This church, which is dedicated to St. Ternan, is situated about three
or four miles from Bervie, and not far from the old mansion of
Arbuthnott. It is an exceedingly interesting and picturesque structure,
and contains work of three distinct periods, representing different
phases of Scottish ecclesiastical architecture. There is first the
chancel (Fig. 1156), dedicated by Bishop Bernham in 1242, and possibly
the nave may also be in part of the same period. Then there is the very
striking south wing or aisle, which is known, from the Arbuthnott
Missal, to have been built by Sir Robert Arbuthnott in the end of the
fifteenth century. This aisle (Fig. 1157), which is two stories in
height, is a remarkable example of the style with which we are familiar
in the collegiate and other churches of the period. In the third place,
the quaint west end (Fig. 1158) represents an example of the application
to an ecclesiastical structure of features of the domestic architecture
of the country, of which there are so many examples throughout
Scotland. In February 1889 “the nave, then the only part in use, was
burned, and the fire destroyed a partition which cut off the chancel.”
None of the structural features of the church suffered any damage, and
the chancel and the south aisle, having little or nothing in their
construction of a combustible nature, escaped altogether. The church has
been well restored by Mr. A. M. Mackenzie, architect, Aberdeen,[106] a
new roof having been placed on the nave and chancel, and suitable new
fittings and furniture introduced. The three windows in the east wall of
the chancel have been renewed, exactly after the remains of the original
ones.
[Illustration: FIG. 1156.--The Collegiate Church of Arbuthnott. Plan.]
The nave, which measures internally about 60 feet 6 inches long by 18
feet wide, has a north and south round-arched doorway, with a bead
moulding on the angles. These doorways are, perhaps, of the sixteenth
century. The three windows on the south side have centre mullions, and
are finished with straight lintels (see Fig. 1157); and, although
renewed, they represent the original arrangement. Besides these there
are two small windows in the west gable (see Fig. 1158). A stoup in the
wall inside adjoins the south door.
The chancel arch is about 12 feet wide by 13 feet high. It has a double
splay on each side, and is acutely pointed. The chancel is about 26 feet
5 inches long by 15 feet 6 inches wide. The total internal length of
the church is 90 feet. There is a small north doorway in the chancel,
which was evidently not meant to lead to the outside, but to a
[Illustration: FIG. 1157.--The Collegiate Church of Arbuthnott. South
Aisle.]
sacristy or some such apartment; and projecting tusk stones in the
corner outside the door show that such a building was contemplated. The
chancel (Fig. 1159) is lighted by small widely splayed windows on each
side, and three lintelled windows in the east end (Fig. 1160). Mr.
Mackenzie shows reasons for believing that this gable has been
reconstructed, and that it originally had only two windows in the lower
part, with perhaps some kind of central window at a higher level,
something like what is found at Mortlach. The pointed piscina (Fig.
1161) beneath the eastmost south window (see Fig. 1160) has, as usual,
been mutilated.
[Illustration: FIG. 1158.--The Collegiate Church of Arbuthnott. View
from South-West.]
To connect the chancel with the Arbuthnott Aisle a round archway (see
Fig. 1160), 7 feet 8 inches wide, has been cut through the chancel wall.
The details of this arch are shown in Fig. 1162. This chapel or aisle,
which has an apsidal south end, measures about 20 feet 3 inches long by
12 feet 11 inches wide, and has a vaulted stone roof (Fig. 1163) about
18 feet high, with a semi-octagonal dome over the apse. This view gives
an idea of the appearance of the interior of the chapel. In front of the
apse windows stands a sarcophagus 6 feet 2 inches long by 2 feet 2
inches wide, having a rude recumbent figure on the top. It contains the
following arms on the front, beginning at the head, viz., Douglas,
Arbuthnott, Arbuthnott, Stewart; and there appear to be indications that
there have been other shields, now cut away. There is a round arched
entrance door to the aisle on the west side (see Fig. 1157), with a
stoup beneath the adjoining window on the inside, and in the east wall
are the remains of a credence. A turret staircase (see
[Illustration: FIG. 1159.--The Collegiate Church of Arbuthnott. View
from North-East.]
Fig. 1157) gives access from the aisle to a priest’s chamber on the
upper floor, which Bishop Forbes, believing it to have been the place
where the Missal referred to below was written, describes at some
length.[107] It had a strong door, which folded back into a recess. The
room is of the same size and shape as the aisle below, and is lighted
with three windows with square heads, two in the apse, and one (the
largest) looking towards the west (see Fig. 1157). The latter is
strongly guarded with an iron grating of the usual construction. The
windows are fitted with seats like those commonly found in the castles.
“There is a stoup for holy water at the
[Illustration: FIG. 1160.--The Collegiate Church of Arbuthnott. Interior
of Chancel.]
entrance, and a small ambry, ornamented with a single trefoil, probably
for the reservation of the holy Eucharist.”[108]
[Illustration: FIG. 1161.
The Collegiate Church of Arbuthnott.