Description

The monument consists of the remains of the old parish church of Rhynd. The present building, dating from the seventeenth century is likely to overlie the foundations of an earlier church. Documentary evidence suggests that a church was functioning in the twelfth century. The lands of Rindalgros (Rhynd) were granted to Reading Abbey on the condition that a monastery might be established there, Malcolm IV (c.1153-59) granted to the monks of "Rindelcros" all the teind belonging to the church of that village.

The existance of the monastery cannot be verified, and in 1231 the church appears in the possession of the priory of May, which was a dependency of Reading. The relationship between May and Reading had dissolved by the early 14th century, for throughout this period until the Reformation the parsonage revenues of the church of Rhynd remained with the priory. The church is situated in an old graveyard within a meander of the River Tay.

The fragmentary remains have been engulfed by later burial enclosures adjoining the N and S walls. The E gable (2m high) contains a small aumbry and parts of the S wall survive, the N and W walls have gone. The remains suggest a church with the following dimensions: c.10.9m E-W by 5.3m N-S overall with walls 0.85m thick. The area to be scheduled is rectangular to include the above and below ground archaeology of the church, measuring a maximum of 20m ENE-W SW by 15m NNW-SSE, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because it is a parish church dating from the seventeenth century which is thought to occupy the site of an earlier church documented from the twelfth century. Although fragmentary, it provides evidence and has the potential to provide further evidence through excavation for ecclesiastical architecture, parish organisation, and monasticism in medieval Scotland.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 11 NE 23.

Reference:

Cowan and Easson 'Medieval Religious Houses in Scotland', ed. 2nd, 55 and 61.

Cowan, I. B. (1967) The Parishes of Medieval Scotland, Scot Rec Soc, vol. 93, 171, Edinburgh.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland