The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 3/3

ST. BEAN’S CHURCH, Kinkell, Perthshire.

Reading edition

Situated on the right bank of the Earn about two miles south from Auchterarder, this church, which is a post-Reformation one, stands in the centre of a small churchyard on a hillock overlooking the river, and

Illustration from The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 3/3

Fig. 1556.—St. Bean’s Church, Kinkell.

is entire, but roofless (Fig. 1556). It is now divided by cross walls into three burial-places. The building (Fig. 1557) measures about 65 feet 2 inches in length by 23 feet wide externally. Like most of the early Presbyterian churches it has a considerable resemblance, in plan, to those of the Gothic period, being long and narrow, with a south door near the west end, south windows, and an end window high up in each gable. All the openings are lintelled and splayed. There was a belfry on the west gable.

Fig. 1557.—St. Bean’s Church, Kinkell. Plan.

The church was probably built about the end of the sixteenth century. It was repaired about the year 1680 at the instigation of the Bishop and Synod of Dunblane, and shortly afterwards the parish of Kinkell was absorbed into that of Trinity Gask, when the building was allowed to fall into ruin.

The Church of Kinkell was dedicated to St. Bean, and was a cell of Inchaffray.