Page 28 - LOTN Autumn Issue 54 2023

FAITH AND CULTURE

St Peter’s, Spital, Aberdeen because of its distinctive shape and coastal prominence. It had
The medieval St Peter’s Hospital gave the Spital Road its been built with Roman stone, around 654-660 - according
name. Spital runs from Mounthooley to Old Aberdeen. It to Bede - from the ruins of the Roman fort of Othona. It
began as a shelter for old and infirm priests, established in began as an Anglo-Celtic church and yet it bears one of the
1170. It is unclear whether, four hundred years on, that first dedications in Britain to St Peter. The founder was from
the original Peterkirk was still in use, but I suspect it was. Northumberland, having participated in the Synod of Whitby.
Today it survives only as a place of burial - the oldest part Only two of the Northeast Peterkirks are still in regular use -
being a mound, upon which some footings are evident, in a St Peter’s, Buckie, and St Peter and St Boniface, Fortrose. Both
narrow rectangular shape, consistent with the Roman plan are recent builds, short distances from the original sites, but
which Nechtan had commissioned for all the Peterkirks. A close enough for the link to be indisputable. In Aberdeen, the
mausoleum has been built in recent times at the east end of the dedication to St Peter has since been conferred (1804) on the
church. Caught in the quiet, I sat on the low wall for a while, first permanent Catholic church (St Peter’s, Castlegate) to be
meditating on this medieval place of worship and sanctuary, built in Aberdeen since the reformation. A temporary chapel
now so sadly neglected. had been on this site since 1774.
At the west gate is a housing complex called St Peter’s Gate. Lack of information on Pictish ecclesiastical sites does not
The memory lives on. mean they did not exist, and the increasing use of modern
A well-trodden pebble pathway runs from St Peter’s Gate methods of archaeological investigation are beginning to
along the length of the building, holding many holy secrets of reveal a framework for ongoing research.
the medieval monks, in prayer, in pain, or even being carried
to their last resting place, unmarked, and probably very close Refs
by. WJ Cramond, History of the Bede House of Rathven, 1890
Dean, Ann, in Scalan News No 44, 2012, and The Innes Review
(St Peter’s), Peterculter Eusibius of Caesarea, The History of the Church from Christ to
There are no visible remains of St Peter’s chapel which stood Constantine, Penguin, 1965
on this site, below the present-day burial ground. The only Sally M Foster, The Picts, 2004
clue is the name of the settlement and the present church Gilbert Markus, Conceiving a Nation, Edin UP, 2017
building, which is now a heritage centre. Johnston, Boris, The Dream of Rome, Harper Collins, 2006
Gordon Noble, The King in the North, Birlinn, 2021
The days of the Celtic church tradition with its saints and Groam House Museum, Rosemarkie, personal contact
muinntirs (communities), at one with God and nature were Internet, personal contacts
to be supplanted by the Roman church aided by the Scottish WD Simpson, The Celtic church in Scotland , 1935
throne. After the Peterkirks came cathedrals, and ordered W Macfarlane, Geographical collections relating to Scotland,
monastic communities, all built in stone, and many under the in Mitchell, Sir A and Clark, J T (eds.). Edinburgh.(1906-8)
directive of David I of Scotland.
The prayer of the church sanctifies and organises time An Appeal for information with regards to Drumdelgie
through the seasons of the year and the hours of every day. Burial Ground
Praying together is the continuation of the early church Tina has been carrying out research into the little church of
traditions. The Mass holds these traditions together in the St Peter's, Drumdelgie over the last year and now has the
liturgy today. The stone churches of Nechtan have become names of five priests who are interred in the burial ground. It
symbols of permanence. is a tiny cemetery, probably accommodating no more than
During my research I have been disappointed, but not 50 internments.
surprised, to find no trace of knowledge or documentation for However, she has been unable to trace any living relative to
many of the early medieval places of Christian worship that seek permission to tidy up the grounds and grave markers,
I wished to find and study. Even when writings of the early and she would appeal to our readers for any knowledge or
scribes such as Bede tell of churches by name, in a specific family history with regards the site.
location, the chances are that subsequent accounts will begin In terms of location the site is unmarked. It sits to the right
at least four hundred years later, with no explanation at all of (over a gate and 800m along the course of a stone wall) of
events in the intervening time. the approach road to the Huntly Falconry Centre, signposted
What is most likely is a post-reformation account of a more right from the Huntly to Dufftown (A920) road. The ground
recent building, and a possible footnote to explain that "it may itself is protected by a stone wall, and additional secure farm
stand on the site of an earlier church or settlement". fencing.
Such a lack of narrative gives rise to supposition, myth Tina believes that these five Banffshire priests deserve some
and local legend. So far, the Peterkirk interpretation remains acknowledgement, especially as one was imprisoned in
unchallenged. The church sites have been rebuilt, often several Banff Jail for his faith, and died as a result. The kirk is all but
times, and most still bear the dedication to St Peter. forgotten, with no mention in publications which refer to
St Peter’s chapel in Bradwell (Diocese of London) was local historic churchyards.
pointed out to me many years ago as "of interest", quite simply If you are able to help with Tina's enquiry you can contact
her by email at: harrislink 44@gmail.com

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