Marr

Area : Marr
Parish : Kennethmont
Kirkyard : Christ’s Kirk.
N.G.R. : NJ 605 268
S.A.M. :
Listing Category : Kirkyard Cat. C.
Boundary wall and gate piers : The site of
the kirkyard is surounded by a wall of rubble
field stones.
The Old Kirk : The kirk of Rathmuriel or
Christ’s Kirk, was given to the Abbey of
Lindores before 1195 though not much else is
recorded about the place.
The area is reputed to be named after a holy
woman, Muriel, who had an abode there. A connection
was thought to exist between the Thanes
of Cawdor and Rathmuriel, as Muriel was apparently
a common name to female members
of that family, though this connection was never
proved.
The nomenclature of Christ’s Kirk is said to
date from the 15 th - century and has been likened
to a similar term used at Udny Green, as
being a beautiful place perhaps worthy of
Christ. Indeed the situation of the old kirk has
commanding views to the E. over the Garioch.
Jervise also stated that the old kirk ran from E.
to W., as was the typical orientation, and measured
26 by 12 yards.
Today nothing can be determined of the remains
of the kirk due to the site being completely overgrown
by weeds and trees. It is believed that
stones from it were used in the building of the
farm steadings beside the kirkyard, though it is
doubtful that the gravestones too would have
been lifted for building material ?
Tombstones : There are no tombstones of any
type visible, not even those of 1716 and 1767
as recorded by Jervise. These stones were said
to each bear a nude figure representative of
Time with outstretched arms bearing an hourglass
and a scythe
Conservation Digest : Not Urgent.
The entire site needs to be cleared of all undergrowth
to thoroughly determine whether or not
any tombstones exist within the kirkyard. The
exact position of the kirk should also be ascertained
by an analysis of the topography or geographical
survey.
Interpretative Potential : None.
There is nothing visible to indicate that this was
indeed the site of an early kirk.
According to Jervise the kirk was also called
Sleepy Kirk because adjacent to the site of the
kirk was once a small village that played host
to an annual Christ’s Fair, more commonly
called the Sleepy Fair. This fair, to buy and sell
timber and all manner of merchant goods, began
at sunset and continued until the first hour
after sunrise at the beginning of June as it never
became truly dark at that time of year. This information
was recorded in 1724, c. 35 years
after the proprietor changed the fair to the daytime,
- owing to great public consternation the
fair was abandoned altogether.
Access issues :The kirkyard is located up a farm
track between Insch and Leslie in the area still
called Christ’s Kirk.
Date of visit : 28/07/98.
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