Old St Peter's Church, Peterhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old St Peter's Church |
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The church in 2013, looking northeast
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 Old St Peter's Church
Location in Aberdeen
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| 57°30′16″N 1°47′26″W / 57.504506°N 1.790544°W |
Old St Peter's Church, also known as St Peter's on the Links, is a very old building in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It's a special place known as a scheduled monument, which means it's protected because of its history.
Today, only the main tower from the Middle Ages is still standing. The rest of the church is in ruins, but some parts are from as far back as the 1100s! The pyramid-shaped roof on the tower was likely added in the 1700s.
Contents
History of the Church
Old St Peter's Church has a long and interesting past. It was once known as Peterhead Parish Church of Peterugie.
Early Days and Ownership Changes
- In 1218, the church was given to Deer Abbey.
- Later, in 1543, a nobleman named William Keith, 3rd Earl Marischal, became its "commendator." This meant he was in charge of the church's property.
- In 1587, the church was given back to the Scottish Crown.
- However, the land around it was kept. In 1593, a special town called a "burgh of barony" was created there. This type of town had its own local government.
Later Sales and Abandonment
- In 1716, the Earl Marischal's lands were taken by the government.
- The church was then sold to a company called York Buildings Company in 1720.
- This company went out of business in 1786.
- The church was sold again in 1728 to the Trustees of Merchant Maiden Hospital and Mary Erskine.
- These new owners appointed a local leader called a Provost and three "bailies" (like local officials).
- The church was finally left empty in 1771. A new church was built nearby to replace it.
Protected Status
- In 1971, Old St Peter's Church was given "Category A listed" status. This means it was recognized as a very important historic building.
- Its status was made even higher in 2016. It became a scheduled monument, giving it even more protection.
The Graveyard
The graveyard around Old St Peter's Church is also very old and important. It has a "Category B listed" status. This means it's also protected for its historical value.
You can find many old gravestones there. Most of them are from the 1600s, 1700s, and early 1800s. There's also a newer part of the graveyard on the south side.
Gallery
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The eastern side of the tower
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The church's graveyard
See also
- Scheduled monuments in Aberdeenshire
