On Sunday, 16th of February, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland visited St Ternan’s Church in Arbuthnott to celebrate its 465 years of Christian worship in the Church of Scotland.
Upon arrival, Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson and his wife were given a historical tour of the ancient church, kindly organised by Emily Arbuthnott.
St Ternan’s Church’s history dates from pre-Reformation times and is dedicated to the memory of St. Ternan who, it is believed, was born to a Pictish family in the Mearns in the first half of the fifth century A.D. It is not possible to trace a connection between Arbuthnott Church and Ternan during his life but it is known that the church was dedicated to his memory from very early times.
Architecturally, the church is a blend of medieval and Gothic styles. The oldest part is the chancel. Built in the early English style, it is lit by five small lancet windows.
The Arbuthnott Aisle, which was added around 1500 by Sir Robert Arbuthnott, is a fine example of late Scottish Gothic style. The Aisle was intended as a private chapel for the laird's family. It houses a tomb thought to belong to James Arbuthnott, son of Sir Robert.
Interestingly, the tomb is topped by a much older stone effigy, possibly of Hugh le Blond, a 13th-century ancestor of the Arbuthnotts, depicted with a small dog at his feet.
The west-end bell tower, also built by Sir Robert, once housed two bells to call worshippers to prayer. The church’s interior has undergone several restorations, notably in the 19th and 20th centuries.
It was in the room above the Lady Chapel that James Sibbald, the parish priest, had written three service books. Commissioned by the Arbuthnott family, these were: a book of hours written out between 1471 and 1484, a psalter of 1482 and a missal of 1491. The Arbuthnott Missal, Psalter and Horae remained within the family until 1897, when they were sold. The illuminated manuscripts are now housed in Paisley Museum. In 2007, the Arbuthnott Missal won a prestigious top award in the British Library's Hidden Treasures competition.
The church has also drawn literary connections, as it inspired Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s famous trilogy, A Scots Quair. Gibbon, born James Leslie Mitchell, grew up in Arbuthnott and modelled the fictional "Kirk of Kinraddie" after the church. His grave, located in the churchyard’s southwest corner, is a point of interest for visitors.
Dr Paterson was shown James Leslie Mitchell’s grave and presented with the writer’s biography as a gift from the congregation.
The special service of worship began at 4 pm and was led by Rev Andrew Morrison, minister of Arbuthnott, Bervie and Kinneff Parish Church. Music for the service was provided by Kyle McCallum, who played the church organ —widely regarded as one of the finest in Grampian. To mark the occasion, Mr McCallum played Prelude in C Major by Anton Bruckner.
Rev Andrew Morrison and Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson
A highlight of the service was a heartfelt performance by the pupils of Redmyre School, who sang This Little Light of Mine in support of the Moderator’s Challenge. Launched in December, this campaign aims to fund solar-powered lights for schoolchildren in Malawi.
Dr Paterson spoke at the end of the service, addressing the pupils and sharing his impressions of Africa. He explained why this fundraising effort was so important.
The retiral collection went towards the Moderator’s campaign for Malawi.
Dr Paterson’s presence at this service held deep significance for the historic church and its congregation. In the early days of the Church of Scotland, Alexander Arbuthnott served as the first Protestant minister of St. Ternan’s from 1569 to 1574. He later became the first Protestant principal of King’s College, Aberdeen, and was elected Moderator of the General Assembly in 1573 and again in 1577.
Church of Scotland witness at St. Ternan’s began with one of the earliest Moderators in the Church of Scotland’s history. Now, as the building is set to be released by the end of 2025, the visit of the current Moderator served as a fitting bookend to this long period of witness, marking a moment of deep significance for all who gathered.
If you want to know more about the building: