Dunnottar Parish Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunnottar Parish Church |
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| Carronside Parish Church | |
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| 56°57′28″N 2°13′37″W / 56.9578°N 2.2270°W | |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| Churchmanship | Reformed |
| Membership | 742 |
| Website | https://www.carronsidechurch.net/ |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Carronside Church |
| Presbytery | Presbytery of Kincardine and Deeside |
Dunnottar Parish Church is a church that serves the town of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is part of the Church of Scotland. In 2020, this church joined with the South Parish Church in Stonehaven. Together, they formed a new church called Carronside Church of Scotland. In June 2021, Rev. Sarah Smith became the minister for the new church.
Where is Dunnottar Church?
The church building is in Dunnottar woods, Stonehaven. It sits high up on the bank of the Carron water. It's on the edge of Stonehaven and is about a 20-minute walk from the town centre. Dunnottar Castle is about one and a half miles to the south-east of the church. The minister's house, called the manse, is right across the road.
Dunnottar Parish also owns St Bridget's Hall on Dunnottar Avenue in Stonehaven. This hall was built in 1887. It stands where an older church used to be. It was built to serve the 'Auld Toon' (Old Town) of Stonehaven. In the past, morning services were held at Dunnottar Church, and evening services were at St Bridget's. Today, St Bridget's Hall is used for evening Communion services and church group meetings. Other community groups also use it.
In 2021, a new path was made. It crosses Toucks Burn, which is a small stream that flows into the Carron Water. This path connects the church to the nearby Dunnottar Park housing area.
The Church Buildings
The church building you see today was rebuilt in 1852. It was made bigger in 1869. Then, in 1903, it had a major makeover. A nave (the main part of the church) and a chancel (the area around the altar) were added. This changed the church from a rectangular shape to a cross shape, making it much larger.
Recently, the church was renovated again. These changes made it easier for everyone to access the building. They also added a new room that can be used for many different activities.
The church bell was made in 1793 by Andrew Lawson. He was the last bell maker from Old Aberdeen. People think this bell is one of his best works. A book about church bells in the area said that the designs on the Dunnottar bell are very old. They show how old traditions from the Middle Ages continued to be used in art.
The Marischal Aisle is a special building in the church grounds. It is now used as a mausoleum (a building where people are buried). It was first built in 1582 by George Keith. He was the 5th Earl Marischal of Scotland and also started Marischal College in Aberdeen.
The Covenanters Stone
In the churchyard, there is a special stone called the Covenanters Stone. It reminds us of the Covenanters. These were people who were imprisoned in the nearby Dunnottar Castle. This stone is said to have inspired the famous writer Sir Walter Scott for his novel Old Mortality. He saw a man named Robert Patterson carefully fixing the letters on the stone.
The stone tells a sad story. It says that several people, including John Stot Atchison, James Russell, William Broun, and others whose names are not known, died as prisoners in Dunnottar Castle in 1685. They died because they stood up for their religious beliefs and for Scotland’s Covenanted Work of Reformation.
See also
- List of Church of Scotland parishes
- Scottish Reformation
