The ruined Church of Boyndie or Inverboyndie stands on a slight
elevation near the mouth of the small river of the same name, about two
miles west from the town of Banff. The parish was formerly conjoined
with Banff till 1634, when it was erected into a separate parish. The
church is of ancient foundation, and was granted in 1211-14, along with
that of Banff, to the monks of Arbroath.
The old church stands in the churchyard, which is still used. It was
abandoned in 1773, when a new church was built. Since that time it has
fallen into complete decay, so much so that the plan cannot now be
properly distinguished. The only portions still preserved in tolerable
condition are the west wall and belfry (Fig. 1516). These do not appear
to be of great age. The wall contains the entrance doorway of the
church. It has a round arch and jambs with a small splay, such as was
common in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The top of the gable
has a small belfry, which has latterly occupied the position of a former
one, which was much larger. The older belfry must have been of
considerable size, as is apparent from the large corbels which carried
it, and which project boldly from both sides of the wall. These were
arranged so as to carry an octagonal erection, which must have had a
very picturesque effect.
[Illustration: FIG. 1516.--St. Brandan’s, Boyndie.]
They are evidently copied from the domestic architecture of the period.
This structure seems to belong to the seventeenth century.