Monument record MHG1612 - Cross Slab - Reay Old Kirk

Set into the W wall of the old church is a sculptured rectangular sandstone cross-slab, 6ft 4ins long, 1ft 11ins to 2ft 3.5ins wide and 3 .5ins thick. The upper arm of the cross is defaced by an 18th century inscription.
J R Allen and J Anderson 1903 <1>

The burial ground, mausoleum and cross slab were scheduled in 1925.

The burial panels mentioned above (in NC96SE 3.00), are still in situ and the cross-slab has been restored.
Visited by OS (R D) 23 November 1964.

The cross presumably dates from the latter part of the 9th century (see also NC96SE 1). E W MacKie 1975. <2>

Visited 21/11/00 by DML at request of Miss P Richards.
Graveyard in a generally fair condition, although many of the grave slabs are covered in moss. This however would probably need specialist removal to avoid damaging the stones, many of which are laminating. The burial vault/chapel remains are also in a fair condition. Problems of damp within the building appear to have decreased, judging by the growth of algae on the cross slab which appears to be in much better condition than is evidenced in the thumbnail photograph. Miss Richards was concerned about the level of damp entering the building through its walls, and also about the cement type mix which was used on the interior of the chapel some years ago. She wondered if guttering could be added to the building to take rain water away, and if the cement type mix could be removed. As the building is Listed, I am passing these requests to John Duncan for attention. As I was unable to actually enter the burial vault the photograph (hyperlinked) is of poor quality, but does demonstrate that the cross slab appears dryer. <3>

The cross slab was reused as a recumbent 18th-century memorial over a grave within the burial ground. It seems to have been moved around 1915 to be built into the west wall of the refurbished mausoleum. The slab is carved in relief on one face only with a cross and base, decorated with key patterns and circular knotwork. The cross is set in the centre of the slab and the arms are squared off with hollows at the internal angles. A ring links the arms and shaft together. The reported 18th-century inscription, which read "Robert McKay 17" has been crudely chiselled away, presumably when the stone was removed from the burial ground. The slab is currently recessed into the wall with a cement render extending over the edges of the carved face. <4>

An architect's report has been prepared by Historic Scotland for the mausoleum together with a separate condition report for the cross slab itself. These reports contain recommendations for repairs to the building which would improve the conditions for the stone, such as replacing the cement render with lime mortar. It is noted that the best long-term solution would be to isolate the stone from the building, and the condition report makes a series of recommendations to achieve this. <4> <5>

See also:
NC96SE0122 Graveyard
NC96SE0003 Reay Old Church