Udny Parish Church facts for kids
Udny Parish Church is an old church building located in Udny Green, a small village in the north-east of Scotland. It's about 15 miles north of the city of Aberdeen. This building used to be a church for the Church of Scotland, but now it is owned by a private person. It was once known as Christ's Kirk.
A famous architect from Aberdeen named John Smith designed the church in 1821. It sits on the northern edge of the village green. The church is part of the historic Udny area and is considered a Category B listed building. This means it's an important historical building that is protected by law.
Contents
Exploring Udny Parish Church's Design
How the Church Was Built
Udny Parish Church was built in 1821 using strong granite stone. John Smith, the architect, designed it in a special style called Tudor-Gothic. This was the first time he used this style for a church. The Tudor-Gothic style often includes pointed arches, tall windows, and decorative towers, similar to buildings from the Tudor period in England.
The Church Tower and Its Features
The south side of the church has a tall tower with four sections. It has an arched entrance at the bottom, which is like a fancy doorway with a curved top. Above the entrance, there's a curved window. The tower sticks out from the main part of the church.
The main church building has a wide, slanted roof. At each of its four outside corners, there are pointed decorations called pinnacles. The tower also has similar spires at its corners, above a wall that looks like the top of a castle, called a crenellated parapet.
The Church Clock and Bell
You can see a clock face high up on the south side of the tower. There's a stone on the tower that says "1895." People aren't sure if this date is for the clock itself or if the top part of the tower was added in that year. Inside the tower, there's a bell made by Thomas Mears II, which has writing on it.
Other Parts of the Church Building
Behind the main church, on the opposite side, there's a smaller building. This building is called the session house and vestry. It's where church leaders used to meet and where clergy would prepare for services. This part of the building has a rough, textured finish called "harled."
The church also has plain glass windows on its west and east sides. You can enter the church through a side door on the east side.
Changes and Additions Over Time
In 1890, another architect named Alexander Marshall Mackenzie worked on the church. He helped restore the inside of the building, and the roof was replaced.
A special musical instrument, a pipe organ, was made by Harrison & Harrison. It is located behind the pulpit, which is the raised stand where the preacher speaks. This organ works with manual action, meaning it's played by hand. In 1927, beautiful stained glass panels were added to the three existing windows on the north side of the church.
Burial Ground Information
Interestingly, Udny Parish Church does not have its own burial ground. Instead, people from the area are buried at the nearby Old Church yard.
