St Mary's Chapel, Rattray facts for kids
St Mary's Chapel, also called "the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin," is an old chapel located in Rattray, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was built a long time ago, around the late 1100s or early 1200s. This chapel was like a private church for the people who lived in the nearby Castle of Rattray. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Some stories say it might have been built after a son of William Comyn drowned in a nearby well.
What is St Mary's Chapel?
St Mary's Chapel is a historic building in Rattray, Scotland. It was built by a powerful person named William Comyn. He was the Earl of Buchan. The chapel was meant to be a special place of worship for the castle and its residents. It was named after the Virgin Mary.
When Was the Chapel Built?
There is some discussion about the exact year St Mary's Chapel was built. A plaque on the wall shows the date 911, but experts agree this date is incorrect. The style of the chapel and its windows did not exist in Scotland until the late 1100s. This fits with other records that suggest it was built around that time.
William Comyn became the Earl of Buchan in 1212. So, the chapel's construction likely started after this year.
Early Records and Gifts
Records show that William Comyn gave a special gift to the chapel every year between 1214 and 1233. This means the chapel was at least being built during those years. The gift was about 10.8 kilograms (which is two stones) of wax. This wax came from bees. It was the full amount of rent that Comyn received from a person named Cospatric Macmadethyn. This rent was for the lands and mill of Stratheyn and Kyndrochet, and it was paid every year around Whitsunday.
One historical account even suggests the chapel was specifically built in the year 1220.
