Building record MHG1723 - Canisbay Parish Church

Parent for:
ND37SW0005 Broch
ND37SW0030 Churchyard
ND37SW0031 Groat family memorial
ND37SW0032 Antler and hammerstones from broch
JHooper, 21/09/2001
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ND37SW 4.01 Centred ND 3435 7283 Churchyard
ND37SW 4.02 ND 3436 7285 Memorial

The church of Canisbay, mentioned between 1223 and 1245, is built on mound covering ruins of a broch. There are indications that present church dates from 15th century, but fact that it was dedicated to St Drostan and that a rock immediately offshore retains name Papel (ND 3420 7308) might suggest a pre-Norse, Celtic origin.
Finds from graveyard include red deer antler and hammerstones presented to NMAS by Rev James MacPherson 1871.
The church is oblong with probably 17th century N and S transepts and pre-Reformation tower in centre of W front. It is a plain, harled structure which underwent alterations in 18th and 19th centuries. The openings in side walls are square lintelled and those in gables pointed. The monuments date back to 16th century and include those of Groat family.
Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1873; RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910; G Hay 1957; Orig Paroch Scot 1855.

No change; church and graveyard are in regular use.
Visited by OS (N K B) 11 August 1982.

REFERENCE - Scottish Record Office

Statement of cost of repairing Church (excluding Freswicke loft
& May and Brabster aisles and of building office houses, garden andcornyard dykes for the Manse.
1791 GD96/680/3

Account for work done at Church.
It includes glazing, plasterwork and the making of a pulpit and desk. Alexander MacKenzie - wright.
Work done 1789 Paid 1792 GD96/680/3

Repairs to the steeple of Church.
1807 GD96/680/3

Repair to Church and Manse. James Ross, mason.
1886-1887 GD96/684/3

Repair of the Church and Manse. (porch, Causewaying.) Account
of work done by John Levach, mason; it includes work on "Sir James's aisle", "Lady Brabster's aisle" and the steeple. Paid 1792
1788-1789 GD96/680/3

Repair of the Church.
Receipt of money received from Patrick Dunbar a heritor.
1729 GD96/680/3

Building of the Church.
Details of sums discharged for the rebuilding of the church and a note of claims on heritors. The account which amounts to ?1325.8.7 kept by
George Sutherland.
1736 GD96/680/3

Repairs necessary to windows & roof of Church
1742 GD96/680/3

Note of timber required for repair of Church roof.
1706 GD96/680/3

Information transcribed from Architecture Catalogue slip:
Architect - Hippolyte J. Blanc - alterations
Plans - Mr. Hay, 29 Moray Place states that he has recorded this to some extent

East Caithness Local Plan, May 1987: P31/2.53.
J Aitken : 22/05/01.