Birnie Kirk facts for kids
Birnie Kirk is a very old church in Scotland, built way back in the 1100s! It's located near a town called Elgin in Moray. For a long time, it was the main church for the Bishop of Moray, like a special headquarters. It's one of the oldest churches in Scotland that people have used without stopping for hundreds of years. The church, its old graveyard, a special stone with ancient symbols, and even old remains found under the church are protected as important historical sites by Historic Environment Scotland.
In November 2023, news reports said that this 12th-century building is expected to close for regular services by 2027. This is part of big changes happening within the Church of Scotland because fewer people are attending services. Even after it closes for regular use, the church building will still be looked after.
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What is Birnie Kirk Like?
Birnie Parish Kirk is a rare church built in the Norman style from the 1100s. It stands about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south of Elgin in Moray, Scotland. Birnie is one of the oldest churches in Moray that has been used continuously. People think this Norman building was built to replace an even older Celtic church from the 500s. A special stone with ancient symbols found here suggests that Birnie might have been a holy place even before Christianity arrived.
The church is built from finely cut stone. It has a rectangular shape with a square, short chancel (the area near the altar). The chancel is separated from the nave (the main part where people sit) by a rounded arch, typical of Norman buildings. The nave was made shorter in 1734, and the church was later fixed up in 1891.
Inside the chancel, there's what people believe is a Celtic bell. It's said to have been made in Rome and blessed by the pope at that time. There's also a Bible from the 1600s, covered in calf's fur, which locals call the "Hairy Bible." In a corner of the nave, you can see a simple stone font, also in the Romanesque style. The church has tall, narrow windows called lancet windows on its north and south sides.
Birnie Kirk as a Cathedral
Birnie Kirk was the main church for the Bishops of Moray from 1107 to 1184. It served as a cathedral (the main church of a bishop) until 1322. During that time, the bishop's main church moved between Birnie, Kinneddar, and Spynie. Simon de Tonei, who was the fourth bishop, was buried here in 1184, but his grave can't be found anymore.
The Graveyard and Symbol Stone
The church is surrounded by an oval-shaped graveyard. This shape suggests it might have been an early medieval site. Part of the wall on the north side was removed long ago to make the cemetery bigger.
Against the west wall of the graveyard stands the Birnie Symbol Stone. This is a very old Pictish symbol stone from a group called Class I. It's made of granite and is about 1.07 meters (3.5 feet) tall and 0.6 meters (2 feet) thick. It gets narrower towards the top. On its north side, there's a Celtic design carved into it. This design shows a sea-lion, a Z-rod, and a rectangular shape.
The cemetery also has a war memorial. This memorial honors local people who died during World War I and World War II. The memorial looks like the end wall of a small chapel and has two special plaques under a Romanesque arch.
History of Birnie Kirk
Even before the current Birnie Kirk was built, this spot was known as the first home of the Bishops of Moray. Simon de Tosnay, the fourth bishop, was buried in the church in 1184. Birnie was also a "commune kirk" (a shared church) with the Cathedral of Elgin.
There are no parts left of the very first church here. However, the oval shape of the churchyard suggests it was an early Christian gathering place. The graveyard was officially protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland in 1969. The church building itself was listed in 1971 as a "category A building," which means it's a building of special historical importance. In 1997, the protected area was updated to include the symbol stone in the graveyard and any old remains found under the church.
The church stopped holding regular Sunday services after a final special service on November 19, 2023. However, since January 2024, another church group (the Roman Catholic Church Ordinariate) has been using it for weekly evening prayers and a monthly Mass.
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