Ardclach

The parish church here is known by a number of alternative names - Ardclach, Fotherues, Ardcloich, Fotherueys, Fotheruays, Fotherves, Ferness in Ardclach - as well as Fothervais. However, the parish is a post-Reformation creation the area having been previously served by two chapels - at Ferness and Lethen. The parish has, it would seem, carried forward the dedication to St Moluag of Lismore which was originally associated with the chapel at Ferness.

The Bishop of Moray held a number of secular baronies, amongst which were those of Moy (Lunyne) and Ardclach (Fothervais). Consequently, he was the possessor of considerable tracts of land in this area, including those of Glenferness, Archagour, Belivat, Coulmony, Daltulich, Fleenasmore and Aitnoch.

In 1226, when the church was incorporated into the prebend of the Succentor of the cathedral, a vicar perpetual was provided for to attend to the cure.¹

The church building on the site is no longer in use, the last service there having being held on 24 January 1956, but the burial ground is still in use.

In olden times there was a ferry-boat to take parishoners from the Ferness side of the river to the church at Ardclach.

Dunearn: This is a fascinating chapel-site just above Dulsie Bridge.⁵ The narrow strath in which is is located is called the Streins and is divided into three dabhachs of land - the lower in Ardclach; the middle in Cawdor; and the upper in Moy. The site of the old chapel is very clearly seen in the Chapel-field to the north-east of the prominent prehistoric hill-fort known as Dunearn (NGR NH 933407). The fort would have commanded the important routeway heading along the banks of the River Findhorn. [top]

 

 

Ballindore: The place-name Baile-an-deoradh, "the residence of the Dewar",² suggests  a site with connections to the Early Church. It is not certain that there was a chapel here. [top]

Banchor: This place-name (along with Little Banchor nearby) is usually associated with a muinntir of the Early Church which was marked out as a place of learning. It is not a very common name and to find it here adds to the argument that this whole area was one of great significance in the days of the Early Church. [top]

Daless: There has been a suggestion from 'local' sources that there was an ancient chapel here but nothing is known to substantiate the idea. [top]

Daltra Hermitage: The hermitage here is mentioned on a number of occasions in the Moray Registers³ and is more anciently known by the name Daldarach ("the Oak Wood") [NGR NH 943438]. Very close to this spot is one of the finest salmon pools on the River Findhorn - doubtless a great comfort to the hermit in olden times! Near to Daltra is the Princess Stone {NGR NH 937426} adding to the concentration of 'religious' sites nearby. Apart from its 'fabulous' story, it is a stone, about 8' x 4', inscribed with "a rude cross and many runic knots" and dates to the 8 - 9th century. Shaw comments that, "... more likely it was the Cross of an early Christian Hermit."⁴ [top]

Ferness: The exact location of this chapel is not known but there is the place-name Dalnaheiglish - which means "meadow of the church" - at [NGR NH 952446]. Traditionally this chapel was named after St Luag (St Moluag of Lismore). [top]

Logy: Bain suggests that, "The haugh {of Logie} on which the present house is built [NGR NJ 006508] may have been the abode of some recluse in the days of the Columban Church - its chapel is mentioned in the early records of the Roman Catholic Church in Moray, and care was taken by the ecclesiastical authorities for its due maintenance during many generations."⁶ Strictly speaking Logie Fythenach (Logy) was the church that is now situated at Edinkillie.
In 1548 (30 May), Sir Nicholaus Tulloche, chaplain of St John the Baptist of Logy, near Darnaway, for a sum of money for the reparation of said chapel and ornaments paid by his brother Thomas Tulloch of Fluris,⁷ sets to the said Thomas Tulloch all his lands of Lagy {Logie} from the hill of Felury to the bank of Twitwell with common pasture within the forest of Drummynde, he paying 10 marks per anuum to the chaplains {of the Cathedral?}. [Mr W. Rose has the original]
{The Forest of Drummynde is most likely Drumine Forest [NGR NJ 02525_].} [top]

 

 

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