A Corpus of Scottish Medieval
Parish Churches

Historical outline

One of six parish churches in the diocese of Brechin that were the subjects of intermittent but protracted disputes between the mid-thirteenth and early sixteenth centuries, Panbride was granted to the monks of Arbroath Abbey by King William at some date between 1189 and 1194.(1)  Shortly after that award, Bishop Turpin of Brechin (d.1198) confirmed the church to the monks in proprios usus and permitted them to serve it with a suitable chaplain, if they so wished.(2)  Turpin’s successors continued to confirm the earlier awards down until 1248, when Bishop Albin (1246-69) began an attempt to recover the churches as rightfully pertaining to his episcopal mensa.(3) 

An earlier threat to Arbroath’s possession may be reflected in formal renunciations dated c.1218-38 by both John de Morham and Adam his brother surrendering any claim to the advowson of Panbride that they might have possessed,(4) but Bishop Albin’s claim appears to have constituted a significant challenge that required some attempt to buy off the future claims of the bishops.  After litigation, Albin renounced his rights in all of the churches, whose parsonages were thereupon confirmed in the hands of the monks, but vicarage settlements followed and Panbride became a pensionary vicarage.  It was recorded as such in 1274 in Bagimond’s Roll, where the assessment for papal taxation valued it at one merk.(5)

In the early 1300s John de Kinninmund, bishop of Brechin, revived the efforts to regain control of the appropriated parishes and in 1304 the bishop of St Andrews, William Lamberton, was appointed to arbitrate a settlement.  His decision allocated two of the disputed six churches – Caterline and Maryton - to the bishop for annexation to his mensa but the remaining four – including Panbride – were confirmed in Arbroath’s hands under the existing appropriation.(6)  Further unsuccessful attempts were made in the 1460s and again in 1517 to detach the remaining four churches from Arbroath.(7) 

Possibly as an unrecorded outcome of the efforts in the 1460s, in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century it seems that the vicarage had become a perpetual vicarage.(8)  Evidence for a local cult occurs with relics in the church occurs only in the sixteenth century, but given the identity of the saint involved it is likely to be a cult of early origin.  There is a single reference to a dispute between the vicar and the Ramsay lords of Panbride from 1500 to 1507 over relics of St Brigid in the church, described as the ‘weblooms’ or weaving instruments, which the Ramsays had taken into their possession and, for a period of around thirty years, been uplifting offerings made in respect of the relics by pilgrims.(9)   Where in the church these relics were housed under normal circumstances is not mentioned in the records of the dispute.  This brief reference is the sole occurrence of any information relating to religious activity and devotion at the site before the Reformation.

Notes

1.RRS, ii, no.327.

2. Arbroath Liber, i, no.178.

3. Arbroath Liber, i, nos, 181, 185, 186, 187, 239, 243.

4. Arbroath Liber, i, nos 24 and 25.

5. SHS Misc, vi, 52,

6. Arbroath Liber, i, no.244.

, v, 1447-1471, no.864; CPL, xii, 52; Arbroath Liber, ii, nos 135, 543, 544.

8. CPL, xv, no.296.

9. NRS Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, GD45/13/188.

Summary of relevant documentation

Medieval

Synopsis of Cowan’s Parishes: The church was granted to Arbroath by Bishop Turpin in 1178. Controversy over the church and 5 others was resolved in 1248, when the bishop of Brechin renounced all rights and a vicarage settlement was made. The dispute continued until  1304 when it was decided that Panbride belonged to Arbroath.(1)

1189x94 Church granted by William I to abbey with lands, teinds etc.

1213 Church is included in confirmation by William I of the possessions of Arbroath.(2)

1219x46 Confirmation of grant by John de Morham who gives up any right he may have had in the church. Confirmed by his brother Adam in the same year.(3)

1178x98 Church included confirmation by Turpin, bishop of Brechin, of all the churches in held in usus proprios, by Arbroath.(4)

1200 Church included in papal bull by Innocent III confirming possessions of Arbroath.(5)

1211x18 Possession of church by Arbroath confirmed Radulf, bishop of Brechin, in two charters, the first specifically related to the church, the second including all the churches held by Arbroath in the diocese of Brechin.(6)

1218 & 1218x22 Church included in confirmations by bishops Hugh and Gregory of Brechin of all churches held by Arbroath in their diocese.(7)

1248 Bishop Albin renounces all right to church along with 5 others in possession of Arbroath within the diocese of Brechin. Vicarage settlement sees parsonage with abbey and provision of perpetual vicar.(8)

1304 Decision made by William Lamberton, bishop of St Andrews with regard to 6 churches. Caterline and Maryton/Old Montrose to become mensal churches of Brechin. Arbroath retains Dunnichen, Kingoldrum, Monikie and Panbride.(9)

1366 John de Drum (scholar of canon law), is perpetual vicar of Panbride.(10)

1406 Nicholas Childe supplication for church on death of John (value £20).(11)

1438 Thomas Lauchmalony perpetual vicar and chancellor of Ross. Accused in 1440 by William Fichet (nephew of bishop John of Brechin) of detaining the church unlawfully.(12) [no outcome recorded]

1461-67 Attempts by Brechin to dispute 1304 settlement and Arbroath to retain control of churches.(13)

1461 Papal bull by Pius II confirming the decision by Lamberton, Caterline and Maryton remain with Brechin, Dunnichen, Kingoldrum, Monikie and Panbride with Arbroath.(14)

1476 (20 June) Charter by William Cader, perpetual vicar of parish church of Panbride in diocese of Brechin, granting to the lepers and poor who are supported by alms of burgh of Dundee, on account of their abject state and exclusion from the civil community, an annualrent of 13s. 4d. Scots for upkeep of their hearth, from his tenement in said burgh lying to south of the Flukargate between land of Malcolm Duchir to east and land of Robert de Balmanow to west, to be held in free burgage.(15)

1488 James Ramsay (MA) collated to perpetual vicarage of Panbride.(16)

1500-1507 Panbride: Articles in a cause before Mr David Garden, vicar of Fernewail and commissary general of Brechin, at the instance of Sir Thomas Meldrum, vicar perpetual of Panbride, against William Ramsay, temporal lord and portioner thereof, for return of relics called the weblooms of St Brigid and repayment of offerings during the last 30 years.(17)

1542 (26 Sept) Reference to Alexander Kinnimout, vicar of Panbride, and his brother James Kinnimouth (related to Kinnimonts of Craighall; see Ceres).(18)

1543 Alexander Kinninmouth, vicar of Panbride and Chamberlain of the Archbishopric of St Andrews.(19)

1559 (1 Oct) Discharge by Mr Patrick Rouche, servitor to Sir Robert Carnagy of Kynnaird, to Thomas Straquhen of Carmylie in name of the said Sir Robert as farmer to sir William Lang, vicar of Panbride, of the vicarage teinds thereof.(20)

Post-medieval

Books of assumption of thirds of benefices and Accounts of the collectors of thirds of benefices: The Parish church parsonage teinds in produce go to Arbroath. Vicarage with Neil Lang, value £66 13 4d.(21)

Account of Collectors of Thirds of Benefices (G. Donaldson): Third of vicarage £22 4s 5 1/3d.

1610 (7 Mar) Grant of the patronage of the church of Panbride to Patrick Maule of Panmure by James VI and I,(22)

1633 (9 Apr) Discharge by the minister and kirk-session of Panbryd to Patrick Maule of Panmure of payment for the repair of the kirk and choir and for communion elements.(23)

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).(24)

1766 (13 Aug) Panbride: Two copies of proposals for renovating the kirk of Panbryde.(25)

Proposal for ten changes to the church: first, to enlarge the window on the west end of the kirk to provide more light; second, to laith and plaster the roof of the kirk; the rest of the suggestions relate to the seats and the Earl of Panmure’s loft.(26) A further document includes the dimensions of the kirk. The body is 81 ft 6 in by 17 ft 5 in. The isle 37ft by 19ft 2in.(27) Another document outlines the costs of the seating of the church with seats made of ‘Riga wood’ amounting to £47 19s. It notes that if they chose the cheaper ‘Noroway’ wood instead it would cost £5 less (costs do not include carriage).(28)

#1775 [No references in presbytery records to the building work in that year and the kirk session records have not survived.]

Statistical Account of Scotland (Rev Robert Trail, 1791): ‘The church here, which is very old, being built by St Bridget or at least in honour of her’.(29)

New Statistical Account of Scotland (Rev David Trail, 1833): ‘The church here is undoubtedly very old, though it is impossible to specify a date when it was built. It appears that the original form was a cross. The arms, to the south and east, as they stood were removed and the one to the east rebuilt in 1681. In the year 1775 it was completely repaired’.(30)

Notes

1. Cowan, The parishes of medieval Scotland, 161.

2. RRS, ii, nos. 327 & 513, Liber Aberbrothoc, i, nos.1 & 23.

3. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, nos. 24 & 25.

4. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, no. 178.

5. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, no. 221.

6. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, nos. 181 & 185.

7. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, nos. 186, 187 & 191.

8. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, no. 239.

9. Liber Aberbrothoc, i, no. 344.

10. CPP, 519.

11. CPP, 632.

12. CSSR, iv, nos. 479 & 710.

13. CSSR, v, nos. 750, 864, 686 & 1228. CPL, xii, 52.

14. Liber Aberbrothoc, ii, no. 135.

15. NRS Henderson Collection, GD76/149.

16. CPL, xv, no.296.

17. NRS Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, GD45/13/188.

18. NRS Prot Bk of James Androson, 1535-48, NP1/5A, fol. 37v.

19. Rentale Sancti Andree, p.164-

20. NRS Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, GD45/13/193.

21. Kirk, The books of assumption of the thirds of benefices, 361 & 372-73.

22. Registrum de Panmure, p. 318.

23. NRS Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, GD45/13/198.

24. Registrum de Panmure, p. 337.

25. NRS Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, GD45/13/202.

26. NRS Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, GD45/13/202/1.

27. NRS Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, GD45/13/202/3.

28. NRS Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, GD45/13/202/4.

29. Statistical Account of Scotland, (1791), i, 438.

30. New Statistical Account of Scotland, (1833), xi, 72.

Bibliography

NRS Henderson Collection, GD76/149.

NRS Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, GD45/13/188.

NRS Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, GD45/13/202/1-4.

NRS Prot Bk of James Androson, 1535-48, NP1/5A.

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 Scottish Supplications to Rome 1433-47, 1983, ed. A.I. Dunlop and D MacLauchlan, Glasgow.

Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome 1447-71, 1997, ed. J. Kirk, R.J. Tanner and A.I. Dunlop, Edinburgh.

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.

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.

Rentale Sancti Andree, 1913, ed. R. Hannay (Scottish History Society), Edinburgh,

Statistical Account of Scotland, 1791-9, ed. J. Sinclair, Edinburgh.

Architectural description

Bishop Turpin of Brechin (1178-98) granted Panbride to the uses of Arbroath Tironensian Abbey. Subsequently, however, it was one of the churches that Bishop Albin (1246-69) claimed pertained to his mensa. In an arbitration of 1304 Bishop William de Lamberton supported the claims of Arbroath, and despite further controversy Arbroath maintained its hold. In 1478 the vicarage was annexed to one of Brechin Cathedral’s prebends, after which the cure was a vicarage pensionary,(1)

An aisle at the east end of the church was built for the earls of Panmure, with a loft and retiring room above a burial vault. It can be dated to 1681 from an inscription on the pagoda-like bellcote. In the gablets are the initials of George, third earl of Panmure (1671-86) and his wife, while the family’s arms are displayed over the east window.

On 13 August 1766 proposals were under consideration for modifications including the enlargement of the west window, lathing and plastering the roof, and changes to the seating and to the earl of Panmure’s loft. In that year the dimensions of the church were given as 81 feet 6 inches (24.85 metres) by 17 feet 5 inches (5.3 metres), with the aisle being 37 feet (11.3) by 19 feet 2 inches (5.85 metres).(2)

The New Statistical Account contains a helpful description of the church as it then stood:

The church here is undoubtedly very old, though it is impossible to specify a date when it was built. It appears that the original form was a cross. The arms, to the south and east, as they stood were removed and the one to the east rebuilt in 1681... In the year 1775 it was completely repaired.(3)

It is no longer possible to assess the extent of the works carried out in 1775, because the main body of the church was rebuilt in 1851, with a regular arrangement of doors with shouldered lintels and lancet windows arranged singly, in pairs or in triplets.(4)

However, it does appear likely that the main body of the church as rebuilt at that time is largely on the footprint of the church as repaired in 1775, since its present length, which is 23.04 metres, compares reasonably closely with the length of 24.85 as given in 1766. This likelihood is supported by the way in which it is abutted by the Panmure Aisle of 1681. It could also be the case that the north aisle perpetuates the arm on that side which was said to have survived the removal of its southern counterpart in 1681.

Taking all of these factors into account, and bearing in mind that the church could still be said to be ‘very old’ in the New Statistical Account, it should be seen as possible that the footprint is partly of medieval origin. Nevertheless, it does appear that the main body of the church has been widened since 1766, because it now has a width of 8.05 metres rather than the 5.3 metres given in 1766.

Notes

1. Ian B. Cowan, The Parishes of Medieval Scotland (Scottish Record Society), 1967, p. 161.

2. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Maule family, Earls of Dalhousie, GD/45/202/1-3.

3. New Statistical Account of Scotland, 1834-45, vol. 11, p. 72.

4. John Gifford, The Buildings of Scotland, Dundee and Angus, New Haven and London, 2012, p. 653.