Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

1763; 6-bay, rectangular-plan church with later additions of 1897 forming N aisle and interior remodelling. Sandstone and whin rubble; rough stone quoins; droved and chamfered window margins; advanced ashlar door pieces to outer bays. Decorative skew putts; lapped stone skews; timber bracketed overhanging eaves; stone bellcote to W.

SOUTH (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: 6 bays. Tall single pointed arch windows to central 4 bays. Advanced triangular pedimented doorpieces with round headed doorways to outer bays. Bellcote to left gable.

WEST ELEVATION: 2 bays. Advanced gabled aisle to right with tall tripartite stained glass window (c.1940) in dressed stone surround with metal grille. Stone bellcote with pointed cap; decorative skewputts; plain aedicule memorial plaque below window to left. Half-hexagonal stair tower to left bay with small service doorway in re-entrant angle; twin leaf doorway to outer angle; circular leaded windows to upper level; hexagonal pointed slate roof with decorative terracotta finial.

NORTH ELEVATION: 4 bays; double transept to centre with two-centred arched bipartite windows to ground, corresponding bipartite windows above. Hexagonal stair tower to far right, low lean-to vestry to re-entrant angle to far left with door to right.

EAST ELEVATION: 2 bays. Advanced gabled aisle to left with tripartite stained glass window. N aisle to right bay with later lean-to single storey vestry in re-entrant angle with 12 pane timber sash and case window. Low rubble burial ground wall, with cast iron railings and gate to left. Small square-paned leaded glazing to N and S windows, decorative stained glass panels to tripartite gable windows. 2-leaf boarded doors to S elevation; decorative cast-iron bracket hinges and handles, plain boarded doors to N. Pitched slate roof, lapped stone skews, decorative skewputts, painted cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: Nave (1763, with internal remodelling 1897): Boarded floors, timber panelling to dado height, timber window cills, timber pew seating with painted numbers, central aisle, stone font (1898) and carved timber pulpit to raised chancel. Laminated timber beams on decorative stone corbels, timber lined roof. Plain string cornice with decorative floral inserts. Later N aisle (1897): pews facing nave, W door to stair tower, timber-clad balcony supported on stone pillars with corbels forming two archways. Organ installed 2001 to NW cornerof nave formerly from East Linton Parish Church, by Forster and Andrews of Hull, 1895. Vestry: timber boarded throughout, small cast iron fireplace to corner. Stained glass panels to E & W windows depicting colourful pictorial scenes.

BOUNDARY WALLS AND MORT-HOUSE: whin rubble coped boundary wall to S with dressed sandstone gatepiers with stop chamfered corners, rounded stone capitals, decorative cast-iron gates. Drystone walls to N, E and W, rubble stone pillared gateway to NW. Small stone outbuilding adjoining N wall: stone walls, slate and plastic sheeting to pitched roof, small timber door to S gable facing church. 18th and 19th century gravestones to church yard.

Statement of Special Interest

Ecclesiastical Building in use as such. St Michaels Parish Church is a major example of a simple rural church building of the late 18th century. The later remodelling of the late 19th century included the new N aisle, raising the height of nave, and fine interior detailing. The church retains the earlier fabric of the 18th century building whilst appearing to be mostly dating from 1897. The stone bellcote is the prominent surviving element of the earlier church, the inscription on the bell made by Robert Maxwell reads: 'David Brown minister at Gordon ordered me to be founded Anno 1714 and refounded me 1725. R M Fec'.

The church and churchyard sit set back behind the main street of the village. Their setting is enhanced by the open glebe lands that remain, linking the church with the former manse to the N.

The church built in 1763 providing 450 sittings, but was extended in 1810 with a truncated N aisle, subsequently replaced by the new N aisle in the 1897 remodelling. It is believed that there has been a church on this site since the 12th century.

Rough cast cement render was being removed and stonework being repointed in lime (Oct 2005). This has exposed the stonework highlighting a previously lower roofline to the E gable, showing that the building height had been raised.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.