Before the Reformation Auldcathie formed a separate parish, but it is
now included in the parish of Dalmeny, of which it forms a detached
portion. The ruins of the old church (Fig. 1423) now stand neglected in
the middle of a large field. The walls are much reduced, and are
gradually crumbling away, but the plan is still quite entire. The
structure measures, internally, about 30 feet in length by 15 feet in
width. There has been a door near the west end, both in the north and
south walls, two windows in the south wall, and none in either of the
north, east, or west walls. There is a recess for a benitier, an ambry,
near the south door, and an ambry in the east wall. Some more ancient
stones seem to have been
[Illustration: FIG. 1423.--Auldcathie Church. Plan.]
used in building the latter. The features are all so simple that it is
difficult to fix the date of the edifice, but it does not appear to be
very old.
In the ancient _Taxatio_ this church is valued at only 4 marks. As it is
not taxed in _Bagimond’s Roll_, it appears to have belonged in the
thirteenth century to some religious house.