Description

The monument comprises the remains of the former parish church of Rendall, built in 1732, and associated buried deposits. Earlier reports of a Norse hogback stone from the site suggest that this church may occupy the site of an earlier church. The upstanding 18th-century ruin comprises the E gable and part of the N wall, with the outline of the S and W walls traceable through the turf. The E gable is complete almost to wallhead height, standing approximately 3.7m high and up to 0.8m thick; a 2m stretch of the N wall adjoins the E gable. The church is built of squared rubble, coursed and clay-bonded. There are red sandstone quoins on the NE corner and patches of plaster survive on the internal walls. The church stands within an associated burial ground where earlier burials, grave-markers and structural remains are likely to survive. The monument is situated on the NE coast of mainland Orkney, just N of the Bay of Hinderayre and overlooking Wide Firth at around 5m above sea level. The monument was last scheduled in 1953, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

The scheduled area is rectangular on plan to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes all 19th-century and later burial plots and grave-markers and all burial lairs where rights of burial still exist.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a good example of a post-medieval parish church, with potentially earlier origins and associated archaeological deposits. It has the potential to add to our understanding of ecclesiastical history and architecture, religious worship and burial, as well as stonemasonry skills. The surviving ruin has inherent value as an example of 18th-century church architecture, with potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of the establishment and development of a parish church. There is high potential for the survival of archaeological features and deposits spanning several centuries, such as the foundations of the church and earlier remains, as well as burials and grave-markers, around and beneath the upstanding remains of the church and in its immediate vicinity. The loss of the monument would significantly affect our ability to understand medieval and later church architecture and religious practice in Orkney.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HY41NW 7.

References

Lang, J T 1975, 'Hogback monuments in Scotland', Proc Soc Antiq Scot 105, 206-35.

Low, G 1774, A Tour through the Islands of Orkney and Shetland.

Ordnance Survey (Name Book) Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey (6 inch and 1/2500 scale), Book no 15, 62, 75.

RCAHMS 1946, The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Twelfth report with an inventory of the ancient monuments of Orkney and Shetland, 3v, Edinburgh, 86, no 302.

Ritchie, A 1996, Orkney and Shetland, Exploring Scotland's Heritage series, Edinburgh.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland