St Ninian's Church, Tynet facts for kids
St Ninian's Church, Tynet is a very old and special church located near Buckie, Scotland. It was built way back in 1755. What makes it so unique is that it's the oldest Roman Catholic church still standing in Scotland that was built after a big change called the Reformation. During that time, it was not always easy for Catholics to practice their faith openly.
What Does St Ninian's Church Look Like?
St Ninian's Church was designed to look like a long, low barn or even a row of simple houses. This was done on purpose! It was a "secret" church, meaning it was built to blend in and not draw attention. This was important because, at the time, Catholic worship was allowed, but often only in quiet, out-of-the-way places.
Inside, the church is very simple and peaceful. It has white walls and a large main room. There's a small entrance area, and then you step into the main part of the church. The wooden benches, where people sit, are painted grey. There's also a special place for quiet talks with a priest. A unique, eight-sided pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, was added in 1787.
A Secret History: How the Church Was Built
Before St Ninian's was built, there was another church nearby that was destroyed in 1728. For a while, people had to hold church services in secret, sometimes at night in barns. Priests would even travel disguised as farmers to avoid being noticed.
When it was time to build St Ninian's, they had to be very clever. The land belonged to the Gordon family. A priest named Father Godsman bought a small, simple house there. To keep the church a secret, he told everyone he was just "making an addition as a cot for his sheep." This way, no one suspected he was building a church!
At first, the building had a thatched roof (made of straw) and no glass in the windows. But as things became easier for Catholics in Scotland, Father George Matheson made some improvements in 1779. He added glass windows and a slate roof. He even put a decorative ball on the roof's west side. The church was later fixed up again in 1951.
Today, St Ninian's is still a church, even though another church, St. Gregory's Church, Preshome, became the main one in the area in 1788. St Ninian's is considered a very important historic building and is protected by law.
