Alyth is now a busy manufacturing town, and forms the terminus of a
small branch line off the main railway between Perth and Forfar. It
stands on the north side of Strathmore, at the point where the hills
begin to rise, and the houses of the old part of the town are
picturesquely terraced on the hillside. On one of these terraces may be
seen the ruins of the ancient
[Illustration: FIG. 1439.--St. Moloc’s Church, Alyth. Plan.]
church of St. Moloc or Malachi, according to the _Statistical Account_,
but Mr. Muir calls it St. Ninian’s. The original fair of the village is
still called St. Mologue’s and the date corresponds with the day of St.
Moloc. Before the Reformation the benefice of Alyth was attached to one
of the prebends of Dunkeld, and the patronage was exercised by the
Bishop.
[Illustration: FIG. 1440.--St Moloc’s Church, Alyth. Arcade.]
The old church was demolished about 1845, having been unroofed at that
date when the last _Statistical Account_ was written.
The portion which still survives (Fig. 1439) in the middle of the
churchyard consists of the south arcade of the nave and part of the
chancel. The arcade (Fig. 1440) has plain octagonal pillars and three
round arches with broad splays. The caps and bases are moulded, and
indicate a late date.
The chancel is surrounded with a plain wall 6 to 7 feet high, and has a
piscina in the south wall.