Marr

Area : Marr
Parish : Glenmuick, Tullich and
Glengairn
Kirkyard : Tullich old Parish Kirk.
N.G.R. : NO 390 975
S.A.M. : Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Listing Category : Kirk and Yard Cat. B.
Boundary wall and gate piers : The gates,
piers and boundary wall are all in good order.
The boundary wall has recently been repaired
in several sections, though the surface weeds
could be sprayed.
The Old Kirk : Though the exact date of the
present kirk is not known, the doorway on the
N. side of the kirk is said to be 15 th - century in
design. St. Nathalan, who died in 452 A.D. is
said to have lived at Tullich and when his remains
and relics were interred here they
brought considerable miraculous powers to the
place.
Tullich is said to have been a house of the
Knights Templars and more laterly the
Hospitallers.
A roll-moulded pointed Gothic doorway, now
blocked up, is the only opening on the N. wall.
This portion of the wall is disproportionally
thick, and having been inappropriately
mortared recently, it appears to bow outwards.
The E. gable, with small window opening set
high in the wall, is in a reasonable state of
repair though the surface weeds must be removed
and the wall-heads re-pointed throughout.
The W. gable has been reduced significantly
in height so much so that it is now impossible
to state, whether or not it contained any openings
or a bellcote.
The S. wall contains three equally -proportioned
window openings and two equally-formed door
openings. All of these openings feature cracks
internally and must be investigated thoroughly.
Internally the kirk is sub-divided into three
burial enclosures, Farquharson to the W.,
Paterson in the centre and Grants, Davidsons
and Elmslies etc. to the E.
Tombstones : There approximately 9 recumbent
tombstones of which only one is significantly
decorated. The entire curtilage of the old
pear-shaped kirkyard contains over 150 upright
tombstones, of which none are particularly interesting.
A 20 th - century kirkyard addition is sited to
the W. of the old yard.
An obelisk standing on a three-step base, which
could be that erected to the memory of Wllm.
Farquharson of Monaltrie by his wife, though
it was said to stand to the E. rather than the W.
side of the kirk. This monument must have the
base steps aligned otherwise the obelisk will
topple over.
Early Features : There are 13 cross-slabs and
one symbol stone are located within an iron
railed enclosure on the N. side of the kirk. These
important stones should be resited and displayed
in a more secure and interesting setting,
possibly within the kirk.
The symbol stone, depicting a double disc z-
rod, and mirror is a scheduled monument.
Many of these stones had formed lintels etc in
the old kirk and had been discovered during
the last quarter of the 19 th - century. St.
Nachlan’s Cross, whether it stood to the E. of
the kirk or in the square at Tullich village, was
lost in the 19 th -century.
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