgh.
Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome 1423-28, 1956, ed. A.I. Dunlop, (Scottish History Society) Edinburgh.
Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome 1433-47, 1983, ed. A.I. Dunlop and D MacLauchlan, Glasgow.
Cowan, I.B., 1967, The parishes of medieval Scotland, (Scottish Record Society), Edinburgh.
Donaldson, G., 1949, Accounts of the collectors of thirds of benefices, (Scottish History Society), Edinburgh.
Hay, G., 1957, The Architecture of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches, 1560-1843, Oxford.
Kirk, J., 1995, The books of assumption of the thirds of benefices, (British Academy) Oxford.
Liber S Thome de Aberbrothoc, 1848-56, ed. C. Innes and P. Chalmers, (Bannatyne Club) Edinburgh, i.
Malcolm, J., 1910, The Parish of Monifieth in Ancient and Modern Times, Edinburgh.
Mackinley, J.M, 1910, Ancient Church Dedications in Scotland. Scriptural Dedications, Edinburgh.
New Statistical Account of Scotland, 1834-45, Edinburgh and London.
Registrum de Panmure, 1874, ed. J. Stuart, Edinburgh.
Regesta Regum Scottorum, Acts of William I (1165-1214), 1971, Edinburgh.
Statistical Account of Scotland, 1791-9, ed. J. Sinclair, Edinburgh.
Architectural description
The finding of three cross slabs and the shaft of a cross shaft in the foundations of the old church when it was demolished in advance of rebuilding in 1812 suggest that Monifieth was a centre of early Christian worship. All four stones are now in the National Museum of Scotland.
Slab number one has a cross decorated with key pattern to the front and symbols to the back. Number two has a cross decorated with spiral work and interlace, and three panels on the back with beasts, a figure and a symbol. Number three has an interlace-decorated cross flanked by beasts, and a hunting scene and beasts to the rear. Number four is the shaft of a cross with the lower part of a crucified figure above other figures on the main face and interlace above beasts to the other faces.(1)
Gilchrist, earl of Angus, granted the church of Monifieth to the Tironensian abbey of Arbroath in 1202x04, and it was soon afterwards confirmed to the uses of the abbey by Bishop William, with the stipulation that a vicar perpetual should be presented. A vicarage settlement was made in 1249. However, in 1350 Bishop William de Landallis annexed the vicarage to Arbroath, though this appears not to have taken effect until some time before 1426. The vicarage was then pensionary, albeit in the sixteenth century archbishops of St Andrews, as commendators of Arbroath, enjoyed the fruits of both the parsonage and vicarage.(2)
The medieval church appears to have had a two-compartment core, since the Statistical Account says ‘ it must have been built before the era of the Reformation, as on the east end of it is a quire’.(3) There was also a western tower, which contained the main entrance.
After the Reformation, a lateral north aisle was added at the eastern end of the nave in about 1600, which appears to have been the domain of the Durham of Pitkerro family, and ‘the pulpit was at the south wall opposite the aisle’.(4)
The church was rebuilt in 1812-13 to the designs of Samuel Bell,(5) A number of carved and inscribed stones from the Durham of Pitkerro Monument were incorporated in the east gable. The church was partly remodelled in 1873 by Edward and Robertson, and the vestry at the east end of the building was heightened by the addition of a second storey in 1954.(6)
In its final form it is a rectangular structure with a slender tower at the centre of the west wall. The principal face, on the south is built of squared pink sandstone with four large Y-traceried windows; timber geometric tracery has been inserted in the outer windows, presumably in 1873. The other walls are of rubble; the north face has two tiers of windows, two to the lower level and three to the upper level, all with geometric tracery.
Notes
1. J. Romilly Allen and Joseph Anderson, The Early Christian Monuments of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1903, p. 149.
2. Ian B. Cowan, The Parishes of Medieval Scotland (Scottish Record Society), 1967, pp. 4-5.
3. Statistical Account of Scotland, 1791-9, vol. 13, p. 496.
4. J. Malcolm, The Parish of Monifieth in Ancient and Modern Times, Edinburgh, 1910, p. 81
5. New Statistical Account of Scotland, 1834-45, vol. 11, p. 554; Howard Colvin, Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 4th ed., New Haven and London, 1908, p. 118; National Records of Scotland, RHP/35188.
6. John Gifford, The Buildings of Scotland, Dundee and Angus, New Haven and London, 2012, pp. 611-12.
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