This edifice, which is one of the best preserved and most interesting of
the minor churches of its date in Scotland, is situated about six miles
north-west from Dundee.
The lands of Fowlis came into the possession of the family of Gray by
marriage about the year 1397, when the only daughter of the last
Mortimer of Fowlis and Aberdour married Sir Andrew Gray of Broxmouth. He
was the first Lord Gray, and was succeeded by his son Andrew, the second
Lord Gray, and it was doubtless by this Andrew Gray that the church was
built. He died in 1469, and, judging from the style and various features
of the architecture, the building seems to have been erected in his
lifetime. Spottiswoode states that it was built by Sir Andrew Gray of
Fowlis during the reign of James II. (1437-1460), and there is still
[Illustration: FIG. 1107.--Fowlis Easter Church. Plan.]
more conclusive evidence that the church was built by Sir Andrew. He
married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir John Wemyss of Rires and
Kincaldrum, and the arms of Gray and Wemyss are carved on the skew
stones of the church. Further, in the _Old Statistical Account_ it is
stated that the “beam which supported the organ loft” bore the
inscription:--“Hoc Templum Structum fuit Anno Millesimo Centesimo
Quadragesimo Secundo ab A. Gray.”
The church (Fig. 1107) is a simple oblong structure without buttresses
or projections of any kind. It measures about 88 feet long by 28 feet
wide outside the walls. It is built of fine ashlar in large courses of
stone, obtained from the den of Fowlis in the immediate neighbourhood.
The stone is of a bluish-grey colour, and has well stood the test of
time. There are north and south doors (Fig. 1108) nearly opposite each
other near
[Illustration: FIG. 1108.--Fowlis Easter Church. View from South-East.]
the west end, and a priest’s door near the east end, all round arched.
The edifice was divided into a nave and chancel by a rood screen and
loft.
[Illustration: FIG. 1109.--Fowlis Easter Church.